New Delhi, November 29
Sukhdev Namdhari, sacked chief of minorities commission of Uttarakhand, has been booked under the charges of murder, the Delhi police informed a local court here today. Namdhari’s police custody has been extended by three days.

Namdhari’s name figures prominently in the shootout of liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep Chadha. He was produced in the court by Delhi Police after his five-day police custody ended today

He was arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with Hardeep’s murder at his Chhatarpur farmhouse on November 17. The police has slapped charges of murder on him under the Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

Police informed the court that 10 bullets were fired at the crime scene. However, only eight empty cartridges have been recovered and the investigation is on to find out the rest. The Delhi Police said Namdhari has been arrested on the basis of initial ballistic report which indicates that Hardeep was killed by Namdhari’s firing, adding that the main ballistic report is awaited. 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, the police said.

The police also produced five men of Ponty, accused of trespassing at the farmhouse, in the court. They have been sent to 14 days of judicial custody.

Rebutting police claims, Namdhari’s lawyer RS Malik said his client was innocent and false allegations were being made to defame him. He also rubbished the allegations that Namdhari’s weapon was tampered with.

The police has questioned over 100 persons in the case so far. Seven persons, directly or indirectly involved, have been arrested. Three FIRs have been registered.

Sources say that Delhi Police is now planning to question Narender Ahlawat, manager of Ponty Chadha who was injured in the November 17 shootout in which Ponty and Hardeep were killed.

Investigators had taken the help of forensic experts to reconstruct the killings as investigators claimed to have found discrepancies in statements made by Namdhari and his PSO. The experts from Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, which is under CBI, went to the Chattarpur farmhouse yesterday along with police officials where they reconstructed the scene.