Three persons have been arrested by Allahabad Police in this connection while Thane Police has filed a case against four persons in this regard, Bhiwandi Police Station Inspector C R Chavan said.
The conspiracy was allegedly hatched in Naini Central Prison, near Allahabad, to execute BJP corporator and businessman Santosh Shetty, 46, by one convict Aazad Ansari alias Nanhe, who is serving life term imprisonment, the officer said.
Chavan said, according to Allahabad Police, Nanhe is allegedly the main conspirator and had directed three members of his gang -- Indreshkumar Gulabsingh, Mohammad Salim alias Shaikh Mohammad Hanif and Rameshkumar Ramtahal Bind -- to execute the killing on November 2, 2015, by shooting the corporator at his residence.
The UP police then contacted the Thane Police and a case was registered against the four persons on Tuesday under IPC section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 34 (common intention) and other relevant sections.
Shetty was earlier an NCP corporator but joined BJP during the last Lok Sabha election in 2014.