Mumbai: ‘Gangsters, politicians and police involved in Chunnabhatti firing’

A man was killed and four others were injured in the firing at Chunabhatti on December 24. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

The Chunnabhatti firing incident has unfolded as a nexus involving builders, gangsters, police, politicians, and local thugs who orchestrated and carried out the crime. However, the police have only apprehended those physically present during the incident. Swapnil Yerunkar, the brother of Sumit Yerunkar who was shot and killed questions the lack of action against the masterminds behind the crime. The family contends that the 16 individuals arrested by Chunabhatti police are mere pawns, and the main culprits remain at large.

Sumit Yerunkar's wife, Jyoti, submitted a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Mumbai police commissioner, and other high-ranking officials, urging the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) due to dissatisfaction with the Chunabhatti police's investigation. Swapnil Yerunkar, who is a BJP member and a witness in the case, stated, "Two days before the firing, a meeting took place at a Sion hotel with builder Jain, gangster DK Rao, Shiv Sena leader Vijay Tandel, and others. Despite my witness account, the police neglected to check the location footage and insisted on their version during statements. This city firing, with twelve weapons involved, deserves an SIT, considering smaller cases warrant one."

Not a gang war

Amidst the police's portrayal of a gang war, Swapnil sheds light on a different narrative, stating, "In the last three months since Sumit's release, there hasn't been a single clash between the killers and my brother." Allegations surfaced around a builder orchestrating forced evictions for development, leading to confrontations with tenants.

Swapnil speculates, "As Sumit posed a hindrance to their plans, they meticulously executed a planned murder, initially attempting a contract killing which failed, forcing them to commit the crime themselves. Now, they enjoy political backing from Vijay Tandel and Sunny, both aligned with the Eknath Shinde faction." In her letter to DCP, Joyti Yerunkar stated, "Ex-corporator Vijay Tandel, developer Vimal Jain, and assailants Sunny Patil and Sagar Patil share a good relationship."

In response to the allegations Vijay Tandel stated, "I have no concern in the matter. The people who committed the crime are arrested by the police. He is trying to defame me by making false allegations. After I joined the Shinde faction, it has disturbed Swapnil who is a BJP member. As both parties are allies he is scared about not getting a ticket so he is involving me in the crime to get a smooth way for the election."

"We are probing this matter with all possible angles. We have made 16 arrests so far and all of them have been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA. There is evidence against Vimal Jain and hence we arrested him. The matter is still being probed and more arrests will be made based on that," said DCP Zone 6, Hemraj Rajput.

16
No of individuals currently arrested