A Congress leader has been arrested in the Surendra Singh murder case in Amethi, tweets BJP leader Rakesh Singh on killing of Smriti Irani's close aide

In a big development in the Amethi political murder case in which newly-elected MP Smriti Irani's close aide Surendra Singh was shot dead by two unidentified men, a senior BJP leader has tweeted that a Congress leader has been arrested by the police. 

Rakesh Singh, the state president of the Madhya Pradesh BJP has written on Twitter:

"In the case of BJP politician Surendra Singh's murder in Amethi, the Police has arrested a Congress leader. Has the Congress been so badly shaken by its president Rahul Gandhi's loss that it has fallen to killing BJP leaders? Was this what you meant by NYAY?"

In a shocking incident, 50-year-old Surendra Singh who was a former head of the Baraulia village which is about 25 km away from the Amethi district headquarters, was shot at around 11:30 pm on Saturday. He was immediately rushed to a Lucknow hospital but succumbed during treatment, as per Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram.

WATCH: 'Resolved To Even To Go The Supreme Court To Bring Surendra Singh's Killers To Justice,' Says Smriti Irani After Paying Respect Her Late Close Aide From Amethi

On Sunday, Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash Singh said seven people were taken into custody, adding that they were being interrogated.

"We have come to know about an old enmity. We are also trying to find out if there was any political enmity. The initial investigation has thrown up some vital clues," he told reporters in Lucknow.

"UP police teams are conducting a very intensive investigation. We have also got important evidence through electronic surveillance," the DGP said, adding that he was hopeful that the case would be solved "in the next 12 hours".

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed the DGP to take effective action and report back to him, a senior official said, adding that the inspector general in Lucknow was sent to monitor the situation.

"An FIR has been registered against five persons under sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the complaint of Narendra Singh, brother of Surendra Singh," Daya Ram said.

READ | Smriti Irani's Close Aide Shot Dead In Amethi By Two Men

Union Minister Smriti Irani had flown from Delhi to Amethi and met Surendra Singh's family to offer her condolences, and then was also a pallbearer along with UP minister Mohsin Raza as Singh's last rites were performed.

"My request to all party workers is that we should exercise restraint," Irani told reporters in Lucknow.

The MP-elect said that Singh was killed so that Amethi could be "terrorised, disintegrated and bowed down".

"On (May) 23, I was given a message that take care of Amethi with love. To the person, who gave me the message, I would like to say that I have received the message loud and clear," she had added.

"As per the information received, Singh was attacked in his sleep. This is a very heinous and disgusting incident," Raza, the minister in-charge of Amethi district, said.

READ | FIR Lodged Against 5 Persons After Murder Of Smriti Irani's Close Aide Surendra Singh In Amethi

(With PTI inputs)