Chhota Rajan ex-aide Santosh Shetty planned attack on Dawood kin

Far East-based gangster Santosh Shetty is believed to be behind the abortive attempt made on the life of Karachi based fugitive Dawood Ibrahim's close kin Iqbal Kaskar, on Tuesday night.

Senior police officials disclosed that Shetty a onetime close associate of Chhota Rajan, is learnt to have organised the shooting which got botched up due to one of the firearms malfunctioning after the first shot was fired on Iqbal, who escaped unhurt while the other gunmen pumped lead into Iqbal's bodyguard- cum- driver Arif Syed Abu Bukha who later succumbed to bullet injuries before landing in hospital.

Shetty who operates a criminal syndicate after he broke away from Chotta Rajan, is one of the key informer of Indian intelligence agencies on Dawood Ibrahim's syndicate following Chotta Rajan's reported, unpublicized truce with Dawood Irbahim, a year ago.

Highly reliable sources disclosed that Shetty was the brain behind eliminating Bharat Nepal a onetime aide of Chotta Rajan who had crossed over to his syndicate and was later suspected by Shetty for double timing him, in Bangkok around three months back.

Following Chotta Rajan maintaining a distance from Indian intelligence agencies, Shetty has been maintaining close ties with Indian intelligence operatives who are on the trail of Dawood Ibrahim.

It is learnt that Shetty has taken over the mission to cripple Dawood Ibrahim's financial network and Iqbal was identified as the prime target to be eliminated, to create a massive dent to Dawood Ibrahim's financial backbone.

Iqbal had allegedly surrendered to the Indian authorities to return back to India in 2003, to manage Dawood Ibrhaim's empire. Currently, Iqbal is looking after Dawood Ibrahim's immovable assets including 12 properties located in south and south central Mumbai.