Abu Salem behind attack on Rakesh Roshan -- Police

Abu Salem behind attack on Rakesh Roshan -- Police
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, JAN 22: The assault on actor-turned-director, Rakesh Roshan, was orchestrated by Bahrain-based ganglord Abu Salem who had reportedly been threatening him since the last few weeks, claim senior police officers.

``We suspect Abu Salem's involvement in the incident,'' says additional police commissioner, north west region, Subhash Avate, ``But it is disappointing to learn that though Roshan was getting threats regularly, he never complained to the police.''

Roshan was shot at on Friday night by two unidentified men outside his office at Mayur Building in Santacruz West when he was leaving for home. According to the police and the doctors who operated on him, it was only divine intervention that helped him survive the assault. As a matter of habit, Roshan always sat next to his driver, a fact picked up by the shooters during their dry run. However, on Friday night Roshan chose to sit behind the driver. The shooters did not realise this and initially opened fire on the front seat while Roshan was seated on the rear seat. Even then, Roshan suffered two bullet injuries, in his left arm and the other one grazed his chest.

Roshan was immediately rushed to the Nanavati Hospital where an immediate operation saved him. Doctors who operated on him claim that he was lucky to survive because the bullet narrowly missed his heart and lungs. Explaining the trajectory of the bullet, Dr Sharad Pandey, consultant cardiac surgeon at Nanavati Hospital, said the bullet first went through his arm and then entered his chest region.

The assault on Roshan has resurrected the fear psychosis that gripped the film industry soon after the killing of music magnate Gulshan Kumar on August 12, 1998. Earlier, film producer, Mukesh Duggal too was shot dead in 1997. Just recently, film producer, Manmohan Shetty was shot at.

Grapevine has it that most of the Bollywood biggies have been receiving threats and are also paying up to save their lives without seeking police help. Roshan too received threats but never bothered to inform the police.