Ex int'l kabaddi player turns contract killer, held

NEW DELHI: A former international kabaddi player Raj Kumar has been arrested on Wednesday from Siraspur for killing a BJP leader Gajendra Bhati from Ghaziabad on September 2.

Kumar, alias Raju Pahalwan, was accused of taking contract for killing Bhati by another politician from BSP Amar Pal Sharma over political rivalry. The BJP leader was shot dead in Khoda, Ghaziabad and his associate Balbir Chauhan was seriously injured by two motorcycle-borne persons.

During the investigations, one accused Narender alias Fauzi was arrested by UP Police on September 11, who disclosed that the murder was committed by him in association with the kabaddi player at the instance of ex-MLA of Sahibabad for a contract of Rs 10 lakh, out of which Rs 50,000 was paid in advance.

On September 20, information was received that Kumar is seen in area of Siraspur, outer Delhi and is planning to change his hideout.

Following the tip-off, a joint team of Delhi and UP Police was constituted. The accused was spotted at Siraspur Gurdwara bus stop on GT Karnal Road and was soon arrested.

"Raju Pahalwan disclosed that he developed enmity with Bhati after a road rage incident in which he was thrashed. Later, he had to wrap up his business of a sportswear factory in Noida following his rivalry with Bhati. The rivalry was then exploited by ex MLA Amar Pal Sharma by giving him a contract to kill Bhati," said DCP Special Cell Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.

Kumar represented UP at national level and in 2007, he played at international level at Sri Lanka and won gold medal.