LUCKNOW: Hours after the body of Vinay Srivastava (25) was found inside a Thakurganj house belonging to Union Minister Kaushal Kishore in Lucknow on Friday morning, police arrested three men identified as Ajay Rawat (32), Ankit Verma (27), and Shamim alias Baba (21).
The house was vacant and no family members of the minister resided there. It was built for the aides of the minister's son Vikas Kishore and had a placard of a dance academy being operated in it.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Akash Kulhary, said that the murder was the result of a gambling dispute. He said that Vinay had lost Rs 12,000 while gambling and had blamed the three arrested men for his losses. "We have recommended cancellation of the arms license of Vikas," said the officer.
A heated argument ensued between Vinay and the three men, which led to a fistfight. During the fight, Ajay Rawat took out a pistol belonging to Vikas Kishore and shot Vinay at point-blank range, said the police.
The three men then fled the scene, but were arrested later based on CCTV footage and airport records. The pistol used in the crime has also been recovered.
The victim's brother Vikas Srivastava has filed an FIR against the three accused. Union Minister Kaushal Kishore has said that his son VIkas Kishore was out of town at the time of the incident and is returning to Lucknow. He has assured that the police will investigate the matter thoroughly and bring the guilty to justice.
