Bhagat murder accused forged LIC papers

S Ahmed Ali / TNN / Aug 18, 2008, 04:55 IST

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The crime branch investigation of the orchestrated killing of matka king Suresh Bhagat has revealed that the key conspirators, his former ...

MUMBAI: The crime branch investigation of the orchestrated killing of matka king Suresh Bhagat has revealed that the key conspirators, his former wife Jaya and son Hitesh forged documents and availed of a loan of Rs 75 lakh against his LIC policies.
Sources said Bhagat had taken an LIC policy of Rs 5 crore in the 90s and he had been paying a huge premium.In the period 2007-2008 , the duo, with the help of another accused and Jaya's paramour, Suhash Roge, allegedly forged Bhagat's signature and took a personal loan of Rs 75 lakh against his policy from the LIC Dombivli branch.
The crime branch has roped in the services of its specialised Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to probe the matter.
The crime branch had booked Jaya, Hitesh alias Chintu, Roge and five others under the stringent MCOCA for the orchestrated killing of Bhagat on Alibaug Road on June 13.

The EOW is also investigating the ownership transfer of Bhagat's Kalyan Hotel in Mahableshwar . According to sources, in 2004, Jaya had forged signatures of the matka king and given the power of attorney to Roge.
Now the hotel, valued at Rs 3.5 crore, is run under the name of Regency by Roge. "These facts came to light during our investigation. A special EOW team has been formed to investigate the case,'' said joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria.

The police are also probing the source of the crores of rupees invested by Jaya and Hitesh in the share market.
Bhagat and six others, including his two bodyguards, were killed when a truck rammed into their jeep on Alibaug-Pen Road in June. The truck driver, Praveen Shetty, said he got a contract of Rs 3 lakh from Harish Mandvekar to kill Bhagat. Mandvekar told the police that he was paid Rs 25 lakh by Roge who, in turn, revealed the names of Jaya and Hitesh.
Kiran Poojari, the underworld don Arun Gawli's henchman, was also arrested in the case for aiding and abetting the crime.
Ex-wife, son in police custody till August 22
The crime branch on Saturday again got the police custody of Jaya, Hitesh and another Bhagat murder accused , Kiran Poojari, from Arthur Road jail for further investigations. Officials said they needed the custody of gangster Arun Gawli's aide, Poojari, as they wanted to interrogate him in connection with the allegation that Poojari had hatched a plot to kill NCP leader Vasant Davkare. The special MCOCA court has granted police custody to all of them till August 22.

About the Author

S Ahmed Ali

S Ahmed Ali, principal correspondent at The Times of India, Mumbai, covers crime and related isues but sometimes he also takes up offbeat subjects. His interests: automobiles particularly bikes, and gymming.

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