At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer announced the arrest of 42-year-old Daljit Singh.
Police say Singh conspired with a confidential informant to kill Rama Dawar of Fresno in a series of meetings over the past two months.
Chief Jerry Dyer said, "The conversation evolved into Daljit Singh seeking the confidential informant to kill the victim in this case. Mr. Dawar."
Dyer claims audio and video recordings show the exchanges between the two men and that a gun and a down payment was given to the confidential informant.
Fresno attorney Tony Capozzi represents Singh and believes the evidence will not hold up in court. "Something is not right with this case. And I think as it starts to evolve, and the defense does their investigation, surprises are going to come out and it's going to be shown that this as set out by this person did not exist."
Singh who also goes by the name Danny Multani, owns at least two business in West Central Fresno. A limo and towing company are both under the name Multani.
Investigators wouldn't tell us a direct motive but believe Singh could had some resentment towards Dawar after a business deal went bad between the two sometime last year.
Dawar is not only well known in the Valley's Sikh community, he's heavily involved in the city of Fresno. Dawar serves on the police department's advisory board.
City Councilman Blong Xiong also appointed him to the city's planning commission and says he's shocked about the apparent hit on Dawar's life.
"I'm very surprised. Definitely surprised. At least from the person that I know of Rama."
Singh's bail is set at just over a million dollars. We've also learned that he's also has another case against him from immigrations and customs enforcement although Chief Dyer would not elaborate as to what the charges against him were.
