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The murder of 30-year-old Abhishek Gupta, an Aligarh-based bike showroom owner, has exposed a sensational crime involving a prominent, yet controversial, religious figure. Abhishek Gupta was fatally shot by two assailants on a motorcycle on the evening of September 23, while he was waiting for a bus with his father and cousin.
The investigation quickly pointed towards Hindu Mahasabha leader Puja Shakun Pandey and her husband, Ashok Pandey. Abhishek’s family immediately accused the couple of orchestrating the murder.
The Accused: Past Controversy and Current Flight
Puja Shakun Pandey is no stranger to controversy. She and her husband, Ashok Pandey, first made national headlines in 2019 when they were arrested for a widely publicized incident where Puja Shakun Pandey allegedly fired shots at an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.
Now, she is a prime suspect in a murder case. While her husband, Ashok Pandey, has been arrested by the police, Puja Shakun Pandey is currently absconding and a massive search operation is underway.
Two Motives: Money and a Claim of an Affair
The investigation has uncovered two competing motives behind the contract killing:
- Police Theory (Monetary Dispute): Police arrested one of the alleged shooters, Mohammad Fazal, who confessed that the murder was a “supari” (contract) hit carried out with his accomplice, Asif. Fazal claimed that the Pandeys hired them for Rs 3 lakh to eliminate Abhishek Gupta over a persistent monetary or business dispute.
- Victim’s Family Theory (Personal Feud): Abhishek’s father, Neeraj Gupta, made a shocking claim, stating that his son was in a relationship with Puja Shakun Pandey. According to the father, the religious leader began pressuring Abhishek to marry her and to make her a partner in his business. When Abhishek reportedly tried to end the affair and distance himself, blocking her calls, a furious Pandey allegedly ordered the hit.
Police have confirmed that they are thoroughly investigating the relationship between Abhishek Gupta and the Pandeys to establish the final motive.
The Investigation Continues
Following the arrest of Ashok Pandey and the shooter Mohammad Fazal (from whom a firearm was recovered), police teams are searching for Puja Shakun Pandey and the second shooter, Asif. The case highlights a disturbing pattern of alleged criminal activity by a couple who have repeatedly placed themselves in the public eye through controversial acts.
#PujaShakunPandey #AligarhMurder #UPCrime #ReligiousLeaderAbsconding #ContractKilling #AbhishekGupta
