A key hitman of the Chhota Rajan gang, Vijay Potdar, was arrested by Mumbai police this afternoon in connection with the murder of Chembur hotelier Balakrishna alias Bala Gopal Kotian on October 7.

Potdar was nabbed from a hideout in Dahivale village near Karjat in Raigad district, and a .38 Webly Scott revolver and five live rounds were recovered from him, assistant commissioner of police Dashrat Awad said.

Kotian was shot dead by two gunmen near Navgarh Hotel, Mahul Road. He was a former associate of Rajan, police said.

During interrogation, Potdar revealed that Rajan had given instructions to him and his associate Anil Nanduskar alias Andya to finish off Kotian. A sum of Rs 21,000 had been payed as advance for carrying out the killing, police added.

Potdar, already named in two murders, was earlier a close aide of slain gangster Sunil Ruggard. He joined hands with Rajan after Ruggard's death.

Two gangsters shot dead

Two gangsters, Salim Gore (40) andAshraf Shaikh (32) were gunned down by three men near Abhiruchi hotel at Rabodi, Thane, on Sunday night. Police said the killings were masterminded by a criminal belonging to a rival gang, who is lodged in Thane Central jail. The assailants have been identified as Aslam Shaikh, Mohammad Aslam Ibrahim Shaikh and Noor. Both Gore and Shaikh had earlier been externed and detained under the National Securities Act.

Mamta granted exemption

Actress Mamta Kulkarni was today granted permanent exemption from appearing before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in connection with the criminal complaint filed by an activist of the Nari Shakti Abhiyan. A bailable warrant was issued against Kulkarni on October 14, 1998 on a complaint filed by Archana Chauhan who charged the actress along with six others for obscenity in their films. A warrant was issued only against Kulkarni after she failed to reply to a summons. Karisma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Pooja Bhatt, Raveena Tandon and Tabu who have also beennamed in the complaint had obtained exemption from court appearance through their lawyers earlier.