Gangster left handwritten note to boast, it got him a life term

GURUGRAM: It was a note that gave his game away. Handwritten and left at a two-year-old crime scene, the note proved crucial in nailing Surjeet Kataria (40), who wanted to boast about the criminal act, allegedly to teach a friend-turned-foe a ‘lesson’. On the basis of statements of witnesses, the police investigation and handwriting match, the sessions court on Tuesday awarded life sentence to Kataria in a 2016 murder case.
In his order on Tuesday, additional district and sessions judge Rajesh Duggal held Surjeet Kataria and his associate Devender (30) guilty of murder, and awarded them life sentence, while Kataria’s step-son Gaurav (25) was acquitted.

A dreaded criminal, Kataria is accused in several cases, including three murders. “The handwritten note left by the criminal turned out to be crucial in deciding the case,” said Sehrawat.

On May 7, 2016, police control room (PCR) had received information about an unidentified body found on the Dwarka expressway. The deceased, who had multiple bullet injuries, was identified as Bablu, resident of Dhanwapur village.

“Police had also found a handwritten note signed in the name of Kataria. The note had abusive words for the deceased, declaring him a traitor who deserved to be killed. They registered a case at Rajender Park police station,” said Sehrawat.

During the probe, it was found that Kataria had met Bablu in Bhondsi jail few years before, when they become friends. They later turned against each other, when Kataria killed Bablu. On the basis of statements of witnesses, the police probe and handwriting match, the court held Kataria and Devender guilty of murder, and awarded them life imprisonment, while Gaurav was acquitted.

In May 2018, the same court had awarded life terms to the gangster and three of his accomplices, in a case of murder and attempted murder in 2016, over a property dispute. Additional district and sessions judge Rajesh Duggal had held Kataria, Sonu, Dev and Sunil guilty of killing Vinod Kumar (40), and critically injuring his younger brother Daudyal. The brothers, residents of Laxman Vihar, were shot at by the accused in Gurugram in July 2016.

Kataria had bought a plot from Vinod for Rs 25 lakh, but failed to get it registered in his name due to his earlier conviction in a murder case in Narnaul. Later, when Vinod refused to execute the registration deed and also refused to return the money, Kataria attacked the brothers after jumping parole.

Kataria is also accused in the murder of Sanjeev Jindal in 2016. Kataria had allegedly taken a contract to kill the cloth merchant.

Kataria was first convicted for murder in Haryana’s Narnaul, and sentenced to a life term in 2012. In October 2015, he was released on parole. He was supposed to return in November, but jumped parole. Thereafter, he committed several crimes, including three murders — Bablu in May 2016, Vinod in July 2016, and a Delhi trader in Gurugram in July 2016, said police.