NEW DELHI: A contract killer, wanted for the murder of a Samajwadi Party leader, has been arrested by South East Delhi Police.
Police said that Mannan (33), a criminal with a reward of Rs 12,000 from UP police, was arrested on a basis of a tip-off that he would be coming near 'Moolchand Paranthawala' in Lajpat Nagar on Sunday.
Sources added that during his incarceration, Manan had come into contact with Salim, a notorious gangster, who gave Manan the contract to kill Samajwadi Party leader and property dealer Mohammad Zaid Shakeel.
However, it was the case of one Mohammad Zaki, who was shot in the leg by Manan, that led to his apprehension.
During investigation of this shooting case, it came to light that Zaki was having the matrimonial dispute with his wife.
DCP (South East) Romil Baaniya on Monday said that Zaki and Manan had become acquainted with each other during their stay at Tihar jail.
"After their release, Manan started visiting Zaki's home frequently and came in contact with Zaki's wife. She reportedly told she wanted to leave her husband, as she had already married another person and wanted to settle in Dubai," Baaniya said.
In order to instigate Manan to kill her husband, the woman reportedly told him that Zaki wanted to have him arrested in a murder case, but Manan refused. Eventually, she and her brother Sarfaraz offered Manan Rs 5 lakh to have Zaki killed, and gave him an advance of Rs 50,000.
To win her confidence, Manan said he would first shoot Zaki on the thigh to prove that he can easily kill him, but only after receiving full payment.