LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh police have uncovered a case of mistaken identity in the murder of a taxi driver in Lucknow on December 30. The hitmen hired by a lawyer to murder his girlfriend’s family ended up killing the wrong person. The police have arrested three individuals, including lawyer Aaftab Ahmed, in connection with the crime, according to an India Today report.
Initial investigations revealed that Ahmed had hired a gang of hitmen to eliminate the woman’s family members, specifically her husband and father. The woman was reportedly in a relationship with Ahmed. However, the killers mistakenly targeted and killed Mohammad Rizwan, a taxi driver, in the Madehganj area instead.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Raveena Tyagi, stated that the lawyer was the primary accused in the plot. The hired hitmen were meant to carry out the killings of the woman’s family members but instead murdered an innocent man. Police seized the weapon, the motorcycle used in the crime, and the phones of the accused.
The investigation revealed that Ahmed had contacted one of the gang members, Yasir, to carry out the murder. Yasir then enlisted Krishnakant to execute the plan. Due to a mix-up, they ended up killing Rizwan, leading to a dispute between the hitmen and Ahmed. Ahmed had initially paid the gang an advance of ₹2 lakh but refused to pay the remaining amount after the plan went awry.
Police have also recovered an illegal firearm, 14 live cartridges, a motorcycle allegedly used in the crime, and three mobile phones. The accused are expected to be presented in court soon.
In a separate case, police in Lucknow are investigating the murder of a woman and her four daughters, allegedly committed by her son, Mohammad Arshad. Arshad is in judicial custody, and police are now searching for his father, Mohammad Badr, who is suspected to have been involved in the killings. Efforts are underway to arrest Badr, with four police teams dedicated to locating him.
