MUMBAI, July 25: Police investigations into Arun Gawli's role in settling a property dispute received a setback when the complainant, a city businessman, withdrew his case against the son of matka king on Friday.

This could have been the third in a series of cases registered against the Dagdi don after he was arrested by the Agripada police in connection with the attack on a journalist on June 22. In the second case, the zone II of Mumbai police on Wednesday charged Gawli for forcibly evicting a woman from Dagdi Chawl in 1990.

According to joint commissioner of police (crime) Ranjit Singh Sharma, complainant Pradeep Vakil, chairman of Vatsa Corporation Ltd., withdrew the case against Vinod Bhagat on the grounds that he did not wish to associate his name with gangsters. ``He told the police that since he was a businessmen, such matters would bring disrepute to his organisation,'' Sharma told Express Newsline.

However, a senior crime branch officer did not rule out the possibility of the complainant having been threatened to withdraw the complaint. Initially, the crime branch was trying to establish the nexus between Vinod, son of matka king Kalyanji Bhagat and the gangsters, the officer said.

Investigations into the case were stepped up on July 22 when Vakil, received threatening calls to settle the property dispute with Vinod Bhagat. ``Else, be prepared for your funeral,'' said the caller, identifying himself as Sada Pawle alias `Mama', a close associate of Arun Gawli.

Earlier, the caller rang up on July 8 and thrice on July 21, threatening Vakil of dire consequences if he did not settle the property dispute related to the premises at Mehta Bhavan near Opera House. The premise houses safe deposit lockers, the police added.

According to the police, the dispute arose after Vinod Bhagat rented the Mehta Bhavan premise to Vakil in 1994. Bhagat, who needed money for his daughter's marriage, did not get his dues from Pradeep.

Frustrated, Bhagat allegedly approached Gawli a few months ago through one `Bandya' of Dagdi Chawl, who in turn directed the matter to his trusted lieutenant Sada Pawle. Since then, Pawle has been threatening Vakil to settle the matter, the police revealed.

A crime branch unit II officer informed that Bhagat wanted to spend lavishly on his daughter's marriage.

The police added Bhagat was arrested on July 22 after a complaint was lodged with the crime branch unit II. However the sleuths have been stopped in their tracks as the complaint has been withdrawn, lamented officers connected with the case.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.