NEW DELHI: A 34-year-old man was allegedly murdered in northeast Delhi’s Sonia Vihar as part of a conspiracy hatched by a man who wanted to marry his wife, with the accused allegedly hiring two minors for Rs 2 lakh to carry out the killing, police said.Delhi Police has arrested five men and apprehended two minors in connection with the murder of Manish Yadav, who was shot dead near the 4.5 Pushta area on October 13.The alleged conspiracy was uncovered through an analysis of CCTV footage, technical evidence, financial transactions and sustained interrogation, investigators said.According to police, the prime accused, Umesh Maurya, was acquainted with Yadav and his wife. Maurya’s marriage was strained, and a divorce petition was pending in court. He allegedly wanted to marry Yadav’s wife and planned to eliminate him to pursue the relationship.Maurya, who works as a supervisor in the luggage department through a private vendor and has also worked as a pizza delivery executive, allegedly conspired with his associate Vivek Singh to engage two minors to carry out the murder for Rs 2 lakh, police said.The other accused have been identified as Anand, Nitin alias Narender and Bhim Singh, besides the two minors.A PCR call was received at Sonia Vihar police station around 9.10 pm on October 13 regarding a man being shot at the 4.5 Pushta area. A police team reached the spot and learnt that Yadav had been taken to the Sushruta Trauma Centre in Civil Lines, where he succumbed to his injuries.During the initial inquiry, the caller, Vivek Singh, told police that two men riding a motorcycle had shot Yadav in the head at close range.A case was registered under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Arms Act.During the investigation, police found discrepancies in Singh’s account and began scrutinising his role. Investigators alleged that Maurya had called Yadav to the spot shortly before the shooting.Police subsequently uncovered an alleged conspiracy involving Maurya, Singh, Anand and their associates to kill Yadav.According to investigators, Maurya and Singh allegedly arranged for the two minors to carry out the killing. They allegedly procured a pistol through Bhim Singh, a resident of Jharoda Majra in Burari, and obtained cartridges from another person in Usmanpur. A motorcycle was also arranged through an associate whose identity is yet to be established, police said.Investigators alleged that Vivek retained the weapon, ammunition and motorcycle, while most payments linked to the arrangements were made through online transactions.Police said an earlier attempt to execute the plan was allegedly made on October 10. Maurya went to Rohini to bring Yadav to Sonia Vihar, while one of the minors waited near the 4.5 Pushta area. The plan could not be carried out as Yadav declined to return home.On the day of the murder, Maurya allegedly contacted Yadav to find out his whereabouts and learnt that he had gone to Noida with his sister for her examination.Maurya, Vivek and Anand allegedly waited near the 4.5 Pushta area, while the two minors remained nearby on a motorcycle. Anand was allegedly tasked with alerting the shooters when Yadav arrived, police said.To bring Yadav outside his residence, Maurya allegedly asked him to return Rs 1,000 and transferred Rs 100 to him through UPI, asking him to return the amount in cash. When Yadav came outside to hand over the money, the two minors allegedly shot him in the temple, police said.After the shooting, Maurya allegedly helped Yadav towards his residence. Neighbours then took him to the hospital. The motorcycle was later abandoned in the Yamuna Khadar ridge area, while the weapon was allegedly returned to Vivek, investigators said.Bhim Singh, the alleged weapon supplier, was also apprehended. He claimed that the pistol belonged to his deceased brother, police said.The investigation revealed multiple UPI transactions allegedly made by Vivek Singh to one of the minors suspected of firing at Yadav. Police are examining the financial trail along with CCTV footage, witness accounts and forensic evidence to establish the role of each accused.Among the accused, Vivek Singh reportedly has a law degree and claims to be an advocate. He also performs religious ceremonies and rituals as a priest and healer, police said.Maurya works as a supervisor in the luggage department through a private vendor and has also worked as a pizza delivery executive, police said. Anand, a Class 10 dropout, had previously worked as a food delivery executive and had been working with Singh for around five months.Bhim Singh works as a cleaner at a private gym in Kamla Nagar, while Nitin is employed as a contractual data entry operator in the Education Department.Nitin allegedly facilitated a meeting between Bhim Singh and Vivek Singh and received money on behalf of the former, police said.A semi-automatic pistol, two live cartridges and a motorcycle have been recovered, they added.(With Agency Inputs)
