"Main Facebookwala Bhai Nahin. Dombivli ka original Bhai Hun": Hoodlum arrested after firing at friend

Mumbai: In a bizarre incident, a 24-year-old history sheeter from Dombivli opened fire on his friend following the impression that the latter was undermining his writ by refusing to pay him an extortion amount, at Diva on Sunday night.

While the victim had a providential escape from certain death, the police rounded up the hoodlum and his associate from Thane on Monday morning, within 6 hours after the complaint was registered at the Mumbra police station.

Senior Inspector Khanya Thorat of the Mumbra police station told Mirror Online that Akshya alias Shubhi Sunil Patil and his 20-year-old associate Mama alias Arun Bhatia have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 307 (Attempt to murder), 507 (Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), 34 (common intention) along with relevent sections of the Arms Act. They will be produced in a court for their custodial remand.

According to Thorat, Patil, who was earlier wanted in connection with an attempted murder case, knew the victim, identified as 39-year-old Dinesh Kaluram Munde. Munde has a business of supplying materials to construction sites and reportedly also has a criminal background.

Police said that sometime ago Patil had demanded some money from Munde which the latter had refused to pay.

At around 9 pm on Sunday, Patil called Munde to join him and his friend, Bhatia, over a drink near the cremation ground at Agasan Gaon in Diva. Munde is a resident of Agasan Gaon.

When Munde showed up, Patil allegedly repeated his demand for the money by pulling out a revolver and allegedly told the former, "Main Facebookwala Bhai Nahin Hun, Main Dombivli ka original Bhai Hun, Aur Tereko Aaj Thokta Hoon (I am not one of those Facebook Bhais. I am the original Bhai of Dombivli. I will kill you today).

Minutes later, Patil allegedly fired one round at Munde who ducked the bullet by laying on the road. He (Munde) then managed to grab the firearm while Patil fired two more rounds. "Fortunately, the bullets missed Munde," police said.

Soon afterwards, Patil and his associate Bhatia fled from the spot on a motorcycle as people began rushing to the spot upon hearing the noise.

Interestingly, after a few hours, Patil called Munde on his mobile phone and repeated the threat, "You were saved today. I will not spare you the next time."

Munde lodged the complaint with the Mumbra police at around 4 am. "We managed to track down the accused and his associate from Thane," Thorat said.