You are here: Home > Mumbai > Tanasha killer in police net

The sensational June 2 shootout at Chembur's Tilak Nagar, in which Chhota Rajan henchman Farid Tanasha was killed, had left the Mumbai Crime Branch going round in circles till only a few days ago. The investigators now claim to have cracked the case with the arrest of the alleged main shooter last night.

Crime scene: Farid Tanasha was shot dead at his Tilak Nagar flat in Chembur on June 2. File pic

After four days of tracking the suspect, they detained Shankar L, who is considered to be a close accomplice of Bharat Nepali. Initial findings in Tanasha's murder itself hinted the role of Nepali, a former Rajan aide.                
Police sources informed that the 7.65 mm pistol cartridges recovered from the Tanasha's building compound, where he was shot, proved to be the key link that led to the arrest of Shankar.

"Our earlier investigation pointed out that the bullets found at Tanasha's home were similar to the ones used in killing lawyer Shahid Azmi in February. Moreover, Nepali has owned up to the killing of Shahid Azmi and we pieced together the puzzle," send a police official, requesting anonymity.   

Interrogation
The Crime Branch Unit 6 office in Chembur was abuzz with activity yesterday with several senior IPS officers visiting it to question the suspect. But after nightfall it wore a deserted look as Shankar was shifted to the police headquarters in south Mumbai. 

Earlier Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Himanshu Roy had told MiD DAY that they were close to solving the Tanasha murder case.

Forensic reports have indicated that two gunmen fired from their 7.65 caliber pistols, used by armed forces.

These incidentally are the same weapon used by Devendra Jagtap in the murder of Azmi, inform sources.

Eyeing Chembur
Nepali bumped off Tanasha, the Tilak Nagar don, as he wanted to take control of and cash in on this nondescript colony of buildings in Chembur, which are slowly being redeveloped, say sources.

Tanasha rose to power in Tilak Nagar after he was released on bail in 2009.          

He was arrested with another associate Vicky Malhotra in New Delhi in November 2005.