Jamshedpur: The otherwise calm surroundings of Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, were shattered by gunfire on Friday, February 13, when Vikram Sharma was shot dead outside a gym at Silver City Mall. What initially appeared to be a targeted killing soon exposed alleged links to a long and violent criminal history rooted in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Vikram Sharma was not an ordinary businessman. Investigators say he was once a notorious figure in Jamshedpur’s underworld and was considered the mentor of the Akhilesh Singh gang. His name had prominently surfaced in several high-profile criminal cases, including the sensational murder of Ashish Dey, owner of the well-known ‘Shree Leathers’ showroom in Sakchi, Jamshedpur, on November 2, 2007.
Jharkhand Connection
Sharma’s alleged criminal network was deeply linked to Jharkhand, where he is said to have established his own gang and figured among the most wanted criminals at one point. Around a decade ago, he was arrested by Jharkhand Police in connection with multiple cases.
His associate and alleged protégé, Akhilesh Singh, later intensified gang activities. In 2008, the killing of Tata Steel security officer Jayram Singh in Bistupur and transporter Ashok Sharma near Keenan Stadium sent shockwaves across the state. The violence during that period marked one of the bloodiest phases in Jamshedpur’s criminal history.
As police pressure mounted and investigations tightened, Sharma reportedly disappeared from Jharkhand overnight. For years, he remained elusive, allegedly changing locations and living under concealment in parts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Crime Timeline Linked to Vikram–Akhilesh Gang
2007: Murder of Ashish Dey, owner of Shree Leathers, in Sakchi, Jamshedpur.
2008: Killing of Tata Steel security officer Jayram Singh in Bistupur.
2008: Murder of transporter Ashok Sharma near Keenan Stadium.
2008: Firing incidents targeting former judge R.P. Ravi and Congress leader Nattu Jha.
Between March 15 and 20, 2008, indiscriminate firing incidents were reported in Sakchi, including attacks on Ravi Chaurasia and former judge R.P. Ravi. On May 16, 2008, gunshots were again fired at the residence of Ashish Dey, allegedly to spread fear.
On October 4, 2008, Jayram Singh, a Tata Steel security officer, was shot dead in Bistupur. In December 2008, transporter Ashok Sharma was killed near Keenan Stadium, further deepening public fear and unrest.
Years in Hiding
From 2009 onwards, as investigations progressed and law enforcement intensified operations, Sharma reportedly went underground. For nearly 15 years, he is believed to have remained out of sight, frequently shifting bases to avoid arrest.
Final Chapter in Dehradun
On February 13, 2026, Sharma’s life came to a violent end when unidentified assailants opened fire on him outside a gym in Dehradun. After his death, police scrutiny reportedly revealed his alleged criminal past and long-standing links to the Jamshedpur underworld.
Authorities are now probing whether the killing was the fallout of old rivalries or part of a larger criminal settlement, even as the case revives memories of one of Jharkhand’s most turbulent crime chapters.
