Jammu advocate plotted youth’s murder to bury robbery secrets, police expose chilling conspiracy

Jammu, April 6: In a chilling development that has sent shockwaves across the region, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday revealed that Advocate Rahul Sharma, the alleged mastermind behind the high-profile Greater Kailash robbery, also meticulously plotted and executed the murder of a young man to cover up his criminal trail. The victim, identified as Harsh Dev Sharma, was reportedly killed to prevent the exposure of the robbery conspiracy.

Addressing a press conference, Superintendent of Police (SP) Jammu South, Ajay Sharma, disclosed that Harsh Dev Sharma—who was closely associated with one of the prime robbery accused, Sunil Sharma—had prior knowledge of the crime and had begun demanding a share of the stolen loot. Realizing the threat posed by Harsh’s demands and fearing that the robbery would be exposed, Advocate Rahul Sharma allegedly conspired to eliminate him.

According to the police, the murder was executed with the help of two accomplices: Bharat Sharma of Bishnah and Tushar Sharma, the latter also an accused in the Greater Kailash robbery case. The crime was committed on April 1 in the Mansar area of Samba district, under the false pretense of celebrating Rahul Sharma’s birthday. Once at the isolated location, Harsh was reportedly stoned to death.

To dispose of the body and evade detection, the accused later transported the remains to Surinsar and dumped them in a remote forested stretch under the jurisdiction of Jhajjar Kotli Police Station in Jammu district. The murder only came to light after Harsh’s family reported him missing at the Satwari Police Station.

During the subsequent investigation, Jammu Police traced the victim’s call records and digital footprint, which established consistent communication with Sunil Sharma and Bharat Sharma in the days leading up to his disappearance. SP Sharma added that both Sunil and Harsh were known drug users and had maintained a close relationship over time.

Further revelations indicate that on February 1—the day of the Greater Kailash robbery—Sunil had confided in Harsh about the robbery plot. Roughly ten days later, Rahul Sharma allegedly admitted Sunil to a de-addiction centre in Kathua, severing his contact with Harsh and further isolating him from the conspiracy.

However, Harsh grew increasingly agitated over the betrayal and began issuing threats to Rahul, demanding his share of the stolen money. It was this perceived threat, police said, that prompted Rahul to orchestrate Harsh’s murder with the assistance of his co-conspirators.

The police have since recovered Harsh’s body and registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR No. 68/2025) at Police Station Satwari under Sections 103 and 301/35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India’s new penal code.

Crucial forensic evidence has also been recovered during the ongoing investigation, including a Scorpio SUV allegedly used in both the robbery and the murder. Additionally, police disclosed that the accused attempted to destroy further evidence by burning the helmets and clothing used during the Greater Kailash theft.

As the investigation unfolds, law enforcement agencies are probing the full extent of the criminal network and whether the advocate, a member of the legal fraternity, may have been involved in other similar crimes. Police officials have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that all those involved are brought to justice.

The case has sparked public outrage and raised serious concerns over the abuse of professional positions to orchestrate heinous crimes, underlining the growing need for stringent action against white-collar and organized criminal activity.