Property dealer gunned down in Greater Kailash-1, revenge killing suspected

The builder was shot from a point-blank range by a group of men. Police said the murder of the builder, Raju Ramakant Rao who was allegedly involved in some criminal  cases, was a fallout of some long-standing rivalry between two gangs. 

Police have <g data-gr-id="55">arrsted</g> the main accused, Deepak Gautam, and his four associates. According to the police, Rao was wanted in several cases registered against him at the Ambedkar Nagar, Okhla and Sangam Vihar police stations. He was going on his motorcycle when the accused in a Scorpio car cornered him.

According to Joint commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak, Gautam has confessed to <g data-gr-id="59">have</g> killed the builder. About six months ago, <g data-gr-id="58">tension</g> between Gautam and Rao grew when the former and his gang killed Rohit, an associate of latter. 

According to the police, to avenge his associate’s murder, Rao allegedly got Gautam’s aide Ajay killed inside Tihar Jail. After which, Gautam allegedly hatched a plan to eliminate Rao.

Around <g data-gr-id="50">2:15am</g> on Sunday, a police patrolling party heard gunshots and rushed to a red light near Sadiq Nagar at the BRT corridor. Policemen saw a group of men firing at Rao. Seeing the police vehicle, the men fled in their car.

The police informed senior officials in the neighbourhood. All major roads were barricaded and the police chased the Scorpio till it rammed into the iron gates of a park at R&S Block. After being cornered, the assailants tried to escape, taking advantage of the darkness.

According to the police, the entire area was sealed and search operations were carried out. After a rigorous four-hour search, the police arrested Gautam and four others from inside the park. The search operation went on till the morning.

Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South East, said: “We cordoned off the entire area. Fifteen teams jointly carried out <g data-gr-id="52">search</g> operation. We have arrested Deepak Gautam, the prime accused, and four of his associates.”

The arrest of the accused within four hours of the incident was due to the alacrity of the police teams, he said. The police have recovered 22 cartridges, one country-made pistol and other ammunition from the possession of the arrested.

A case under sections 304/ 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 25/27of the Arms Act has been registered at the Greater Kailash police station. 

According to senior police officials, the driver of the Scorpio is on the run and a search is on to apprehend him.