CHENNAI: Twenty one days after Babu Singh, a businessman, was shot dead on a busy street in Sowcarpet, the city police with the help of Maharashtra counterparts arrested two men from Nagpur on Monday. However, the reason for the murder remains unknown.
Based on the image grabbed from CCTV footage, the police identified the men as Rakesh and Pikku. Police sources said they suspected the duo to be henchmen, probably from Rajasthan, who were sent to carry out the murder. Police said they could comment on the motive only after further probe. A source said, the henchmen were paid `1 lakh on February 3 to execute the plan.
On May 3, Babu Singh (50), who ran a travel agency, had parked his motorcycle in front of his office at Erulappan Street when a man, suspected to be Rakesh, fired thrice at Babu. While two bullets shot past, one hit Babu Singh, killing him on the spot.
Locals told the police, the three men had come by an autorickshaw. Rakesh walked into Erulappan Street and executed the plan, while the other two waited in the autorichshaw.
“The suspect after the incident, managed to walk away to escape. Meanwhile, the autorickhaw parked at the end of the road also moved away,” said the source.
Interrogation of the autorickshaw driver showed the men spoke in Hindi. The driver also told the police the men hired the vehicle from Kannagi Statue and directed the auto driver to Erulappan Street. “Around twenty minutes later, the men came running back and told the driver to go to Central railway station. After a few minutes as they were nearing Central, they wanted to be dropped off at Koyambedu bus stand,” the autorickshaw driver told the police.
Babu Singh, of Choolai, was from Naradra village, Rajasthan and came to Chennai about two decades ago.
Around 20 minutes later, the men came running back and told the driver to go to Central railway station. As they were nearing Central, they wanted to be dropped off at Koyambedu bus stand Autorickshaw driver