MCOCA applied in Santacruz double murder case

The Santacruz police have applied stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the six people accused of the Santacruz double murder case

The Santacruz police have applied stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the six people accused of the Santacruz double murder case, in which two workers at a construction site were killed with choppers and a firearm on July 26.

According to police, Nadeem Mumtaz Khatri, 36, was working at a construction site near Daulat Nagar in Santacruz (West) when Mohsin Behlem , along with the other accused, killed him and his friend Gulam Shaikh on July 26.

Police said Nadeem was a resident of Daulat Nagar, where Mohsin had also been living earlier. The two worked together but after a dispute over finances, Mohsin left the job. A police officer said the two had registered several cases against each other.

Investigations revealed that the double murder was the result of a past rivalry between Nadeem and the two brothers, Mohsin and Zulfikar. Mohsin killed Nadeem, acting on his younger brother Zulfikar’s instructions. Zulfikar is currently lodged in Arthur Road Jail in connection with an extortion case, said a police officer.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyanarayan Chaudhari (zone IX) confirmed that the provisions have been added to the case in view of the extensive criminal background of the gang.

“It was a pre-planned and organised crime, so we wrote to senior officers, seeking permission to apply the MCOCA against the accused. After seeking a legal opinion in the case, the applicable sections have been applied,” said police officer.