Crime Watch

Gulshan case: Approver withdraws plea on pardonThe accused turned approver in the Gulshan Kumar murder case withdrew his petition in the ...

Gulshan case: Approver withdraws plea on pardon

The accused turned approver in the Gulshan Kumar murder case withdrew his petition in the Bombay High Court in which he pleaded for recall of pardon granted to him by a magistrate last year and also sought bail.

The division bench of Justice Arumugam and Justice Vishnu Sahai on Monday pointed out to the accused Mohammed Ali Hassan Shaikh that recall of pardon could be raised only through a revision application challenging the order of the magistrate and not by way of a writ petition. The approver was then granted liberty to withdraw the petition. In the petition, Shaikh had disowned his statement of confession on the basis of which he was granted pardon. He alleged that police had pressurised him to falsely implicate music director Nadeem Akhtar Saifee and Abu Salem, henchman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, Majeed Memon, counsel for the accused in the Gulshan Kumar case Nadeem Saifi, pointed out that his client did not flee to Londonafter the murder of the music baron but he was already there.

Gulshan Kumar was shot dead on August 12, 1997, while Nadeem was in London with his family since July 17, 1997, as his wife was expecting a baby.

Advocate Memon further pointed out that Nadeem8217;s name was announced for the first time on August 31 in a press conference and within 48 hours his passport was sought to be cancelled.

Third accused in Andheri murder held

Sleuths attached to the Crime Branch on Monday arrested the third accused in the murder of a gangster at Andheri recently.

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Rahim Lala, accused in the killing of George Dias alias Joe, was picked up from Aurangabad. An associate of Chhota Shakeel, Lala allegedly hired Feroz Khadda to kill Dias, Chhota Rajan8217;s hitman.

Dias was shot dead at New Bharat Restaurant at Andheri east on August 5 when he was with one Firoz Sikandar Khan, who was arrested three days later, claimed the police.

According to investigating officer inspector Vilas Tupe, during interrogation Khantold the police that Lala was holed up in Aurangabad. A special team kept a watch at all the hideouts in the historical city and the accused was nabbed after two days, Tupe further said. During questioning Lala confessed that Chhota Shakeel had ordered to eliminate all members of the Rajan faction and he Lala hired Khadda for the job, said Tupe.

The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate today remanded Lala to police custody till August 27. The accused was earlier arrested for possessing arms and in a case of attempt to murder case.

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In another case the same squad arrested a member of the Arun Gawli gang from a hideout at Gorai Road, Borivli on August 15. The accused Jaipal Bhansingh Bhulgag alias Japan was absconding since 1993 and was wanted in connection with robbery and extortion case in northern suburbs of Mumbai.

Investigations were carried out under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Dashrat Avhad.