Navi Mumbai: The Crime Branch Central Unit on Thursday arrested an Arun Gawli gang member and his friend for allegedly trying to kill a real estate businessman from Koparkhairane on Monday. A pistol, five cartridges, and the bike used in the crime were recovered.
“The accused were arrested within 48 hours of the crime and the motive is being investigated,” said Tushar Doshi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch). The complainant, was standing outside Aryan Beer Shop at Sector 19 on Monday when a biker along with the complainant’s ex-business partner, Umesh alias Babu Purushottam Bhat (46), a resident of Vashi, on the pillion, came near him.
Mr. Bhat took out a pistol and tried firing shots at the complainant, but the pistol got jammed, said Mr. Doshi. The duo fled the scene following which the complainant registered a case at Koparkhairane police station under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC read with Sections 3, 25, 27 of the Arms Act and Sections 37 (1) and 135 of the Bombay Police Act.
The motive behind the crime is suspected to be a business dispute between the complainant and Mr. Bhat. “Among the two accused, Mr. Bhat was known to the complainant and hence we started to trace him from his call records. He along with the other accused was arrested,” said Mr. Doshi. Both the accused have been remanded in police custody till July 10.
The co-accused was identified as Ganesh alias Ganya Boli Pandurang Parkar (41), a resident of Koparkhairane, and a member of the Arun Gawli gang. He has eighteen offences registered against him including four cases of murder, two cases of attempt to murder, and extortion.
