Charge sheet names courier boy as witness

In a new twist to the Pakmodia street shootout case, the 700-page charge sheet filed by the crime branch, a copy of which is with the Hindustan Times, names the courier boy of gangster Chhota Rajan’s aide, DK Rao, as one of the key witnesses.

In a new twist to the Pakmodia street shootout case, the 700-page charge sheet filed by the crime branch, a copy of which is with the Hindustan Times, names the courier boy of gangster Chhota Rajan’s aide, DK Rao, as one of the key witnesses.

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The driver of underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar was killed in the shootout on May 17. Rao was arrested on July 13 for allegedly financing the attack.

In his statement, the courier boy, Arvind (name changed), said that he started working for Rao in September 2010. He alleged that he had handed over Rs3 lakh to Umed-Ur-Rehman, the key accused, at a hotel in Chembur in the first week of May at Rao’s behest. “There I was approached by a person, who was later identified him as Umed, who took the money,” said Arvind. Arvind alleged that Umed had introduced himself as Salim.

Rao reportedly asked Arvind to refrain from mentioning his transaction with Umed to anyone else. “Rao had two mobile phones with him. Whenever his special phone rang, then he would ask for privacy. I would be given any amount between Rs1-5 lakh to deliver to different persons. I have done this 9-10 times,” said Arvind. He said that each time he made a delivery for Rao he had to break his SIM card and mobile phone.