Mateen Hafeez | TNN
Mumbai: A year has passed since gangster Chhota Shakeel’s aide, Zahid Hasan alias Chhote Miyan, and his nephew were killed, but the crime branch is yet to crack the case.The case goes back to July 29, 2009 when the two were gunned down in a crowded area just outside Taj Cinema in Grant Road near Nagpada. Zahid, who was the owner of a gambling club, reportedly ran Chhota Shakeel’s betting business.
The crime branch, which took over the case, had earlier claimed that it was on the verge of making a breakthrough in the case and had also stated that the motive was business rivalry and a contract was given out for Zahid’s killing. The investigators had then claimed to have identified the “shooters’’ but said they wanted to nab the mastermind first. However, the case still lies undetected.
“It was one of the most sensational cases in which two people were shot dead.The police have got some clues and we are working on it. We expect to make a breakthrough soon,’’ said a crime branch officer.
The police were now hunting for a suspect, Osama Khan, who could have been one of the killers, said the officer. According to the police, Osama, who is currently working for fugitive gangster Bharat Nepali, could have been given the contract to eliminate Zahid, after the latter failed to pay his punters and sub-bookies.
Zahid, who had taken more than Rs 65 crore on IPL betting, suffered huge losses. While he returned the dues to those belonging to the Shakeel gang, he apparently refused to pay the members of the Chhota Rajan gang. This reportedly enraged Rajan who gave supari to kill Zahid.
On the day of the incident, Zahid and his nephew, Arshad Hussain, were sitting outside Taj Cinema when three unidentified persons opened fire on them and fled. A few months before that, Zahid had made headlines when an informer, Irfan Chindi, was stabbed to death in April. Ifran’s family had alleged that Zahid had plotted the murder.
LOSSES ON BETTING
Chhota Shakeel’s aide, Zahid Hasan, who had taken more than Rs 65 crore on IPL betting, suffered huge losses. While he returned the dues to those belonging to the Shakeel gang, he apparently refused to pay the members of the Chhota Rajan gang. This reportedly enraged Rajan who gave supari to kill Zahid
The Times of India, July 30, 2010
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