Did Dawood gang stage manage Bunty's arrest?

Sources say it could have been done to strengthen don's network in the city

After Bunty Pandey's arrest on Wednesday, questions are being raised in underworld circles if the whole thing was schemed by his own men to strengthen Dawood Ibrahim's network in Mumbai.

While those at the receiving end of underworld threatsu00a0u00a0 are relieved at Pandey's arrest, their relief might be short-lived.

With his imminent arrival to the city, the situation could get even worse for them, say sources.
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Pandey's boss Dawood is also known encourage gang members to operateu00a0locally so that their presence is strong and they corner the lion's share of the underworld income, police sources informed.

Pandey already has a 'brand name' in the underworld and his presence is expected to change the gangland equation.

He was arrested on Wednesday night in Vietnam by Interpol and is expected to be brought in to the city soon.

Story so far

Bunty Pandey was an important aide of Chhota Rajan and played a key role in Rajan's escape from the hospital after he was seriously injured in a shootout in Bangkok on September 26, 2000.

But he soon broke away from the gang when Rajan suspected him of betrayal. Pandey was also reportedly upset that Bharat Nepali rose up the gangland ladder to become Rajan's second-in-command.
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After initially teaming up with other gangsters like Guru Satam, Lambu Shetty and Ravi Pujari, Pandey started out on his own.

A senior police officer confirmed that Pandey approached Dawood Ibrahim's right hand man Chhota Shakeel for work after he ran out of money.

Pandey had been shuttling between seven South-East Asian countries in the past few years, posing as a labour contractor, confirmed Joint Commissioner of Police Himanshu Roy.

In D-World

According to Crime Branch sources, Pandey found it safe to operate as part of the D-Company as Rajan's men were baying for his blood. Shakeel offered him a job in the gang as his pointsman in Mumbai, a senior IPS officer said.

For Shakeel, hiring Pandey was important as he was well acquainted with members of rival Chhota Rajan gang. He also knew the identity of the gang sympathisers paying Rajan and his senior lieutenants.

Pandey might be behind the bars for the next few years. But police officials fear that during this period, he could operate from inside the jail.