Police claimed to have solved the sensational murder of ayurvedic doctor NK Gupta, who was stabbed to death at his Ramkrishna Bagh Colony clinic on Thursday evening. The quick breakthrough in the sensational killing may earn the cops a few brownie points. But the fact that the main accused Sachin was a listed criminal and present in the city has put a question mark on the efficacy of the much-touted antigoonda drive.

Earlier, SP ( East) OP Tripathy said one of the killers, Suraj, has been arrested while three others, including the prime accused Sachin alias Cheena, are still absconding. Police have launched a manhunt for Sachin in Ujjain.

Police said Sachin, his brother-in-law Suraj, Sonu and Pintu had gone to Gupta's clinic for treatment. Gupta reprimanded them for smoking inside the clinic and also told them to remove their shoes. At this the killers countered by pointing out that they ( Gupta and his son Kuldeep) were also wearing shoes. One thing led to another and the would- be patients turned assailants and stabbed Gupta.