Trader held for contract killing of Khemka over land dispute; Rs4L deal comes to light
atna: In a major breakthrough, police on Tuesday arrested trader Ashok Kumar Sao, the alleged mastermind behind the sensational murder of prominent businessman Gopal Khemka.
The arrest followed the confession of the alleged shooter, Umesh Yadav, who claimed Sao contracted him to kill Khemka for Rs 4 lakh.
Sao was arersted from his flat under the Gandhi Maidan police station limits during a raid late on Monday night, shortly after police nabbed Umesh. Investigators suspect that an old enmity between the two businessmen over land disputes led to the fatal conspiracy, though the exact cause of their conflict is yet to be fully established.
Officials said further analysis of Khemka's cellphone records and laptop would help reveal the complete picture.
Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kartikeya K Sharma said the investigation began by tracing the motorcycle used in the crime, which led to Umesh's arrest. "During questioning, he confessed to the murder and disclosed that the weapon used in the crime was hidden in a locked room on the upper floor of his house.
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A subsequent search led to the recovery of the firearm, along with 59 bullets and two magazines containing 14 rounds," the SSP told reporters.
Sharma added that Umesh had known Sao for about a year and a half, having met him at a wedding. Since then, he had worked for the trader. "About six weeks ago, Sao plotted Khemka's murder and hired Umesh to arrange weapons. An advance of Rs 50,000 was paid and the balance Rs 3.5 lakh was to be given after the job.
The deal was settled at Rs 4 lakh," he said.
Initially, Umesh approached local shooters in the Patna City area and contacted known arms supplier Vikas alias Raja. However, after Raja demanded a higher fee, Umesh decided to carry out the shooting himself, using a weapon provided by Sao.
According to the SSP, Umesh had been briefed on Khemka's daily routine. "He was told that the target usually arrived at Bankipore Club around 8.30pm and left by 11.30pm.
On the night of July 4, Umesh followed Khemka and shot him outside the gate of his apartment complex around 11.45pm," Sharma said.
The next day, Sao allegedly met Umesh at J P Ganga Path under the Malsalami police station area and handed over Rs 3.5 lakh in cash. "A cellphone and sim card were purchased in Umesh's name for communication to shield Sao from being implicated. After the payment, Umesh returned the handset but kept the sim," Sharma said.
During a search of Sao's flat, police recovered Rs 6.5 lakh in cash, a 9mm pistol with 17 rounds and numerous land-related documents.
Director general of police (DGP) Vinay Kumar said police had retrieved several phone conversations between Sao and other businessmen involving land deals and disputes. "We are reviewing all communications to ascertain the motive behind Khemka's murder and the possible business-related conflict," he said.
The DGP also played an audio recording of a heated argument between Sao and another businessman during the press briefing.
Kumar added that Sao had been questioned earlier in connection with the 2002 Manoj Kamalia murder case and his name had surfaced in the killing of Santosh Tebriwal. He was also jailed over a cold storage dispute in Biharsharif. "In every case, land dispute has been a recurring factor," the DGP said.
The case has also drawn parallels with the 2018 murder of Khemka's son Gunjan in Vaishali district, allegedly also over a land dispute. In that incident, the shooter Abhishek and Khemka were both killed. Police have said they will examine the role of individuals, both in jail and outside, in Gunjan's murder as well.
Investigators suspect the possible involvement of jailed criminal Ajay Verma, currently lodged in Beur Jail, in connection with both cases.
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