New Delhi: A property dealer was shot dead allegedly by a chicken shop owner in south Delhi’s Tigri Thursday night following a dispute over money, police said.The accused, Mohid, was caught while he was allegedly on his way to the police station after the incident. Police said he confessed to the killing and told them he shot Devender Gupta. A senior police officer said the property dealer was shot between 8.30 pm and 9 pm.When a police team reached Tigri, Devender was found injured in the neck and was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Police also found a country-made pistol and an empty cartridge on the spot.Mohid claimed that he had an argument with Devender over Rs 15-20 lakh that he had given the property dealer. “Mohid told us his son was ill and he had asked Devender to return the money, leading to an altercation and an exchange of abuses. He then allegedly shot him dead,” an officer said. These details are being verified. DCP (south) Anant Mittal said that a preliminary inquiry had pointed towards differing versions regarding the murder motive. Witness statements, CCTV footage, forensic and ballistic examination, and technical evidence would be examined.Devender’s family has said that he had gone out after getting a call from his friends. Anil Kumar Gupta, a relative of the deceased, said the family learnt about the murder around midnight. “The accused was a friend. We don’t know much else,” he said.Another relative, Sachin Gupta, said Devender had got a call from his friends around 10.30 pm for dinner and had gone out. “We don’t know what he was doing. Around 12 am, we got a phone call that he had been shot in the head,” he said.Sachin said food items and glasses were found at the murder spot, indicating that Devender had been with other people before he was shot. “There were five to six glasses and food at the spot. There was a piece of chapati in Devender’s hand,” he said.He alleged that the fact that Devender was shot in the head suggested that the killing may have been planned, though police said they are verifying the details.Devender is survived by his wife and three daughters. Apart from dealing in property, he also ran a flour mill.
