Trilokpuri gym trainer murder: Main shooter, member of Chhenu gang, arrested, say police

On December 12, Ravi Yadav, a 32-year-old gym trainer received multiple bullet injuries after men on a bike opened fire while he sitting in front of a bonfire at a park in Trilokpuri. Later in the day, Ravi succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

The police had initially tracked Shoib and Sonu to Ajmer, near Dargah Sharif. “While Sonu was arrested on January 2 from Ajmer, Shoib managed to escape taking advantage of the crowd gathered at the dargah,” DCP (Crime) Vikram Singh said.

During interrogation, Sonu allegedly revealed Shoib’s possible hideouts. Shoib’s family members were also questioned, police said. Finally, a WhatsApp number used by Shoib, and its IP address gave him away. “On January 22, Shoib was traced to Lal Kuan on Mehrauli-Badarpur road… He was arrested and admitted to Ravi’s murder,” the DCP said.

Son of an autorickshaw driver and a Class 10 dropout, Shoib hails from Bijnour in UP. “He developed friendship with a local criminal, Tittu Gautam, and murdered one Aman in 2022,” Singh said.

Following this, he had a fallout with Tittu and murdered him in 2023, police said, adding that the murder started a turf war. “Tittu’s gang went on to murder Shoib’s elder brother Siraj alias Mathi,” Singh said.

In 2024, Shoib was arrested in Madhu Vihar for possessing an automatic gun. “In jail, he came in contact with Sonu, close aide and shooter of gangster Irfan aka Chhenu. Even after his release, they stayed in touch,” Singh added.

The police said that through Sonu, Shoib was introduced to Sunil alias Golu, Ravi’s rival and former business partner. “Ravi was earlier involved in an attempted murder case… he had assaulted Sunil, and had been booked,” a senior officer said.

Sources in the police said the dispute began over a decade ago. “Ravi and Sunil were allegedly business associates who fell out over monetary issues. The three (Sonu, Shoib and Sunil) planned to murder Ravi to avenge the attack on Sunil,” an officer said.