NAVI MUMBAI: A retired policeman and controversial former encounter specialist, Emmanuel Amolik, 62, has been arrested in connection with the shocking murder of builder Sunil Kumar Lahoria, who was killed in Vashi on Saturday.
Amolik, who served in the force for 32 years, was arrested from the Naigaum area in central Mumbai. Sources said that during his days in the force he had been accused of fake encounters, but was cleared of such charges. Amolik had received the President's medal and was involved in the arrest of notorious conman and murderer Charles Sobhraj.
Also arrested was the second attacker, Wajid Kureshi, 28, who was held in Mumbra on Sunday. The first attacker, Venkatesh Shettiyar, 35, was nabbed by Lahoria's office workers at the spot itself on Saturday morning. Shettiyar allegedly told police that he had killed Lahoria, of the SK Brothers Builders & Developers group, at the behest of Amolik.
Both Amolik and Kureshi have been charged with murder under the Indian Penal Code sections 302 and 34 and remanded to police custody till February 22. "The retired policeman (Amolik) has told the police that he had some personal grudge against the builder following a recent incident, which is why he planned to kill him. We are still verifying the facts,'' said deputy commissioner of police (Zone 1) Purushottam Karad.
Police sources informed that, according to Amolik, he had an ugly, public spat with Lahoria two months ago near Moraj Residency, next to Palm Beach Road, over parking. However, the family of the slain builder has told mediapersons that they don't believe Amolik. They said the reason for murder he is giving is too trivial and ridiculous.
"There is a bigger conspiracy and certain big names are behind my father's murder. Amolik is lying and hiding certain facts to save the real people behind the murder," said the deceased builder's son, Sandeep Kumar, alias Sunny. Sandeep further said, "I have given proper video evidence to the police showing how this ex-cop (Amolik) was in fact very close to one person who we suspect is the prime accused behind this murder. Amolik was actually the bodyguard of this person who has underworld links."
Meanwhile, the bereaved builder's family performed the last rites on Sunday. Later, they told mediapersons that they will ask the state government to transfer the case to the Mumbai police if the main killers are not arrested.
Sandeep told TOI that they have also given the name of an architect who was close to the underworld person. The architect and Amolik were prime suspects, they said. "On the very day my father was killed in broad daylight, I had received threatening calls from a particular mobile number telling me not to take any names of suspects or I too would be killed. I have informed the police about these threats as well," he further said.
Sunil Kumar Lahoria had made several enemies over the past few years as he used to expose corruption and illegal constructions, including FSI violations, through Right to Information (RTI) queries and writ petitions in the Bombay high court. In 2011, he was in the news for stating that over 500 buildings in Navi Mumbai had FSI violations. These included 21 high-rises along Palm Beach Road. The builder had been getting death threats over the past six months and had also asked for police protection. However, he had not been granted police security.
Amolik, who served in the force for 32 years, was arrested from the Naigaum area in central Mumbai. Sources said that during his days in the force he had been accused of fake encounters, but was cleared of such charges. Amolik had received the President's medal and was involved in the arrest of notorious conman and murderer Charles Sobhraj.
Also arrested was the second attacker, Wajid Kureshi, 28, who was held in Mumbra on Sunday. The first attacker, Venkatesh Shettiyar, 35, was nabbed by Lahoria's office workers at the spot itself on Saturday morning. Shettiyar allegedly told police that he had killed Lahoria, of the SK Brothers Builders & Developers group, at the behest of Amolik.
Both Amolik and Kureshi have been charged with murder under the Indian Penal Code sections 302 and 34 and remanded to police custody till February 22. "The retired policeman (Amolik) has told the police that he had some personal grudge against the builder following a recent incident, which is why he planned to kill him. We are still verifying the facts,'' said deputy commissioner of police (Zone 1) Purushottam Karad.
Police sources informed that, according to Amolik, he had an ugly, public spat with Lahoria two months ago near Moraj Residency, next to Palm Beach Road, over parking. However, the family of the slain builder has told mediapersons that they don't believe Amolik. They said the reason for murder he is giving is too trivial and ridiculous.
"There is a bigger conspiracy and certain big names are behind my father's murder. Amolik is lying and hiding certain facts to save the real people behind the murder," said the deceased builder's son, Sandeep Kumar, alias Sunny. Sandeep further said, "I have given proper video evidence to the police showing how this ex-cop (Amolik) was in fact very close to one person who we suspect is the prime accused behind this murder. Amolik was actually the bodyguard of this person who has underworld links."
Meanwhile, the bereaved builder's family performed the last rites on Sunday. Later, they told mediapersons that they will ask the state government to transfer the case to the Mumbai police if the main killers are not arrested.
Sandeep told TOI that they have also given the name of an architect who was close to the underworld person. The architect and Amolik were prime suspects, they said. "On the very day my father was killed in broad daylight, I had received threatening calls from a particular mobile number telling me not to take any names of suspects or I too would be killed. I have informed the police about these threats as well," he further said.
Sunil Kumar Lahoria had made several enemies over the past few years as he used to expose corruption and illegal constructions, including FSI violations, through Right to Information (RTI) queries and writ petitions in the Bombay high court. In 2011, he was in the news for stating that over 500 buildings in Navi Mumbai had FSI violations. These included 21 high-rises along Palm Beach Road. The builder had been getting death threats over the past six months and had also asked for police protection. However, he had not been granted police security.
