Rediff On The NeT: Three 'big fish' involved in Gulshan Kumar murder: Thackeray

Three 'big fish' involved in Gulshan Kumar murder: Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray claims that three important people from the music world are involved in the conspiracy to kill Gulshan Kumar. He said he would disclose the names to the police.

Nadeem is allegedly being used by these three big people to settle scores with Gulshan Kumar. But Thackeray denied allegations that Nadeem, the prime accused in the slaying, was in touch with him.

These three people from the music industry were apparently worried when Gulshan Kumar's Super Cassettes Industries slashed prices of cassettes and CDs to half, thereby fuelling a price war that put sharply reduced their profits.

Nadeem, who allegedly shares a good rapport with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Abu Salem, agreed to execute the killing. He himself had differences with Gulshan Kumar.

However, a clear picture will emerge only after Nadeem's arrest, senior police officers say.

One person who has come into the limelight is Vicky Goswami. The son of a police sub-inspector from Gujarat, Goswami, who lives in Dubai, has allegedly amassed a fortune through drug and gold smuggling.

Meanwhile, film stars Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Jackie Shroff, Boney Kapoor, Pooja Bhatt, who have been interrogated by the police, has revealed little other than Ibrahim's strong influence on finance provided to the industry, police sources said.

Ibrahim has allegedly been involved with the Hindi film industry since 1984. He used to be a presence on the betting scene during matches in Sharjah, where many film paid tribute to him. He is believed to have begun lending money to film producers at an usurious rate of 36 per cent, making billions in the process. As his clout grew, he reportedly began hassling any producer who did not fall in line. He got hold of copyrights to Hindi film in foreign countries using force. Producers, it is alleged, who refused such rights had to cough up Rs 5 million each as extortion money.

Soon many budding music directors began taking Ibrahim's help and musical shows were organised in Dubai, with stars being invited to draw a big audience. Such shows allegedly earned Dawood between Rs 5 million and Rs 6 million each time.

Ibrahim once depended on gold and drug smuggling and extortion from Bombay's builders. But after restrictions on gold imports were removed and the slump in the real estate market, money began drying up. That was when the gangster allegedly turned his attention to the Hindi film industry.

Sources said that Police Commissioner Ronaald Hyacinth Mendonca is not happy with the investigations and has already expressed his annoyance to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ranjit Sharma, who is heading the probe.

Compiled from the Marathi press by Prasanna Zore

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