Man shot dead inside Union minister’s Lucknow home

| Updated: 01 September, 2023 6:01 pm IST

Vinay Srivastav, the person who was found murdered at the Union minister's son's home

LUCKNOW: A bullet-riddled body was found inside the home of Union minister and BJP MP Kaushal Kishore’s son Vikas Kaushal residence in Lucknow early on Friday morning.

The pistol used to shoot Vinay Srivastava is registered in the name of Vikas alias Ashu, who is said to be a friend of the victim, according to the Lucknow Police.

According to minister Kishore, Ashu was not present at the site when the incident unfolded at around 4:15 am. Srivastava had been in the company of some friends at the property, where Vikas occasionally stayed.

“My son was in Delhi. He had arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening. He had four to five friends, including Srivastava, staying at the house. We do not know how they gained access to the pistol, which belongs to my son,” Kishore stated.

He said that he promptly alerted the local police.

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Inside the house, Srivastava’s friends, who are suspected to have been with him at the time of the incident, looked distressed and grieving over the tragedy.

Police suspect that approximately four to five people, including Srivastava, had consumed alcohol before an unknown person discharged the pistol, resulting in the casualty. All of his friends have been taken into police custody for further questioning.

Minister Kishore further said: “Vinay Srivastava was a decent person. He had been friends with my son for the past six years. This incident requires a thorough investigation, and the culprits should not escape justice.”

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Meanwhile, family members of Vinay Srivastava have alleged that he was murdered by his friends and have provided the names of a few people in their complaint.

Rahul Raj, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) in Lucknow, confirmed that they have received the complaint from the victim’s family, and an FIR is being registered. “Srivastava sustained a bullet injury to his head. He and his friends had dinner that night before the shooting occurred. We are conducting a thorough investigation into the case.”