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Journalism of Courage
For Abu Salem, known as Chikna in the underworld, Bollywood has always been an obsession. This fascination led to his marriage with starlet Monica Bedi. But his was the call that Bollywood feared the worst.
Bedi, who appeared in Jodi No 1, came under police surveillance when she began talking to Salem in 1999. Senior Crime Branch officers had planned raids on Bedi8217;s home for more evidence but the former model from Delhi slipped away. Few months later, she surfaced again. Insiders say the fugitive gangster was instrumental in getting her roles in some of the four films she signed up.
Monica came to Mumbai and got close to film producer Mukesh Duggal. After he was shot dead, she got in touch with Salem. She reportedly became Fauzia and married him in 2000. For Salem, Monica was not the only interest in Bollywood. It was his major source of income.
Abu Salem entered the underworld as Romesh Sharma8217;s driver. He became part of the Dawood Ibrahim gang and played an important role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. He was among the few accused who escaped from the country after several members of the Dawood gang involved in the blasts were arrested, the police said.
His Bollywood connection began when Dawood decided to deploy a man to concentrate on the new-found source of money.
Salem was recommended by the don8217;s brother, Anees. Salem soon became Mr Moneybags for the gang. He knew Bollywood like the back of his hand and enlisted insiders who could tip him on the finances of bigwigs. Chhota Shakeel, then, was asked to keep off films and concentrate on businessmen.
Salem soon got too big for his boots. Part of the Bollywood money was siphoned into a bank, which he floated with Anees and gangster Abdul Kayum Sheikh in Dubai. Salem fled UAE in 1998 after he allegedly embezzled over Rs 60 crore, with Anees and Sheikh baying for his blood.
After parting ways with his mentor, Salem decided to keep his focus on the film industry and made his intentions clear when he ordered Gulshan Kumar8217;s murder.
Investigating agencies believe Salem has been investing in Bollywood. This brought him in direct confrontation with arch rival Shakeel. He managed to wean away three Salem associates in Bollywood. However, Salem got them killed.
8226; Advocate Liyakat Ali Shaikh was shot dead near Goregaon for shifting allegiance
8226; The murder of small-time producer Dinesh Anand at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 2000 followed
8226; Producer-secretary Ajit Dewani was shot dead after he decided to make a film with Shakeel8217;s money last year
Bollywood personalities often flocked to him in Europe for help. Some were coerced to part with overseas distribution rights of their films, police sources say.
Salem recently claimed he invested Rs 48 crore in Devdas. Producer Bharat Shah, arrested for alleged Shakeel links, approached V.P. Road police for cover. At least 20 people from Bollywood have been on Salem8217;s hitlist, including Manisha Koirala, Rajiv Rai, and Aamir Khan.
