Visakhapatnam: New details have emerged adding a bizarre twist to the murder of businessman Vikram Prakash Dhamija, 47. The investigation into the case has turned a new twist and the cops appear to have made a major breakthrough. A real-estate and chit fund businessman, who is also supervisor or manager of the Sea Surf apartment on Beach Road, where the businessman Vikram was staying and was attacked by an inter-state gang, was behind the murder of Vikram. Sources in police said that the chit fund businessman and his friend were taken into custody for their role in the murder case.
Vikram Dhamija, chairman and managing director of Best Cranes was stabbed multiple times in his flat at Sea Surf apartment on July 17 evening between 3.30 pm and 4 pm. He breathed his last on July 19 evening while undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital in the city. Vikram’s wife Jyothi and his driver Janardhan were also stabbed in the incident and they are out of danger.
A senior police officer, on condition of anonymity, said that CCTV footage at the apartment’s cellar area has given a vital clue to grow doubts over the role of the manager of the apartment in the case. Source said that the manager, who had incurred huge losses in chitfund and real-estate business in the past had gone bankrupt. After the losses in the business, he joined as manager (supervisor) of the apartment. The manager along with his friend sketched a plan for easy money to overcome the financial crisis. They selected Vikram’s house as they knew Vikram was rich. The manager’s friend hired a gang from Jharkhand to threaten Vikram and squeeze out cash and gold jewellery.
The inter-state gang came to the city on July 14 and conducted a recce. The members entered Vikram’s house posing as officers of Income Tax Department along with a used 9mm size toy pistol and knives on July 17 evening. They threatened Vikram and demanded money. Vikram refused to pay, and the assailants first stabbed his driver Janardhan who tried to run out and inform people. They then attacked Vikram who tried to intervene and stabbed him multiple times.
“We have sent over seven teams to Jharkhand to nab the gang and we will nab them soon. Preliminary investigation revealed that the chitfund businessman and his friend were behind the major crime, we have taken them into custody for interrogation,” said a police officer. City police chief T Yoganand suspended a sub-inspector and a police constable of Three-Town police station who were taken to task for reaching the crime spot late and did not inform their superior officers immediately.
