M A I N   N E W S

Mumbai gang rape
Accused linked to politicians, cops
Shiv Kumar/TNS

Forensic experts examine the crime scene at Shakti Mills in Mumbai on Tuesday. — PTI

Unholy nexus Two of the accused, Chand Sattar Sheikh and Salim Ansari, are allegedly activists of the Nationalist Congress Party Photographs of the two of them posing with senior NCP leader Sachin Ahir have appeared in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna Ahir is a nephew of notorious gangster Arun Gawli and used to be minister for housing and slum improvement in the Maharashtra Government Leader of the gang, Qasim Mohammad Shaikh, alias Bangali, who is the main accused in the rape case, was also a police informer

Mumbai, August 27
The five youths who raped a photojournalist on assignment in an abandoned mill in Mumbai had close links to a prominent Maharashtra politician apart from working as police informers.

Investigators probing the assault have told local residents that the five men were notorious goondas operating in the vicinity of the Mahalaxmi railway station in South Central Mumbai. Apart from committing petty crimes, the five often picked up quarrels with local people confident that their clout would let them get away scot-free, the police said.

Two of the accused, Chand Sattar Sheikh and Salim Ansari, were also allegedly activists of the Nationalist Congress Party. Photographs of the two of them posing with senior NCP leader Sachin Ahir have appeared in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna. Ahir is a nephew of notorious gangster Arun Gawli and used to be minister for housing and slum improvement in the Maharashtra government.

A number of old textile mills in Central Mumbai, the stomping grounds of Gawli, are being replaced by swanky towers with builders openly using underworld elements to cow down opposition to their projects. The police admits that the five men often got politicians to participate in functions organised by them.

Meanwhile, Ahir’s office has denied that the rapists were linked to the MLA. “During any function people come to pose with leaders. MLA saab cannot personally know everyone,” one Jadhav attached to Ahir’s office told this reporter.

Leader of the gang, Qasim Mohammad Shaikh, alias Bangali, who is the main accused in the rape case was also a police informer cultivated by officers in the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police. Shaikh was caught in Delhi after he fled Mumbai following a conversation with a police constable, investigations have revealed.

According to the police, constable Salim Mujawar and Shaikh had exchanged 80 calls in the past month. The constable is being investigated for tipping off the rapist, according to sources.

Local residents have been quoted as telling the police that the gang often stole property belonging to the railways which they sold as scrap. Constables from the local police stations were allegedly bribed to turn a blind eye to their doings.