Ex-corporator's son admits to shooting Mumbai RTI activist Bhupendra Vira

Mumbai: Former corporator Razzaq Khan's son Amjad Khan has claimed he shot dead RTI activist Bhupendra Vira but that his father was unaware of the murder plan, police said on Thursday.

However, Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Saxena told PTI, "We will verify the accused's claim, will not go by his version. We will investigate the role of the ex-corporator."

A country-made pistol has been recovered from the residence of the accused in Vakola. "We will see whether the weapon was used in committing the crime," Saxena said.

The 72-year-old activist, who had exposed encroachers and unauthorised constructions in and around Kalina area in the city, was shot dead at point blank range on the night of October 15 when he was watching TV at his residence in suburban Santacruz.

Vakola police had on Monday arrested former corporator of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Razzaq Khan (78), and his son, Amjad Khan (53), in connection with the murder. The duo was arrested after Vira's family members named them in the complaint.

Razzaq, an ex-corporator of Congress from Santacruz, had got an order from Lokayukta for demolishing four illegal properties in the area on Vira's complaint, hours before the activist's murder, sources had said.

Amjad and Razzaq were spotted in the vicinity of Vira's residence by a witness after the killing.

During investigation, it was established that only one bullet was fired from close range at the right temple of Vira, officials said.

Vira had filed RTI applications seeking information about Razzq's illegal constructions and land grabbing issues. The Lokayukta had issued orders to demolish four structures which were built by Razzaq on last Saturday and both the accused were upset with it, the officials said.