Drug dealer dies as plan to frame rival backfires

Sunita hired two men to shoot Manoj... They would pass the blame for the shooting on their rival. That would get the rival arrested and jailed at least for a few months. It would give Manoj time to strengthen his control over drug distribution in the area.

ATUL KUMAR THAKUR, DCP (north-east)

NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old drug dealer, who got himself shot to falsely implicate his rival, died after a bullet punctured his heart in north-east Delhi’s Khajuri Khas early on Tuesday, police said.

Investigators were able to call the bluff after they realised that the eyewitness in the case was lying about his relationship with the deceased, Atul Kumar Thakur, deputy commissioner of police (north-east), said.

The dead man has been identified as Manoj, who was living in a shelter in east Delhi’s Yamuna Bazar. Manoj had divorced his first wife, Sunita, and married again a few years ago.

“But when it came to distribution of drugs in and around his neighbourhood, he worked in partnership with his ex-wife,” said the DCP.

Manoj allegedly planned the fake case with Sunita, who roped in her husband and other relatives. Police said Manoj volunteered to get shot at in the hand and leg.

“Sunita hired two men to shoot Manoj and paid them an advance of ₹20,000,” the DCP said.

“They would pass the blame for the shooting on their rival. That would get the rival arrested and jailed at least for a few months. It would give Manoj and his associates enough time to strengthen their control over drug distribution in the area,” the DCP said about the plan.

The police have arrested Sunita’s brother Ajay, who was allegedly present at the crime spot.

“We have also detained Sunita and her mother and would arrest them soon. The others are absconding,” said the DCP.

The police call about the shooting was made by Manoj’s former brother-in-law, Ajay, around 12.30 am on Tuesday. “Ajay alleged that two men on a red motorcycle shot Manoj and fled,” the DCP said. Manoj was shot in his thigh and chest and was rushed to GTB Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

“When we spoke to Ajay, he introduced himself as Manoj’s friend. Ajay claimed to have known Manoj for the past two- three months. But our probe revealed that they were relatives. This made us suspicious,” said the DCP.

As police continued to interrogate Ajay, several discrepancies emerged in his statements.

“Ajay is a resident of Ghaziabad, but he was unable to satisfactorily explain his business in Khajuri Khas at that hour. He finally broke down and confessed,” said the DCP.

It is unclear how their plan went wrong. Police suspect the shooters missed their mark because of poor visibility.

“Ajay claimed that he was standing at a distance and couldn’t see what exactly transpired. There will be clarity when we arrest the two shooters,” said the officer.