On 8th June (Monday), the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested the prime accused in connection with the double murder case, which took place in the national capital during Diwali of 2024. He has been identified as a 34-year-old Amir, also known as Saleem and Tillan. He is from the Maujpur area of Vijay Park and was nabbed after being shot during a confrontation with authorities in the Shastri Park neighbourhood. He is a close associate of jailed gangster Hasim Baba.
The arrest is a major step forward in the probe into the double homicide that occurred in Shahdara on 31st October 2024. Akash Sharma, a 40-year-old property dealer, and his 16-year-old nephew Rishabh Sharma were fatally shot outside their home in Bihari Colony in Shahdara’s Farsh Bazar area while observing the festival with family members. Krish, the 10-year-old son of Akash Sharma, was also seriously hurt in the assault.
CCTV cameras set up in the area recorded the entire series of events, after which a case was filed against unidentified attackers at the local police station, and a thorough investigation commenced to identify the culprits. The inquiry discovered that two attackers arrived on a scooter and one of them touched Akash Sharma’s feet as a distraction before the pair started shooting randomly at the victims. Two people were killed, and a little boy was gravely hurt in the attack.
A 40-year-old man and his teenage nephew were shot dead, and his 10-year-old son was injured, when two armed men opened fire outside their residence in #Delhi's #Shahdara
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) November 1, 2024
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The reason behind the killings was a financial disagreement. Akash Sharma was given a loan of Rs 70,000 by a 17-year-old distant relative and former associate. However, the former stopped answering calls and refused to pay back the money. Afterwards, the minor reportedly hired a professional shooter, Anil alias Sonu Matka, a notorious criminal with a violent track record, including a murder case and involvement in a significant Rs 1.5 crore robbery in Karol Bagh. The police highlighted that he also continued to have connections to the syndicates of Hasim Baba and Lawrence Bishnoi. The juvenile had been caught soon after the heinous development.
A special police team was assembled in response to a tip-off to locate and apprehend Amir. They set up a trap near the Metro Depot in the Shastri Park locality based on information from a covert informant. According to officials, the operation concluded late on Monday night when he was taken into custody at approximately 10:48 pm.
The authorities informed, “On seeing himself surrounded by a police party, the accused person wiped out his pistol and opened fire, targeting the police party. Then HC Manoj fired in self-defence, targeting the legs of the accused person.” Amir opened fire on the cops in an attempt to evade arrest. He was shot in the leg during the retaliatory action and officially arrested. Four live rounds, four empty shells and a 32-bore handgun were found at the site by the police.
Amir’s links to organised criminal networks and his particular involvement in the conspiracy regarding the double homicide are being looked into by the authorities. He has 14 prior cases in Delhi involving robbery, murder, attempted murder and violations of the Arms Act. Now, a new complaint has been launched at the Crime Branch Police Station under the applicable provisions of the Arms Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
