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Nephew arrested for killing Romesh Sharma's girlfriend

Conman Romesh Sharma's nephew, Surinder Sharma, was arrested in Ahmedabad late Monday night in connection with the murder of his uncle's girlfriend, Kunjum Buddhiram, in New Delhi on March 20.

Announcing this at a press conference, city Police Commissioner Hira Lal said his men also questioned one Mahesh Desai.

A team led by Assistant Commissioner (crime branch) Subhash Trivedi arrested Surinder, following a tip-off from the Delhi police, he claimed.

However, sources say it was Desai who informed the Delhi police about Surinder's whereabouts in Ahmedabad in a bid to help Romesh Sharma. Desai has been arrested for cheating before.

A business associate of the conman, Desai has also been instrumental in getting Romesh Sharma bail in Delhi.

Earlier, facing a battery of media reporters and photographers, Surinder threatened to commit suicide if he was "harassed" any further.

Meanwhile, a Delhi police team arrived in the city Tuesday. They are likely to take Surinder to the capital tomorrow.

Surinder was grilled at the crime branch office for hours, sources said.

Desai too was "questioned" to ascertain as to how Surinder got in touch with him, Hira Lal said.

Buddhiraj was murdered at Romesh Sharma's farmhouse in Mehrauli.

The motive behind the crime, the police commissioner said, was yet to be ascertained. But, he added, property dispute could be a reason.

Asked if Desai had turned approver, Hira Lal replied in the negative. However, sources reconfirmed that Desai had himself informed the Delhi police, which in turn tipped off its Ahmedabad counterparts.

Surinder was said to have contacted Desai in Ahmedabad as he knew about the latter's proximity to his uncle.

The commissioner said the Delhi police was investigating as to whether Surinder was the lone culprit or had associates in the crime. Preliminary investigations suggested that he was "involved", he added.

Replying to a question, Hira Lal said Romesh Sharma did not seem to have any other links in Gujarat. He said both Romesh and Surinder used the surname 'Mishra', besides 'Sharma'.

When he was taken into custody, Surinder was staying as 'Bhatia', he said.

The police commissioner said Desai knew Romesh Sharma for the last two to three years and had close "business relations" with him. The Delhi police had informed his force that Desai was a lawyer, but he turned out to be a transporter with a police record. He said Desai had "harboured" Surinder -- it was he who arranged for Surinder's stay in Ahmedabad when he arrived on Monday.

In its press release, the police said that Surinder was the "main accused" in the crime and Desai was a "controversial man with a criminal past". It said Desai, a resident of Sola road, Ahmedabad, had been summoned for questioning.

UNI

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