MUMBAI, August 13: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is sure that Gulshan Kumar's killing was ordered by Abu Salem Abdul Qayoom Ansari alias Abu Salem, 29-year-old Dubai-based member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. A former bank employee, Abu Salem has been with the `D Company' for around eight years now. Besides being a key hit man, he also handles extortions and hawala transactions on Dawood's behalf.

His men had attacked producer-director Rajiv Rai at his Tardeo office, while an attempt on Subhash Ghai's life was foiled by police. ``Salem himself had telephoned Subhash Ghai asking him to pay up,'' a senior CBI officer said. ``We have information that Gulshan Kumar, who never had any underworld connections, was contacted by Abu Salem in April this year.''

Salem's modus operandi, the official said, is simple. He himself calls up the targets, usually on their mobile phones, introduces himself and then asks them to call him back at his Dubai mobile number. Once the man calls back, an amount is quoted and negotiations begin. ``Gulshan Kumar had refused to pay. And didn't budge even when warned in person by Abu Salem's men. When nothing seemed to work, Salem ordered his killing,'' the officer said. Abu Salem, accused no. 87 in the Bombay bomb blast case, has been charged with procuring nine AK-56 rifles at the instance of Dawood's brother Anis Ibrahim. Mumbai courts issued an arrest warrant against him in 1993 ``for conspiracy to cause explosions with intent to cause death and damage to property.'' If caught and convicted he would probably face death penalty, a CBI dossier on him notes. In 1995, Interpol had issued a Red Corner alert for him. ``Earlier this year, the UAE government asked us to send papers for his extradition, which we have done,'' the CBI officer said.

``Since early this year Dawood has shifted his attention from real estate to Bollywood. Abu Salem has been calling up top film producers asking them to pay up,'' he said. About 20 top film personalities have been personally contacted by Salem in the past few months. The figure he quotes usually is in crores. ``There are many who simply pay and never inform the police,'' the officer said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.