Man opens fire outside realtor’s house in Colaba

An unidentified man opened fire outside the Colaba residence of a 42-year-old estate agent and property broker on Sunday over a suspected land dispute.

An unidentified man opened fire outside the Colaba residence of a 42-year-old estate agent and property broker on Sunday over a suspected land dispute.

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The police said Ritu Bhatia, a resident of Mohini Mansion, located near Strand Cinema in Colaba, did not sustain any injuries. Cherring Dorje, deputy commissioner of police (zone I) said that at 9 pm on Sunday, someone rang the doorbell of Bhatia’s flat on the fourth floor of the building.

When she peeped through the keyhole, she saw a stranger standing in front of her door. She opened the door with the door chain still attached. She found the stranger standing pointing a gun at her.

“She saw the gun and immediately shut the door. The attacker then fired one round, which hit the door, and fled from the spot,” said Dorje.

The police are now questioning Ritu to find out the motive behind the firing and whether she had spoken to the attacker before she shut the door on him.

About Bhatia’s land dispute in Lonavla, which is rumoured to be the reason behind the attack on her, Dorje said, “We are recording her statement and are going to ask her about that as well."

Till the time of going to press, Bhatia was still being questioned by the police.