Cops look for motive behind murder of property dealer in 3 land deals

Lucknow: Two days after a 35-year-old property dealer was killed in broad daylight in a busy marketplace of the city, investigators are yet to establish the identities of the killers.

Still looking for clues, the investigators on Friday said they are scrutinising three contentious land transactions linked to the victim that may have provided the motive for the murder.

Sandeep Singh was shot dead outside his office in Kalli Paschim market on Wednesday afternoon. A 50-second CCTV clip captured the murder, purportedly showing two motorcycle-borne assailants firing repeatedly at close range and continuing to shoot even after the victim collapsed.

Of the three properties under scrutiny, the first concerns a disputed parcel of land in Kakori, where rival claimants were allegedly attempting to grab the property.

The second involves a real-estate transaction in Mohanlalganj, while the third pertains to a plotting project in the Golf City area.

Investigators are also analysing Singh’s financial records, business partnerships, recent meetings, call details and property transactions to identify individuals who may have had a motive to eliminate him.

According to police, Singh arrived at his office, operating under the name PSS Builders Private Limited, along with his driver. He stepped out of his vehicle and was walking towards the office while talking on his mobile phone when two men arrived on a motorcycle. Witnesses told police that the rider was wearing a helmet while the pillion rider had concealed his identity with a white scarf and cap. The rider allegedly kept the motorcycle running while the pillion passenger got off and approached Singh.

Moments later, gunshots rang out through the busy marketplace.

Singh collapsed after being hit by the initial rounds, but the attacker continued firing even after he fell to the ground.

Since then, several police teams have been formed to identify and track down the shooters.

Cops looking into contract killing angle

With assailants arriving on a motorcycle fitted with a faulty or deliberately obscured registration plate, investigators believe the murder may have been executed by hired shooters.
Despite using a country-made firearm, the gunman displayed remarkable precision. Three bullets struck Singh — one on the face, one in the stomach and another in the neck — targeting vital areas of the body. The precision of the attack, choice of target areas, use of a concealed identity and escape on a motorcycle with an unreadable number plate have led investigators to examine the contract killing angle closely.

Chose escape route with no CCTVs

Investigators believe the killers deliberately chose Kisan Path as their escape route because they were aware of gaps in CCTV coverage along parts of the corridor. The absence of cameras at the crime scene and along the sections of the suspected escape route has complicated efforts to reconstruct the attackers’ movements. Investigators are now piecing together footage from toll plazas, fuel stations, private establishments and connecting roads to trace the motorcycle used in the crime.