Shimla Police have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the broad daylight attack and attempted kidnapping of Aryan Chauhan, the son of the Chief Minister’s media advisor Naresh Chauhan. The arrest marks a major breakthrough in the high-profile case that had raised serious concerns over security in the state capital.
According to police officials, the accused has been identified as 46-year-old Manish Verma alias Manu, a property dealer and contractor by profession. With his arrest, the total number of accused held in connection with the sensational incident has risen to three.
Police investigations revealed that Manish Verma allegedly planned the entire conspiracy. He reportedly conducted surveillance on Aryan Chauhan for several days, carefully tracking his daily routine, travel routes, and timings before executing the plan with his associates.
Authorities stated that the attack on Tarapur Road was not a spontaneous act but a well-planned operation carried out after detailed preparation. During the arrest, police recovered an illegal firearm along with 10 live cartridges from the accused’s possession.
Investigators also discovered that Verma has a criminal history. He was previously booked in 2006 in a narcotics trafficking case involving charas. Several other FIRs have been registered against him in the past, including cases related to theft, burglary, timber theft after tying up a watchman, and a 2021 kidnapping and assault case.
Earlier, police had arrested two other accused — 48-year-old Charanjit Singh, a resident of Main Bazaar Sanjauli, and 45-year-old Tashi Negi from Narkanda in Kumarsain tehsil. Officials said both individuals played key roles in executing the crime.
During the investigation, police found that the suspects attempted to conceal the identity of the vehicle used in the crime by erasing the chassis and engine numbers of a white Alto car and attaching a fake number plate, indicating premeditated planning.
The case came to light on March 20 when Aryan Chauhan filed a complaint at Dhalli Police Station, alleging that three men stopped his car on Tarapur Road, threatened him with weapons, and allegedly attempted robbery and kidnapping. He managed to escape and later informed the police.
As the victim is the son of the Chief Minister’s media advisor, the incident quickly gained public attention and sparked debate over law and order in Shimla. Police officials have stated that with all three accused now arrested, investigators are closely examining the motive, conspiracy network, and possible additional links, with further revelations expected in the coming days.
