Sukhdev Singh Namdhari charged with murder, custody extended

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: A local court here on Thursday extended the police custody of former Uttarakhand minorities commission chief Sukhdev Singh Namdhari, who was also charged with the murder of liquor baron Ponty Chadha’s brother Hardeep. Delhi Police produced Namdhari in the court after his five-day police custody ended today. Namdhari was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the double murder of liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep at a farmhouse in Delhi`s Chhatarpur on November 17. During the hearing, Delhi Police pleaded the court for a 7-day custody of Namdhari claiming that they have to collect more evidence. However, the court rejected Delhi Police’s contention and granted it 3-day custody of Namdhari. Speaking to reporters later, Namdhari`s lawyer RS Malik claimed that the police`s case was very weak and his client was innocent. He said that Namdhari did not fire at Hardeep and the allegations were levelled to defame him. He also rubbished the allegations that Namdhari`s weapon was tampered with and instead accused the police of planting evidence against him. As per sources, Delhi Police is now planning to question Narender Ahlawat, the manager of Ponty Chadha who was injured in the November 17 shootout in which Ponty and his brother Hardeep were killed. Police had so far questioned over 100 people in connection with the case and have arrested seven persons directly or indirectly involved in the case. Investigators had taken the help of forensic experts to reconstruct the killing of liquor baron Ponty and his brother as investigators claimed to have found discrepancies in statements made by Namdhari and his PSO. The experts from CFSL, which is under CBI, went to the Chattarpur farmhouse yesterday along with police officials where they reconstructed the scene. Delhi Police had alleged that Namdhari opened fire at Hardeep, a charge denied by Namdhari. Investigators also suspect that Namdhari tampered with his gun. Namdhari`s son, a relative and driver, who allegedly helped him in tampering with the gun, are absconding. With PTI Inputs