Eleven days after a senior Education Department official was shot at by unidentified assailants in north Delhi's Timarpur, the police on Saturday claimed to have arrested a 22-year-old contract killer and a relative of the victim who allegedly hired him for ₹5 lakh.
The police said Bheema was hired by the 21-year-old brother of the victim’s daughter-in-law. The brother organises events in malls across Delhi-NCR.
A senior police officer said the accused hatched a plan to target the official as he held him responsible for his sister’s disturbed married life.
His sister, an engineer with an MBA degree, got married to the victim’s son nearly two years ago. The couple has a son.
Estranged relationship
The woman had in June filed a first information report at Vikaspuri police station accusing her father-in-law of molesting her and subjecting her to cruelty. She also accused her husband, an IT engineer working as senior consultant with a private company, of subjecting her to unnatural sex and cruelty. After filing the FIR, the woman left her marital home and moved in with her family.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Jatin Narwal said the Education Department official was returning home from office in a private car hired by the Department on July 25 when he was shot and suffered a bullet injury in the abdomen. The woman’s brother was arrested two days after the shooting.
Scooter was a clue
“The brother’s role in the incident was confirmed after we found his scooter parked near the crime scene. Eyewitnesses told us that two attackers had fled the spot leaving behind a scooter after the victim and his driver raised an alarm,” said Mr. Narwal, adding the brother confessed to hiring Bheema.
A manhunt was launched to nab the contract killer, who is a resident of Chattarpur Extension and has a criminal record. Bheema’s friend Asif had introduced him to the woman’s brother.
“They struck a deal for ₹5 lakh and Bheema was paid ₹50,000 as token money. The rest was to be paid after the murder,” Mr. Narwal said, adding that the police are now looking for Asif and another suspect Sanu.
Bheema’s interrogation revealed that he reached Uttam Nagar metro station after receiving a call from Asif on July 25. Asif gave him a loaded pistol and some spare bullets. Bheema and Sanu left for the crime spot on a scooter. The woman’s brother reached the spot on a bike. Bheema shot the official, who survived due to timely medical attention, added the officer.