On December 5, when the BJP was celebrating its massive win in assembly elections, Rajasthan was in festive mode. On the other hand, some goons killed Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, a prominent Rajput leader from Rajasthan, who was sipping tea with four other men at his Jaipur residence around noon. While in the middle of a conversation, two of the men got up from their chairs and fired extensively at Gogamedi, leaving him in a pool of blood on the floor. Navin Shekhawat, a garment trader from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, came to Gogamedi’s house with two youths. Sukhdev was sitting on one side of the sofa. There was a call on Sukhdev’s mobile. As soon as Sukhdev picked up the call, the two youth sitting right in front of Gogamedi opened fire. One of them returned again and gave the remaining bullets to Sukkhadriv. In spite of having personnel security, the shooters reached Gogamadi and killed him. The question arises about the involvement of security guards in the killing plot.
Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi is known as a strong leader of the Rajput community. Before his assassination, he was the president of the Rajasthani organisation Shree Rajput Karni Seva. He joined Karni Sena in 2013. He has been associated with this organisation since then. Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi is well respected in Rajput society and followed by the youth. In 2017, a woman accused Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi of rape and intimidation in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district. During this time, the victim also said that she was taken to various places by Sukhdev Singh to rape her. However, this case was later proven to be malicious in the police investigation.
The Rajput leader’s sensational murder, caught on CCTV, has sparked protests in Rajasthan, which is in the process of a regime change after the BJP unseated the ruling Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the recently held assembly elections in the state. Police have identified two accused in the case. Among them, one shooter is Rohit from Makrana and the other is Nitin Fauji, a resident of Mahendragarh in Haryana. Nitin is still in the army. He shot Gogamedi in the head. After the murder of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, a Facebook page created under the name of gangster Rohit Godara took responsibility for the murder.
In the Facebook post, it was written: Ram Ram, all my brothers, Rohit Godara Kapoor, and Goldie Brar. Brothers, today Sukhdev Gogamedi was killed. We take full responsibility for it. This murder was done by us. Brothers, I want to tell you that he used to compromise with our enemies. He used to work to strengthen them. It is being said that Nitin will be home on vacation in November. After killing Gogamedi with the first bullet, one of the shooters allegedly fired the second bullet at Naveen. It is being said that Rohit Rathore Makrana and Nitin Fauji Haryana are the two shooters who escaped. However, no official confirmation has come from the police so far.
Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi is known for many controversies. Gogamedi’s rise to fame led to protests against the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor-starrer 2018 Bollywood film ‘Padmavat’. Rajput groups in Rajasthan, including the Gogamedi-led group, protested and vandalised the sets of the film, claiming it portrayed Padmavati, a Rajput queen, in a bad light. The film’s director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was assaulted at Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena Jaipur’s Jaigarh Fort. The protests made national headlines when a bounty of ₹ 10 crore was placed on Deepika Padukone by a member of another Karni Sena group.
Gogamedi also protested against the police encounter with gangster Anand Pal Singh. Singh’s death became a rallying point for Rajputs in the state, who claimed that the gangster wanted to surrender but was shot dead by the police in cold blood. During the exchange of fire at Gogamedi’s residence, one of the three shooters, identified as Naveen Singh Shekhawat, was also killed. A security guard at Gogamedi was critically injured in the firing. Gangster Rohit Godara is closely associated with both Goldie Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi’s gangs and has claimed responsibility for the murder.
Godara, a resident of Bikaner’s Lunakaran, is believed to be in Canada. He has over 32 cases registered against him at various police stations in India. The Special Operation Group of the Rajasthan Police also alerted the ADG Police Security. Gogamedi himself also raised concerns about threats and demanded security everywhere, from public forums to government offices. During this period, weapons were collected from private security in anticipation of the elections. This issue raises questions about fatal negligence or a conspiracy within the government machinery. The main question remains: Why was he not provided with security?
