Bar code on liquor bottle leads cops to bizman’s killers

Lucknow: Police cracked murder case of a property dealer in the upscale Sushant Golf City area with the help of a bar code printed on a liquor bottle recovered from the crime scene, officials said on Thursday.

Body of Sachin alias Kalia (30), a property dealer from Rewatapur under PGI Police Station limits, was found with a gunshot wound to the head near a school along Nagram Road in Awadh Vihar Yojana on May 5.

Police said the breakthrough came after forensic and surveillance teams examined a liquor bottle recovered near the body. Through its bar code, investigators traced the liquor shop from where it had been purchased shortly before the murder.

Using CCTV footage from the liquor outlet and nearby locations, investigators spotted suspects Santosh Kumar Yadav (40) and Kamal Yadav (37) purchasing liquor and later moving towards the crime scene. Police also reconstructed the victim’s last movements and found that he had attended the liquor party organised by the accused before being taken to a secluded location and shot dead.

ADCP South Zone Vasant Kumar said police arrested Santosh and his relative Kamal in connection with the murder.

During interrogation, Santosh told police he operated a kiosk selling cigarettes, gutkha and water near Bhatta Chauraha and was frequently in dispute with Sachin over dues. Sachin took goods on credit, refused to pay and threatened the shopkeeper whenever money was demanded.

Investigators said the accused invited Sachin to a liquor party on May 3 and deliberately made him consume alcohol excessively. Once heavily intoxicated, he was taken to an isolated area where Kamal allegedly shot him in the temple using the Sachin’s country-made pistol.
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