Kashipur – Police have taken into custody Sandeep Singh, also known as Sona, a childhood friend of the late Deputy Block Chief Hardeep Singh, along with his wife, Sandeep Kaur. Investigators say the killing stemmed from a protracted monetary disagreement estimated at around ₹30 lakh.
On Tuesday, SSP Ajay Ganpati disclosed that a complaint was filed on September 13 by Rajvinder Kaur of Gulzarpur, who reported her son Hardeep Singh had been shot. Preliminary inquiries uncovered a financial quarrel, prompting police to focus on Sandeep Singh as a prime suspect.
“The evidence points to a debt‑related clash that escalated into a lethal encounter,” SSP Ganpati remarked.
According to the police narrative, the evening began with Hardeep and Sandeep sharing dinner and drinks at a roadside dhaba. The pair later moved to Sandeep’s residence, where they allegedly consumed illicit liquor. A heated argument over money ensued, during which Sandeep is said to have grabbed Hardeep’s licensed pistol that lay on the table and discharged seven rounds. Two bullets struck Hardeep in the abdomen, and he later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The investigation revealed that Sandeep owed Hardeep roughly ₹30 lakh. Additionally, Hardeep had recently bought a second‑hand bulldozer worth about ₹8 lakh in Sandeep’s name. Sandeep, a farmer who cultivates around 15 acres, and Hardeep had been friends since childhood.
After the shooting, Sandeep reportedly escorted the wounded Hardeep to a medical facility and notified his family, a move police believe was intended to mislead investigators and deflect suspicion.
Sandeep’s wife, Sandeep Kaur, is accused of tampering with the crime scene by cleaning blood‑stained surfaces, leading to her arrest. Authorities are also probing the involvement of Sandeep’s mother, who is said to have been present at the scene.
Law enforcement recovered the licensed firearm, its cartridges, and the vehicle used during the incident. The operation involved Kotwali Kunda SHO Dhirendra Kumar, Sub‑Inspectors Saurabh Kumar, Govind Mehta, Manoj Dev, Sonu Singh, Naveen Joshi, and Assistant Sub‑Inspector Ravish Ram.
