The controversial shootout has been contested by the family, who have termed it as fake. Vashisht’s wife - Priyanka on Sunday claimed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has promised a magisterial enquiry into the incident.
“Manoj main Delhi Police <g data-gr-id="43">se</g> <g data-gr-id="44">hoon</g>. Mere <g data-gr-id="45">sath</g> <g data-gr-id="46">chalo</g>...” (Manoj! I am from Delhi Police. Come with me) were the words that panicked 45-year-old Vashisht at Sagar Ratna restaurant in central Delhi, the police claimed on Sunday. The wanted criminal carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest.
Receiving a specific tip-off, a team of seven to eight persons had reached the restaurant in civil dresses. Six of the team members were present at the first floor of the eatery, where Manoj was supposed to come while one officer was standing on the staircase and the other at the entrance.
“The moment, the two officers approached him and introduced themselves as police officers, he climbed on the chair and pulled out a pistol. The two officers tried to overpower <g data-gr-id="52">him</g> but he open fired. In retaliation, the other police officer present on the first floor shot at him, and the bullet hit him in the head. He fell on the ground and when he was taken to a nearby hospital in a PCR van he succumbed to the bullet injury,” said SN <g data-gr-id="51">Shrivastava ,</g> Special Commissioner of Police, Special Cell. But the whole episode remained undigested by the family and relatives of Manoj, who called the gun-battle as a fake encounter. “My husband was not a terrorist that the police have killed him like this. If he was not willing to surrender, they should have let him go and could have arrested him later. But the Delhi Police intentionally killed my husband,” cried Priyanka, wife of the deceased.
Speaking to Millennium Post, Vikram Bhati, Manoj’s friend <g data-gr-id="41">said :</g> “He was a permanent resident of Delhi. He never fled away from here, then what was the need of killing him. He was not a dreaded criminal nor a terrorist. I agree that he had a criminal <g data-gr-id="40">background</g> but he was only booked in cheating cases, nothing beyond.”
According to a senior police official, Manoj had a licensed pistol and has set up companies such as RC Builders & Developers, RCS Finance Ltd. and RC Property Ltd., among others, under the banner of RCS Group. “He had carried fraudulent acts and opened a company in the name of Wealth Care India and looted public money (more than Rs 3 crore). He had issued cheques that were later bounced for lack of funds. He had issued threats to those who asked their money back and he often moves with 10-12 bouncers/shooters,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the wife of the deceased met Rajnath Singh, Home Minister and Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi seeking transparent probe in the case. “<g data-gr-id="60">Kejrwial</g> has ensured that a <g data-gr-id="55">three panel</g> doctor would conduct the post-mortem of Manoj that is to be conducted on Monday morning and a magisterial enquiry will be announced to probe the case. <g data-gr-id="53">Also</g> CCTV footage of the restaurant would be provided to the family,” Priyanka told Millennium Post quoting Kejriwal’s assurance.