Crime branch sources on Tuesday said multiple murder accused Vijay Palande, working at the behest of underworld don Chhota Rajan, had given information on gangsters like Santosh Shetty, Bhadresh Shah and Guru Satam, all of whom had fallen out with the Rajan gang. When he was rearrested, he had even offered to give information on Chhota Rajan’s hideout to an IPS officer in exchange for being allowed to escape.
“Palande worked as a driver for Santosh Shetty in Bangkok. After returning to India, he started passing on information about the gang to (suspended inspector) Sanjay Shinde, leading to the arrest of Bhadresh Shah from Mumbai airport,” said a senior crime branch officer.
The officer said Palande also gave information on Guru Satam, who till three years ago, was believed to be in South Africa. “We believe Palande switched loyalties from Shetty and was working at Rajan’s behest. He must have met the gangster and had considerable information about his gang. When he was rearrested from Churchgate station after he escaped from police custody, he had offered information on Rajan’s hideout to the IPS officer who nabbed him,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police also said Palande had kept his passport with his sister, who is married to Shinde in Borivali, even though he was staying with Simrin Sood in Andheri. “He knew that if the police learnt about his crimes, both his Pune and Mumbai residences would be raided. He didn’t want his passport confiscated as he planned to return to Bangkok. So he gave it to his sister for safekeeping,” the officer said.