Suspected extortion attempt: Gunmen open fire at builder’s Bhandup office

Hours before BJP leader LK Advani was to pass through Bhandup on his anti-corruption rally, two unidentified accused fired three rounds at a builder's office in the area on Friday morning. No one was injured in the attack.

Hours before BJP leader LK Advani was to pass through Bhandup on his anti-corruption rally, two unidentified accused fired three rounds at a builder's office in the area on Friday morning. No one was injured in the attack.

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The incident took place around 10.15am on Friday, when the three accused riding a two-wheeler arrived at Shriharihar Residency at Lake road. Sanjay Shintre, DCP (zone 7), said, “Two of these got off the bike, fired three rounds on the glass window of the office of builder Vaibhav Kokate and fled the spot.” Two of the accused fired three rounds at the ground floor of the building, where the conference room of the office is located. Kokate was on the first floor when the firing took place. A security guard was present near the building, but could not note the registration number of the bike used by the men. “The accused did not say anything nor did they pass any message. They fired and left,” said the officer.

An officer from Bhandup police, requesting anonymity, said, “Kokate received a threat call a few months ago, where he was asked for three flats in a Bhandup-based building project.” The builder had informed the crime branch about the call. The Bhandup police are in the process of preparing the sketches of the three accused based on the description given by the watchman and other eyewitnesses.