Three days after a 35-year-old gym owner was shot dead in South Delhi’s Greater Kailash, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has found that the accused were staying at a rented accommodation in Jamia Nagar for the past three to four weeks and allegedly conducted recce of the victim, Nadir Shah.
Their food arrangements were managed by Mohammad Sajid, a close aide of jailed gangster Hashim Baba, who was also arrested in the case.
Sources said one of five arrested received a call more than a month ago to “eliminate” Shah. He was shot dead outside his gym on the night of September 12. Initially, the case was registered by the South district police, but it was later transferred to the New Delhi Range of the Special Cell. However, according to a source, discussions are underway with the top brass of the police to transfer the case to another unit after they received information about Shah’s alleged involvement with the Delhi Police.
The police have also moved an application before a Delhi court for the custody of Hashim for questioning. Hours after the shooting incident, a team led by ACP (NDR) Hridaya Bhushan had arrested four persons — UP residents Akash Yadav, Nitalesh Tiwari (20) and Vishal Verma (19), and Naveen Baliyan (33) from Sonipat. Later, Sajid was arrested. Two accused were arrested from Vandemataram Marg in Dhaula Kuan, while another two were arrested from a Paharganj hotel.
“During questioning, Baliyan told the police that he received a call around one-and-a-half months ago from one Randeep in the US who shared a number and directed him to contact them to eliminate Shah due to a monetary dispute with him. He claimed that he is associated with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and absconding gangster Rohit Godara,” a source said.
“… Baliyan was told that some members of Hashim’s gang would also join him and asked him to stay in a flat in Jamia Nagar. He was asked to conduct a recce of their target, Shah, where he met with the other arrested accused — Yadav, Tiwari and Verma. Two absconding shooters — Madhur Motta and Raju — also met him in a rented flat. Sajid, who resides in Northeast Delhi, was also staying in a rented flat in Jogabai Extension, would visit their flat regularly,” the source said, adding, “Sajid would make food arrangements for them. They accused told Randeep of Shah’s daily routine, who told them that he would discuss with Bishnoi and Hashim for further action,” the source said.
Baliyan, during questioning, claimed that according to their plan, Motta and Raju would open fire, while Akash and he would manage public chaos to provide them a smooth exit from the spot. “As per the plan, two shooters came in an autorickshaw around 9.10 pm, but the other two accused, who were on a two-wheeler, got late and waited for them. After they arrived, they waited for some minutes and then Madhur (Motta), along with Raju, opened fire at Shah. They fired around nine rounds and managed to escape from the spot,” a source said.
The source added that the probe has revealed that after killing Shah, Raju and Motta went to Northeast Delhi where they met Sajid, who provided them with logistics support, including money.
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