Mumbai Police suspect the involvement of Chhota Rajan in Hanif Kadawala’s murder and the case has been transferred to CBI after 15 years of his murder.
The murder case of Hanif Kadawala an accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts incidents has been taken over by CBI. Kadawala had provided AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt. The investigating agency has registered a case against gangster Chhota Rajan and his accomplices. Kadawala, who transported weapons to Mumbai (then Bombay) on the instructions of Tiger Menon which were used in the 1993 serial blasts, was killed on February 7, 2001 in his office by three men. Mumbai Police suspected that the killing was a handiwork of Rajan after the 12 blasts that had left 257 dead and more than 700 injured.
It was alleged that Kadawala along with another accomplice had hid the consignment of weapons used in the blasts in the garage of Dutt’s house. The actor nonetheless had denied any knowledge of conspiracy of blasts and was acquitted from charges under TADA in the case.
“The agency has taken over the probe into Kadawala’s murder,” CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said.
On April 16, 1993, Kadawala was arrested under TADA for being part of the conspiracy and transporting weapons from Gujarat coast to Mumbai. Five years later he was granted bail. On the other hand, Sanjay Dutt was convicted under the Arms Act.
In 2001, it was alleged that a person who introduced himself as Yusuf had repeatedly sought appointment with Kadawala regarding a deal. On February 7, 2001, three persons allegedly entered his office at Bandra (West) in Mumbai where two of his employees were also present.
After a brief discussion, Kadawala was allegedly shot with a .32 revolver. He sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to injuries.
According to sources, CBI had taken over the probe after a reference from the Maharashtra government in this regard. According to rules, the investigating agency begins its probe after state police registers an FIR.
They said a case has been registered against Chhota Rajan, his gang member Guru Satam and others under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act in connection with Kadawala’s murder.
On October 25, 2015, Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia and he was deported to India. He is an accused in around 70 cases in Maharashtra, including the 2011 J Dey murder case. The Maharashtra government has handed over all these cases to CBI. Rajan, once considered a henchman of Dawood, parted ways with him after the 1993 Bombay serial blasts.
