Praveen Grover

HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 7 - Asphak Bengre, who is in the custody of the Mumbai Crime Branch, will be brought to Goa after his police remand ends on March 20.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Ujjwal Mishra said Bengre who is wanted in several criminal cases in the State will be brought on a transfer warrant.
Bengre is the prime accused in the Bhageera murder case at Chimbel and is alleged to have taken supari (contract) to kill Candolim hotelier Praveen Grover last year.

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BY A STAFF REPORTER | Wednesday, March 07, 2007 8:37:50 IST


The Mumbai Crime Branch yesterday added another feather to its cap after a robbery attempt at a jewellery shop by six armed robbers in north east part of the city was foiled by the police and all of them, including criminals wanted in a contract killing case in Goa were arrested

The Mumbai Crime Branch yesterday added another feather to its cap after a robbery attempt at a jewellery shop by six armed robbers in north east part of the city was foiled by the police and all of them, including criminals wanted in a contract killing case in Goa were arrested. “Acting on a tip-off, Unit VI of the Mumbai Crime Branch laid a trap outside Sangam Jewellers in Chembur yesterday morning and seized three country-made firearms, five live cartridges, choppers and a car from them. Those arrested include Ashfaf Abbas Bengre alias Jack, a native of Goa wanted in at least 10 cases, including the killing of businessman Pravin Grover, last year, in his home state.

All the others - Sundar Pillai, Sandip Dhuri, Rajesh Lad, Ashok Tupe and Suhas Ganjekar - were from the city itself and were involved in cases registered in the city and Goa,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Dhananjay Kamlakar.

“Pillai had served a sentence in a jail in Goa in connection with a case registered in Mapusa and come in contact with Jack’s brother. The gang used to come together only when required,” Kamlakar added.

Police also suspect them to be involved in cases of kidnapping and murder in Goa and a team from Goa police’s crime branch is on its way to Mumbai to investigate further. Pillai has seven cases of dacoity and robbery registered against him while Dhuri has 16. Kamlakar said that all the others also had criminal antecedents. All the six were produced before a local court yesterday which remanded them to police custody till March 20.

http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=March2007_inbombay_standard12324

BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 6 — Goa Police had some good news in store on Tuesday. Ashpak Bengre, the notorious criminal on whose trail they were since June last year was nabbed by their Mumbai counterparts in Chembur while attempting to rob a jewellery shop.
According to reports, Bengre was nabbed by Unit VI of the Mumbai Crime Branch outside Sangam Jewellers at Chembur in the North East part of the city today morning. Bengre, who identified himself as Jack, was arrested along with five others.
One of the five arrested, Sundar Pillai, had served a sentence in a jail in Goa in connection with a case registered in Mapusa. Country-made firearms, five live cartridges, choppers and a car were seized from them.
Bengre masterminded the gruesome murder of his friend-turned-foe Joaquim Pereira (Bhageera) at Chimbel in June 2006 with the help of five accomplices. Bhageera was mercilessly hacked to death with swords few metres off the Merces-Chimbel Road at Bonan.
Sensational amongst last year’s killings was the shooting of hotelier, Praveen Grover, which brought ‘supari’ (contract) killers into focus. Again, Bengre a resident of Betim, Bardez, allegedly demanded Rs 4 lakh as contract money to kill Grover.
Deputy Inspector General Ujjwal Mishra said a team of the Crime Brach headed by a PI left for Mumbai in the evening today to interrogate Bengre. He is wanted in several criminal cases in Goa, including murder and attempt to murder, the DIG stated.

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NT Staff Reporter

Panaji, Jan 7 The year 2006 witnessed a comparative decline in the crime cases but Goa police are not agile and active in unraveling the murder cases that took place in the North.

In all there were 38 murder incidents in 2006 while there were 43 murder cases that had shook the state in 2005. There is slight rise in attempts to murder cases from 14 in 2005 to 17 in 2006. Besides there is substantial decrease in the culpable homicide not amounting to murder cases.

The police, managed to detect only 28 murder cases so far. But most of the murder cases which had gripped residents of the area are unsolved and the main murder accused in few cases are still absconding.

The police have done some wonderful job in this year by arresting the accused in a sensational Tanuja murder case, Mandar kidnapping and murder case, Flory Fernandes and Fr Eusebio Ferrao case in Salcete.

But the police are yet to achieve breakthrough in some sensational murder cases and bring the main culprits to book, of these are Bagheera alias Joaquin Pereira murder case at Merces, Anuj Joshi murder at Calangute, Porvorim contractor murder case whose body was recovered from the bushes in Porvorim, Pravin Grover murder case at Calangute and others.

Top brass from the Goa police headquarters are of the firm view that the murderers will be brought to book.

They said the police have kept award on their arrests and besides flashing their identification photographs and other necessary details which may lead to their arrests in the near future.

We have certain clues and our investigating teams are on the job. There is 2.70 per cent increase in detection rate from 64.06 in the 2005 to 66.76 per cent in 2006. There is 3.51 per cent rise in the over all crime rate in the state if compared to last year.

NT Legal Correspondent

Panaji, Jan 17 Anant Volvoikar, an accused in Praveen Grover murder case has been granted bail by Mr Justice N A Britto of the Bombay High Court, at Goa.

The accused was arrested on the allegation that he along with two others entered into a criminal conspiracy to cause the death of Praveen Grover and pursuant thereto hired a contract killer namely Aspak Bengre.

The police thereafter had filed charge-sheet under Sections 302, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 r/w Sections 25, 27 of the Arms Act.

Mr S Lotlikar who appeared on behalf of the accused contended that the prosecution has not been able to collect any material implicating the accused in the conspiracy to the murder of the deceased except for raising suspicion on account of dispute and enmity over Perola do Mar resort.

On the other hand, the public prosecutor, Ms Winnie Coutinho, submitted that if the accused is released on bail there was every possibility that he might contact the absconding accused Aspak Bengre and threaten the family members of the deceased.

Mr Justice N A Britto observed that although six months had lapsed from the date of arrest and all that the investigation agency has been able to collect was the statement on account of the dispute regarding the resort. Further it was observed that enmity need not necessarily show complicity and hence it would not be justified to detain the accused.

The High Court released the accused on surety of Rs 25,000 and personal bond of like amount with further condition that the accused shall attend the Directorate of Forensic Science, Gujarat, as and when required by the investigation agency.

NT Staff Reporter

Panaji, Sept 4: Murders, kidnapping for ransom, contract killing, rapes, robberies, rioting, besides dacoities have become order of the day in Goa today.

Even as there is a rise in murder cases in the recent past, the police seem to have adopted a very lethargic approach. The reasons which are being attributed for many crimes lying undetected for years together are: too much of work. Many a times the police are compelled to close down the cases for want of either clues or lack of evidence.

If questioned by journalists, the answer generally is, “Where is it mentioned, that every crime committed should be detected. If there is no trace of the accused then it is like groping in the darkness.”
At the fag end of 2005, Goa witnessed the gruesome murder of Prithviraj Rane at Saleli by a group of enraged persons.

Since January 1, till August end, 34 murders have been reported in the state out of which 23 were detected.
In a case which hit the headlines recently, a group of five persons murdered Joaquim Pereira alias Bagheera, at Merces near Dias Bar and Restaurant on the Chimbel road. The main suspect, Ashfaq Bengre is still at large while the police have succeeded in nabbing his associates.

In a short span of time, Calangute has witnessed three gruesome murders, namely: the Anuj Joshi murder, the Pravin Grover murder and lastly, Flory Fernandes. Incidentally, in that same belt, yet another murder, this time of a labour contractor, took place. His body was recovered from the bushes in Porvorim.

In all the cases, the police have managed to identify the killers but have had not been able to bring these people to book.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=090545

BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 19 — In 1990, a murder a month in Goa was unheard of. A rape a rarity and a jail break akin to a holiday. Today, sadly the reputation Goa once enjoyed, of a State which stayed calm during the Godhra riots and where people used to sleep with their doors and windows open at night, now sleep in fear.

Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane acknowledged this fact on the floor of the House saying, “We are worried about the security environment of the State.”
Today crime pays. And Goa, is one place where it has come to stay. Starting from the year up till now, the tourist paradise has witnessed some cold-blooded murders leaving no doubt that the once No 1-ranked State is gradually “slipping into an abyss of crime.”
From January 1 to August 8, 2006, 31 murders have been reported, compared to 45 in 2005. Crime chart from the Police Department shows murders have been gradually on the rise since 2003 – 34 (2003), 40 (2004) and 45 (2005). Out of this year’s 31 cases, 21 have been detected so far. Says Dr Joe D’Souza, professor of microbiology, “performance-wise, the Goa Police force’s record is amongst the worst in the country; ask any citizen about his opinion of the Goa police and the answer would most likely be ‘it is better to trust a thief than the Goa police’.”
And this can be seen from the fact that sensational amongst this year’s killings has been the shooting of hotelier, Praveen Grover, yet again bringing into focus supari (contract) killers. Ashpak Bengre from Betim, Bardez, is alleged to have demanded Rs 4 lakh contract money, in other words supari, to finish Grover and is being hunted by the police. Concurs Minister for Law Dayanand Narverkar, “The major crimes taking place in Goa are organised crimes that need to be controlled effectively.”
In July itself, a record number of five murders rocked North Goa. Among these, the Anuj Joshi and Flory Fernandes murders, both in Calangute, raised quite a stir. Earlier in June, an intense gang rivalry came to the fore with the merciless hacking to death of Bhageera from Chimbel. Again, Bengre masterminded this gruesome slaying. Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar says, “The law and order situation in Goa has reached its nadir and I predict a possibility of the State witnessing many more serious crimes in the future.”
But it is not only major crimes that are rocking Goa. Even insignificant crimes like auto thefts are on the rise with 139 cases reported since the start of the year compared to 98 last year during the corresponding period – an increase of 40 per cent. Agrees DGP Neeraj Kumar: “The State police needs to be more pro-active to develop investigative capabilities.”
Margao topped the chart with a record number of nine car and 25 two-wheeler thefts in a span of four months.

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NT News Service

Mapusa, Aug 18: The Bharatiya Janata party today accused the Congress government of complete insensitivity towards the breakdown in law and order situation in the state and appealed that urgent steps be taken to restore the people’s sense of security in Goa.

Addressing a press conference at Mapusa, the BJP MLAs, Mr Francis D’Souza of Mapusa and Mr Sadanand Shet Tanavade of Tivim said that law and order was non-existent in Goa and blamed the government for the string of crimes, including murders, kidnappings and also drownings on the beaches of Goa. The Siolim MLA Mr Dayanand Mandrekar was also present.

Mr D’Souza said, “The government should retrain the police and also equip them with modern equipment to detect crimes. There were several murders in Calangute. There is no fear of the law because the police are engaged by the government in collecting ‘hafta’.” He said that the Chief Minister, Mr Rane promised to increase ‘nakabandi’ but still many crimes have not been detected. “We got a porous border. There are no checkposts at Chorla, Tiracol and Satarda,” Mr D’Souza said.

He also called for recruitment of more police personnel from non-Hindu religions. In times of festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and other festivities most police being Hindus want to go on leave. During festivities people also lock their flats in cities and go to their native places. With police on leave, the chances of burglaries are higher, Mr D’Souza said.

Talking about the recent Surlakar murder, Mr D’Souza blasted the Chief Minister for personally interrogating the accused. “There is no provision in the law for the government to directly interrogate accused persons. The Chief Minister’s action is wrong in law and moralities,” he said. He also blamed the government for failing to prevent the recent rash of drowning deaths at Calangute and Candolim beaches.

Mr Tanavade said, “The lifeguards should have been in place and there should be more warning signboards. Awareness about the dangers of sea bathing during the monsoon must be created in the hotels also. This is creating a wrong picture that Goa is not safe, but it’s the government that has no sensitivity towards the public needs.”

In yet another development more than 100 residents of Calangute have submitted a memorandum to the Director General of Police strongly condemning the brutal murders and rape which took place in Calangute within a month. The citizens have called for immediate action to restore law and order failing which the residents of Calangute will march to the DGP’s office.

The memorandum is signed by the Sarpanch of Calangute, Mr Joseph Sequeira, panch members, presidents of the Lions and Jaycee Clubs, president of the Calangute Association and over a 100 residents.

It cites the murder of Anuj Joshi in Calangute, the Praveen Grover shooting in Candolim, the killing of teenager Flory Fernandes and other murders, and blames the police of inaction.

“It is found that the police are not taking prompt action against persons who are engaged in illegal acts and due to this, criminals are moving freely and committing murders without any fear. Investigations in such serious offences should be completed fast to avoid disappearance of evidence”, the memorandum states.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=081993

BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 4 — Goa Police on Friday released posters of the three “most-wanted” men on their list for their alleged involvement in murders across North Goa.
The three, Ashpak Bengre alias Khan, Rahul alias Raju Gananchand Mehta and Ravindra Nayak are wanted by the Old Goa, Calangute and Porvorim police, respectively.

Bengre masterminded the gruesome murder of Joaquim Pereira (Bhageera) at Chimbel in June with the help of five of his accomplices who are in police net.
Rahul Mehta is one of the sharp-shooters, probably hiding in Mumbai, who allegedly shot at Praveen Grover at Candolim in July. One of the accused arrested in the case testified that Bengre is the man who gave ‘supari’ to Mehta to kill Grover.
Labour contractor Ravindra Nayak from Orissa allegedly killed one Atchudanand Swain, also from Orissa at an isolated place in Porvorim.

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27 JULY 2006
PANJIM: Top police officials have disclosed that the person who arranged the murder of Pravin Grover, to be shot outside his hotel at Candolim on July 11, was none other than Ashpaq Bengre, the prime accused in the Bagheera daylight murder at Chimbel on June 7. Senior police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Sunil Thukral, who has been arrested in connection with his relative, Grover's, murder had paid a 'supari' fee of Rs.four lakh to Bengre in May. "Sometime, in the first week of June, Bengre was returning from Panjim to Chimbel by motorcycle and his accomplices in a Maruti car, when they chanced upon Bagheera, a friend-turned-foe, who had been issuing threats that he would kill Bengre to take revenge over an earlier incident. Sensing a change to finish Bagheera, Bengre along with his accomplices killed him with swords and 'choppers' then and there," the officer said. (GT)

http://www.goacom.com/joel/news/2006/july/27july06.htm

Panaji, July 27: The Goa police have printed posters with photos of Ashfaque Bengre and Somnath Shelar and they will be pasted at public places and at police stations in Goa. Cash rewards have also been offered for their capture.

According to police sources Ashfaque Bengre, the accused in the murder of Joaquim alias Bagheera Pereira, is also the prime suspect in the Praveen Grover murder. These same sources said that Ashfaque allegedly hired Raju alias Rahul Mehta, a sharp shooter from Mumbai and it was he who shot Praveen Grover dead at Calangute.

The police informed that Sunil Tugral after allegedly giving a supari of Rs one lakh to Ashfaque Bengre, left for Germany. Sources say that this supari was given much before Bagheera’s murder.

The sources added that the police also suspect the involvement of Ashfaque in another murder case but till date there is no proper information.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=072811

PANJIM: If you thought 'supari' or contract killing was a specialty of Mumbai, you might have to change your view. Police officials have disclosed that in the Pravin Grover murder case, the accused, Sunil Thukral, had paid Rs four lakh to an Old Goa-based gangster to eliminate his enemy, and the remaining amount would be paid after the murder. (GT)

http://www.goacom.com/joel/news/2006/july/22july06.htm

BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 21

The fact that the police have openly admitted that hired killers were used in the gruesome murder of Pravin Grover at Calangute where he was shot outside his hotel and the fact that the police have openly stated that the murder was over a property matter, is a matter of concern for one and all in Goa. Has Goa degenerated into another Bihar where gang wars are becoming the norm of the day. This is not the first time people have been brutally done to death. Two brutal murders in a week one where a restaurateur is brutally killed in his house and in the other some one is shot at the back of his head. In both cases, the police suspect gang wars with the underlying reason being property.
Yes, property matters have become a big issue in Goa today with everyone trying to get a slice of the pie. With news of foreigners buying over 10 lakh square meters of land the question is when will the wars become full blown in Goa. Construction has become a big business in Goa today, with anybody and everybody jumping into the act. And it is not surprising that violence is being used by many people to achieve their ends.
With no proper rules and regulations in place as to the sale of land in Goa and with constant interference by ministers over land deals it is not surprising that real estate is getting a bloody name. Records are not found or destroyed which often lead to litigation, violent clashes and disputes. With many absentee landlords in Goa, encroachments and land grabbing is the order of the day and it is not surprising that this is all blowing up with such violent incidents. With no proper controls over the sale of land and with no proper checks being instituted coupled with fact that there are many officials who are pressurized to look the other way, such violent incidents will continue and only get worse. And with the pressure on Goa’s limited land growing, the land sharks will continue exercising their violent means to get their end. Which means more gangland shootings which will make the Wild West look like a tea party

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NT Staff Reporter

Panaji, July 19: The Director General of Police, Mr Neeraj Kumar said the two persons who were arrested on suspicion in Praveen Grover murder case will undergo lie-detection test and brain-mapping at Bangalore.“Since these facilities are unavailable in Goa, they will be taken to Bangalore for tests,” he said and added that both were business partners of Grover.

Mr Kumar further stated that there was no offence registered against them but they have become very aggressive these days.

He also said that after the Mumbai serial bomb blasts, the Goa police have been alerted and night patrolling has been intensified, specially in Margao.

He said all the trains leaving Goa will be monitored by the police officials till border check-points.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=072011

BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 21 – Sunil Baijnath Thukral, who was arrested in the Praveen Grover murder at Candolim, has admitted that he paid Rs 1 lakh to a man from Old Goa to finish the latter.
Sources in the police revealed that Thukral had paid the money to the man, who has connections with a notorious ‘supari’ (contract) killer in Mumbai. The man is on the run and is probably hiding with his killer accomplice in Mumbai, they said.

“The total deal to slay Grover was fixed at Rs 4 lakh out of which Rs one lakh was paid to the Old Goa man, who along with Mumbai accomplice is being hunted by the State and Mumbai police,” they disclosed. “It is still not certain how many people are involved. There’s a likelihood of underworld connections,” they added.
A source said Anant Yeshwant Volvoikar, who was arrested along with Thukral, does not seem to have a hand in the murder and there’s a chance he may be let off the hook.

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NT News Service

Mapusa, July 13: The bail application of the two men arrested in connection with the shooting murder of Candolim businessman, Praveen Grover, was rejected by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa today.

The Calangute police had obtained a remand of three days in police custody for both the men, Sunil Thukral and Anant Volvoikar, arrested yesterday on charges of conspiracy to murder.

The Deputy Inspector of Police, Mr Ujwal Mishra is learnt to have joined the superintendent of police (North), Mr D K Sawant and deputy superintendent of police, Mr R Patre in the interrogation of the men, but they have so far denied their involvement in the murder, sources said.

The Calangute police have recorded the statements of several witnesses but no breakthrough seems forthcoming.

The identity of the other two men, involved in the actual shooting and riding away on a motorcycle, even the make of the motorcycle, is a mystery.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=071417

Mapusa, July 12: The 52-year old businessman, Praveen Grover, who was shot at in Candolim yesterday night, succumbed to his bullets injuries at around 8.45 last night at the Goa Medical College, Bambolim. The police arrested two men at Panaji early today morning in connection with the murder, who have been remanded to three days police custody.

The North Goa superintendent of police, Mr D K Sawant gave the names of the two arrested men as Sunil Thukral and Anant Volvoikar. Thukral is a native of Delhi but has lived in Goa for many years. Volvoikar is a resident of St Inez, Panaji. Both are around 55-years of age.

Mr Sawant said that along with the murder victim, Thukral was a director of the society that ran the Candolim hotel in front of which unknown assailants pumped two bullets into Grover’s back at around 7 p.m. yesterday. The second arrested person, Volvoikar, is also learnt to have been a former director. Both will be taken for remand tomorrow.

The police have filed a case of murder against the assailants and arrested Thukral and Volvoikar on charges of conspiracy. Police sources disclosed that Thukral and the other directors were locked in a bitter legal dispute with the victim over the ownership of the hotel for approximately 10 years.

Both sides had filed complaints against each other at the Calangute and Panaji police stations. While the police officers investigating the murder remained tight-lipped over the details, it is reliably learnt that they are suspecting hired killers as having pumped the two fatal bullets into Grover’s back from close range yesterday.

Sources said that during initial interrogation, Thukral has admitted to the long-standing legal dispute with Grover but denied any link to the murder. He has a good alibi for his whereabouts yesterday, sources said.

The questioning of the hotel receptionist and security guard did not yield any clues regarding the identity of the killers. They told police that as Grover was entering the hotel, they heard two loud blasts and saw him falling down.

They then saw a man running to a motorcycle waiting on the road. Its rider was wearing a helmet. The motorcycle then sped towards the main road and disappeared. So far there is no trace of the killers nor of their motorcycle.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=071323

NT News Service

Mapusa, July 11: In another chilling incident in the Calangute police sub-division today, an unknown man shot and wounded a 52-year old businessman, Mr Praveen Grover as he was entering a resort in Candolim around 7 p.m.

Mr Grover was rushed to the Goa Medical College, Bambolim in a critical condition.

The Porvorim sub-divisional police officer and deputy superintendent of police, Mr R Patre said that Mr Grover had just alighted from his vehicle and was entering the resort located on an inner road opposite the Candolim Primary Health Centre, when the unknown assailant shot at him in the back from close range.

The assailant and another accomplice then rushed to the motorcycle and sped away towards the main road. The security guard and the reception of the resort are witnesses to the incident.

According to the superintendent of police (North), Mr D K Sawant, Mr Grover is originally from Delhi but has lived in Goa for the last about 20 years.

In fact, he was a member of the society that ran the resort. Mr Sawant said Mr Grover and his wife lived on the second floor of the resort and his wife accompanied Mr Grover to the hospital.

Mr Sawant, Mr Patre and the Calangute police inspector, Mr Wilson D’Souza rushed to the spot and were questioning the staff till late today. Mr Sawant said the assailants did not leave behind any clues.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=071220