Police still look for leads in Romesh labyrinth

Romesh Sharma had learnt early that it paid to invest in disputed property, with the right amount of muscle power which he acquired over the years. However, he preferred to deal directly with the D-Company — Dawood Ibrahim and his associates such as Abu Salem.

Sources in the Coordination Committee — handling the Romesh Sharma investigations — said that most major players in the network had beenarrested. However, they feared the resurrection of the empire since at least three of Sharma’s associates were still absconding. “These are the three we know of but we suspect there might be more who are still out there,” disclosed an official in the Coordination Committee.

The officers investigating the Romesh Sharma cases think that his links with Dawood and his associates might still be active through his loyal conduits. “This is one gray area we are still trying to figure out,” admitted the official.

The known associates who are still absconding are Manoj, Avdhesh and Indermani — all originally from Sharma’s Ugrasen village. Manoj is among the 10 most wanted criminals in Allahabad with number of heinous cases against him. “These three looked after Sharma’s dealings in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Allahabad and Lucknow. They also maintained links with Nepal operations,” an official said.

Among those who have been arrested — seriously damaging if not destroying the network — are RomeshSharma’s elder brother Harish Mishra, his friend and old associate Avtar Singh Ahluwalia, Navin Buddhiraj alias Babboo and Moti Bhojwani, secretary of the Mayfair Garden Residents’ Association.His brother Harish was a key link to Sharma’s Mumbai operations, maintaining all the properties, collecting rent and also keeping up contacts with the underworld. He was also said to be close to many Mumbai film producers and politicians.

“All messages from associates of Dawood and others in the underworld were passed through Harish when Sharma himself could not be contacted. In the helicopter case, it was Harish who signed the first agreement with Suresh Rao on behalf of Sharma. His arrest has severely crippled Sharma’s operations,” a coordination committee official said.

Ahluwalia is said to be one of the oldest associates of Sharma — since the early days of Sharma in Mumbai in the early 1970s. “Ahluwalia was a real estate agent and allegedly helped Sharma in grabbing property and telling him about disputedproperties up for grabs.

He also came to supervise the construction of the (Jai Mata Di) farmhouse which Sharma had grabbed from Member of Parliament M S Subba,” the official said, explaining the link.

Bhojwani is alleged to have actively connived with Sharma to oust Lakshman Das Jeevnani, the owner of C-30 Mayfair Garden, and help him grab the house. The committee is also probing his involvement in other criminal activities of Sharma.

Delhi-based Navin Budhiraj, brother of one of Sharma’s girlfriends, Kunjam, was like an important errand boy. “He accompanied Sharma during campaigning to Phoolpur when he contested elections. He helped him get hold of various properties in Delhi and was also present when the helicopter was taken away from Rao,” the official said.

The Coordination Committee — comprising officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate and Crime Branch is now trying to make an airtight case against Sharma. The fact that he has alreadygot bail in the few minor cases including the wildlife and excise cases has scared the investigating agencies, and they are trying harder to ensure that the allegations stick in court.