Four Arrested, Including Mastermind, for Real Estate Agent Shooting in Kandivali

The Mumbai Crime Branch has apprehended four individuals, including the alleged mastermind, for the shooting of a real estate agent in Kandivali. The arrests were made from a forest in Pune, where the accused were hiding. It took the crime branch team more than a day to track down and arrest all four suspects.

The main accused, Rajesh Chauhan alias Daya (42), is known to the victim, Freddy D’Lima, as they lived in the same locality. The police suspect that the dispute was over financial reasons, although further clarity will be obtained through interrogation.

Chauhan has a significant criminal record, including his involvement in the infamous murder of Bunty Pradhan, the proprietor of Dolphin Properties, in April 2014 in Mira Road. This history adds to the severity of the current case.

Apart from Chauhan, who was identified as the mastermind, the three shooters arrested are Subhash Mohite (44), a resident of Virar; Mangesh Chaudhari (40), a resident of Pune; and Roshan Singh alias Krishna (25), a resident of Thane. The local police station had also arrested one person in connection with the incident.

A crime branch officer stated, “The probe has been handed over to us. We will interrogate the accused to get clarity on who all were involved and their roles. Accordingly, we will file the chargesheet.” The police suspect that a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) plot being developed by D’Lima may have been one of the reasons for the dispute.

On Wednesday, D’Lima, a 42-year-old real estate agent, was shot at by three unidentified assailants in Kandivali (West). The shooting occurred around 2 pm when D’Lima was leaving a school in Ganesh Nagar after a meeting. As soon as he stepped out, three individuals, who were waiting outside, opened fire at him. One bullet hit his abdomen, and another hit his chest, according to the police.

The police described the attackers: the bike rider and one pillion were wearing helmets, while the third man was wearing a cap. The shooters had covered their faces with masks to conceal their identities.

Despite sustaining bullet injuries, D’Lima managed to drive himself to Oscar Hospital. The bullets lodged in his body were removed, and he is reported to be out of danger. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full details of the incident and the motives behind the shooting.