Mystery shrouds Bharadwaj murder

Cops clueless about motive behind killing

 Even after conducting raids in at least four states, Delhi Police are yet to unravel the mystery behind 62-year-old Bahujan Samaj Party leader-cum-businessman Deepak Bhardwaj’s murder despite five days since the incident.

A police officer close to the investigation said the assailants have been identified, but the motive behind the conspiracy is still not clear.

“We are waiting for evidence to confront the accused while interrogation,” sources said, adding the killers received around Rs 1 crore.

While some people are stated to be under detention, no arrests have been made in the case.

One of the detainee has been identified as Rakesh, a property dealer at outer Delhi’s Alipur.

Rakesh’s questioning identified the shooters as Purushottam Rana alias Monu and Sunil of Khera Kalan village. Purushottam and Sunil purchased the Skoda car from Rakesh a day before the incident. They returned the car to Rakesh after shooting Bhardwaj, and fled in their Hyundai Santro.

Bhardwaj’s family members alleged that a female employee could be behind the incident, sources added.

“Police are looking into their allegation. Nothing is concrete now,” a source said.
It is also claimed that a case of rape was lodged against Bhardwaj with Mayapuri police station.

“Investigating officers will check if an FIR was registered against Bhardwaj. If the FIR was registered, they will take the statement of the complainant,” the source added.

It has also come to light that Bhardwaj’s family members are not cooperating with police in the probe. The case is now likely to be handed over to the crime branch or special cell.

Bhardwaj, who was gunned down at his farmhouse on Tuesday, was a BSP candidate from the west Delhi constituency for the 15th Lok Sabha elections in May 2009. He was reportedly the richest candidate for the elections.

The 62-year-old stayed alone at Nitesh Kunj farmhouse in south Delhi’s Rajokiri, while his wife Ramesh Kumari and younger son Nitesh stayed in Dwarka. Bhardwaj’s elder son, Hitesh, stays in Vasant Vihar.