3-minute-22-second recording names alleged criminal groups and threatens associates of former MLA Dilbag Singh; police examining authenticity and possible link to killing
YAMUNANAGAR | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
The murder of financier Harbhajan Singh in Model Town, Yamunanagar, has taken a new turn following the emergence of a purported audio recording in which threats were allegedly issued to associates of former MLA Dilbag Singh and claims were made about the killing. The recording, which is around three minutes and 22 seconds long, reportedly mentions the names of Shubham Pandit, Kala Rana and the Rohit Godara group.
However, the authenticity of the audio recording and the claims made in it have not been independently verified. Police are examining the recording, including the voice and the allegations contained in it, to determine whether it is genuine and whether it has any connection with the murder.
In the purported recording, a man allegedly claims that Harbhajan Singh used to sit with the former MLA and make statements against him. The speaker reportedly suggests that this was one of the reasons Harbhajan Singh was targeted. The recording also allegedly contains threats directed at people who are said to remain close to Dilbag Singh and his brother Raje.
The speaker further claims to possess a list of people who could allegedly be targeted in the future. The recording reportedly contains repeated threats to kill and references to the firing of as many as 50 rounds in a possible subsequent action.
Several other allegations are also made in the purported audio, including claims involving attempts to influence the administration through money, land-related disputes and disagreements dating back nearly a decade. None of these allegations has been independently established, and their presence in the recording does not by itself establish their veracity or establish the identity of the person speaking.
Harbhajan Singh was shot dead on the morning of September 3 while leaving a gym in Model Town. According to the police, two motorcycle-borne assailants carried out the attack. The attackers had allegedly covered their faces, making immediate identification difficult.
Following the killing, police teams have been examining CCTV footage from the area to establish the movements of the attackers, identify them and trace the route they allegedly took after the shooting. Investigators are also examining other available evidence as part of the probe into the murder.
The statement given to police by Harbhajan Singh’s son reportedly mentioned the family’s relationship with former MLA Dilbag Singh as well as an alleged old dispute. The family has also referred to a dispute dating back around 10 years involving the operator of a tyre showroom in the city. The matter is reportedly pending before a court.
The emergence of the purported audio has added another layer to the investigation because of the serious threats and references to several individuals and groups contained in it. Investigators are expected to establish whether the person speaking in the recording is connected to the murder or whether the audio is unrelated to the crime.
Police are examining the voice in the recording and the specific claims made by the speaker. The investigation will also have to determine whether the references to Harbhajan Singh, the former MLA’s associates and alleged previous disputes have any factual basis.
Officials have cautioned against treating the contents of the recording as established facts at this stage. The audio is currently only an alleged recording, and neither its source nor its authenticity has been conclusively established.
The investigation is therefore focused on two separate but potentially connected questions: who carried out the September 3 shooting and whether the person behind the purported audio has any involvement in, or information about, the murder.
The CCTV footage, statements of witnesses and family members, forensic evidence and examination of the audio could prove important in establishing the sequence of events and identifying those responsible.
For now, police have not publicly confirmed that the threats contained in the recording were made by any particular individual or criminal group. They have also not confirmed that the audio provides a motive for Harbhajan Singh’s murder.
Authorities have maintained that the authenticity of the recording and any possible connection between its contents and the killing can be established only after the ongoing investigation is completed. Until then, the claims circulating through the audio remain allegations requiring verification.
The case has consequently entered a sensitive stage, with investigators having to establish not only the identity of the shooters but also whether the purported recording represents a genuine threat linked to the murder or is an attempt to mislead the investigation.
POD/DESK
