20 years on, gangster convicted for firing at cop

A gangster belonging to the Amar Naik gang, who was wanted for 20 years in an attempt-to-murder case, for firing at a cop in Girgaon chowpatty in 1991, was convicted by the sessions court last week.

“Rustum Sevak Asli alias Rushi, 45, was sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment by the sessions court on December 29. The court also slapped a fine of Rs2,000,” said senior police inspector Ajit Surve of DB Marg police station.

The shootout took place in October 1991. Rustum Sevak, involved in several serious offences, was on his way to Girgaon chowpatty from Opera House on his motorcycle.

When intercepted by a police team, Rustum whipped out an imported revolver and fired a round at point blank range.

The bullet pierced the thigh of constable Rajesh Janbhare.

When the then police inspector Anil Nalawade and other policemen of the traffic police branch rushed to the spot to help Janbhare, they succeeded in nabbing Rustum.

He was brought to the DB Marg police station where he was booked for attempt to kill an on-duty policeman with a firearm. Meanwhile, the injured cop was rushed to the JJ Hospital.

After the investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against Rustum in the sessions court. However, he jumped bail and has never appeared before the court for hearings of his case. The court pronounced him an absconder.

In August 2011, assistant police inspector R Chavanke, police sub-inspector Sunil Pukale and the staff of DB Marg police station got information that Rustum was hiding in Alibaug in coastal Raigad district. The team rushed to Alibaug and arrested him on August 20, added Surve.