Victim’s family blames local developers, bizmen

The family of Sunil Kumar Loharia, 50, who was shot dead on Saturday, alleges that local developers and businessmen are behind the killing, and not former encounter specialist Emmanuel Amolik.

The family of Sunil Kumar Loharia, 50, who was shot dead on Saturday, alleges that local developers and businessmen are behind the killing, and not former encounter specialist Emmanuel Amolik.

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Responding to the allegations, Raosaheb Sardesai, senior inspe-ctor, Vashi police station, said, “We have no such information.”

Sanjeev Loharia, the decea-sed’s brother insisted that his brother had never fought with Amolik. “The police will not investigate the case properly as they are hand-in-glove with the people who have done this,” he said.

Refuting allegations that the deceased had upset several developers through some of his actions, his son Sandeep Kumar said, “I have written to the chief minister for the transfer of the case, explaining that the Navi Mumbai police had put my dad behind bars at the behest of the people we suspect are behind his killing.”

With Mumbai saturated, the satellite city is seeing large-scale real estate development and land disputes are on the rise. Of late, there have been several incidents of violence related to land deals.

Sardesai also dismissed speculations that the Pujari gang was involved. Sardesai said Amolik revealed he and Loharia got into a squabble in January in Sanpada. “Amolik was crossing the road when Loharia’s car almost ran over him. When he abused him, Sunil pulled down the window and threatened him with a revolver,” Sardesai said. “Amolik decided to get Loharia killed before he killed Amolik.”

One of the shooters, Venkatesh Shettiar, is said to have named one more policeman, but police remained tight-lipped.

Loharia’s last rites were performed on Sunday. The family had said it would not perform the rites until the people they suspected were held, but the condition of the body had worsened.