Police zero in on victim's female friend

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 6 

Almost 15 days after 34-year-old lawyer Sukhmanpreet Singh Sidhu, alias Sippy, was shot dead in a park at Sector 27, the Chandigarh Police have narrowed down its investigations on a close female friend of the lawyer who has turned out to be the prime suspect in the case. Police sources said they had gathered substantial evidence that pointed towards the girl, who belonged to an influential family. 

The girl under suspicion had spoken to Sippy for long hours after he returned to Indian on September 18. He was murdered on September 20. The police have also ruled out the contract killing angle. They believe a close friend of the girl pumped four bullets into Sippy's body from point-blank range. The sources said the girl was a frequent visitor to Sippy’s house in Mohali and to his office. 

Their families were also close to each other. On the day of the crime, a woman eyewitness, living at a short distance from the scene of the crime, had reportedly told the police that she had seen a girl and a man running away from the spot.

The mobile phone of the victim’s female friend was switched off for a few days before the lawyer was shot dead. The sources said the police were expected to make a headway in the case soon.

Police rule out contract killing 

Sources said it was not a case of contract killing. Someone known to the girl was suspected  to have shot Sippy. 

Telephonic conversation

Sippy's female friend, who is the prime suspect in the case, had a long conversation with him on the mobile from an unknown number. The police have been investigating Sippy’s telephone records to crack the case.