Businessman, key witness in criminal case shot dead in Thane district

MUMBAI: A 38-year-old shop owner, Shams Ansari, was shot dead near Shanti Shopping Centre in Mira Road (E) on Friday night.

Naya Nagar police recovered an empty bullet shell from the spot near the railway station.

Senior inspector Amar Jagdale said Ansari was an eyewitness in a non-cognisable complaint filed at Naya Nagar police station against one Yusuf for allegedly assaulting another shop owner's five-month pregnant daughter.

Several shop owners complained that they were being harassed by Yusuf.

A shop owner claimed that two men approached Ansari on Thursday and warned him that a contract had been given to kill him.