MUMBAI, July 31: After the successful Gupt here's another whodunit for director Rajiv Rai. At 4.30 on Thursday afternoon five unknown assailants barged into his Trimurti Films' office at Tardeo and tried to shoot him. Rai had a narrow escape.

"I am at total a loss of words. I had been receiving threatening calls for a month though," said a visibly shaken Rai, when contacted by Express Newsline. The one good fallout of these threats was that Rai was under security cover which probably saved his life.

Joint commissioner of police (crime) Ranjit Singh Sharma, who was at the scene of crime said that Rai's securityman fired five rounds, wounding one Mohammed Arif Bin Mohammed Soheb (22) in the left arm. Soheb confessed that he was hired by Abu Salem to kill Rajiv Rai. ``Extortion could be the prime motive,'' confirmed Sharma.

A bleeding Soheb, clad in jeans, was heard telling the police that he had received telephonic instructions from Salem to carry out the killing. The weapon was given to him after a discussion over telephone two months ago.

``They asked me the colour of my clothes, and when I described myself, I was asked to wait near Sheetal Cinema at Kurla, whereupon a pistol was delivered to me," he said.

Deputy commissioner of police (crime) K L Prasad confirmed that three 9 mm Chinese Star pistols have been recovered from the spot. Two pistols were found concealed near the third floor stairs of the office.

``The hitmen might have panicked and dropped the weapons and fled,'' said Prasad, ``Rai received threats 15 days ago but an attempt was made on his life even before money matters could be discussed,'' he added.

Zonal DCP Param Bir Singh added that the police is still trying to ascertain if a vehicle has been used by the criminals to get away. ``More than one assailant could have been hit by police bullets,'' added Singh.

At 4:30 pm today, five men with loaded guns walked into Rai's office, whereupon, they held the operator at gun point. There was only one security guard present then, who was quick to grab the gun out of the man's hand. The other men, sensing danger, ran out of the office.

But as the fifth man tried to run out, Rai's security guard, who was armed with a machine gun, shot him. The other men managed to escape between the many buildings adjacent to the road. The police could therefore nab one of them.

"I have a child, a wife; my father can hardly walk. I've got an office staff to look after. It's a sad thing to happen," said Rai. Rai chose to remain silent when asked if he suspected anybody. But he sounded extremely happy and grateful for the way the police have handled things so far.

Meanwhile, the commissioner of police S C Malhotra has announced a reward of Rs 5000 to constable Mohan Singh for his bravery. ``He will be recommended for a gallantry award,''said Jt Comm Sharma.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.