Even though slain BSP leader Deepak Bharadwaj's younger son, Nitesh, has been arrested in the case, Delhi police is yet to establish the motive behind his involvement in the conspiracy that was hatched to kill his father. Meanwhile, sources in the police say, that the next arrest could be that of Bharadwaj's wife, Ramesh Kumari, who is likely to be arrested in the next few days.
Delhi police has also failed to trace the whereabouts of Mahant Pratibhanand, who has been accused of having played a major role in the politician-businessman's contract killing. 'An amount of Rs. 1 lakh has been announced as prize money for whoever provides information about him' said an official. According to a source in Delhi police, Ramesh Kumari (Bharadwaj's wife) is likely to be arrested soon. Kumari was placed under the scanner soon after Bhardwaj was murdered at his 35-acre farmhouse on 26 March, and she has remained one of the prime suspects in the case throughout. Earlier, a close aide to Bharadwaj had also claimed that Kumari was involved in plotting her husband's murder, alleging that she was greedy for money.
'So far we have no evidence against Kumari. Her son son Nitesh, who was recently arrested, has taken all the blame for the crime. But even if she is not charged with murder, she is likely to be booked under section-120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC). Kumar will possibly be arrested soon,' the source said. Chhaya Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (south) however, said, 'So far we don't have sufficient evidence to book Ramesh Kumari under any sections of the IPC. However, none of the family members, including Kumari has been given a clean chit in the case yet.' Meanwhile, on Friday police confirmed that south Delhi police, with the help of the crime branch, has been successful in nabbing another accused in the case, Pradeep, who has been accused of supplying the weapons to arrested shooters- Purushottam Rana and Sunil Mann. An official in the department said, 'Pradeep was arrested from Nanakhedi Village. He had been hiding in south Delhi for the past seven days.'
Mahant Pratibhanand and Raju (another person accused of supplying the weapons used in the murder) are still on the run.
Delhi police has also failed to trace the whereabouts of Mahant Pratibhanand, who has been accused of having played a major role in the politician-businessman's contract killing. 'An amount of Rs. 1 lakh has been announced as prize money for whoever provides information about him' said an official. According to a source in Delhi police, Ramesh Kumari (Bharadwaj's wife) is likely to be arrested soon. Kumari was placed under the scanner soon after Bhardwaj was murdered at his 35-acre farmhouse on 26 March, and she has remained one of the prime suspects in the case throughout. Earlier, a close aide to Bharadwaj had also claimed that Kumari was involved in plotting her husband's murder, alleging that she was greedy for money.
'So far we have no evidence against Kumari. Her son son Nitesh, who was recently arrested, has taken all the blame for the crime. But even if she is not charged with murder, she is likely to be booked under section-120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC). Kumar will possibly be arrested soon,' the source said. Chhaya Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (south) however, said, 'So far we don't have sufficient evidence to book Ramesh Kumari under any sections of the IPC. However, none of the family members, including Kumari has been given a clean chit in the case yet.' Meanwhile, on Friday police confirmed that south Delhi police, with the help of the crime branch, has been successful in nabbing another accused in the case, Pradeep, who has been accused of supplying the weapons to arrested shooters- Purushottam Rana and Sunil Mann. An official in the department said, 'Pradeep was arrested from Nanakhedi Village. He had been hiding in south Delhi for the past seven days.'
Mahant Pratibhanand and Raju (another person accused of supplying the weapons used in the murder) are still on the run.