Mumbai: Bhupendra Vira warned Mumbai Police of threat to life

RTI activist Bhupendra Vira

Fresh development in the murder case of RTI activist Bhupendra Vira has revealed that the victim knew his life was in grave danger and had also forewarned the police about his killers. In April this year, Vira, who was shot dead at his residence in Kalina last month, had written a letter to the cops and additional commissioner of police (west region) alerting them about threats to his life. The letter also helped cops nab the accused, a senior official said.

In the one-page letter written in English - a copy of which is with mid-day - Vira had told the police that he was threatened by arrested accused Razzak Khan's men following a meeting near Kalina mosque.

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The letter dated April 23 with the subject line "Apprehension of threat to my life and property by Razzak Khan & his sons Anwer and Amjad", reads, "On 20/4/16 at around 6pm, I was told to come near Kalina Masjid and threatened with dire consequences if I did not withdraw the complaint to MCGM."

Razzak Khan

Vira's daughter-in-law Sheila said, "We want action against the police officials who ignored the threats. Their roles should be probed."

When contacted, a police official related to the case, dodged questions on why action was not taken immediately after Vira had sent the letter to the cops. He, however, said that the cops had managed to crack the case immediately, on the basis of the letter. "We arrested Khan and his son Amjad a day after Vira was gunned down," said the official, on condition of anonymity.

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Vira was shot in the head on October 15, while he was watching television in his house.

While investigating the matter, cops had discovered that there was an ongoing dispute between Khan, an ex-corporator of the area, and Vira after the former had forcefully taken over his godown.