Crime branch investigations on Thursday revealed that Arunkumar Tikku owned property worth Rs 50 crore. Tikku had made a will and Anuj was the legal heir to all his wealth.
Anuj, in a drunken conversation, had told Vijay Palande, which is when the latter decided to drug Anuj and stake claim to all his property gradually.
Tikku, who was already upset about his son giving out one of his flats in Versova to Palande on lease, had come down to Mumbai on April 5 from Delhi. On April 9, he had a heated argument with Palande’s men Dhananjay Shinde and Manoj Gajkosh, following which the duo allegedly murdered Tikku and fled.
“Palande during his interrogation, said that Tikku’s son Anuj, an actor in Hindi films, during a drinking session had mentioned that his father owned properties worth Rs 50 crore in Mumbai and Delhi. Anuj also told him that his father had made a will according to which all his properties would be transferred in his name, after his death,”said a senior crime branch officer.
According to the officer, it is then that Palande planned to murder Tikku. “After killing Tikku, he decided he would spike Anuj’s drinks and gradually transfer all of Anuj’s properties in his name,” the officer said.
Palande had also accompanied Anuj during his trips to Mumbai, Delhi and other parts of the country on some or the other pretext to get the details of all the properties. “Anuj was taking some psychiatric treatment in Jaipur and Palande knew he was an easy target,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police has found out the connection between Gurudutt Jairam and Palande. Palande was using a Mercedes that was registered in Jairam’s name.
“Jairam was introduced to Palande, by a common friend. Palande who planned to setup a fitness centre, asked Jairam for his Mercedes, so that it could boost his chances to get financiers for his gym. When Jairam asked for his car later, Palande started threatening him,” an officer said.