Criminal shot dead in encounter-Sanjay Singh was involved
in the murder of an NRI and abduction of ‘Sehwag kin’


Surat, November 26, 2004
Express News Service

Sanjay Singh alias Sanju Shreeram Shardaprasad Chaudhary (25), a dreaded criminal involved in the sensational murder-cum-abduction of an NRI and abduction of the two New Delhi-based youngsters, was killed in a police encounter on the Sanjan-Bhilad highway in the wee hours of Friday morning.

At the time of the encounter, he was being escorted by the Valsad police in a mobile van from Valsad to Umbergaon for further investigation in the fake currency notes racket.

Sanjay was in police remand with the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Valsad from November 19-29. During interrogation, he had confessed to commiting of various crimes perpetrated by his gang in the last couple of years in Valsad district, including the fake currency racket, operated by former Chhota Rajan aide, Bunty Pandey. The Valsad LCB had recovered a single fake currency note of denomination of Rs 1,000 during the raid operation at Sanjay’s hideout at Umbergaon taluka.

Chaudhary was among five associates arrested in a joint operation carried out by the Surat and the Valsad police for the release of two New Delhi-based yongsters who were kept as hostages in Umbergaon taluka on October 25.

At about 4.30 am on Friday morning, the Valsad LCB sleuths, led by police inspector K G Erda and sub-inspector J M Yadav, escorted Sanjay Chaudhary in a police van for carrying out further investigation into the fake currency note. Earlier during interrogation, Sanjay had revealed to the police that the fake currency note in the demonination of Rs 1,000 was being circulated by one Asif, residing in Umbergaon taluka.

According to the police, on the way towards Umbergaon, Sanjay Chaudhary complained of severe vomiting. Therefore, he was immediately taken to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Bhilad. The doctor at the PHC centre told the police that nothing was wrong with Sanjay.

The policemen started from the hospital towards Umbergaon. Sanjay stopped the police vehicle on the pretext of vomitting just a few kms from Bhilad.

A hand-cuffed Sanjay was led by head constable Bhaskar Rao and Gunman Ganesh Amrut on the roadside. Police said Sanjay sat down on the ground and started vomiting.

Within seconds, Sanjay attacked head constable Bhaskar Rao and snatched away the rifle from Ganesh Amrut. However, Bhaskar Rao immediately got up from the ground and pushed Sanjay, who was about to fire on Ganesh. This saved Amrut’s life.

Sub-Inspector Yadav and Police Inspector Erda jumped off from the police van and opened fire on Sanjay from their service revolvers. A total of six bullets were fired by Erda and Yadav. Four bullets hit Sanjay killing him on the spot.

District Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Valsad Abhay Chudasama told Express Newsline: ‘‘He (Sanjay) was trying to escape from the police escort and he even fired one round from the rifle after snatching away the rifle from the Gunman. Sanjay has been killed in retaliatory fire.’’

Chudasama said Sanjay’s body was shifted to the PHC Hospital at Bhilad from where his body is likely to be shifted to a cold-storage at Silvassa.

The Valsad police were engaged in the process of contacting Sanjay’s relatives and family members in Uttar Pradesh. The body will be handed over to them after their arrival in Valsad.

Police Inspector of the LCB K G Erda said: ‘‘Both the constables were lucky enough that the rifle was having only one loaded cartridge when Sanjay fired from the rifle. We were quite baffled. Without thinking, we opened fire killing him on the spot.’’