NCP’s damage control exercise

Monday, April 05, 2010
By Pradeep Gupta

Concerned over the increasing use of its political banners by miscreants, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has formed a committee to keep a tab on miscreants from defaming the party.

Several incidents were reported in the media where people with criminal backgrounds were liberally using NCP hoardings, by portraying themselves as party leaders or activists.

The Agriapada police had recently arrested four persons, including builder Dinesh Jain, for submitting forged documents to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to bag the BIT Chawl redevelopment contract, wherein he had submitted some fake consent letters.

Jain had installed large hoardings across the BIT Chawl, stating that he had been appointed as the Joint secretary of the Mumbai NCP by party Chief Sharad Pawar. BIT residents had claimed that some residents, considering his position, had signed the consent letter for redevelopment.

Talking to the ADC, Narendra Verma, Mumbai NCP president said, “Jain has no connection with the party. The committee will keep an eye on such miscreants at the district and taluka levels, to prevent the party from being defamed.”

In the past

This is not the first time that such an incident has occurred. Earlier, Pascal D’Souza, an ex-NCP leader, had thrown a party for a Chhota Rajan aide, which was attended by a few policemen, of which five were suspended. Later, the NCP had issued a clarification stating that Pascal had been dismissed from the party long ago, but was misusing the party’s name for his own vested interests.

TURF WAR

Chelas move in to cover gaps left by D Company, Chotta Rajan

By Pradeep Gupta

Just one month after advocate Shahid Azmi’s murder by the Bharat Nepali gang, and with renewed threats to city-based lawyers by alleged Ravi Pujari aides, there is speculation by investigation agencies that the two gangs are locked in a competition for power and fame. Incidentally, both Nepali and Pujari were henchmen of former boss, Chhota Rajan.

It may be recalled that Pujari worked for Rajan, and had parted ways with him in 2000, setting off a major spilt in the gang. Pujari and Guru Satam were both trusted aides of Rajan, until the abortive attack on Rajan's life in Bangkok by a team sent by Dawood's right-hand man, Chhota Shakeel in September 2000. Nepali moved out only seven months ago to start his own outfit.

In 2005, Pujari made headlines when two of his gunmen fired at leading criminal lawyer Majid Memon, outside his residence at Almira Road in Bandra. Memon escaped unhurt. In a similar attack in June 2006, Pujari’s aides opened fire on the office of Mahesh Bhatt. No one was injured.
In both instances, Pujari himself called up the news channels and took responsibility for the attacks, claiming that he would kill all those connected with the Dawood and Chhota Shakeel gangs.

Crime Branch officials say that Bharat Nepali is responsible for the killing of Nepal-based media baron Zamim Shah, who allegedly used to shelter Dawood’s aides in Nepal. Shahid Azmi was also fighting cases of persons accused in bomb blasts. Nepali who claims to be a patriot, became famous in the seedier sections of society and is attracting jobless youth. Not to be outdone, Ravi Pujari has begun targeting advocates like Ashok Sarogi, who has been fighting cases of alleged gangster, Abu Salem.

Chhota Rajan is reportedly ailing for years now, and is losing his hold on the gang. Taking advantage of this, Nepali and Pujari are out to prove themselves in the underworld in a fight for supremacy.

Crime Branch admits Ravi Pujari ahead in the race
Even as emerging gangster Nepali, who started his gang just seven months ago, got his share of abundant media attraction, he is still far behind the Pujari gang.

According to Deven Bharti, Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, “Nepali who wanted to established himself in the underworld, suffered a major blow when our team arrested four members of his gang for the Shahid Azmi killing, including sharpshooter Devendra Jagtap alias JD.Bharat Nepali doesn’t have many gang members inside the city, and he is still not so powerful as Ravi Pujari.”