Times of India
MUMBAI, Sep 9: In a bloody fallout of a long-running property battle, hotelier Mohan Shetty shot at and critically wounded his elder brother Manohar in the presence of their mother at an advocate’s office in the Fort area on Saturday evening.
A TOI correspondent who happened to be at Cawasji Patel Street saw the bleeding Manohar being helped into a Maruti car by three persons, one of whom was later identified as hotelier Ravi Shetty.
Mohan, 32, who co-owns the Golden Crown bar and restaurant at Nana Chowk along with his brother, has been arrested. Manohar, 34, who is also a singer, has been admitted to St George Hospital, and is out of danger according to assistant police commissioner Issac Bagwan. Doctors removed a bullet each from his stomach and right leg. Police have seized the licensed revolvers of both brothers.
Mohan and Manohar are the sons of Jaya Shetty, founder of the Golden Crown, which went on to do roaring business. Jaya himself was shot dead inside his hotel by four men of the Hemant Poojari gang in 2001. Two of the hitmen were nabbed by the hotel staff.
Soon after his death, a dispute broke out between the brothers over the sharing of their father’s considerable wealth. Sources said Manohar was also opposed to his mother, Prafulla, seeking the help of a Gujarati businessman from Borivli. However, Mohan backed his mother. It’s learnt that Prafulla Shetty had lodged police complaints against Manohar in Mumbai and in their native Udipi.
Jaya Shetty owned several properties, including a bar at Khar, a palatial house in Mangalore, and several flats in Mumbai. After his death, his elder son Manohar found himself pitted against his mother, brother and the Gujarati businessman. He is said to have demanded his share of the family wealth. About five meetings, one at Ravi Shetty’s house, were held in the last few weeks to hammer out an agreement.
A final meeting was scheduled on Saturday at the office of their advocate Ramchandira Narain, in the hope that an amicable settlement could be worked out. Prafulla Shetty and Ravi Shetty were both present. Sources said the meeting started a little before 5 pm, when tea was ordered. Even as the advocate was explaining the legalities of the case in English, an argument broke out between the brothers in Tulu, with Mohan accusing Manohar of avoiding a settlement.
In the heat of the moment, Mohan whipped out a revolver from under his shirt and fired at Manohar. The first bullet hit Manohar’s leg, and he fell to the floor. Mohan fired two more rounds, pointing his gun at the fallen Manohar. One bullet grazed the advocate’s finger, deflecting it away from Manohar’s chest to his stomach. The second hit the roof, said deputy commissioner of police Brijesh Singh.