Deepak Bhardwaj: Former Indian politician shot dead

Former Indian politician and leader of a prominent regional party Deepak Bhardwaj was shot dead by three unidentified men at his home.

Bhardwaj, 62, was a businessman with major interests in real estate, hotels and education. He had declared assets of $110.5 million, making him the richest candidate when he unsuccessfully contested the 2009 national elections for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2009.

His attackers entered his farmhouse, known as Nitish Kunj and located in one of Delhi's poshest areas, Vasant Kunj, and talked to Bhardwaj before opening fire around 9:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

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"They (family) told me that somebody shot Deepak Bhardwaj in the morning. He has been taken to AIIMS. Deepak Bhardwaj was my close friend but I don't know if he had animosity with anybody," said a family friend of the deceased, Swami Anand Maharaj, according to Al Jazeera.

The motive for the shooting is not yet known.

"We have got (CCTV) footage of the car and the men who came to meet him. We hope to solve this crime soon," Delhi police chief Neeraj Kumar said.