Friday 15 / November / 2024
Gaya: Rakesh Ranjan Yadav alias Rocky Yadav, the son of ruling Janata Dal-United(JD-U) MLC Manorama Devi who allegedly shot dead a 20-year-old youth for overtaking his vehicle, was arrested from his father's mixer plant in the district on Tuesday. Police have recovered the weapon used in the crime.
"The main accused Rocky Yadav was arrested from his father Bindi Yadav's mixer plant located at Mastpura village of Bodh Gaya Police Station of Gaya district.
Rocky was arrested along with the weapon (Bretta pistol) used in the crime," Senior Superintendent of Police Garima Mallik told reporters.
Mallik claimed that Rocky, who was produced before mediapersons during a press conference with a mask on his face, had admitted to his crime in a statement.
However, minutes later Rocky Yadav pleaded innocence and denied that he was involved.
"I was in Delhi...when my mother called me I came and presented myself before the SSP... I did not open fire," Rocky Yadav told reporters
"I'll tell everything in the court," he said.
To a query whether Rocky has surrendered or was arrested, the SSP said, "It is definitely an arrest."
Aditya Sachdeva was shot dead allegedly by Rocky Yadav for overtaking his vehicle near police lines in Gaya district on Saturday night.
Rocky's father, known in the area for his muscle and money power, and Manorama Devi's bodyguard Rajesh Kumar were arrested on Sunday for allegedly helping the accused escape.
The SSP said that the license of the pistol had been issued in the name of Rocky Yadav from Delhi and the vehicle had also been registered in the name of Rocky Yadav.
The police had conducted searches at the residence of Manorama Devi in Gaya during which some bottles of liquor were found.
An FIR would be lodged in this connection against Bindi Yadav and Rocky Yadav.
Asked about the political pressure on police, Mallik said, "There was no pressure on the police except moral and professional pressure of arresting the main accused at the earliest."
The murder of Aditya Sachdeva had triggered protests and the state government faced criticism from the opposition for the alleged law and order break down.
While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had strongly condemned the incident and asserted that nobody could escape from the "long arms of law", opposition BJP claimed that "jungle raj" had returned to the state.
The victim's mother demanded that a speedy trial be carried out in the case. A bandh was observed in Gaya town on Monday in protest against the incident.
Shops and business establishments in Gaya remained shut on the bandh call by the National Democratic Alliance and Chamber of Commerce, besides other socio-political outfits to protest against the murder of 20 year-old youth.
A Gaya court on Monday remanded both -- Bindi Yadav and Rajesh Kumar -- in 14-day judicial custody in connection with the incident.
Four friends of the slain youth travelling with him in a car on the fateful night three days ago, on Monday recorded their statements under section 164 CrPC before the first-class judicial magistrate Rakesh Ranjan Singh narrating sequence of events leading to the murder.
