11 January,2016 07:10 AM IST | | Samiullah Khan and Shiva Devnath
Widow had reclaimed Charkop flat in December after gangster, a suspected Chhota Rajan aide, who had stopped paying rent for 2 yrs, went into hiding from cops, thug returned to teach her a lesson
After reducing a 67-year-old widow to penury and begging for two years, a suspected henchman of Chhota Rajan allegedly attacked her and wrecked her house over a property dispute. The accused tore through the roof and broke into her house, but she escaped unharmed as her neighbours heard her cry for help. The senior citizen has been provided round-the-clock police protection following the attack.
Pinku and his accomplices broke into Asha Dave's house and tried to assault her. Pics/Onkar Devlekar
The incident took place on Friday, at Mauli Kripa society in Charkop, where Asha Jayesh Dave (67) owns a 600-sq-ft duplex. In 2011, she let out the house to local accused Satyaprakash Kripashankar Singh, also known as Pinku, who is wanted in several cases of cheating, extortion, robbery and assault across Malad, Charkop, Kandivli and other places. However, two years ago, Pinku stopped paying her rent, and Asha was deprived of her sole source of income.
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67-year-old Asha Dave depended on the rent from the Charkop house for her livelihood, but after being denied payment for two years, she had been reduced to begging for alms
Asha told mid-day, "I had bought the house in 2008. I stayed there for a few years but then decided to I give it on rent. I would keep visiting my native place in Somnath, Gujarat and didn't need such a big house for myself. In 2011, Pinku paid Rs 30,000 as the deposit and we decided he would pay Rs 5,500 as monthly rent."
Satyaprakash Singh is a suspected Chhota Rajan aide and is wanted in several cases of cheating, extortion, robbery and assault
"But he suddenly stopped paying me and even refused to vacate the house. For two years, I was forced to beg for alms outside temples in Gujarat. I came to Mumbai to ask Pinku to vacate the house, but he refused. Even the society gave him several eviction notices, but he threatened everybody," she added.
Enraged that the senior citizen had defied him and started living at the house again, Satyaprakash allegedly decided to attack her. He and his accomplices tore through the asbestos roof and ransacked the house
In the last week of December, Asha decided she had had enough, and she came to Mumbai to persuade Pinku to vacate the house.
When she reached the house, she saw it was locked, and learnt that Pinku had not been seen there for a while.
In fact, Pinku had gone into hiding in November, after the local police lodged a case of cheating against him. She immediately informed the Charkop police that she was taking possession of the house again, and with the assistance of society members, she had the lock broken.
However, when Pinku found out about this, he allegedly decided to teach her a lesson. Around 3.30 pm on Friday, he and his accomplices broke into her house through the asbestos roof, ransacked her belongings and were about to attack Asha, but luckily, neighbours heard her screams. They managed to catch one of the miscreants, but Pinku escaped their clutches.
"We have arrested one of the accused, Sanjay Singh. Pinku and his other associates are at large, and further investigations are on" said Police Inspector PG Yele of Charkop police station.
Asha alleged that a few things, including a silver coin, have gone missing from her house, but she is relieved to have been given police protection. While one cop is posted outside her door, another is posted at the society's entrance. Asha, meanwhile, has locked up the first floor of the house, as the roof is still broken. She is currently residing in the lower portion of the duplex.
Pinku and his associates have been booked under Section 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 454 (Lurking house-trespass), 504 (Intentional insult), 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) and 141, 143 and 145 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC.
