A Revenge Scripted in Jail? The Jharkhand Gang Connection to Dehradun’s Mall Shooting:

The daylight execution of 54-year-old Jharkhand gangster Vikram Sharma outside a Dehradun gym on February 13, 2026, has turned into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game across state lines. While rumors of the shooters' arrest in Varanasi recently flooded social media, official sources have clarified: The killers are still on the run.

As the Uttarakhand STF and Jharkhand Police join forces, a complex web of betrayal, extortion money, and a "new gang" has emerged as the primary focus of the investigation.

1. The False Arrest Rumors

For the past 48 hours, reports circulated that two shooters had been detained or had surrendered in Varanasi (Banaras). However, the latest police updates suggest these were premature rumors. While two suspects were reportedly questioned, the main shooters—identified as Akash Prasad, Vishal Singh, and Ashutosh (all from Jamshedpur)—remain at large. Police suspect they may have used the chaos to flee toward the Nepal border.

2. The Jharkhand Connection: A Mentor Betrayed?

The most chilling lead points toward a conspiracy hatched inside the Dumka Central Jail in Jharkhand.

The Mastermind: Police suspect that Akhilesh Singh, a dreaded gangster once mentored by Vikram Sharma, ordered the hit.

The Motive: The two allegedly fell out over the sharing of extortion money. While Akhilesh was behind bars, Sharma reportedly siphoned off a larger share of the "collection," leading to a bitter rift.

The 'Vibhishan' Factor: Investigators are searching for a "mole" (Vibhishan) within Sharma’s inner circle who provided his minute-by-minute location in Dehradun, right down to his gym timings at Silver City Mall.

3. The 'Professional' Hit

This wasn't a random act of violence; it was a cold, calculated operation.

The Route: The shooters reportedly flew from Jharkhand to Delhi, took a bus to Haridwar, and then used rented scooters to reach Dehradun.

The Execution: They waited for Sharma to step onto the escalator after his workout. He was shot at point-blank range in the head, leaving him no chance to use his own licensed pistol.

The Escape: After the murder, they returned the rented vehicles in Haridwar and boarded a train, vanishing before the state borders could be effectively sealed.

4. The ₹100-Crore Empire

As the murder probe continues, the police have stumbled upon a massive financial trail. Despite being out on bail, Sharma had reportedly built a ₹100-crore property empire in Dehradun and ran a stone crusher plant in Kashipur. This wealth is now being scrutinized as a secondary motive for his elimination.