London millionaire's 1crore murder contract

NEW DELHI: A London-based millionaire paid a supari of Rs 1 crore to contract killers from Delhi for getting a 70-year-old businessman and his two sons killed in Vijaywada last month, Delhi Police said after cracking the international plot.

Cops said the killings were the latest strike in a war of honour between two families from the same village in Andhra Pradesh that was triggered by the elopement of a girl — the millionaire's daughter — to marry her lover last year.

Over and above the Rs 1 crore, the millionaire, Butham Govindu, spent another 50 lakh on the five shooters. He bought them a new SUV and a cache of arms and ammunition. The killers struck on September 24, gunning down Govindu's arch rivals on a highway near Vijayawada. One of the deceased, Gandham Marayya, 30, was Govindu's son-in-law, whom his daughter had run away to marry.

Govindu had made his millions as a high profile astrologer. He also suspected that the victims, who belonged to the prosperous Gandham family, were behind the killing of his brother, Durgarao, in April this year. Govindu had sworn he would not return to his village before eliminating his rivals.

The cops had then arrested two Mumbai-based shooters, who work for an underworld don currently based in Malaysia. Two of those killed in Vijaywada in September — Gandham Marayya and his Gandham Pagidi Marayya — were even briefly arrested on suspicion of giving the contract for the killing through one Reddy, who works as a bridge between the don and the shooters.

"Vijaywada police contacted the Delhi Police a few days ago and sought assistance in nabbing the killers. The crime branch teams led by addl CP Ashok Chand and DCP Dinesh Gupta then carried a high voltage operation on Monday night and nabbed four sharp shooters and three conspirators," Joint commissioner of police (crime) Ravindra Yadav told TOI.

The killers have been identified as Dharamvir, Pratap, Neeraj, Nitin and Sanjay. All but Sanjay have been arrested. They have dozens of cases of murder, robbery and attempt to murder lodged against them. The men who arranged for logistics and facilitated the meetings — Pankaj, Satish and Manjeet — have also been arrested.

The police will now move for Govindu's extradition from London and send a letter rogatory to the UK through the ministry of external affairs (MEA).

The two families have been at war since last year, said addl CP Ashok Chand.

"One family consisted of brothers Butham Govindu, Butham Srinivas Rao and Butham Durgarao. The other family consisted of Gandham Nageswara Rao and his sons, Gandham Marayya (30) and Gandham Pagidi Marayya (40). On April 6, Durgarao was shot dead in West Godawari district by contract killers hired allegedly by Nageswara Rao and his clan. His two sons were arrested and subsequently released on bail," said Chand.

Two months ago, Govindu contacted his brother Sriniwas Rao over the phone and asked him to arrange for contract killers from Delhi.

"Rao in turn contacted his friend Shiva who belongs to Andhra Pradesh and lives in Kalyanpuri area of east Delhi. Shiva roped in one Ombir Singh from Kalyanpuri, who arranged for the contract killers," Chand added.

An elaborate plan was hatched and it was decided that the targets would be bumped off in Vijaywada on September 24, when they would be on their way to a court hearing.

The shooters were paid Rs 8-10 lakh each and a local goon named P Babu, who is absconding, was assigned to assist them. "On September 22, the shooters reached a place called Eluru and stayed at the Royal Hampi Lodge there. A Mahindra XUV 500, a bike and six pistols with spare magazines were provided to them for the kill," said DCP (crime) Dinesh Gupta.

On September 24, the targets were travelling in their Tavera SUV on national highway 16. The shooters pinned the Tavera between their XUV and the central verge. They then sprayed the vehicle with bullets and fled.