A special CBI court has sentenced property dealer Vijay Bharadwaj to life imprisonment for the sensational killing of ‘encounter specialist’ ACP Rajbir Singh of the Delhi Police in Gurgaon in March 2008.
Rajbir was posted with the Special Operations Squad of the Crime Branch. He had been involved in about 50 encounters involving gangsters and militants and was also credited with solving the Parliament and Red Fort terror attack cases of 2001 and 2000, respectively.
CBI special judge, Haryana, R.K. Yadav in his verdict on Wednesday also imposed a Rs 10,000 fine on Bharadwaj.
The murder had taken place on March 24, 2008 at Bharadwaj’s office, where Rajbir had gone to meet him as they were friends.
According to CBI, there was a dispute of Rs 50-60 lakh between the two which led to the murder.
“Accused Vijay Bharadwaj and ACP Rajbir Singh were having business relations with each other. The kind of relations were that ACP Rajbir Singh was providing money in lakhs to accused Vijay Bhardawaj for investing the same in properties with a motive to earn profit,” the judge said in his order.
The CBI submitted before the court that Rajbir, who had Z-plus security, told his escort to wait outside before he entered Bharadwaj’s office.
Both sat down for drinks and after an altercation, Bharadwaj shot Rajbir twice at point blank range.
One bullet hit him in the head and the other grazed his ear and got embedded in a nearby seat. Rajbir died on the spot.
Reacting to the verdict, Rajbir’s wife Narvada Yadav said she was satisfied with the court’s decision.
“I am satisfied with the judgment. He (Rajbir) was a bright officer. It was a loss to the nation. I hope one day Vijay Bharadwaj would realise what he has done.” Rajbir Singh’s son Rohit is now an IPS officer. PTI
