In a significant development in the recent firing case in Mumbai's Chembur area, the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested the prime accused, Feroz Badruddin Khan (54), from the Naya Nagar locality of Mira Road. Meanwhile, Chembur Police have arrested the main shooter, Afsar Khan (20), from Dharavi.
A case has been registered against the accused at the Chembur Police Station under sections 109 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Arms Act (Section 3 and 25).
According to police sources, the victim, Sadruddin Khan, a diamond trader, had purchased two acres of land in Mumbra for Rs 18 crore. One acre of this land belonged to the accused, Feroz Khan. During interrogation, Feroz revealed that Sadruddin had constructed 8 to 10 buildings on the land and sold flats to people but failed to pay Feroz his due share. Despite repeated demands over the past two years, Sadruddin allegedly refused to clear the dues.
A senior police officer informed that Feroz brought the shooter, Afsar Khan, from Firozpur district a few months ago. Feroz had purchased a pistol a year ago, which was later used in the firing incident by Afsar.
On the day of the incident, both Feroz and Afsar followed Sadruddin’s car on a two-wheeler from Sion. As Sadruddin approached Chembur, Afsar got off the bike, intercepted the car, and opened fire. Both accused fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The incident took place near Diamond Garden in Chembur around 10 am on Wednesday, when Sadruddin Khan was en route to Panvel via the Sion-Panvel highway. Two unidentified men on a bike fired two rounds—one bullet hit Khan on his cheek while the other struck his car.
Upon receiving information, police and forensic teams rushed to the spot and recovered spent bullet casings from the road. Several crucial pieces of evidence were also collected. Sadruddin Khan, a resident of Belapur, is engaged in the diamond trading business.
To crack the case, Mumbai Crime Branch and DCP Zone 6 had formed eight teams each for the investigation.