MP police yet to decide who captured Vikas Dubey

More than 100 days since the arrest of gangster Vikas Dubey at Mahakal temple in Ujjain, the Madhya Pradesh Police have not been able to decide as to who caught the gangster on July 9.

Involved in the killing of eight policemen who had gone to arrest him in Bikru village in Kanpur on July 3 night, Dubey was himself killed in Kanpur suburbs when he allegedly tried to flee from the police custody while being brought back from Ujjain on July 10.

After the UP Police sought to know who should be given Rs 5 lakh reward they had announced for Dubey’s capture, the MP Police had formed a committee in July end to decide on the rightful claimants.

Three additional SPs posted in Ujjain were to decide on the issue and submit a report on whose basis the MP Police were to recommend the names for the reward.

However, inspector general (IG) of police, Ujjain range, Rakesh Gupta said, “I have spoken to SP, Ujjain, Satyendra Kumar and in all likelihood the committee’s report will come in the next two weeks.”

SP, Ujjain, Satyendra Kumar said, “I have recently joined but I am aware that a committee was formed to decide on the issue. There are many claimants and therefore it is taking time. I hope to get the report soon.”

Amrendra Singh, additional SP, (Ujjain rural) and one of three members of the committee, said, “I will not be able to give any information as it is beyond my jurisdiction.”

Among the top contenders for the reward are Suresh Mali who sells puja material outside the Mahakal temple. He had first recognised the gangster entering the temple through the pictures flashed on the television screens and alerted the temple security.

Security guard Rahul Sharma is also in the reckoning to share the award. Mali had spoken to him about Dubey being present in the temple and he, in turn, informed the police personnel at the outpost on the temple premises.

Earlier, there were several claimants for the reward but they later changed their statements saying they played no role in the capture of the gangster.One of them was temple security guard Lakhan Yadav and priest Gopal Singh. On the day of Dubey’s arrest, they spoke at length about the role they played in the arrest. But later they failed to corroborate their claim.

After the gangster’s capture, Uttar Pradesh police chief Harish Chandra Awasthy had said that the reward money would be sent to the MP DGP to give it to those he deemed worthy of it.

Vikas Dubey was accused in more than 60 criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder and other heinous crimes. He had fled Bikru village after the killing of eight policemen, including a deputy SP, on July 3.