New Delhi, April 9, 2013, DHNS:
Two weeks after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Deepak Bhardwaj was shot dead at his farmhouse in Rajokiri, police have claimed that the younger son of the 62-year-old leader worked out a “conspiracy” to murder him.
Nitesh, 36, of M K Society at Dwarka sector 11 is alleged to have given a Rs 5-crore contract on his father to his lawyer Baljeet Singh Sehrawat, 51, of Nangal Dewat village in Vasant Kunj, police claimed on Tuesday.
Chhaya Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (south) said: “Nitesh and Baljeet were arrested on Tuesday for being the mastermind in the murder case. Baljeet in turn had entrusted the job to absconding Swami Pratibhanand.”
Nitesh blamed Bhardwaj’s strained relationship with him and other members of the family as the reason for his decision to kill the BSP leader.
“Bhardwaj’s family members were staying separately and were living a difficult life in absence of adequate support,” Sharma added.
Bhardwaj forbade Nitesh from entering his farmhouse and was not intending to give him his fair share of the property, prompting the latter to contact his lawyer-cum-property dealer Baljeet, who was looking for funding to contest elections from the Mahipalpur assembly seat.
Baljeet was in regular contact with Bhardwaj and also worked as his commission agent representing the BSP leader in property dealings.
“When Nitesh called Baljeet to find a solution for the problems created by his father, Baljeet offered to kill Bhardwaj for money. The amount was finalised at Rs 5 crore and Rs 50 lakh was given in advance to meet expenses. The reminder was to be paid after the execution,” Sharma said. Meanwhile, Baljeet got in touch with Haridwar-based spiritual guru Pratibhanand alias Machendranath, 48, with whom he was in regular contact.
Pratibhanand, who is from Beed district in Maharashtra, then entrusted the job to his long-time disciple and driver Purushottam, who roped in other criminals. Four others, including shooters Purushottam and Sunil Mann, have already been arrested.
