Author: Ashish Khatan
Publication: Mumbai Mirror
Date: July 26, 2006
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress have added considerable muscle to their party-organisation in Mumbai since they first formed an alliance government seven years ago.
In the course of a three-week-long probe, Mumbai Mirror found that several notorious criminals have entered the two parties in the last few years and have been made senior office-bearers immediately on completion of jail term or release on bail, even if they have been booked for serious offences or under acts like the MPDA Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Persons and Bootleggers Act).
In some cases, the goons-tumed-netas have committed crimes like murder and extortion after joining the parties, and in others, they have used the 'shield' of being members of the ruling party to carry on illegal acts in full view of the public and police. Their political tag has also deterred people from lodging fresh complaints, making their 'real' mission successful.
However, the NCP, which holds the home portfolio, and the Congress, which has the chief ministership, do not seem to have too many problems with this infusion of criminal elements. Though there is no shortage of 'prominent politicians' With criminal records in other parties - Shiv Sena, BJP, Samajwadi Party, RPI and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena - this paper's probe shows the NCP in particular and its ally, the Congress, don't really mind taking the lead in inducting criminals now.
Here's the dossier:
DHANANJAY SHETTY
A notorious gangster with 27 cases of murder, assault, rioting and extortion lodged against him at Jogeshwari, Dindoshi, Kandivli and Malad police stations, Dhananjay Shetty joined NCP in 2004, just two weeks after completing his 14-year jail term in 2004. Shetty, a close aide of Ashwin Naik, had been convicted for killing a rival gangster Udai Patole with a chopper weighing 8 kgs.
On entry into the party, he was straightaway made North Mumbai district secretary. According to police officials, he wasted no time in indulging in extortion activities. "Victims refused to lodge complaints because they were scared of his newly-acquired status as an NCP man," a police officer who did not wish to be named said. Shetty also allegedly thrashed a senior cop in 2005 after the latter objected to his cut-outs in public places.
Three months ago, a victim finally lodged an extortion complaint at Meghwadi police Sherry was then booked under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous persons and Bootleggers Act (MPDA) and is now in Nashik jail. However, the NCP is yet to formally remove him as North Mumbai district secretary.
ASIF GULAM PATEL
In the rogues' gallery of Kashmira police station, Mira Road, hangs a picture of Asif Gulam Patel, with a black slate in his hands and his name and criminal case number written on it just a hundred metres away from the station is a hoarding carrying his picture, with the NCP flag serving as backdrop.
When Patel joined NCP in 2001, he had 21 cases, including those of conspiring to murder, assault and rioting, against him. He had also been twice booked under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).
Within a few months of joining NCP, he successfully fought his first elections for the Mira-Bhayander Corporation. In 2004, he was made 'prabhag adhyaksh,' with 12 corporators working under him. Today Patel has only five cases left against him and his eyes are set on the civic polls due later this year.
Patel's family's long-drawn rivalry with former Shiv Sena leader Vasu Nambiar is well-known, and several people from both sides have been killed in 20 years of conflict. Nambiar, at one time booked in 30 cases, too joined NCP a year ago. "It was political rivalry that resulted in so many cases against me. Police made me a criminal," Patel said.
PARMINDER SINGH BHAMMA
Parminder Singh Bhamma, a resident of Daruwala Compound outside Malad station, has over a dozen criminal cases registered against him at Malad police station, including those of extortion, threat and grievous assault. He recently joined the Congress. "He is a party member, and we will give him a post in a week or so," said the party's MLA from Malad Pyu Mehta.
RAJ BASLING
Basling has ten cases, including those of assault and extortion, registered against him at Mahim and Agripada police stations. Police booked him under MPDA in 1999, but soon as he came out of jail in the year 2000, the NCP took him in and appointed him vice-president of north-central Mumbai. All cases against him are still in court. "Three cases each were filed against him in 1995 and 1997 and four in 1999. But since he joined NCP, there has been no fresh case as people are now afraid of him," said a cop at Mahim police station.
SANJAY GUPTA
Sanjay Gupta was appointed vice-president of NCP's Mahim taluka wing in 2001 though he had five cases registered against him at Mahim police station. He allegedly started extorting money from shopkeepers in the area after joining the party. One of the victims finally lodged an extortion case against him at Mahim police station in 2005 and Gupta was arrested.
Police then booked him under MPDA. He is currently behind bars.
SUNIL SADANAND JAMLEKAR
Sunil Sadanand Jamlekar's name was part of the police's 'mawalis register' in 1999 when he was appointed by NCP as president of ward number 130 called Shantaram Talua in Malad (E). Jamlekar then also had three cases of assault and extortion lodged against him at Dindoshi police station. Two months later, he murdered a police informer, Vishnu Mhatre. "Jamlekar murdered him with a chopper and during interrogation said he killed the man because he refused to spend money on him and take him out for dinner," said PSI Shinde, who is now at Kurar police station. A year ago, Jamlekar was sentenced to life imprisonment.
HAJI IBRAHIM SHEIKH ALIAS BHAI JAAN
Haji Ibrahim Sheikh was accused in a couple of cases of FERA and assault in the 90s. Also a suspect in the Mumbai bomb blasts case and with alleged underworld links, he was on the run for two years as then DCP of Zone IX Arup Patnaik had launched a hunt for him. Sheikh joined NCP in 1999 and now holds the post of state secretary in the party.