Namdhari part of conspiracy in Ponty Chadha murder case: Police

The Delhi Police told a court here Tuesday that Uttarakhand Minorities Commission's sacked chairman S.S. Namdhari and other accused, arrested in connection with the killing of liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep, were part of a "conspiracy to kill".

Police, while concluding arguments on framing of charge before Additional Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav, said the two brothers were not on talking terms over a property dispute.

The prosecution said: "The dispute had not resolved on Nov 16, 2012 night, so the planning was to take away the property by any means, in which the two brothers were killed."

However, Namdhari and 22 other accused denied it claimed that they are "innocent" and have been "falsely implicated" in the case.

Namdhari's counsel R.S. Malik said there is no legal evidence against his client.

The court has asked the prosecution and accused to file a written submission in the case by Wednesday.

"Arguments are taken and concluded with the liberty to file written submissions. List ... for appearance of the accused persons and clarification, if any," the judge said.

Namdhari and 21 others were chargesheeted for offences of murder, conspiracy, kidnapping, illegal confinement, trespass, destruction of evidence and others.

Ponty Chadha and his brother were killed at a farmhouse in Chhattarpur in south Delhi in a shootout Nov 17, 2012, allegedly over a property dispute.

The Crime Branch had arrested Namdhari, his PSO Sachin Tyagi and others for their alleged role in the case.

However, the trial against Ponty and Hardeep has been abated as they both died in the shootout.

Presently accused Narinder Ahlawat, Tyagi, Simranjeet Singh, Jagbir Singh and Rajpal Singh are out of jail on interim bail.