Kashipur. Police have arrested Sandeep Singh, alias Sona, a childhood friend of former Deputy Block Chief Hardeep Singh, and his wife, Sandeep Kaur, in connection with Hardeep’s murder. According to police, the killing was allegedly carried out over a long-standing financial dispute involving approximately ₹30 lakh.
Revealing details of the case on Tuesday, SSP Ajay Ganpati said that on September 13, Rajvinder Kaur, a resident of Gulzarpur, lodged a complaint regarding the shooting of her son, Hardeep Singh. During the preliminary investigation, police found evidence of a financial dispute, leading them to suspect Sandeep.
According to police, on the night of the incident, Hardeep and Sandeep first had dinner and drinks at a dhaba (roadside eatery). They later went to Sandeep’s home, where they allegedly consumed illicit liquor. During this time, an argument broke out over money. Police allege that Sandeep picked up Hardeep’s licensed pistol, which was lying on the table, and fired seven rounds. Two bullets struck Hardeep in the abdomen, and he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
The investigation revealed that Sandeep allegedly owed Hardeep approximately ₹30 lakh. In addition, Hardeep had purchased a second-hand bulldozer worth around ₹8 lakh in Sandeep’s name. Sandeep is a farmer who owns around 15 acres of land, and the two had been childhood friends.
Police said that after the shooting, Sandeep himself took the injured Hardeep to the hospital and informed his family about the incident. According to police, he allegedly did so to mislead the investigation and avoid suspicion.
Police further said that Sandeep’s wife, Sandeep Kaur, allegedly helped destroy evidence after the incident by cleaning blood from the room. She was subsequently arrested. Meanwhile, police are also investigating the role of Sandeep’s mother, who was reportedly present at the scene when the incident occurred.
Police have recovered the licensed pistol and cartridges allegedly used in the murder, along with the car involved in the incident. The police team included Kotwali Kunda SHO Dhirendra Kumar, Sub-Inspectors Saurabh Kumar, Govind Mehta, Manoj Dev, Sonu Singh and Naveen Joshi, along with Assistant Sub-Inspector Ravish Ram.
