Hindustan Petroleum official was weeks away from retiring. Then a ‘blacklisted vendor’ he complained about killed him

Over a month ago, Sudhir Gupta, a Deputy General Manager (DGM) at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) compressed biogas plant in Uttar Pradesh’s Budaun district, had filed a complaint with the police.

Police said the 55-year-old alleged that a man, Ajay Pratap Singh, who supplied crop stubble (parali) to the plant had been threatening him.

Gupta had blacklisted Singh’s firm and prohibited his entry into the plant eight months ago following complaints of indecent behaviour, threats to employees and issues related to supply of parali, police said.

Gupta was days away from hanging up his boots — he had opted for VRS as he feared for his life.

On Thursday, police said, Singh allegedly acted on his threats — he barged into the plant in Sajini village with a gun and shot Gupta.

He also allegedly shot Assistant Manager l, Sales, Harshit Mishra, who tried to stop him.

The DGM and Harshit died of injuries.

Police said the Musajhag SHO, Ajay Kumar, and Sub-Inspector Dharmendra Kumar have been suspended for dereliction of duty as they failed to act on Gupta’s complaint.

A senior officer toldTheIndian Expressthat after the murders, Singh, known to be a local strongman, had walked to Musajhag police station accompanied by a crowd of locals.

While he was taken into custody, the locals remained outside, surrounding the station.

In the early hours of Friday, police officers claimed a team had taken Singh to recover the firearm used in the murders, which he had dumped in the thickets close to Saijni village.

Police claimed Singh located the weapon, fired at the team and attempted to escape.

The policemen returned fire, injuring him in both legs.

While Gupta was from Noida, Harshit, 34, belonged to Philibit.

Gupta’s son, Arush, told the media that his father had applied for VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) following the threats to his life and it had been approved.

He was to come home after his service tenure ended on March 31.

Harshit’s father, Sunil Mishra, alleged that the accused enjoyed patronage by local politicians and that police had failed to act on complaints against him because of political pressure.

HPCL Mourns the Loss of Lives at Budaun CBG PlantHindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is deeply saddened and mourns the tragic loss of two of its officers, Shri Sudhir Gupta, Deputy General Manager (Plant), and Shri Harshit Mishra, Assistant Manager (CBG), under…pic.twitter.com/f6vfoGoCUq
— Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (@HPCL)March 13, 2026
Police said the attack took place around 1.30 pm on Thursday.

According to officers investigating the case, Singh stopped a Bolero vehicle that was ferrying HPCL employees to the plant and forcibly took away phones of all occupants.

He then threatened the driver to take him to the plant.

Since the vehicle belonged to the department, it was not checked at the gate.

Police said Singh then went straight to the administrative block, where DGM Gupta and Mishra were holding a meeting with the incoming DGM who was to replace Gupta after he retired on March 31.

Police said Singh created a ruckus, hurled abuses, and demanded that Gupta come out even as security staff tried to push him out.

Hearing the commotion, Gupta, Harshit and the new DGM stepped outside.

Police said when he saw Gupta, Singh whipped out a country-made pistol and aimed it at him.

As Gupta tried to run back inside the building, Mishra attempted to stop the attacker.

Police said Singh allegedly shot Mishra twice, then chased Gupta and shot him twice as well.

Both officials collapsed in a pool of blood while Singh walked out of the premises, police said.

Police said after he was blacklisted, Singh started threatening Gupta through phone calls and even followed his vehicle and intercepted it.

An officer toldThe Indian Expressthat Gupta had filed a complaint against Singh on February 4 alleging that the latter was threatening to kill him if the blacklist order against his firm was not withdrawn.

The officer said since it was a non-cognizable report (NCR), the policemen did not take any action.

A senior officer said the SHO should have conducted a preliminary inquiry into the allegations and investigated the matter in detail after informing the local court about the necessity to lodge the NCR as a cognizable offence.

The SHO and the SI will face a departmental inquiry and legal action will follow if the investigation concludes that their laxity led to the murders, a senior officer told The Indian Express.

In a post onX, HPCL said it was deeply saddened by the loss of two of its officers.

“Both officers were valued members of the HPCL family who served the organisation with dedication, professionalism, and integrity.

Their sudden and untimely passing is an immense loss to the entire HPCL community.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with their families, loved ones, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.

HPCL is extending all possible support to the bereaved families,” it wrote.

Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express.

With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state.

His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements.

From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution.

Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story.

His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape.

Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting.

He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context.

By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century....

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