India killing: BSP's Deepak Bhardwaj shot dead in Delhi

  • Published
Deepak Bhardwaj
Image caption,
Mr Bhardwaj was also a businessman

Wealthy Indian businessman and politician Deepak Bhardwaj has been shot dead at his home in south Delhi.

Deepak Bhardwaj, of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was killed by two unidentified men at his house on the outskirts of the capital, police said.

Mr Bhardwaj, 62, was a businessman with major interests in property.

His declared assets of more than $100m made him the richest candidate when he stood for parliament as a BSP candidate in the 2009 general election.

According to the Press Trust of India news agency, two men arrived at Mr Bhardwaj's house in a car on Tuesday morning and opened fire at him after having a conversation.

The motive for the shooting is not yet known, police said.

"We have got [CCTV] footage of the car and the men who came to meet him. We hope to solve this crime soon," Delhi police chief Neeraj Kumar said.

During the 2006 general elections, Mr Bhardwaj declared assets of more than 6bn rupees ($110.5m; £72.7m).

He also ran a school in the capital.

His death follows the killing in a shootout in Delhi last November of controversial liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother.