Dumper rams into car owned by Chhota Rajan's brother, supporters cry foul

Deepak Nikhalje will be contesting on an RPI (A) ticket during the Assembly polls; supporters claim the accident was a plot hatched to bump him off, demand inquiry

Deepak Nikhalje

Terming the accident in which Deepak Nikhalje’s car was damaged by a speeding dumper as a conspiracy to kill him, his supporters have demanded a detailed police inquiry into the matter. The police, however, have ruled out the possibility of foul play. Nikhalje is underworld don Chhota Rajan’s younger brother and would be contesting the Assembly polls on an RPI (A) ticket.

Narrow escape: Deepak Nikhalje. File pic 

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“Nikhalje’s Audi car (MH 43 AP 007) left the BJP office and was parked opposite Kamat Hotel on the Sion-Trombay Road when a speeding dumper (MH 04 OK 4103) rammed into it,” said an officer from Chembur police station.

Commenting on the accident, Nikhalje’s secretary Satish Chavan said, “He was about to enter the car when the accident occurred. In politics, you can’t say who will kill whom. We have registered a complaint and want the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.”

The police arrested the driver, Arun Gajbihu, a resident of Ahmednagar, from the spot. He was produced in a local court and was granted bail against the surety of Rs 3,000.

Nikhalje had registered an FIR against Rajan during the 2009 assembly polls for threatening his men to campaign for his rival Chandrakant Handore.

Chembur is considered as Handore’s stronghold, who belongs to a socially backward caste. Nikhalje is also said to be in the good books of the scheduled caste community, and is expected to give Handore a tough fight.

Commenting on the case, an official from the Tilak Nagar police station claimed that the Nikalje brothers had always been at warring ends. “While Deepak claims to be a self-made man, Rajan believes Deepak owes his success to him. There is a possibility that the accident could be a premeditated move to garner voters’ sympathy or to mislead the police,” the official said.

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