Ashwin did it, say police but there are doubts

Ashwin did it, say police but there are doubts
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NOVEMBER 14: Neeta Naik, the Shiv Sena corporator who was shot down outside her apartment on Monday, died here today at the KEM Hospital and cremated at Shivaji Park crematorium late at night.

Though the police continued to maintain that the killing was executed at the behest of her gangster husband Ashwin Naik because of her relationship with an ex-cop, some sources indicated that it could have been the result of a dispute over the running of the operations of the gang.

According to sources, Neeta met Ashwin about a year ago when he was brought to Mumbai for investigations. Upon his return to Tihar, she stopped visiting him and was frequently seen in the company of Sanjay Ziman, the bodyguard of ex-chief minister Narayan Rane. Ashwin, who is known in the underworld circles as the only don who has been fully devoted to his marriage, apparently warned her to call off the affair several times but to no avail.

This theory gains credence because of the underworld code of conduct that prohibits attacks on women and children.

But, if Ashwin was so enraged at the relationship, some say, he would have settled scores with the bodyguard rather than Neeta. The fact that whoever had Neeta eliminated spared Ziman is being seen as indication that the motive could well be something other than the affair. Such as sharing of income from underworld operation.

Police sources informed that Neeta was partially handling gang operations in the name of Ashwin. The other key members like Lalit Dhansingh Vishwakarma alias Lali and Kumar Pillai have also fled the city after the Mumbai police turned on the heat.

Ashwin's key shooter Shashikant Sagaekar alias Chikna Babu was also killed in an encounter with the police leaving Neeta in charge of operations from Tenement no. 144, under the jurisdiction of N M Joshi police station.

Police sources informed that Ashwin's operations included trafficking in drugs, extortion and gun-running. Many diamond merchants in Surat, Ahmedabad and Mumbai have been paying regular protection money to the gang.

However, over the past few months the income from the operation was not being distributed to Ashwin's henchmen, who in any case were on the run. Neeta was seen spending more time at resorts at Nashik, Khandala and other hill stations around Mumbai.

Commissioner of Police M N Singh said investigations are at prelimnary stage and nothing could be said. ``All possible angles are being looked into,''remarked Singh.

Meanwhile, former police bodygaurd Ziman has been questioned by officers in connection with Nita's murder.

Neeta, 37, was found lying in a pool of blood outside her her second floor apartment at Shubashish Building around 1.30 pm on Monday. While a bullet pierced her skull, two other were lodged in her chest and thigh. The killer used a very sophiticated handgun fitted with silencer.