Mumbai:
The hotelier, who was shot at in suburban Oshiwara on Wednesday night, has a criminal background and the murder attempt on him could be the outcome of previous enmity or a property dispute, police said on Thursday.
B R Shetty, who was shot at on his chest from a close range by two bike-borne assailants as he just left his hotel near Infinity Mall on Wednesday night, is still battling for life in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, police said.
According to crime branch sources, Mr Shetty had been earlier booked in Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act case, a robbery case, a dacoity case and an extortion case in Mumbai.
Mr Shetty used to be a police informer and a close-aide of dismissed police officer Pradeep Sharma, who was described as Mumbai police's encounter specialist by media, police said.
At a time, when dance bars were flourishing in the metropolis, Mr Shetty and his men had operated multiple restaurants and bars. Presently, Mr Shetty owns at least two restaurants in the city.
Mr Shetty was on his way to have dinner at a friend's place when the incident took place on Wednesday, police said adding that investigators suspect a person known to the accused might have tipped off about Mr Shetty's whereabouts.
The police are yet to receive the bullet that penetrated Mr Shetty's chest after brushing through his shoulder. However, the cops suspect that a good quality
firearm was used in this case.