Ex-corporator, son arrested for murder of RTI activist

Former Congress corporator Razzak Khan (68) and his son Amjad (45) have been arrested in connection with the murder of 70-year-old anti-encroachment activist Bhupendra Vira, who was shot dead at his residence in Kalina, Santa Cruz around 9.45 pm on Saturday. They were produced in a local court on Monday afternoon and remanded in police custody till October 24.

Vira, who had started a campaign against 150 illegal commercial galas that were directly and indirectly connected to Khan, feared that goons would kill his son. Khan allegedly visited Vira frequently and threatened him in person.

Mahadeo Wavale, senior police inspector of the Vakola police station, confirming the arrests, said Khan and Amjad, a fabric businessman, were arrested from a hospital on Sunday, based on their alleged constant threats to Vira. Later, the crime branch handed them over to the police. “The investigation is on, and we are establishing the role of the duo and their relatives in the crime,” said Mr Wavale.

Another officer said that the police is also investigating the contract killing angle in the case. An FIR in the case was filed by a relative of Vira on Sunday and the document mentioned the Khans. According to the officer, four to five people are wanted in the case. Officers also recovered CCTV footage.

Mr Mayur Vira, elder son of deceased, said, “On several occasions my father feared for his life after he raised his voice against Khan’s illegal encroachment in Vakola.”

According to Ms Sheila Vira, the daughter-in-law of deceased, Vira had filed an NC against Razzak a month ago for threatening him, but the police avoided giving him protection. “Almost 15 days earlier, my brother-in-law, who stays in Bangalore, paid a visit to him (Vira) and he felt that my father in law was very scared of Khan and wasn’t even allowing him to go out,” said Ms Vira.

Ms Vira further alleged that her father-in-law died to due to the negligence of BMC officers, as they delayed to act against the encroachment, even after Vira approached the Lokayukta. She also demanded the arrest of Khan’s other sons and son-in-law, claiming that they often used to threaten the senior citizen. According to Mr Vira, his father owned a steel factory and in October 2010, when they shut it, Khan, then a corporator, tried to encroach it and this led to a scuffle between Khan and himself. During the scuffle, Khan tried to stab Mr Vira and he sustained injuries.