Matka king’s brother seeks to reopen cases

Vinod Bhagat, brother of slain matka king Suresh Bhagat, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking reopening of two FIRs lodged by his brother.

Suresh had lodged two FIRs against his former wife Jaya Chheda and her associates for trying to frame him in cases under the Arms Act and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Vinod sought that the high court transfer investigation in these FIRs to an independent agency like the CID.

A division bench of Justice B.H. Marlapalle and Justice Anoop Mohta on Wednesday asked the deputy commissioner of police (Zone III) to file a reply in three weeks.

Vinod alleged his brother was murdered on June 13, 2008, at the instance of Jaya, her son Hitesh and other associates who wanted to take over his matka business. They were later arrested.

Vinod’s advocate Sushan Kunjuraman argued that on January 30, 2004, Suresh had filed an FIR with the Worli police saying that a bag containing a revolver, 185 cartridges and 2.5 kg opium was kept in a jeep near his house.

He filed another complaint on the same day after a bag containing 2 kg of opium was found in his building compound. Suresh had named Suhas Roge, aide of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli.

Police filed ‘A summary’ in both the cases, which means the crime is “true but not detected”.