Two more Munshi men under judicial custody

With the arrest of Kolsawala and Choksi, nine of the 16 people against whom cases have been lodged for having connections with Munshi, have been arrested. Kolsawala, Choksi, Hemu Panchal and Sultan Ali Virani have been sent to judicial custody, while five others arrested earlier have been released on bail.

According to the Rander police and the special branch, Choksi confessed that he came to know Munshi in 1990, when he was introduced to him by Ghaznabi, an anti-social element, who frequented Choksi8217;s perfume shop. But it was in 1993, Kolsawala said, that he came to know of Munshi8217;s relation with Ghaznabi8217;s sister-in-law and that they had parted ways after a scuffle over it.

Choksi further revealed that Munshi had demanded Rs 25,000 from him in 1994 which he did not give and stated that after the railway bomb blast in 1994 in Surat, Munshi came to his house at least four times, once with his friends. Choksi also told the police that he had always seen Munshi with two revolvers at all times.

According to Kolsawala8217;s confessions, he came into contact with Munshi in 1994, when he bought clothes from him and was present with Munshi when he gunned down Naresh Nikam at Katargam. Kolsawala also confessed that he was present during Naresh Nikam shooting case, Pradeep Solanki threatening case, Umra revolver threat case, and other cases.

In a startling revelation, Kolsawala also told the police that Munshi and three others killed Ashit Africawala alias Bunty in Rander area three months ago because he had cheated him of Rs 7 lakhs.

Kolsawala further told the police that Munshi has taken a supari of Rs 10 lakhs in a case in which Hanskamal Grover was involved and asked Hemu Panchal and Bunty to collect the amount. Bunty, however, gave Munshi just Rs 3 lakhs, Kolsawala added.