Lucknow: Police have arrested the driver of Dhirendra Pratap Singh, a transporter and businessman who was murdered recently. Along with the driver, one of Singh’s associates has also been taken into custody. Authorities allege that the driver was offered a ₹40-lakh contract to carry out the killing, which is believed to be connected to a prolonged land dispute in Unnao. Singh, aged 40, was reportedly embroiled in ongoing tensions related to this land issue prior to his death.
The arrested driver, Ravi Kishore Tiwari, in his confession said he arranged the pistol used in the killing for ₹70,000 from an associate in Gomtinagar extension, according to police. Police said two other suspects, including the alleged mastermind who offered the ₹40-lakh contract to the driver, are still absconding. Police suspect the murder stemmed from a ₹8-crore Unnao property dispute and are probing a suspected land-mafia connection. Police said that Singh’s trusted driver was allegedly roped into the conspiracy after being offered ₹40 lakh to facilitate his employer’s murder.
Singh had two armed guards but had not taken them along that day, police said. Police also arrested his aide, identified as Onkar, who allegedly helped the accused in disposing of Singh’s body after the murder. Police suspect that the mastermind is operative in Unnao. They are probing his role in the property dispute and the murder conspiracy. He was involved in transport and property-related businesses and was chairperson of the Maharana Pratap Charitable Foundation. He was also a member of BJP’s frontal organisation.