Victim was a top bookie

NEW DELHI: Parvinder Arora, who was murdered outside his restaurant in Model Town on Monday, reportedly figured among the top 10 bookies in the city.
Arora’s links with the satta world had come into the open last year when he was arrested while organising a betting racket on an India-Australia cricket match. He was arrested from Rajinder Nagar, and a laptop and some mobile phones were seized.Five others, identified as Sanjay, Neelkamal, Puran Chand, Harish and Tulsi, were also arrested.
The police suspect the murder could be linked to Arora’s satta operations. ‘‘The volume of money involved is mind-boggling,’’ said an investigator.
A senior official said the investigation could also shed light on the nexus between satta operators and the police.
Sources said Arora’s house had recently been raided by the income tax department, following a tip-off.
‘‘Arora owned a factory at Udyog Vihar in Gurgaon, which he had rented out,’’ said a police official.
The victim’s family appears unaware of his satta operations. ‘‘His younger brother lives in Rohini and is not linked to his business,’’ said an investigator.
The police said Arora had earlier been arrested on a murder charge, but was acquitted. He was also facing charges for allegedly assaulting sales tax officials in Sadar Bazar.
The police said he had been actively involved in city politics and once held a post in the Youth Congress.