The Hindu : New Delhi News : Encounter specialist killed by his own gun

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Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008
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New Delhi

Encounter specialist killed by his own gun

Staff Reporter

Murder attributed to dispute with friend over sharing of profit from a property deal

Delhi Police “Encounter Specialist” ACP Rajbir Singh (left) who was shot dead allegedly by (right) property dealer Vijay Bhardwaj.

NEW DELHI: A day after the cold-blooded murder of Delhi Police “encounter specialist” Rajbir Singh in neighbouring Gurgaon late on Monday night, the police described it as a direct fall-out of his longstanding dispute with a two-decade-old friend, Vijay Bhardwaj, over sharing of profit money in a property deal.

Forty-eight-year-old Rajbir Singh, posted with the Special Operations Squad of the Delhi Police Crime Branch recently as Assistant Commissioner of Police, was shot dead allegedly by Bhardwaj, a property dealer, in his office near Sukhrali village in Gurgaon following an altercation. For almost two hours after the murder, Bhardwaj drove around town in his car before eventually ringing up some media persons and surrendering at the Gurgaon Sector 40 police station.

“The accused has surrendered and confessed to having committed the murder. As per his disclosure, the murder was committed over sharing of profit money that both of them had made in a property deal. Bhardwaj owed several lakhs to the police officer and was under tremendous pressure to return the money. When all his attempts to arrange the amount failed, he decided to kill Rajbir,” said Gurgaon Police Commissioner Mahender Lal on Tuesday.

Rajbir Singh, who was credited with over 50 deadly “encounters” with terrorists and dreaded criminals and enjoyed ‘Z’ Plus security cover, reached the property dealer’s office, “Vijay Associates”, around 8 p.m. accompanied by his personal security guard in his official vehicle. He told his escort to wait at a nearby petrol refilling station as he had to discuss some “personal matter” with a friend. As Rajbir arrived at the property dealer’s office, Bhardwaj asked his servant to fetch two bottles of soda and later told him to leave. It was after the servant left that an altercation ensued and Rajbir Singh allegedly threatened Bhardwaj with dire consequences if he did not return the money.

The argument purportedly took an ugly turn and Bhardwaj whipped out a revolver and allegedly shot Rajbir thrice from behind at point blank range. Two of the bullets pierced Rajbir’s head and he collapsed and died on the spot. Ironically the revolver was reportedly procured by the accused from the police officer himself a couple of days ago. “We found four glasses and two soda bottles at the spot and it seems both had consumed alcohol. But we are awaiting the post-mortem report to establish whether the two were drunk or if Rajbir Singh’s drink was laced with some drugs to make him unconscious before committing the murder,” said a senior police officer.

Speaking to a Hindi TV news channel, Bhardwaj said: “I was feeling very depressed because of his repeated demands for money. I had even thought of committing suicide, but my family members found the suicide letter and stopped me from taking the extreme step. I was supposed to make the payment on Monday, but could not arrange for the money. Rajbir had threatened to kill me.”

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