Gang rivalry led to killing outside Saket court, say police

Three members of the rival gang were arrested by the crime branch’s special investigation unit for killing Prince alias Bihari outside the Saket court complex on May 6.

A week after a 27-year-old man was shot dead outside the Saket court complex, police on Monday said the murder was the fallout of a rivalry between two south Delhi gangs involved in extorting money from betting operators.

Police have arrested three members of a rival gang in the case of murder of a man outside the Saket court complex on May 6. (HT Photo)

Three members of the rival gang — Badal,27, Satender,26, and Asfaq Ahmed, 24 — were arrested by the crime branch’s special investigation unit for killing Prince alias Bihari. The alleged mastermind, Rohit Choudhary, and six others are still at large.

One of the three men was arrested on Sunday afternoon outside a polling station in south Delhi’s Khanpur where he had gone to vote, the police said.

Police said the six missing men include two bikers who had fired indiscriminately at Prince in public view on May 6.

Deputy commissioner of police (crime branch) G Ram Gopal Naik said Prince, a resident of Chirag Dilli, had gone to Saket court for hearing in an attempt to murder case against him on that day.

Around 3 pm, Prince and his four friends, one of them a co-accused, exited the court and were waiting for an autorickshaw when they were attacked.

The attackers continued shooting Prince even as he jumped into a drain to save his life, they said.

A case of murder, criminal conspiracy and common intention under sections 302, 120B, and 34 of Indian Penal Code was registered on the complaint of Nikhil, Prince’s friend and one of the prime eyewitnesses. Nikhil told the police that two men on a bike arrived and opened fire at Prince.

DCP Naik said initial probe indicated at a rivalry between two gangs. Investigators learnt about Prince’s animosity with his rival gang leader, Rohit Choudhary, and they identified people involved in the murder.

“Badal was the first to be arrested outside a polling station in Khanpur on Sunday. His interrogation led to the arrest of Satender and Ahmed,” he added.

The three men told police both Choudhary and Prince wanted to establish their supremacy in the extortion business in south Delhi.

Both of them used to collect “protection money” from betting operators.

“Around a year ago, Prince had abused and threatened Choudhary publicly after which the latter decided to kill him. Chaudhary’s gang made two attempts to kill Prince, first in Ghaziabad a month and half ago and again a fortnight ago in Delhi. Prince survived both attacks,” the officer said.

Since Choudhary feared Prince may hit back, he hired two sharpshooters from Uttar Pradesh and executed his plan on May 6, the police said.