Shakeel wanted to rule 'Bhau Cha Dhakka'

Investigations into the murder of diesel smuggler Chand Madar have revealed that the primary motive behind the killing was that underworld don Chhota Shakeel wanted to take over all the illegal operations at the Ferry’s Warf (Bhau Cha Dhakka).

According to sources, through Mohammed Ali Abu Shaikh, the prime suspect arrested in the murder case, Shakeel wanted to seize full control of all the illegal operations worth crores at the Ferry’s Warf and all the other docks on Mumbai’s coast.

The police have so far arrested nine people in the murder case, including Ali.

Investigations and interrogations of the arrested accused have revealed that Shakeel had been planning to take control of the entire underworld operations in the dock area for the past few months.

Shakeel suspected Chand of trying to hoodwink him. He thought Chand might take over all the operations in the dock area.

“Shakeel’s suspicion strengthened after Chand did not respond and all attempts to create a truce between Chand and Ali failed,” an investigating officer said. “After this, Shakeel hatched a plan to kill Chand through Ali.”

Interestingly, the police have intercepted and recorded a phone call made by Shakeel to Ali’s son, soon after his arrest. “In the conversation, Shakeel is heard telling Ali’s son he would ensure that Ali got free from the clutches of the police,” the officer said.

Apart from this, the police have intercepted several telephonic conversations that indicate Shakeel and Ali had planned, plotted, and executed the killing of Chand. There are more than 160 witnesses in the case, out of which quite a few have recognised Shakeel’s voice in the conversations.

Additional commissioner of police (crime) Deven Bharti said the police had filed a charge sheet in the case on Thursday and all evidences and other related proofs had been submitted in
court. He refused to divulge anymore details as the matter is sub-judice.

Operations in the docks: The docks in Mumbai and the Ferry’s Warf have always been the favourite hunting ground for smugglers and the underworld because it gives access to the entire coast. It is also the most sought after area for the diesel smugglers because of its easy accessibility.

The illegal operations in the docks and Ferry’s Warf could be worth several thousand crores, an officer said.

One of the main reasons, said the officer, for the illegal activities to thrive was the lack of clarity on the jurisdiction of any investigative agency.

“Since most of these activities are carried in the sea, there is no clarity whether Mumbai Police, Customs, DRI, Coast Guard or the navy has the power to take action on smuggling activities,” he said.