Police have arrested four people, including a nightclub owner, in connection with the death of a retired Army brigadier who was killed after being caught in a crossfire between two groups following a dispute over a nightclub bill. The incident, which shocked the city a day earlier, took place in Johri village on Mussoorie Road in the Rajpur area.
Addressing mediapersons, Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal said those apprehended include Sandeep Kumar, owner of the ‘Zen-G’ nightclub, along with Aditya Chaudhary, Rohit Kumar and Akhlaq. Police said the arrests were made after investigation and questioning following Monday’s firing incident.
The nightclub has been sealed for allegedly remaining open throughout the night in violation of rules. Police have also recommended cancellation of its licence to the district administration as part of action taken after the incident.
As per investigators, the violence began late Sunday night when an argument broke out inside the nightclub between Aditya Chaudhary and Mohit Agarwal, an employee of the establishment, over a reduced bill. The dispute soon escalated outside the premises.
Police said Mohit and two other staff members allegedly damaged Chaudhary’s newly purchased Scorpio vehicle, which did not have a number plate. The confrontation deepened after both groups left the club separately.
Investigators said Chaudhary and his associates allegedly waited nearby and later chased the nightclub staff travelling in a Delhi-registered Fortuner vehicle. During the chase, one of Chaudhary’s associates allegedly opened fire, triggering an exchange of gunfire between both sides.
Retired Brigadier Mukesh Joshi (74), who had stepped out for his routine morning walk, was hit by a stray bullet during the firing. He was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries, turning the dispute into a murder case.
Police said the Fortuner lost control during the chaos and crashed into a roadside tree near a government primary school. After the crash, members of Chaudhary’s group allegedly assaulted the occupants of the vehicle and caused heavy damage.
Following the incident, the accused attempted to evade arrest by hiding their Scorpio in a forested area along Thano Road and dispersing separately to avoid police checkpoints, officers said.
During initial questioning, Rohit Kumar and Akhlaq allegedly tried to mislead investigators by claiming the firing resulted from a road-rage incident involving overtaking. However, sustained interrogation revealed that members of both groups were armed and had opened fire.
Police said several youths involved in the incident are students from Delhi and Bihar studying in Dehradun. Both vehicles involved in the incident have been seized.
Investigators recovered two country-made pistols, four live cartridges and two empty shells during the operation. A murder case has been registered at Rajpur police station on the complaint of the brigadier’s relative, Rakesh Kumar Upreti.
Police said four other accused — Shantanu Tyagi, Kavish Tyagi, Sameer Chaudhary and Vaibhav — remain absconding. Raids are underway to trace and arrest them as the investigation continues.
Also read: Retired Brigadier shot dead in firing incident in Dehradun
Follow us
