Date:21/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/21/stories/2008022160841200.htm

New Delhi

Former councillor held on murder charge

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Ashok Jain, former Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Standing Committee, has been arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police on charges of his involvement in the murder of a builder at Hauz Qazi builder here last September. He was produced in a local court that sent him to one-day police remand. According to the police, Mr. Jain was summoned to the Inter-State Cell of the Crime Branch on Wednesday for interrogation in connection with the murder of builder Vijay Yadav at Hauz Qazi. Based on his disclosure, the police arrested him. He has been booked on charges of being a part of a conspiracy to eliminate the builder.

Vijay was shot dead in the Sitaram Bazaar area of Hauz Qazi on September 29 last year by contract killers. His elder brother was then an office-bearer in the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. The Crime Branch took over the case and initiated investigations.

The alleged involvement of Ashok Jain came to light during interrogation of two alleged criminals, Bhisham and Vijay Gola, members of a gang headed by Dimple Tyagi, who were arrested by the Crime Branch in the Capital. Dimple had by then been killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police. The police suspect that he was one among those who had attacked the builder.