Four months after a 42-year-old businessman was shot dead while trying to resist robbery attempt outside his house in Northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar area, the Crime Branch on Wednesday claimed to have arrested the mastermind behind the heinous crime. The arrested accused is fond of tattoos, police said.
"During investigation of the Ashok Vihar robbery cum murder case, we had received information that the accused, seen CCTV footage had tattoos on his arms," said a police officer, part of the investigation team.
Dr Joy Tirkey, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) said, "The arrested accused has been identified as Rajesh Kumar alias Surya (27). He hatched the plan to rob the businessman at Ashok Vihar area. Apart from being involved in several cases of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, Rajesh had escaped from police custody twice."
Police said on the evening of August 23, Sanjeev Kumar Gajwani, a businessman was heading from his factory in Shastri Nagar on a scooty to Ashok Vihar phase 2. When Gajwani reached his house, a group of four men on two motorcycles intercepted him and tried to snatch away his bag containing cash.
At that time, the accused- Rajesh, along with new criminals Dalip, Sanjay and Ravi opened four rounds of firing. One of the bullets hit Kumar's leg. Left injured, they were fleeing from the spot. Injured, Kumar allegedly tried to give a chase to the bikers. In the CCTV footage, it is evident that one of the bikers got down from the motorcycle and shot at Sanjeev Kumar at point blank range.
"When Sanjiv resisted, Rajesh shot him thrice at point blank range. Sanjiv fell down and the gang escaped on their bikes taking the bag containing cash Rs. 4.15 along with them. The entire incident was helplessly witnessed by Sanjiv's elder brother Ashok, who was standing on the house balcony," said the DCP.
Dr Joy Tirkey said, "A month after, Dalip and Sanjay were apprehended by the Ashok Vihar police, Rajesh and Ravi were absconding. Following which, Delhi Police kept a reward of Rs 50,000 on their arrest," Sleuths of Crime Branch received information about Rajesh. Based on the tip off, a team led by ACP Shweta Singh Chauhan, laid a trap at the Ring Road mall in Rohini sector 3. The team apprehended Rajesh and recovered a loaded pistol from his possession.