TV channel owner ‘frames’ businessman in murder bid; held in Delhi's Chhatarpur

MEERUT: The owner of a TV channel was arrested from a farmhouse in Chhatarpur on Delhi outskirts for allegedly framing a businessman in an attempt to murder case, UP Police said on Monday.
Amit Vaidya was picked up by a team of Bulandshahr Police from the house on late Sunday night, while the MD of his channel, who was among the six people booked for filing the false case, is on the run.
While back in Bulandshahr, where the attempt to murder case was filed against Delhi-based businessman Sumit Walia, a sub-inspector (SI) has been placed under suspension for “conspiring with the six accused”.
According to UP Police, Vaidya framed Walia in the false case in order to settle scores with him.
Police said that Vaidya was allegedly trying to grab a high-value plot adjacent to Walia’s bungalow in Chhatarpur. He wanted to build a multistoried building, which was against the norms. His plan was nipped in the bud when Walia complained to the authorities about it.
It upset Vaidya and he decided to frame Walia. The case of attempt to murder was filed in a Bulandshahr police station and the SI was its investigating officer (IO).
“The case was meant to settle scores and coerce Walia,” a police officer said.
Bulandshahr’s senior superintendent of police (SSP) Santosh Kumar Singh gave details about how the case was actually filed.
“Vaidya and his associates, which included a reporter with another TV channel, hatched the plan to trap Walia. They engaged a drug addict called Gaurav Sharma, a resident of Anupshahr in Bulandshahr, who claimed to have worked for Walia once. Gaurav was administered local anesthesia after which he was ‘stabbed’ to make it look like a genuine attack. He was paid Rs 50,000 for it.
“Then, Gaurav called local police, who reached the spot and took him to a hospital. On the basis of his statement, an FIR was filed on June 10 in which Walia was booked for attempt to murder.”
Walia in his statement has alleged, “A team comprising policemen and some suspicious people barged into my house, ransacked everything and even threatened my family members. It was then we approached senior police officers and told them of the harassment we faced for highlighting illegal operations right adjacent to my home.”
A probe was launched. “Investigation revealed that Walia never went to Bulandshahr, where the attack on Gaurav took place. And the call detail report of Gaurav revealed that he was in constant contact with Vaidya and his aides,” a senior police officer said.
According to ADG Meerut zone, Rajiv Sabharwal, “The investigation officer of the case, Ram Sen, has now been suspended and sent to police lines.”
According to police, Vaidya and Gaurav have been arrested. Remaining four are on the run and police teams have been constituted to nab them.