Narayan Rane’s son booked for firing at supporter

Nitesh Rane, son of Congress leader and state revenue minister, Narayan Rane, was booked for attempt to murder after he allegedly fired at an activist of his organisation, Swabhimaan, on Thursday afternoon.

Nitesh Rane, son of Congress leader and state revenue minister, Narayan Rane, was booked for attempt to murder after he allegedly fired at an activist of his organisation, Swabhimaan, on Thursday afternoon.

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The incident occurred at the non-governmental organisation’s Khar office on Thursday afternoon. The bullet allegedly hit the victim, Chintu Shaikh's, cheek. Shaikh works for the Vahtuk Sangathana, Swabhimaan's public transport union wing.

Additional commissioner of police (west region) Amitabh Gupta told Hindustan Times that the Khar police registered the case following an investigation after Shaikh lodged a police complaint. “We have registered a case against Nitesh under section 307 [attempt to murder] of the Indian Penal Code,” Gupta said.

Police sources said Shaikh told the police that he had gone to the NGO’s office to distribute sweets because his wife had given birth to a boy. Some members of the organisation objected to the distribution of sweets, which led to an altercation. Nitesh, who was in the office, allegedly fired a shot that ricocheted off a bulletproof glass pane in the office and hit Shaikh on the cheek.

Police sources said Shaikh told the Powai police that although he was injured after Nitesh shot at him in Khar, he travelled to Powai and got himself admitted to LH Hiranandani Hospital. The reason for this is not clear.

DCP (zone IX) KMM Prasanna said: “When I spoke to doctors at Hiranandani Hospital, where Chintu is being treated, they told me that the wound on his cheek appears to have been caused by a sharp object.”