UditVani, Jamshedpur : The murder of gangster Vikram Sharma has sent shockwaves through both the criminal underworld and the police of two states, with investigators still struggling for a decisive breakthrough four days after the crime.
While the killing took place in Dehradun, its alleged links to Jamshedpur have complicated the probe, raising questions about coordination, surveillance failures, and the broader motive behind the high-profile execution.
Despite constituting more than a dozen special teams, the police have yet to secure a concrete lead. Investigators are examining technical evidence, CCTV footage, informer inputs and the victim’s criminal history from multiple angles. Officials have maintained that the investigation is ongoing and that further details cannot be disclosed due to the sensitive nature of the case.
A major setback has emerged on the technical front. Mobile numbers of suspects identified as Akash (Bagbera), Vishal, and Ashutosh (Jugsalai) were placed under surveillance, but their exact locations could not be traced. Sources suggest that the accused may have changed devices or SIM cards, effectively erasing their digital trail.
The last technical inputs reportedly placed them between Haridwar and the Uttar Pradesh border, after which they vanished from electronic tracking systems.
Investigators have also questioned Sharma’s wife at length. She alleged that during Sharma’s imprisonment, his younger brother Arvind had taken control of his properties.
After Sharma secured bail in January 2021, tensions between the brothers escalated over the disputed assets. Police are examining whether this property dispute could have culminated in the murder. Arvind has been detained and is being interrogated, though no official confirmation of his involvement has been made.
Another key figure, Prabhat alias “Bakri” from Mango in Jamshedpur, is reportedly absconding.
He is suspected of having provided shelter to Arvind and facilitating contact with the alleged shooters.
A Dehradun police team has been camping in Jamshedpur for the past three days, conducting raids with the assistance of local law enforcement, but Prabhat remains untraceable.
Investigators are also weighing whether the killing was the outcome of a gang war or a personal vendetta.
Sharma, who had multiple cases registered against him in Jamshedpur, had been acquitted in several of them. Following his release from jail in 2021, he reportedly attempted to rebuild his public image and explore political avenues, a move that may have revived old rivalries.
The case history adds further intrigue. Sharma was arrested in Dehradun in April 2017 after nearly a decade on the run.
During his incarceration, allegations surfaced that his brother had occupied his properties.
Upon release on bail, Sharma initiated legal proceedings to reclaim his assets – cases that remain pending in court. Investigators are now assessing whether this long-standing dispute forms the core motive behind the killing.
Sources also point to similarities in modus operandi with a previous gangland murder in Basukinath, in which one of the current suspects had been named.
Police are revisiting older criminal patterns and alleged associations, including possible links to the Ganesh Singh gang.
CCTV footage reportedly captures clear images of the suspects, aiding identification, yet arrests have proven elusive.
Both Dehradun and Jamshedpur police are jointly pursuing leads through coordinated raids, technical analysis and informant networks.
Officials assert that the probe is progressing on multiple fronts and that significant disclosures may follow soon.
For now, however, the sensational murder stands as a stern test for law enforcement agencies across state lines.
