Goon who framed Matunga exec hid in priest’s home

Gopal Mooponr and Faqrudin Sayyed after getting out on bail, on Sunday

Police have arrested the prime accused in the drugs-and-gun-planting case, days after releasing innocent Matunga resident Faqrudin Sayyed and his friend. Dharavi drug peddler Nicolas Pandian alias Nikki, 29, was first traced to a priest's house where he hid for a few days, before locking himself in a rented room in Versova, from where he was finally nabbed. Considering the seriousness of the case, Mumbai Commissioner of Police (CP) Hemant Nagrale has ordered the Crime Branch to further investigate the matter.

Crime Branch's Unit 5 arrested Nicolas late Wednesday night from a rented room in Versova slum. Nicolas, who allegedly stalked and harassed Sayyed's fiancee, has claimed innocence, said officers. He accused Naeem Qureshi of planting the drugs, gun and bullets for ransom. On November 26, Sahu Nagar police raided Sayyed's house in Matunga labour camp and found 485 gm of mephedrone (MD) and a country-made pistol along with bullets in a box. They arrested him and his friend Gopal Mooponr. Police had arrested Qureshi earlier for planting the box.

Nicolas Pandian, the prime accused. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Last month, mid-day reported about the allegations of Sayyed's fiancee, who said that an unknown man had been calling her, threatening to end her relations with him. An investigation following this report led the police to Nicolas who was called for a statement.

Hid in Vasai for few days

However, on November 30, Nicolas went to hide at the home of his church's Father in Vasai. The Father had no knowledge about his crimes then. Three-four days later, after Sahu Nagar police filed a case against him and a search warrant was issued, he left the Father's house and had been hiding at the room in Versova slum.

By the time Crime Branch officers reached the Father's house in Vasai, Nicolas had fled. Officers said they also questioned his family members but they did not cooperate. With the help of the call data records, they zeroed-in on a resident of Versova slum whom Nicolas's family had called multiple times. Officers detained him and he told them that Nicolas was hiding in a house with the door locked from outside. They rushed to the spot and nabbed Nicolas, and later handed him over to Sahu Nagar police.

Gopal Mooponr and Faqrudin Sayyed are welcomed by family and friends on Sunday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

A Crime Branch officer told mid-day, "Sahu Nagar police, probing the matter, took the remand of Nicolas after presenting him in Kurla court today [Thursday]. The Crime Branch will file an application in the court on Friday to seek his custody, as the CP has ordered it to further investigate the matter." "Preliminary investigation has revealed that Nicolas bought MD from local peddlers, then bought some medicine and mixed the drug with it," another officer official said.

Pistol supplier also arrested

Sources said that Nicolas bought the country-made pistol from one Asfaq alias Ashfaq Ahmed Abdul Salam Sheikh for Rs 10,000. Asfaq, who has been arrested by Sahu Nagar police, had sourced the pistol from Uttar Pradesh. Zone 5 Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranay Ashok confirmed to mid-day that on the orders of the CP, the case is being handed over to the Crime Branch.

Asfaq who sold the gun to Nicolas

Sayyed thanked mid-day for saving their lives and "exposing Nicolas, who framed me for personal revenge. We need justice and proper probe in the case. Police should find out the actual reason for framing me and Mooponr." Because of the case, he lost his job as an executive at a reputed mobile firm. Mooponr said, "I still believe that the box was not inside the house [during the raid]. We need justice." They had accused the officers, who conducted the raid, of planting the drugs and gun at Sayyed's house.