In a major body blow to the former Maharashtra chief minister and present industries minister, Narayan Rane, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked his son Nitesh for attempt to murder. The investigating agency has now registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Nitesh Rane and two others for a shootout that took place in September last year. Nitesh, who heads a non government organisation — Swabhiman Sanghatana, has been accused of firing at Shamim alias Chintu Shaikh, a former aide, in his office in Khar last September.
Shaikh had filed a police complaint saying Nitesh had fired at him. The complaint was transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch. The complainant later moved the Bombay High Court seeking a CBI probe. He alleged that the police were shielding Nitesh. On March 24, the HC transferred the case involving Nitesh to CBI.
Police sources said on September 23 last year, Shaikh had gone to meet Nitesh at the Sanghatana’s office in Khar.The duo reportedly had an argument over some issue, after which Nitesh allegedly whipped out a revolver and fired at Shaikh. The bullets grazed Shaikh’s cheek, and he ran outside, got into a vehicle and went all the way to Powai, Andheri east, and got himself admitted to the Hiranandani Hospital. Later, he lodged a police complaint and the case was transferred to the crime branch in early October. On November 12, the crime branch cleared Nitesh of the charges against him, saying no witnesses had testified. Later, Shaikh sought a CBI inquiry into the matter.
