Monday, April 5, 2010

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.”

No comments: