Police reveal reason behind Deepak Bhardwaj murder

, Apr 8: The police have finally deciphered the reason behind the murder of

leader

. According to police sources, who have nailed self-styled guru Swami Pratimanand as the mastermind behind the murder, the 'desire to set up an ashram of his own prompted the self-styled guru allegedly take up the contract to kill Bhardwaj.'

However, the self-styled guru is absconding. According to them, the plan to murder Bhardwaj was being planned since 6 months. Sources said that Pratimanand was in need of money to open an ashram. From the last 1. 5 years he was searching for plots in Haridwar, Karnal and Solan.

"Some one gave him the contract. He used his driver Purushottam, who was arrested, and his friends to murder Bhardwaj," a police officer was quoted as saying.

Sources also informed that the the self- styled guru made his way to the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad and met priests. He zeroed in the ashram he wanted to buy. ''Pratimanand was getting a share of Rs two crore for the murder and the total amount of contract was more than Rs four crore," a source said.

"They did not want to kill Bhardwaj in the farmhouse in Nitesh Kunj. The gang targeted Bhardwaj twice between January and March," the official said.

Another conspirator is yet to yet to be named. The family's name is yet to be cleared in connection with the murder.

Bharadwaj was the richest candidate in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls with declared assets of over Rs 600 crore. His younger son Nitesh is married to Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan's sister-in-law.

Police have given instructions to the family not to leave Delhi.

OneIndia News