Mastermind wanted for abduction and attempt to murder of transporter arrested

The Crime Branch has arrested a 29-year-old man, the mastermind wanted in the attempt to murder-cum-abduction case of a transport company owner, police said on Thursday.

Police said the accused was identified as Jai Bhagwan, a resident of Vasant Kunj. 

According to the police, Bhagwan along with his two associates – Anil Ganja and Pradeep Babloo, who are in judicial custody – had abducted Ashok Sehrawat, a transporter, on June 7. They had allegedly demanded a Rs 10-lakh ransom from him. The accused later strangulated Sehrawat and dumped his body near Dhansa Border, assuming him to be dead, police said.

According to the police, Sehrawat survived and a case of abduction and attempt to murder was registered at  the Vasant Kunj (North) police station. Recently, the crime branch received a tip off that Bhagwan would come to the Jharoda Kalan Village area to meet his aides. A trap was laid and Bhagwan was  arrested, police said.

Bhagwan told the police that in order to provide financial help to his gang members, who were behind bars and to pursue their cases, he started targeting wealthy people in the locality to extort money.        

Bhagwan belongs to a middle-class family of Village Nangal Devat in Vasant Kunj and has studied upto high school. Thereafter, he came in contact with one Pradeep Babloo in his village, who was an active member of Manoj Morkhedi-Anil Ganja gang. He joined the gang to earn quick money. 

In March 2011,  Bhagwan along with his gang members and gangsters Manoj Morkhedi, Anil Ganja, Pradeep and others kidnapped one Mohit Hooda, a resident of  Rohtak. The victim is a lecturer at PDM College, Bahadurgarh. They demanded Rs 50 lakh from him for his safe release. Later, the accused persons were arrested.

After coming out of jail, Bhagwan started participating actively in the gang’s activities with Pradeep and has been involved in several cases of attempt to murder, Arms Act and rape, etc., in Chhawla, Najafgarh and Vasant Kunj.

Police said Morkhedi and Ganja are lodged in jail.