Unit IX of Crime Branch had major success with the arrest of Prakash Nikam. Chhota Rajan aide Satish Kalia, the key conspirator in mid-day journalist J Dey’s murder case, had hired the 33-year-old shooter to bump off Rajan’s rival Ajay Gosalia, a bookie-turned-builder in Malad. Nikam was picked up from Diva last afternoon and the police confiscated a firearm from him. Investigations revealed that he had received R5 lakh from Kalia for the job. 

Unit XI officials said Nikam is a history-sheeter and they have been hunting for him for the last three years for his involvement in two shootouts in Kherwadi in 2011. Nikam started working for Kalia, a sharp shooter himself, in 2003 and was involved in several crimes like extortion, shootouts, and attempt to murder. He has 10 cases registered against him at various police stations in the city. Though he was arrested in 2003 with Kalia, he managed to secure bail. Once out, he went back to committing crimes at Kalia’s behest.