On Thursday, the Police arrested a right-wing Hindu outfit leader's wife, her lover & 2 others for his murder, officials said.

Ranjit Bachchan, 40, who had established the little known Vishwa Hindu Mahasabha, was allegedly killed because he was "delaying" the proceedings to divorce his wife Smriti Srivastava, who wanted to marry her lover Deepender.

Their driver Sanjeet Gautam has been held in Lucknow for the murder. The man who actually pulled the trigger was arrested in Mumbai by an Uttar Pradesh Police team.

According to Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujit Pandey, Smriti Srivastava said to Police that Ranjit Bachchan was delaying their divorce proceedings by not appearing in Court.

On Feb 2, Ranjit Bachchan was shot dead while he was out on a morning walk, just a couple of kilometres away from the high-security Uttar Pradesh legislature complex in the heart of the state capital. His cousin Aditya Srivastava was also injured in the attack.

Mr Pandey told reporters that "Those involved in the murder are Smriti Srivastava (second wife), her friend Deependra, Sanjeet Gautam (driver) & Jeetendra (the shooter). Deependra was the person who convinced everyone to commit the crime. Smriti was part of the whole conspiracy. We arrested Sanjeet Gautam from Lucknow, Deependra has been arrested from UP-MP border & Smriti too has been arrested from Vikasnagar (in Lucknow)".

Mr  Pandey, while giving details of the incident said, "Three people (Deependra, Sanjeet & Jeetendra) moved from Rae Bareli at 2.30 am (on the intervening night of February 1 & 2). On February 2, Deependra was dropped at Hazratganj crossing, the shooter was dropped near Capitol cinema hall crossing. At 5.40 am, Ranjit Bachchan, Kalindi & Aditya moved out from their home for morning walk. The shooter followed them in Hazratganj, & attacked them outside Globe Park."

One vehicle was used for recce & another for escaping after committing the crime, Police said.

On Wednesday, based on specific inputs, the UP's STF reached Mumbai night & on Thursday, arrested Jeetendra with the help of their counterparts in Mumbai.

"When we inquired about Ranjit Bachchan's family, we learned he had two wives. He was living with his first wife in Lucknow's OCR complex. A rape case had been registered against him," said Lucknow Police Commissioner.

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