Dehradun, Sep 3: BJP leader and Zila panchayat member, Virendra Manral was shot dead by a criminal Devendra alias Bhau outside a court in Nainital district on Saturday. During the initial investigation, the police found that Devendra killed Manral because the BJP leader had not paid him the money promised for the murder of an influential man in 2015.

According to station house officer (SHO) of Ramnagar Vikram Rathore, Manral hatched a conspiracy to kill Hemant Fartyal in 2015 and contacted Devendra. “Later, both were nabbed and produced before a court which granted bail to Manral. Devendra, too, was granted bail later. However, Devendra was angry with Manral for using him for his own interest and leaving him at his own peril when caught," Rathore was quoted as saying.

“He had also accused Manral of not giving him the promised money for the contract killing and also for not helping him in getting bail. Devendra often spoke of killing Manral to his friends as revenge and on Saturday did that," the SHO added. Rathore also said the police warned Manral that Devendra might attack him for 'destroying his life'.

Devendra, Sonu Kandpal, Harish Fartyal and Sanjay Negi have been booked in connection with the murder of Manral. A manhunt was underway to arrest the other three accused.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2018 05:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).