Gangster Shetty says he fears for his life

MUMBAI: Gangster Santosh Shetty, recently deported from Bangkok, has told the sessions court he fears for his life if shifted to Arthur Road or Taloja jail. He is currently in the Thane jail.
In his application, Shetty said he wants to remain in Thane jail as he suspects that Chhota Rajan’s men may kill him in Arthur Road jail. Sources said he fears Rajan aide D K Rao, held for journalist J Dey’s murder, would kill him.
Rao is lodged in Arthur Road jail. In 2002, Rao and aides killed gangster, O P Singh, at Rajan’s behest. Shetty has been booked in the murder of advocate Shahid Azmi, murder of Rajan aide Farid Tanashah and attempt to murder 7/11 blast accused Faizal Shaikh. ‘‘Shetty told the court that he fears for his life. Despite this, there was an order to shift him to Arthur Road jail. I have filed an application stating that Shetty’s rivals are plotting to kill him and hence he be kept in Thane jail,’’ said his lawyer R Srivastav.
Shetty has cited a letter of Taloja jail authorities who wrote to the 37th court magistrate stating that Shetty should not be sent to Taloja jail, where aides of Arun Gawli, Bharat Nepali, Chhota Rajan, Indian Mujahideen and Malegoan blast accused are lodged, as there are chances of Shetty getting killed. TOI has a copy of the letter.