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By Vickey Lalwani Š2006 Bollyvista.com |
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Mahesh Bhatt |
Frank and fearless Mahesh Bhatt has taken the unidentified gunman's invasion in his Juhu office, without a sweat. "I think the people who stand for causes and fight for the under-priveledged are always going to be seen with an akhadti aankh. Agar sach bolne se meri jaan jaati hai, to bhale hi chali jaaye." Bhatt said.
The veteran director was not in the office at the time of the incident. No one was injured in the incident, and the gunman fled the scene on a motorcycle. The attacker went up to Bhatt's office, while his accomplice waited for him down in the compound.
Gangster Ravi Pujari has claimed responsibility for the incident. According to Pujari, Mahesh is an anti-social element who has links with Dawood Ibrahim and Chotta Shakeel.
Anurag Basu, Shiney Ahuja, Mohit Suri rushed in to be beside Bhatt's side at his office, where the police took down his statement for nearly two hours. Basu said that Bhatt was not scared. "Instead, he gave me a smile when I entered the office where the police were asking him for the details. He said, 'Aa ja Anurag, 'Gangster-2' ki kahani mil gayi."
Mahesh Bhatt was writing his speech at his residence when the incident happened. He was supposed to leave for Delhi with daughter Pooja for an appearance at a charitable function. Pooja left without her father, yesterday. She said that her father was not accompanying her now, not because of the unpleasant incident, but simply because some senior person needed to be in the office after the chaos that has followed in the wake of the incident. Mahesh's brother Mukesh is in Dubai.
When Mahesh Bhatt learnt of the incident, he first called his friend Ashok Pandit. "I was at the Juhu Police Station for some personal work. I and the cops immediately rushed to Mahesh's office," said Pandit.
While Pandit and the cops were on their way, Pradeep Shinde (Inspector, Juhu Police Station) received a call which had a threat for Bhatt and abused him no end. Pandit informed that the caller said, "Is baar bach gaya, agli baar nahin bachega." Pandit added that the same caller later called Bhatt's residence too.
A staffer from Bhatt's office revealed, "The gunman asked for the boss. We told them that he (Mukesh Bhatt) was in Dubai. They asked 'Doosra Bhatt kahan hai?'. When the attacker took out a gun, there was panic at the office. The cook Babu ran to lock himself in the bathroom. He left very soon, but not before firing two rounds at the office door. He seemed to be in his mid-thirties. He had a stubble and was well-built. He looked some sort of struggler."
Bhatt bravely said that he will not ask for police protection. "Let the police decide. If they feel that I am unsafe, it will be solely their call." To Pujari's allegation, Bhatt responded, "I am a law abiding citizen. I have no connections with the underworld. I have never received a threat before. I am a self-made man. I have no clue that why this happened. It's a mystery."
The police said they were investigating the case. According to Joint Commissioner of Police, Arup Patnaik, "Ravi Pujari is a local goon from Andheri East. He is trying to create space for himself, and that is perhaps why he has done this." When asked if Pujari had threatened any other Bollywood personality in the recent past, Patnaik quipped, "He might have." |
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