The killing of a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer in Ghaziabad last month was the result of a meticulously planned conspiracy allegedly masterminded by his own sons over a long-running property dispute, police said on Thursday. Investigators believe the two men hired contract killers to eliminate their father after he asked them to vacate the family home so that he could sell the property.

The victim, Yogesh Kumar (58), a former assistant warrant officer in the Indian Air Force and a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district, was shot dead on December 26 while returning to his house in Ashok Vihar Colony, located in the Loni area of Ghaziabad. The murder sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood and drew widespread attention after police uncovered the alleged role of Kumar’s immediate family in plotting the crime.

According to police officials, the dispute between Yogesh Kumar and his sons had been simmering for months. Investigators said Kumar had reportedly asked his sons, identified as Nitesh and Guddu, to vacate the house as he intended to sell the property. This decision allegedly angered the two men and became the trigger for the murder conspiracy.

“The dispute over the property escalated when Yogesh Kumar decided to sell the house and asked his sons to move out. This led to repeated arguments, and eventually the sons allegedly decided to get him eliminated,” a senior police officer said, citing findings from the investigation.

Police said the two brothers allegedly hired two shooters to carry out the killing. The accused gunmen have been identified as Arvind, a 32-year-old resident originally from Bulandshahr, and Naveen Kumar, a serving Uttar Pradesh Police constable posted in Kaushambi district. Both men are believed to have been known to the family or the locality, which, investigators say, helped them track the victim’s movements.

According to investigators, Arvind and Naveen carried out the attack on December 26. As Yogesh Kumar was returning home, the assailants allegedly opened fire at close range, killing him near his residence. The murder was swift and targeted, suggesting careful planning and prior surveillance, police said.

During interrogation, Arvind allegedly confessed to his role in the killing and named both Naveen Kumar and the victim’s sons as co-conspirators. “Arvind admitted that he and Naveen fired at Yogesh Kumar and fled the spot after ensuring he was dead,” a police officer said, quoting from the confession recorded during questioning.

Arvind was arrested on Wednesday evening following a tip-off and was later produced before a Ghaziabad court. The court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. Police said they recovered a country-made pistol, live cartridges and spent shells from his possession, which are believed to have been used in the crime. Forensic examination of the weapon and ballistic evidence is underway to conclusively link it to the murder.

Investigators revealed that Arvind has a criminal past. He was earlier convicted as a juvenile in connection with the 2008 Barari massacre case, a detail that has raised serious questions about how he managed to stay out of the criminal justice spotlight in recent years. Police said he had been living in Ghaziabad for several years and had known the victim personally.

“Arvind was familiar with the area and the victim. There were also personal disputes between him and Yogesh Kumar, including disagreements in the neighbourhood, which made it easier for him to participate in the crime,” an officer said.

The involvement of a serving police constable in the murder has added another disturbing dimension to the case. Naveen Kumar, who is posted in Kaushambi district, is currently absconding. Police have launched a manhunt to trace him and are also probing how a serving officer allegedly became involved in a contract killing.

Senior officials said departmental action would be initiated against Naveen Kumar once he is arrested. “If the allegations are proven, it will be a serious case of breach of trust and misuse of position by a police personnel,” a senior officer said.

The victim’s two sons, Nitesh and Guddu, are also on the run. Police said raids are being conducted at multiple locations in Ghaziabad, Baghpat and neighbouring districts to trace them. Investigators are examining call detail records, financial transactions and digital evidence to establish the extent of their involvement and to determine how the payments to the shooters were arranged.

“The conspiracy appears to have been planned in advance. We are looking into financial links between the accused and the shooters, as well as communication records to reconstruct the sequence of events,” the officer said.

Neighbours and locals described Yogesh Kumar as a disciplined and straightforward man who had served in the Indian Air Force for several years before retiring. Many expressed shock that a family dispute could culminate in such a brutal crime.

“This is extremely tragic. He was a respected person in the area. No one imagined that his own sons could be behind something like this,” a neighbour said.

Police are also investigating whether there were earlier complaints or mediation attempts related to the property dispute. Preliminary findings suggest that tensions within the family had been escalating, but the matter had not reached the authorities before the murder.

The case has once again highlighted the growing number of violent crimes linked to property disputes, particularly within families. Legal experts say such disputes often turn deadly when there is lack of timely intervention or legal resolution.

Meanwhile, police officials said the investigation is far from over. They are working to arrest the remaining accused, recover any additional weapons, and file a comprehensive chargesheet in court. “We are confident that all those involved in the conspiracy will be brought to justice,” the officer said.

As the search for the absconding accused continues, the murder of Yogesh Kumar stands as a grim reminder of how familial conflicts, when left unresolved, can escalate into extreme violence with devastating consequences.