20 April 2010
By V Narayan
Mumbai, India
The victim, Chandrakant Birje According to an anti–nartcotic cell official, a trap was laid at Ramtekdi in Chembur following a tip–off. They arrested the accused who was found suspiciously moving around the area where the victim, Chandrakant Birje, had parked his Ford Endeavour. When Singh was frisked, 500 grams of charas worth Rs 40,000 was found in his possession as well as a countrymade revolver and two live cartridges.
The victim claimed to have received threatening calls from his rival in the locality and subsequently, he had lodged a non–cognizable (NC) complaint at the RCF police station two months ago.
“The NC was lodged for security purpose after Thakur threatened me and even thrashed my brother Ganpati over personal and business rivalry. The matter worsened since then and the person repeatedly threatened and asked me to take back the NC or else he would trap me in some serious offence. Four days ago, through an informer, I came to know that someone had hatched a plan to trap me in a narcotics case. I informed the anti–narcotic cell officials at Chembur about the threat and they laid a trap and held the accused,” Birje told TOI on Monday.
The president for Charmakar Kranti Sangh, Sambhaji Shinde, said that Birje is an advisor for the Sangh and he had informed the Sangh about the threats made by his business rival, one Thakur. “Both run video parlours and are into oil business in Chembur, which was the main cause of their rivalry. Two months ago, when Thakur thrashed Birje’s brother, he had lodged a complaint with the RCF police station.”
Anti–narcotic cell deputy commissioner of police Sunil Paraskar confirmed the arrest but refused to comment any further. He simply said that investigations are currently on.
Meanwhile, another officer from the Chembur unit said that the youth said he had been given the contract to keep the drugs in the victim’s vehicle.
When TOI inquired whether the crime was planned by the victim’s rival, the ANC cops said the arrested youth who hails from Azamgarh and stays at Vashi said that it was a trap. Investigations are on to find the exact motive behind the offence and the people involved in it.
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