South Delhi shooting: Sleuths see killing as a message to big businessmen

NEW DELHI: Shooters from Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh and the Trans-Yamuna region allegedly bumped off Dubai-based entrepreneur Nadir Shah in south Delhi's Greater Kailash I on Thursday night, a probe has revealed. Delhi Police's Special Cell has managed to detain around seven suspects — four of whom have been placed under arrest — for the brazen killing that TOI reported on Friday.Two of the main shooters, captured on CCTV, have been identified as Madhur and Raju but are on the run.
As of now, gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Rohit Godara and Hashim Baba are being considered the masterminds of the shootout. While several motives are being floated, investigators believe it was a ‘symbolic killing' aimed at sending a strong signal to big businessmen in both Dubai and India.

There were several reasons why Shah was a target. He was a friend of south Delhi gangster Rohit Chaudhary and another entity codenamed K. "This irked Bishnoi, who was apparently informed that Shah had a multi-crore rupee transaction with K," said a source. "The Bishnoi group was also being tipped on how Shah used his contacts to target Baba's men. So, they decided to send a message."
A land shark, codenamed AJ, from south Delhi but now settled in Dubai and another criminal from northeast Delhi named Sabir are also under the scanner for involvement in the conspiracy.
The Azamgarh module — comprising Akash, Prince and Vishal — arrived in the city on Thursday and stayed in Jamia Nagar. Baba's men allegedly provided them logistical support and weapons. Some other men like Naveen from Sonipat also joined them. They reached the gym in GKI in an autorickshaw and a two-wheeler. They zeroed in on the target who was standing outside the gym, and Madhur pulled the trigger around 10.45pm, said a police officer. The assailants fired 15 rounds, nine of which hit Shah. They then fled, some going to Seelampur and the others elsewhere. Akash, Prince, Vishal and Naveen were arrested with a copy of a US-made Ruger pistol and dozens of bullets early on Friday.
Around midnight, a Facebook account in the name of Rohit Godara claimed responsibility for the murder. "Our brother Samir Baba, lodged in Tihar Jail, had sent a message that Nadir was creating obstacles in our business and was friends with our enemies, so we got him killed. Whoever helps our enemies will meet the same fate," the post from a day-old account stated. Godara is the man Friday of Bishnoi and Goldy Brar and has been behind many killings across the country, including that of Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Gogamedi. The post is cryptic, an investigator said, because it doesn't mention Bishnoi, which is usually the case after such killings but mentions instead the names of associates like Gogi Maan and Kala Rana. Godara likely funded the shooters, the cops say.
Sources said that the killing has a strong connection with the Trans-Yamuna region and the Baba, the area's most dreaded gangster, has emerged as a key character in the plot. His rivalry with incarcerated south Delhi gangster Rohit Chaudhary is being probed. "Baba was irked as Shah and Chaudhary were not letting his men operate in south Delhi areas like Aya Nagar, etc., using their contacts. Nadir was also an informer for some cops and used the connection to tip off police about the Baba gang's activities," said a source. Samir, mentioned in the Facebook post, is also a gangster who operates in northeast Delhi on Baba's instructions but is currently in jail after the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital shooting in July.
Baba's alliance with Bishnoi has been in police knowledge for over three years. "Bishnoi had initially tasked Baba to assassinate Siddhu Moose Wala. Baba's aide, Shahrukh, had conducted a reconnaissance of the slain singer's movements. Shahrukh even reached Mansa in Punjab with weapons, but was unable to carry out the killing," informed a source. Baba, who is in Mandoli jail and faces charges under MCOCA, has over two dozen cases registered against him, including for murder, extortion, attempted murder and violation of the Arms Act.