KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Feb 23: Vikram Sharma, a former gangster who allegedly used his association with media houses as a cover after facing multiple criminal cases, was shot dead at a mall in Dehradun on Friday morning. He was known as a mentor of jailed gangster Akhilesh Singh and had a long history of alleged involvement in underworld activities in Jamshedpur.
Sharma, who was nearing 60, had reportedly been active in the steel city’s criminal network for nearly three decades. Originally from Uttarakhand, he lived in different localities of Jamshedpur, including Sonari.
Mentor to Akhilesh Singh
According to sources, Sharma was once among the most trusted associates of gangster Akhilesh Singh, who is currently lodged in Dumka Central Jail. However, differences reportedly developed between the two over money allegedly accumulated through extortion.
Sources claimed that Sharma had allegedly taken control of funds linked to Singh’s network, leading to a fallout. Though there is no official confirmation, police are also examining whether this dispute could have any connection to his killing.
Entry into media after criminal cases
In recent years, Sharma had entered the media sector. He became a co-owner of a local English daily and was also associated with a Hindi news channel.
Sources alleged that after being acquitted in most of the criminal cases against him, Sharma tried to rebuild his public image and possibly nurture political ambitions. His association with media houses was reportedly part of that strategy.
Long criminal history
Sharma had been accused of being a conspirator in several high-profile murder and firing cases in Jamshedpur. These included the murder of Tata Steel security officer Jairam Singh, businessman Ashish Dey, and transporter Ashok Sharma, allegedly committed during the first decade of the 2000s.
He remained absconding until 2017, when the then Senior Superintendent of Police, Anup T. Mathew, arrested him. Sharma was granted bail in 2021 on the condition that he would appear in court on every hearing date. Notably, he was acquitted in most of the cases.
Police in Dehradun are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and are probing all possible angles behind the murder.