Five Arrested, Including Mother, In Dehradun Businessman Murder Case

Police in Dehradun have arrested five people, including the mother of a slain businessman and two alleged shooters, in connection with the daylight murder of a local trader that has shocked the city and raised questions about familial disputes turning deadly. The arrests came after a focused investigation following the killing of 42-year-old Arjun Sharma, owner of the Amardeep Gas Agency, outside the busy Tibetan Market on Wednesday morning.

Sharma was shot at around 10:30 a.m. while preparing to enter his vehicle after playing tennis, according to police and preliminary reports. Two men riding a scooter opened fire, critically wounding him; he was rushed to Doon Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. The brazen attack in broad daylight drew immediate law enforcement attention and widespread public concern.

In the hours following the shooting, authorities tracked down and apprehended the two suspected gunmen after brief encounters with police in the Raipur, Ladpur, and Laltappar areas of Dehradun. Both men, identified as brothers Rajiv (also known as Raju) Rana and Pankaj Rana, were injured in the leg during those encounters and are receiving treatment in hospital, police said.

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Subsequent questioning and investigative leads led to the arrest of Beena Sharma, the victim’s mother, as well as Vinod Uniyal and Dr Ajay Khanna, officials told reporters. Investigators believe the killing was the result of a long-standing property and financial dispute involving Sharma, his mother, and her associates. Police allege a payment of ₹12 lakh was made to the shooters as part of the conspiracy to eliminate Sharma, according to senior police officials.

Sharma’s wife, Abhilasha Sharma, had earlier filed a complaint naming multiple suspects and citing disagreements over property and business dealings as possible motives for the attack. Investigators are examining court records, financial transactions, and phone data to piece together the full sequence of events that led to the shooting, which appears deeply entwined with familial and financial tensions.

Police say the investigation is ongoing as they continue to gather evidence and seek any additional suspects connected to the plot. The case has drawn scrutiny from senior law enforcement leaders in Uttarakhand, who have called for expedited resolution and stronger community safeguards after a string of violent incidents in the city.

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