MCOCA on seven members of Dharavi gang

During the investigation, police learnt that the reason behind the murder was a tussle between the deceased, Amir Khan and the mastermind behind the ‘K’ gang, Kalim Rauf Sayyad

Mumbai The crime branch has invoked Maharashtra control of organised crime Act (MCOCA) against seven members of ‘K gang’ to prevent their activities in Asia’s biggest slum pocket Dharavi and Sion. Recently, the gang members fired five bullets on a 35-year-old and killed him.

According to the police, the murder was planned on January 3 The accused Sahil Shaikhkept a watchful eye on Khan’s whereabouts (HT FIle)

During the investigation, police learnt that the reason behind the murder was a tussle between the deceased, Amir Khan and the mastermind behind the ‘K’ gang, Kalim Rauf Sayyad. After the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested Sayyad in 2020, Khan was allegedly trying to establish his reign in the locality.

The accused have been identified as Saeed Shaikh, 27, Afsar Shaikh alias Bablu Mulla, 23, Saddam Shaikh, 25, Sahil Shaikh, 24, Shoaib Khan, 20, Yasin Shaikh, 20, and Shama Parvez Shaikh, 40. Police said that Shama had provided shelter to the accused. The police are yet to take out a production warrant against the gang leader and arrest him, while two more accused are still at large.

According to the police, the murder was planned on January 3 The accused Sahil Shaikhkept a watchful eye on Khan’s whereabouts. Soon after he informed his accomplice - Saeed and Afsar -that Khan went near Pila Bungalow, Mithi River on February 12, both loaded the gun and fired a total of eight rounds at Khan, five of them hitting him.

The locals then rushed Khan to Sion Hospital. Police were informed about the incident. Before dying, Khan revealed the name of his shooter- Saeed Shaikh, said the police officer. The Mumbai crime branch unit 5 started conducting a parallel investigation in the case. Khan died during the treatment on February 13 morning.

We arrested several friends of Saeed in the vicinity and a police team managed to nab him in Surat. During our interrogation, we learnt that Sahil was in the area and was providing information about police reaction through his Instagram posts. We then arrested Sahil Shaikh and later traced Afsar Shaikh from Kurla,” said Ghanshyam Nair of unit 5.

Police asked Afsar and Sahil to communicate with the other wanted accused Shoaib Khan and Yasin Shaikh and convince them to meet at Kurla railway station, from where they were fleeing to Uttar Pradesh.