Francis Carry William, who had eluded the police for over a decade, walked into a trap at Pant Nagar, opposite Odeon Cinema, where he was to meet other members of the gang, Rashid Malbari and Nasir. When the police spotted William, he allegedly opened fire on the police team, who fired back. Injured in the exchange of fire, Wiliam was taken to Rajawadi hospital, but was declared dead on admission. The police recovered a .22 German make imported revolver and live rounds from William.

A close associate of slain Shakeel aide Ismail Malbari, William was last arrested in 1989, along with several weapons. He was on the run since his release on bail. William was wanted in over a dozen cases, including the Putran and Huliya murder cases, kidnapping, attempt to murder and extortion.

William would operate in thenorth-eastern suburbs of Mumbai, including Ghatkopar, Chembur, Shivaji Nagar, Trombay and Kurla. Since the killing of Malbari in a Vikhroli court in 1997, William had taken over the Malbari faction of the Shakeel gang.

The officers from the criminal intelligence unit (CIU), comprising assistant police inspector Pradeep Sharma, sub-inspector Daya Nayak, Borude and Bhandari, were to net Malbari and Nasir as well. Both are notorious extortionists, Rashid being the brother of Ismail Malbari. They, however, managed to give the police the slip.