Kabaddi player held for killing BJP leader
In a joint operation of the Delhi and Ghaziabad police, a former international kabaddi player was arrested for allegedly killing BJP leader Gajender Bhati in Ghaziabad earlier this month.
The accused, Raju Kumar alias Raju Pahalwan (33), was arrested on Wednesday from Outer Delhi’s Siraspur on the basis of a tip-off.
On September 2, Bhati and his associate Balbir Chauhan were shot at by two motorcycle-borne persons in Khoda Colony of Ghaziabad. While Bhati died, his associate was seriously injured.
The Uttar Pradesh police arrested one Narender alias Fauzi on September 11, who revealed that Pahalwan, who belongs to Loni in Ghaziabad, was also involved in the killing.
Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, the deputy commissioner of police (special cell), said that the duo had carried out the killing after being asked by ex-MLA of Sahibabad, Amarpal Sharma. The leader had given them a contract of `10 lakh, of which `50,000 was paid in advance.
After Fauzi’s arrest, the other accused persons were evading arrest. Nonbailable warrants had been issued against them by the court.
The Delhi police on
◗ Pahalwan told the police that Bhati had attacked him in 2013 after their vehicles collided in Greater Noida. Bhati and his aides were charged with attempt to murder, but Pehalwan forced into reaching a compromise with the accused in 2015
Wednesday came to know that the accused might be hiding in the Ghaziabad. The police learnt that Pahalwan had been seen in Siraspur and was planning to change his hideout. A team comprising police personnel from Delhi and UP was constituted. The accused was spotted at the abandoned bus stop at Siraspur Gurdwara near G.T. Karnal Road here, said the officer, adding that the accused tried to flee, but was nabbed.
Pahalwan told the police that Bhati had attacked him in 2013 after their vehicles collided in Greater Noida. Bhati and his accomplices were charged with attempt to murder but Pehalwan forced into reaching a compromise with the accused in 2015, said the DCP.
The accused claimed that Bhati kept threatening him and even fired bullets at his sportswear factory in Noida. No case was registered against Bhati since he exercised influence in the area, Pahalwan claimed during his interrogation.
Pahalwan was forced to shut down his business and decided to kill Bhati. Around two months ago, he came in touch with Fauzi, a close aide of Sharma, through one Mukesh who is the pradhan of Bhoopkheri village in Loni.
Bhati has participated in various national and international kabaddi tournaments. Between 2005 and 2009, he represented Uttar Pradesh at the national level. He has also been part of the Indian kabaddi team.