Criminal wanted to murder Mallika

 

NEW DELHI: A man wanted by the Delhi police in several cases of kidnapping, robbery and attempt to murder, confessed to have conspired to kill actor Mallika Sherawat. Rajesh Dalal, who was arrested in Sangli, Maharashtra by Delhi police four days back, told a television channel that the actor had brought disrepute to his Jat community and so he wanted to kill her.

 

However when contacted, DCP crime Neeraj Thakur, refuted the reported confession. “It is just a gimmick to attract media attention and in our investigation we did not find anything of this sort,” he told DNA. Delhi Police had been hotly pursuing Rajesh Dalal for the past two months. He was wanted in at least six criminal cases in Delhi including escape from police custody, attempt to murder, kidnapping, criminal intimidation and assault on police officials.

 

It took Interstate Cell Delhi Police Crime Branch more than two months to finally trace and arrest him from a small hamlet in Sangli. Dalal was living in Sangli under the guise of a computer graphics designer.

 

Sources close to Mallika Sherawat revealed that the actor was unaware about the conspiracy to kill her and learnt of it only through media reports. While her parents are very upset, Sherawat remains unfazed. “Death threats don’t scare me. However, I want to make one thing clear - it is not my intention to offend the sensibilities of my people. I respect our culture and traditions,” the actor said in a statement. Sherawat added that she believed in the empowerment of women. “Every woman should have the ability to stand on her own feet, earn a living and excel in her chosen career, which is exactly what I am trying to do,” she said.