Chhota Rajan's name surfaces in Iqbal Kaskar firing case

Underworld gangster Chhota Rajan's name has cropped up in the preliminary probe into the firing incident in Mumbai in which fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar escaped unhurt while his bodyguard was killed.

"Rajan's name has surfaced (in the firing case). However, it is premature to say anything now. It is yet to be verified. Just because Dawood and Rajan are rivals, we cannot hold the latter responsible for the incident," said a senior police officer today.

According to another officer, Kaskar also had problems with many other people and police is investigating whether the firing was the outcome of personal enmity.

Meanwhile, the two arrested accused in the case were identified as Syyed Ali, 29, a resident of Mumbra and Indra Khatri, 27, possibly from Nepal, police said.

Kaskar's bodyguard, Arif Syed Abu Bukha, who succumbed to his wounds before being admitted to a city hospital, had suffered six bullet injuries, they said.

Four gunmen fired at Kaksar in South Mumbai last night but he survived the attack. Two suspected assailants were arrested from near JJ Hospital and other two had managed to escape.

Kaksar is an accused in the Sara Sahara Mall land grabbing case.

City police, meanwhile, said that Kaskar was not at the scene of the crime when the firing took place.

"Kaskar was not there at the place of firing. But this does not mean that he was not targeted," said joint police commissioner (law and order) Rajnish Seth.