For Sunil Malik, a resident of Sardhana village and core member of the Badri gang involved in the recent PC Jewellers’ robbery case, his acquaintance with the world of crime began after his mother went to jail for murdering her husband in 2004.

The murder was carried out by Sunil’s mother in connivance with her alleged paramour Hitesh, who was Sunil’s cousin.

“As Sunil’s mother and Hitesh went to Sonepat jail, Sunil started lifting motorcycles and looting petrol pumps. After four years, when Hitesh was released from the Sonepat jail on parole in 2008, Sunil murdered him to avenge his father’s death,” said a police officer, adding that with the help of other members of the Badri gang, formed during frequent meetings at the Rohtak university campus, Sunil began with a spree of murders and robberies.

Following the murder of his cousin in 2008, Sunil’s name surfaced in several other cases during the same year: murder of Bhiwani MC Chief Nandlal Chawla, double murder at Sampla, murder of one Ishjeet in Rohtak, robbery and murder of DSP’s bother at Rohtak.

Sunil has also reportedly claimed that the gang was planning to arrange for AK-47 pistols from Jammu and Kashmir, before they were arrested from Agra.

The other accused, Sunder alias Kala from Ismilla village in Rohtak, had partnered Sunil in several crimes.

“The two were instrumental in hiding the jewellery stolen from PC Jewellers. Their remand can help us recover all the stolen goods,” said a senior police officer, adding the local court has ordered an identification parade on Friday before sending them on police remand.