Sketch of Pratibhanad released by Delhi Police
Delhi Police today declared a reward of Rs one lakh for those who help in the arrest of Swami Pratibhanand who is suspected to have arranged shooters to kill local BSP leader Deepak Bhardwaj.
48-year-old Pratibhanand is on the run and police have got a non-bailable warrant issued against him in the sensational murder case, a senior police official said.
"We have now declared a Rs one lakh reward for those who give information about Pratibhanand," the official said.
Bhardwaj was shot dead in the farmhouse, which is named after Nitesh, in south Delhi's Rajokri on March 26 allegedly by Purushottam Rana and Sunil Mann. The duo escaped in a car owned by one Rakesh and driven by Amit who were arrested.
Bhardwaj's son Nitesh and lawyer Baljeet Singh Shehrawat were arrested on charges of conspiracy in connection with the incident.
It was Nitesh who had allegedly roped in Shehrawat, who is "more a property dealer than an advocate".
"It was Shehrawat who was in touch with Pratibhanand. He knew him earlier and it was he who did most of the talking with the godman. He had even stayed at the house of Pratibhanand," the official said.
Pratibhanand, who was in need of money to set up an ashram of his own after being thrown out from many such places, then allegedly approached his driver Rana who got in touch with Mann and others to execute the murder.
Nitesh allegedly paid Rs 50 lakh as advance to the lawyer who in turn paid Rs 3-4 lakh to Pratibhanand. The godman gave Rs two lakh to Rana for initial expenses, the accused told investigators.
"The shooters were to get Rs one crore, the godman was to keep Rs two crore and the lawyer the remaining Rs two crore," the official said.