Karni Sena chief shooters held, were promised life abroad like Brar: Police

On Saturday, in a joint operation by the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and the Rajasthan Police, the two were arrested from Chandigarh along with one Udham Singh, who was allegedly a “facilitator”. Ramveer Jaat, who had allegedly arranged for Nitin’s stay in Jaipur, was arrested separately by the Rajasthan Police on Saturday.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the National Investigation Agency to take over the investigation from the local police and probe a larger conspiracy into it.

Gangster Rohit Godara, who has close links to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, had claimed responsibility for the killing through a Facebook post soon after the murder took place.

Rajasthan Police said Rohit Rathore and Nitin were almost constantly on the move after shooting Gogamedi. From Jaipur, they went to Didwana in Nagaur by bus, and then hired a taxi to reach Sujangarh, also in Nagaur. From Sujangarh, they boarded a bus and got down at Dharuhera in Haryana, on the Rajasthan border.

A Delhi Police team under DCP Amit Goel and ACP Umesh Barthwal were also keeping a track of their movements.

“They were planning to flee to Mandi [from Jaipur], but went to Didwana after they saw their photos on TV and other media. They then took a bus to Delhi…and got off at Dharuhera in Haryana,” an officer said.

Police teams were sent there and found CCTV footage of the two taking an autorickshaw to Rewari railway station, and from there they were tracked to Hisar, where they were joined by Udham. The three of them then went to Manali.

“We knew they were going from there to Chandigarh, and sent teams there. As they were checking into a hotel, we arrested them,” the officer said. The accused were brought to Jaipur on Sunday.

Jaipur Commissioner Biju George Joseph said that while police teams on the field were in hot pursuit of the accused, other teams were analysing technical evidence, going through CCTV footage, and mapping the transfer of weapons and money.

As per police, Gogamedi’s murder is linked to gangsters settled abroad. Rohit Godara is thought to be hiding somewhere in Europe, and has aides in parts of Europe and Canada, police said.

DCP Goel said one of the shooters, Nitin, was in the Army. “We are checking with the Indian Army about his status in the force. As per our information, he joined the Army in 2019 and was posted in Alwar. For over a month, he has been on the run and joined Godara’s gang…” Goel said.

According to police in Jaipur, Nitin came into contact with gangster Godara through his friend Bhawani Singh alias Ronnie. Nitin and Ronnie had been embroiled in another case, involving firing upon police, and had been hiding together in Hisar, where they also came into contact with Udham.

Police said Ronnie was already in touch with Godara and Virendra Charan – a key associate of Godara. He got Nitin to talk to them via phone, and they convinced Nitin to carry out the murder in Jaipur, police said, adding that Ronnie then sent Nitin to Jaipur in a taxi on November 28.

Rohit Rathore, the other shooter, also allegedly got in contact with Godara via Virendra Charan.

“The men were assured they would be taken care of by [gangster Lawrence] Bishnoi and his aides. They were told they would get a passport within 15-20 days and would get a chance to leave India and ‘live free’ like Brar. Godara even sent weapons worth Rs 50,000 to kill one man…” an officer in Delhi said.

On December 5, Nitin met Rohit Rathore, and together, in Naveen Shekhawat’s vehicle, they went to Gogamedi’s residence on December 5 and shot him dead.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Jaipur Commissioner Joseph said that while four people have been arrested in the case, three others – Ronnie, one Rahul Kothal, and Sameer alias Sandeep – “who are the main conspirators” are being brought from Bhondsi jail in Gurugram through a production warrant in connection with the murder, for a total of seven arrests.

On Naveen Shekhawat, who was also killed by Rohit Rathore and Nitin, the Commissioner reiterated that “his role is as equal as the persons we have nabbed”. Shekhawat had a direct link with Godara, he said.