In a shocking act of violence, a 40-year-old entrepreneur was fatally shot while exercising at a gym in Rajasthan’s Kuchaman town on Tuesday morning. The assailant, who fled the scene immediately after the attack, is yet to be identified, and police are currently analysing surveillance footage from nearby areas.

The victim, Ramesh Rulania, was a prominent local businessman who owned both a motorcycle dealership and a hotel in the area. The shooting took place around 5:20 am at a fitness centre located on Station Road, where the suspect entered the second-floor facility and opened fire at close range.

Security footage revealed the masked attacker calmly entering the premises before carrying out the targeted killing. Fellow gym members rushed Rulania to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed that he had died from his injuries.

Police officials believe the incident may be linked to an ongoing extortion racket. According to sources, Rulania had allegedly received threats in recent days from the infamous Rohit Godara gang, a criminal network that operates widely across western Rajasthan, including the Didwana-Kuchaman belt.

Rohit Godara Gang Claims Responsibilty

Soon after the murder, a Facebook post attributed to Virander Charan, a known associate of the gang leader Rohit Godara, claimed responsibility for the act. In the message, Charan accused Rulania of insulting the gang during a previous extortion call.

“We called him a year ago. He used abusive language and said on social media that he wouldn’t even give us Rs 100. Today everyone will know we don’t forget anyone,” Charan posted.

“Whoever ignores or turns a deaf ear to our calls, be prepared – everyone’s turn will come,” he added.

This development has heightened concerns among business owners in the region. Police sources confirm that several other traders have also reported receiving similar threats recently.

Rohit Godara, originally from Lunkaransar in Bikaner, is no stranger to law enforcement. Currently believed to be residing in Portugal, he has been accused of masterminding several high-profile killings across India.

Among the most notable cases linked to him are:

• The assassination of gangster Raju Thehat in Sikar in December 2022, executed by four attackers.

• His alleged role in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022, a case that shocked the nation.

• The December 2023 murder of Karni Sena leader Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, which Godara publicly claimed responsibility for.

Beyond Rajasthan, the gang’s network seems to have spread its influence. In a recent case from Delhi, former Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ronak Khatri filed a complaint after receiving a death threat and extortion demand of Rs 5 crore from an international number.

“Immediately after the call, I also received a WhatsApp message from the same number repeating the demand and the death threat,” Khatri wrote in his police statement.

Law enforcement has initiated a detailed investigation into Rulania’s killing, while efforts are underway to trace the shooter’s identity and possible accomplices. The brutal nature of the crime has triggered a wave of fear and unease, especially among the local business community.

Authorities have appealed for public cooperation and assured that all leads are being pursued to bring the perpetrators to justice.