The CBI has registered two fresh cases against gangster Chhota Rajan at the request of the Maharashtra government, related to the alleged murder of suspected rivals and the assassination attempt on a
The CBI has registered two fresh cases against gangster Chhota Rajan at the request of the Maharashtra government, related to the alleged murder of suspected rivals and the assassination attempt on a businessman in Mumbai.
CBI sources said the first case relates to the Bhendi Bazaar shootout allegedly carried out by gunmen hired by Rajan in February 2010 in which two persons — Shakeel Modak and Irfan Qureishi — were killed while one Asif Dadhi was injured.
Modak was believed to be very close to a well-known politician, who had been an MLA. Modak owned a fishing trawler. Qureishi used to work in a printing press. Dadhi was under the Mumbai police scanner over alleged illegal activities, but was cleared in court.
The sources said a case has been registered against four unknown persons under various sections of the IPC related to murder and provisions of the arms act.
They said the second case relates to an alleged attempt made on the life of Mumbai-based businessman and hotelier B.R. Shetty in October 2012 by two motorcycle-riding shooters suspected to be linked to Rajan.
The case, which was probed by the Amboli police, has now been taken over by the CBI, which has registered a case against two unknown persons under the IPC provisions related to attempt to murder, the Arms Act and the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
When asked about these cases, CBI spokesperson R.K. Gaur confirmed the development.
“CBI has taken over the investigation in these two cases which were earlier registered by the Mumbai police,” he said.
The Maharashtra authorities have referred over 70 cases suspected to involve Rajan to the CBI. The agency has so far registered three cases, including these two. Earlier, it had registered the case relating to the murder of journalist J. Dey, who was allegedly shot dead on the instructions of Rajan.
The CBI FIR does not name Rajan.
