Unravelling the mystery behind the shocking incident earlier this month in which a 42-year-old man was shot at outside Mayur Vihar Phase I metro rail station here, the police on Saturday claimed the assailants were hired by the victim's wife and her paramour for Rs.2 lakh.
Four persons, including the victim's wife, have been arrested.
Interrogation of accused Anju revealed a tragic tale of emotional and physical torture allegedly inflicted upon her by her husband Shiv Prasad alias Shibu over the years. She then allegedly hatched a conspiracy with her paramour Deepak to hire contract killers to get rid of her husband.
Anju, a resident of Dakshinpuri, was in her early teens when Shibu fell in love with her during frequent visits to his friend Rocky's house, who stayed in the same neighbourhood as her.
Shibu allegedly abducted Anju's brother Vinod and beat him up to force Anju, who was almost half his age, to marry him in return for the safe release of her brother. Vinod later succumbed to his injuries, but the family chose not to report the matter to the police.
But Anju's miseries did not end with her brother's death and she was allegedly continuously subjected to emotional and physical torture by her husband.
In 2003, Shibu was externed from Malviya Nagar for his criminal activities and came to Trilokpuri. He then allegedly forced his in-laws to vacate their Dikshinpuri house and rented it out for regular income.
Anju's parents shifted to a new house in Najafgarh after her father, a Municipal Corporation of Delhi employee, retired and had to vacate their official accommodation in Hauz Khas.
Meanwhile, Shibu allegedly forced Anju into prostitution to make easy money. This is how she met Deepak, who was moved by her tragic story and developed a liking for her. Last August, the two eloped and began staying with Anju's parents in Najafgarh.
Anju and Deepak wanted to get rid of Shibu forever and hatched a conspiracy to eliminate him, the police said. The two hired Rahul and his friend Sanjeev, previously involved in a robbery case, for the job and agreed to pay them Rs.2 lakh.
As per the plan, Deepak called up Shibu near Mayur Vihar Phase I metro station on February 4 evening on the pretext of arranging a meeting with Anju. When Shibu reached the metro station, Deepak called him up in order to distract him, while Sanjeev allegedly fired at him. The three then escaped in a car belonging to Anju's father.
The four were arrested from different places in Sagarpur and Dichaon Kalan.
