The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has detained Shehla Masood murder accused Zahida Parvez’s friend Saba Farooqi in connection with the killing and is likely to arrest her soon. Saba Farooqi has reportedly confessed to helping Zahida in getting Shehla killed.
Sources have told that love triangle and jealousy could be the motive behind Shehla Masood’s murder. According to sources a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader’s proximity with both Shehla Masood and Zahida Pervez, the architect arrested in the murder case, could be the reason for the killing.
Zahida reportedly introduced Shehla to the local BJP leader but became jealous with their growing proximity, and so she got her eliminated by hired killers.
The call records of Zahida around the time of Shehla’s murder prove that she was in touch with alleged contract killer Shaqib alias Danger.
The CBI arrested Zahida Pervez in connection with the murder on Tuesday, claiming that she was the main accused in the case.
Sources said that Zahida hired three contract killers for a sum of Rs 2 lakh. Two others have been arrested in the case – one from Kanpur – from whom a country-made pistol was also recovered.
Shehla used to work on police reforms, environment and wildlife issues. Several politicians and bureaucrats were questioned in connection with murder.
The CBI has already arrested four men allegedly involved in the conspiracy. The alleged shooter Shanu, however, was killed in an unrelated incident sometime ago.
Shehla Masood was found dead outside her home in Bhopal on August 16, 2011 while she was getting ready to take apart in an anti-corruption agitation.
—Agencies