Patna: Police have taken Tausif Khan, the main accused in the murder of gangster Chandan Mishra, on a three-day remand while three other accused – Harsh, Bhim, and Nishu Khan – were sent to jail on Monday. The four were produced in Patna Civil Court at 4 pm after being brought from Kolkata earlier in the day under tight security.
According to investigators, the conspiracy to kill Chandan Mishra was hatched three days before his death at the home of his cousin Nishu Khan in Samanpura, Patna. After the murder on July 17 at Paras Hospital, Tausif, Nishu, Nishu’s girlfriend, Harsh, and Bhim fled to Kolkata via Gaya, Barhi, and Ranchi, having pre-booked a hotel room there on July 16.
Police say Tausif, also known as Badshah, and Nishu, who likes to be called Bhaijaan, are both fond of making social media reels. Nishu, who is paralysed from the waist down due to a bullet injury in October 2023, was reportedly planning a political career before his arrest.
A police team from Patna, aided by Bengal police, arrested the accused from flats in Shapoorji, New Town, Kolkata, after an extensive manhunt that included tracking a white car seen on Basanti Highway and other locations before the arrests were made in Bhangar.
Officials revealed that the murder contract was allegedly handed out by Omkar Singh, alias Sheru Singh, who is currently in Purulia Jail, West Bengal. Sheru is said to have offered Rs 10 lakh to Tausif for killing Chandan, with whom he had earlier been friends before a fallout.
Chandan, who was out on parole for his father’s treatment, was shot dead in room 209 of Paras Hospital by five armed assailants on July 17. CCTV footage shows the shooters entering and fleeing within 30 seconds. Police said two shooters had earlier visited Chandan’s home in Sonvarsha while he was out on parole.
Investigations revealed Tausif was familiar with hospital staff due to previous treatment there, and some staff are under scrutiny. Chandan’s father, Mantu Mishra, has filed an FIR alleging that the hospital deliberately delayed his son’s discharge date, implicating Dr Pintu and staff in the conspiracy.
Police have also filed a second FIR based on the statement of Chandan’s attendant, Durgesh Pathak, who was shot in the toe during the attack. He claims the hospital staff took 15 minutes to reach the room after the shooting.
Tausif has prior cases registered against him under NDPS, Arms Act, and for attempt to murder, while Nishu has cases of extortion and Arms Act violations. Police are now seeking to recover the murder weapon and the getaway bike as the investigation expands to hospital staff potentially linked to the crime.
