Bollywood’s pact of silence

These attacks have come close on the heels of producer Mukesh Duggal’s murder and have sent the industry into a tizzy. Police Commissioner Subhash Malhotra today agreed that the slump in the real estate market may be responsible for underworld’s renewed interest in film industry. “Since there is no money left in the construction business, the gangsters want to to tap their sources in film industry,” he said.

The daring invasion of Tardeo office of Rajiv Rai is being seen a warning for everyone to comply. The deputy commissioner of police, zone-II, Parambir Singh said: “The motive of the gangsters was not to kill Rai, but to terrorise him.”

This was confirmed by Abu Salem, who spoke to Express Newsline from his base in Dubai.

“My men were only instructed to sound out a warning to Rai. Otherwise, when we want to kill we never fail.” When questioned about the attack on Subhash Ghai, Abu Salem, a crony of Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Anis Ibrahim said: “We never intended to kill Subhash Ghai either. My boys were only instructed to storm his office and scare him.”

Joint commissioner of police, crime, Ranjit Singh Sharma, however believes that it would be too early to read any trends in these attacks. “There are no clear indications that the underworld is targeting film industry…there have been only two such attacks recently.”

The attacks may have shocked the industry, but none of the victims are willing to come forward and lodge a complaint. Even in the cases of Ghai and Rai no formal complaints were made. Film industry’s reluctance to seek protection from police is understandable. None of the producers, or for that matter directors are willing to antagonise the underworld – the most reliable source of funds in film industry.

It is the most potent source of trouble also.2 held for attack on Rai

A massive manhunt has been launched by Mumbai police to nab the hitmen involved in an attempt to kill film director Rajiv Rai at his Tardeo office on Thursday. Two arrests were made in the case today.

According to joint commissioner of police (crime) Ranjit Singh Sharma, the driver of the taxi in which the gangsters arrived at the scene of crime has been arrested. The police have nabbed another hireling from Central Mumbai, after raids were carried out on Abu Salem’s hideouts, said R S Sharma.

While the driver of the vehicle used in the crime has been identified as Shakeel Khan (22) driving taxi number MH03-3041, the hitman has disclosed his name as Mohammed Iqbal Mohammed Dastigir (20). Mohammed Shaikh, who led the hitmen, was nabbed immediately after he was wounded in gunfire from Special Operation Squad commando Mohan Singh, Rai’s bodyguard. “These are small pawns. We are expecting to make some more arrests very soon,” said Sharma.