Chhota Shakeel gang shooter held in Mira Road

Mira Road police on Thursday have arrested Mohiddin Shaikh alias Mohammed Takka, a convict in the Lakhan Bhaiya fake-encounter case and an alleged sharpshooter of the Chhota Shakeel gang. The police have seized a pistol and a few live cartridges from his possession.

Shaikh, who has several cases of murder and extortion registered against him in the Antop Hill police station, is sentenced to life imprisonment in the Lakhan Bhaiya murder case. Shaikh had jumped parole and was absconding.

"We were tipped off by informers that Shaikh would be visiting his family in Jangid complex of Mira Road. A Special Investigating Team (SIT) arrested him from his home. He had a pistol and some live cartridges in his possession," said Prafull Wagh, assistant police inspector, Mira road police station.

At least 21 persons, including 13 policemen from Mumbai, were accused in this fake-encounter case. One of the main accused, encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, was acquitted by the sessions court last year. Gupta was considered a close aide of Chhota Rajan. Gupta was picked up from near his Vashi residence and was killed in Versova.