Mumbai: The Mumbai police are turning the heat on fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan's aides. On Tuesday, sleuths from the Mumbai crime branch arrested D K Rao, one of Rajan's most trusted lieutenants, for his alleged role in the Pakmodia street firing, in which arch-rival Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar's driver was assassinated.
Rao's involvement in the shootout came to light during the sustained interrogation of Umed-ur-Rehman, another Rajan aide who was arrested in connection with the same case. Investigations subsequently revealed that Rao had provided logistical and monetary support to facilitate the shootout, which many say signaled the return of gang warfare in Mumbai.
According to a senior official of the crime branch, Rao had hatched the entire shootout plan. "Prior to his arrest, we had questioned Rao about his involvement in the case. But he had denied his involvement in the case. During an intense session of interrogation, however, Rehman gave us specific information about his role," said the officer.
Police revealed that they were toying with the idea of invoking the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case. "It is surely a case of organised crime, and there are chargesheets against both Rao and Rehman. We are examining whether to invoke MCOCA in the case," added the officer.
Rajan's close aide Vicky Malhotra has also been called for questioning. "We are trying to ascertain his role in the case as well," said an officer. Senior police officials have opined that Rajan has been ordering sensational murders recently in a bid to reassert his sway in the Mumbai underworld.
Who is Rao?
D K Rao, whose real identity is Ravi Mallesh Bora, is a native of North Karnataka. His made a humble beginning as a watchman for a building in Dharavi, in 1994. Over 30 offences have been registered against him since, some under the MCOCA act. He was released after completing a 13-year sentence that was served to him in connection with one of the cases.
He hit the headlines in 2009, when three police officers were suspended after attending a Christmas party that he had thrown in Chembur. Cops have surmised that after Rao's release, he had been shouldering the responsibility of inducting young blood into the gang.
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