The hide-and-seek game between police and the accused ended on Tuesday with the arrest of Hitesh Suresh Bhagat alias Chintu from a five-star hotel in Goa, for his alleged hand into the murder of his father Suresh Bhagat, widely known as Kalyan's Matka (gambling den) King. He was trampled to death in a road accident along with four on the spot when a truck smashed his car on June 04.
Ironically when police were frantically hunting for him in his friends and relatives house, he was, the sources said, taking shelter in a city's five-star hotel, which he considered the safest place on the earth. And, finally acting on a tip-off, police picked him up from a hotel in Goa's Panjim city. Till his arrest by the Mumbai police, Goa police had no information regarding his hide-out. He was brought to Mumbai in the evening. A hefty amount of Rs 11.39 lakh was also recovered from him, which he was carrying with him.
He was to produce before the Mumbai's metropolitan magistrate today. Before him, seven persons had been arrested in the Bhagat murder case comprising his mother, Jaya Chheda, who was detained too, in the murder of his husband. Son and his mother are being considered by the police as the prime conspirator behind the murder of Suresh Bhagat.
Jaya was arrested on July 04 from Ghatkopar, where she had come to see her ailing mother. Before catching into police grip, she, accompanied with son Hitesh was roaming into some of the five-star hotels-Ramee International, Rennaissance, Sahara and Hotel Hyatt under fake names. After his mother's arrest, Hitesh flew to Goa in search of a safe place, where his bookie had arranged a suite for him in Sun and Sand hotel in Goa.
A police officer on condition of anonimity said that Hitesh was caught after the crime branch got a tip-off that he was staying in the Sun and Sand hotel under the fake name of Ritesh Shah.
As per the police “holding over the matka business” could be the prime motive behind the murder. Hitesh was aware of the entire murder plot and was also allegedly present in one of the conspiracy meetings held at Jaya's residence in Ghatkopar, police said.
The relation between Jaya and Suresh was on fire and eventually the couple separated in 2001 and formally had taken divorce in 2005. But the control over the entire matka business was still in the hands of Suresh Bhagat. The duo-mother and son wanted to take control over the business.
As per the police report Jaya, before her arrest, earned Rs 1 crore a day from her matka business, known as Kalyan matka. Hitesh had taken control over the entire matka business after his mother's arrest.
The investigations further reveal that Jaya's property was spread not only in Mumbai, where her property was worth in crores, but also the neighbouring Thane, Kalyan and Valsad in Gujarat. She had buildings in Dadar and a 35-acres farm house at Valsad in Gujarat.
On the fateful day of June 11, a truck smashed a Scorpio carrying Bhagat along with his colleagues comprising two advocates and bodyguards, and killed all on the spot while they were returning after attending Alibaug court.
After being arrested by the police, the truck driver Praveen Shetty revealed that he was paid by Harish Mandvekar to smash the car. Mandvekar named Suhash Roge on his arrest, in turn said that Jaya and Hitesh had given him supari. Roge, who runs a weekly magazine working as an editor was also the paramour of Jaya, accepted before the police that Jaya had paid him Rs 45 lakh for killing Bhagat.
Police also said that Hitesh played a key role in plotting the murder of his father Suresh Bhagat.
|
|
Comments:
