Kashipur. The police have taken into custody Sandeep Singh, also known as Sona, who grew up with the late former Deputy Block Chief Hardeep Singh, along with his wife Sandeep Kaur. Investigators say the homicide stemmed from a protracted monetary quarrel amounting to roughly ₹30 lakh.
SSP Ajay Ganpati disclosed on Tuesday that a complaint was lodged on September 13 by Rajvinder Kaur of Gulzarpur, reporting that her son Hardeep Singh had been shot. Early inquiries uncovered a financial disagreement, prompting detectives to focus on Sandeep Singh as a prime suspect.
According to the police narrative, the night of the incident began with Hardeep and Sandeep sharing dinner and drinks at a roadside dhaba. The two later proceeded to Sandeep’s residence, where they allegedly consumed illicit liquor. An argument over the pending money escalated, and Sandeep is accused of seizing Hardeep’s licensed pistol—left unattended on a table—and firing seven shots. Two of the bullets struck Hardeep in the abdomen, and he later succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical care.
The investigation revealed that Sandeep owed Hardeep about ₹30 lakh. In addition, Hardeep had recently bought a second‑hand bulldozer, valued at roughly ₹8 lakh, in Sandeep’s name. Sandeep, a farmer who cultivates around 15 acres, and Hardeep had been friends since childhood.
Police contend that after the shooting, Sandeep transported the wounded Hardeep to a nearby hospital and informed the victim’s family, allegedly in an attempt to mislead investigators and deflect suspicion.
Further inquiries indicate that Sandeep’s wife, Sandeep Kaur, tried to tamper with the crime scene by cleaning bloodstains, leading to her arrest. Officers are also probing the involvement of Sandeep’s mother, who was reportedly present at the location when the shooting occurred.
Authorities have recovered the licensed pistol, the spent cartridges, and the vehicle used in the episode. The operation was carried out by Kotwali Kunda SHO Dhirendra Kumar, Sub‑Inspectors Saurabh Kumar, Govind Mehta, Manoj Dev, Sonu Singh, Naveen Joshi, and Assistant Sub‑Inspector Ravish Ram.
