Rs 15-lakh murder contract cracks Nikhil Sablok case in Jamshedpur; six arrested
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Jamshedpur, September 2: A suspected ₹15-lakh contract killing and a subsequent dispute over payment have emerged as the…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Jamshedpur, September 2: A suspected ₹15-lakh contract killing and a subsequent dispute over payment have emerged as the key leads in the murder of young businessman Nikhil Sablok, with police arresting six persons, including the alleged mastermind, nearly 10 days after the killing.
Police said the murder was allegedly planned and executed for ₹15 lakh, but a dispute over the promised payment triggered friction among the conspirators and eventually provided investigators with crucial leads.
The arrests were made following an intensive investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted on the directions of the Kolhan DIG. Teams from East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts jointly worked on the case, analysing CCTV footage, mobile communications, movement patterns and human intelligence.
East Singhbhum Senior SP Ehtesham Waqarib and Seraikela-Kharsawan SSP Manoj Swargiary, addressing a joint press conference here on Wednesday evening, said the ₹15-lakh deal was allegedly finalised to eliminate Sablok and the killing was subsequently carried out.
However, the alleged shooters and other members of the group reportedly did not receive the full amount promised to them, resulting in resentment and infighting, police said.
Investigators are now trying to establish who allegedly ordered the killing, who arranged the money, whether any advance was paid and how the payment was routed to those involved.
Sablok was shot on the night of August 24 near Hotel 10th Milestone at Asanbani under Chandil police station in Seraikela-Kharsawan district.
Critically injured, he was rushed to Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur, where he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Following the incident, Sablok’s father, Sanjeev Sablok, lodged a written complaint. Chandil police subsequently registered Case No. 115/2026 dated August 25 against unidentified persons under Sections 103(1) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 27 of the Arms Act.
The killing had triggered widespread concern in Jamshedpur and across the Kolhan region, putting pressure on investigators to identify the assailants and establish the motive behind the murder.
Alleged mastermind among six arrested
The arrested accused have been identified as Ashok Kumar Singh alias Raghav of Khuntadih in Sonari, Sunil Rajak of Laxman Nagar in Mango, Ritesh Singh, Sushil Kerai of Sidhu-Kanhu Basti in Sonari, Raj Kumar Singh alias Prince of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Ankit Singh, also from Sultanpur.
Police said the role of each accused is being examined separately to determine their involvement in the conspiracy, including planning the murder, arranging the shooters, facilitating the crime and helping the accused flee after the shooting.
The investigation has also revealed links between Jamshedpur and Uttar Pradesh. Police are examining the contacts between the Sultanpur-based accused and the local suspects and are verifying their previous criminal records.
Two pistols, seven live rounds recovered
Police recovered two country-made pistols and seven live cartridges from the arrested accused. Four cartridges were found in the magazine of one pistol and three in the other.
Six mobile phones were also seized. Investigators are examining the devices for call records, messages and other digital evidence that could help reconstruct the sequence of events before and after the murder.
A red Hyundai i10 bearing registration number JH-05-AN-5503, allegedly used by the accused to flee after the murder, was recovered from Ranchi.
Police are now tracing the vehicle’s movements and examining who travelled in it before and after the crime.
Payment dispute provides crucial lead
According to investigators, the dispute over the alleged ₹15-lakh payment became a crucial breakthrough in the case.
After the murder, the alleged failure to pay the promised amount reportedly led to disagreements among members of the group. Investigators are now following the financial trail to identify the person who allegedly commissioned the killing, the intermediaries involved in arranging the contract and those who executed it.
The SIT is also cross-checking the statements of the arrested accused with CCTV footage, mobile-phone data and other physical evidence to build a legally sustainable case.
Probe widens beyond six arrests
Police have made it clear that the investigation will continue despite the six arrests. Raids are being conducted to trace other persons allegedly involved in the conspiracy, including those who may have arranged logistics, provided shelter or helped the assailants escape.
Several of the arrested accused are also reported to have criminal cases registered against them. Police are examining their previous associations to determine whether an established criminal network was used to execute the killing.
With the alleged ₹15-lakh contract, a payment dispute, firearms, digital evidence and the suspected getaway vehicle now forming key strands of the investigation, police are probing whether the case will lead to more arrests and reveal the larger conspiracy behind Sablok’s murder.
