Delhi Police Apprehend Two Suspects in Bawana Businessman Murder Case
In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police have arrested two individuals suspected of involvement in the brutal murder of businessman Vaibhav Gandhi in the Bawana area on February 9. The arrests were made in the Shahbad Dairy locality, where the duo was reportedly intercepted while allegedly on their way to commit another criminal act.
Details of the Crime and Investigation
The incident occurred on the morning of February 9, when Vaibhav Gandhi was traveling from his residence in Karol Bagh to his factory, which specializes in manufacturing plastic granules. He was accompanied by three of his employees in his car. Around 11:45 AM, near his factory, three men intercepted the vehicle. Gandhi was subsequently chased and fatally shot. The assailants fled the scene with three bags containing his personal diaries, laptop, and mobile phone.
Following the murder, gangsters Randeep Malik and Anil Pandit, who are based in the United States, claimed responsibility for the killing through a social media post. They alleged that Gandhi was interfering in their affairs. However, police investigations found no concrete evidence to support this claim, prompting a thorough probe into other angles.
Police Operation and Arrest
Multiple specialized teams were formed under the supervision of Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav to track down the perpetrators. Acting on specific intelligence indicating that two of the shooters would be present in the Shahbad Dairy area, the police set up a strategic trap.
Joint Commissioner of Police Vijay Singh reported that the suspects were spotted riding a motorcycle. Upon being confronted, they opened fire at the police officers, discharging six rounds. In response, the police team, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Hareshwar Swami, returned fire in self-defence. Both suspects sustained gunshot injuries, were incapacitated, and were taken into custody.
Criminal Backgrounds of the Accused
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammad Irfan, aged 40, and Aishwarya Pandey, aged 37. Irfan has an extensive criminal record, with a total of 40 cases registered against him. These include charges of attempt to murder, violations of the Arms Act, robbery, dacoity, theft, and snatching. Out of these, 32 cases are in Delhi, and eight are in Uttar Pradesh.
Pandey, on the other hand, was involved in five criminal cases, including attempt to murder, Arms Act violations, charges under the Gangster Act, and theft. Four of these cases are in Uttar Pradesh, and one is in Delhi.
Previous Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
Prior to this development, the police had already arrested five other individuals in connection with the case. They were identified as Arun (37), Sandeep (28), Sanjay (54), Ravinder (42), and Harish Kumar (45). The investigation remains active as authorities continue to piece together the full sequence of events and motives behind the murder of Vaibhav Gandhi.
