JOIN USThe Delhi Police crime branch claimed to have arrested a 35-year-old sharp-shooter belonging to underworld don Abu Salem’s gang.
Police said he has disclosed during interrogation that he had fired on singer Daler Mehndi and film producer Rakesh Roshan on the directions of Abu Salem.
The accused Jaan Usman Khan had also extended extortion threats to Anil Thadani, husband of actor Raveena Tandon. He was jailed in that case.
“Usman had gone to Mumbai in 1996 when he came in contact with one Waseem, an accused in the murder of film producer Gulshan Kumar. Waseem introduced Usman to Abu Salem who further guided his entry into smuggling counterfeit currency,” said police on Sunday.
Salem allegedly introduced him to one Aftab Bhatki, who ran fake currency racket from Dubai and Karachi. Usman joined him in circulating fake currency notes in India through the Nepal and Bangladesh route but was arrested in Delhi for the crime in 2000, said police.
“Upon being released from jail, Usman moved to Mumbai and started extorting money from Bollywood personalities. He was arrested for an extortion bid on Anil Thadani,” said police.
After being released from Mumbai jail, Usman came to Delhi, but he was again arrested in 2010 for carrying illicit arms and for the murder of a businessman in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri.
The crime branch on Saturday learnt of Usman’s presence in Delhi. Police laid a trap near Kashmere Gate bus stop following a tip-off that he would arrive in the area to meet an associate. Police said a pistol and three cartridges were recovered from his possession.
Hailing from a poor family in north Delhi’s Sarai Rohilla, Usman worked as a motor mechanic before entering Salem’s gang.