Amaravati Mall firing case: ‘Key’ murder accused arrested following raid

According to the police, Sameer, who was currently living on rent in Saini Mohalla, Pinjore, was nabbed following a raid.

On the night of June 5, Sonu Nolta (20) was killed, while his cousin, Nitin, alias Prince, was critically injured after two assailants opened indiscriminate firing outside the Amaravati Mall in Pinjore town in Panchkula district.

Prince told the police that he and Sonu had come to watch a movie at Amaravati Mall with their female friends. After watching the movie, when they were moving back, assailants — Piyush and Ankush — came towards Sonu, brandishing pistols in their hands, and opened indiscriminate firing on the driver side of the SUV (Scorpio), driven by Sonu. On being hit by multiple bullets, Sonu fell on the car seat, and died on the spot, whereas one bullet hit on the leg of Prince.

Meanwhile, during the investigation, it was revealed that Sameer had formed close ties with Piyush Piplani of Pinjore and later Ankush Solanki. The trio, along with another accomplice, allegedly conspired to murder Sonu to establish dominance in the area.

According to DCP (Crime) Amit Kumar, the accused conducted a recce in a Nexon car before executing their plan. On the night of June 5, they ambushed Sonu, who had come to watch a movie at Amaravati Mall, and opened fire on him, killing him on the spot. Shortly after the murder, they uploaded a video of the incident on social media.

Police traced the IP address linked to the video. During their escape, one of the accused accidentally discharged a weapon, injuring Piyush in the hand. The next day, the suspects abandoned the getaway vehicle at the PGIMER Chandigarh. Police recovered the vehicle along with an empty shell from the crime scene.

The DCP added that eight special teams, working in tandem with the SIT, are actively conducting raids across suspected hideouts in Himachal Pradesh, including Baddi and Parwanoo, as well as in Chandigarh and Mohali. While suspects, relatives, and close associates are being detained and questioned intensively.

The police are closely tracking the accused’s bank accounts, call records, mobile locations, and digital activities. In addition, past associates of Ankush and Piyush are also being questioned in connection with their criminal history to extract more clues.

The DCP emphasised that the case is being pursued with full force, and every lead is being followed thoroughly. The goal is to arrest all remaining culprits at the earliest.

Sameer was presented before the court on Thursday and was in five days of police custody. During the hearing in court, Nitin, alias Prince, the cousin of the deceased Sonu Noltha — who was also shot in the leg during the incident — identified Sameer in court and confirmed his involvement in the crime.

The police are now using Sameer’s interrogation to track down the remaining accused.

A case under charges of murder and the Arms Act has already been registered against him at Pinjore police station.

Meanwhile, forensic experts are examining technical evidence to strengthen the case, police said.