Uncle-nephew rivalry behind SoBo shootout?

Investigations reveal Manish Dholakia's uncle, Lalit, may have given the supari to D-gang over dispute for the Sharda Chambers office

INVESTIGATION into Tuesday's shootout involving businessman Manish Dholakia took a curious twist yesterday when the police learnt that his uncle, Lalit Dholakia, wanted a share in the property left by his father and may have given a supari for his death.


Sharda Chambers near Marine Lines where Manish Dholakia was shot at in his office on the fourth floor on Tuesday

These facts came to light after four members of the Dawood Ibrahim gang were arrested in connection with the shootout, which resulted in the death of Manish's bodyguard, Ajit Yerunkar. The supari was allegedly offered through Dawood's younger brother Anis and lieutenant Salim Chiplun alias Sikandar.

Investigations have indicated that Lalit, who is based in Canada, wanted to take over the Sharda Chambers office where the shootout occurred. This dispute had been going on for the past few months. The shootout is also indicative of D-Company's interest in real estate projects in South Mumbai, say police officials.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy told MiD DAY that the involvement of Anis and Salim Chiplun points to D Company's old enmity with the Dholakia family. "It also underscores the fact that the gang is getting active again after a lull," he said.

Investigations revealed that the supari was then offered by the D-gang to slain gangster Dashrat Rahane's younger brother, Ramdas, in Mumbai.

Some of the calls linked to the commissioning of the plot were traced to Dubai before two shooters, Pravin Mishra (22) and Abhishek Jadhav (20), were hired from Uttar Pradesh. Ramdas and Geetaram Jadhav alias Mauli met the shooters in Nashik on February 6.

They were given firearms on the day of the firing and the weapons were taken back after the shootout, said Roy.

Background

Lalit had escaped to Dubai and later moved to Canada after his elder brother and Manish's gangster father Arvind Dholakia was killed by members of the Arun Gawli gang on November 27, 1988.
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Arvind's brother Mahesh was shot dead on March 5, 1987 by Chhota Rajan and his cronies.

Manish had managed to duck and dodge the bullets after two gunmen barged into his Sharda Chambers office and opened fire on Tuesday.