You are here: Home > Mumbai > FIR lodged against Nitesh Rane

Activist alleges minister's son shot him; cops register attempt to murder case but make no arrest

Bloodshed: Chintu Sheikh (above) alleged that he was shot at by Nitesh Rane (left) injuring his jaw when he visited his office at Khar. Sheikh is admitted at a hospital in Powai.

"Nitesh Rane pointed the gun to my head and threatened me. However, as I tried to flee, he shot and the bullet hit me in my cheek," said Chintu Sheikh in an exclusive chat to MiD DAY, after he alleged that the Maharashtra minister's son shot him.

Chintu Sheikh, a member of the NGO Swabhiman Sangathana, alleged that he was shot at by the Congress politician's son, injuring his jaw when he visited Nitesh at his Khar office. Sheikh also alleged that after the shoot-out, Nitesh's bodyguard, personal assistant and a friend punched and kicked him in the office. He, however, managed to run away and got himself admitted to Hiranandani Hospital in Powai and is currently recuperating.

Speaking to
MiD DAY from the hospital, he said that the incident happened late evening and the case was registered at Powai police station around 11.30 pm.

However, the case was transferred to Khar police station, early in the morning as the incident had taken place in Khar. However, there was no arrest till morning as the police said that the enquiry was going on.

Narrating his story, Sheikh said, "I had gone with sweets to meet Nitesh, as I work for his NGO. We were talking, but suddenly, he removed his gun and pointed it to my head.

While I tried to push the gun, it hit my cheek. He told his friend Zahid Sheikh and assistant and bodyguards to kill me. They wanted to kill me."

Around 2 am, Nilesh Rane was seen entering the Khar police station. Nilesh told MiD DAY that his brother was innocent. "This is a political conspiracy against my brother. He did not shoot Sheikh. Everything will be cleared in the enquiry." When asked where was Nitesh, Nilesh said, "He is at home."

The police have registered a case of attempted murder, arms act, abusing and threatening against Nitesh Rane, his friend Zahid Sheikh and
assistant Nitin Narayan.
Mangesh Pote, Senior police inspector of Khar said, "The case has been registered for attempt to murder. The case was registered at Powai and later we took over. Investigations are ongoing."