What began as a harmless cricket tiff a year ago turned into a violent showdown in Mulund Colony late on Sunday night, when five men allegedly attacked a local businessman and his friends with blades and stones, leaving three injured. Five accused have been booked. Police said the incident took place around 11.30 pm at Jhulelal Chowk in Mulund West.
Siddhesh Dhusiya, the complainant, who is one of the victims, a 33-year-old textile businessman, was riding his scooter through the market when he was suddenly confronted by four men, identified as Shravan Pardeshi, 19; Pramod alias Pamya Varandani, 18; Shakeel Iqbal Sheikh, 35; and Kundan Surwade, 34 — with whom he had clashed last year over a petty cricket match dispute.
The men allegedly stopped him, hurled abuses, and reignited the old rivalry. “Shravan and Pamya whipped out blades from their pockets and began threatening him. When the victim [Siddhesh] tried to leave, Shravan slashed him on the lower back with a blade,” said a police officer from Mulund police station.
As the victim cried for help, his friends — Amit Putak, Pankaj Jadhav, Prajwal Jogdand, Nitin Bhange, and others rushed to rescue him. But the accused turned on them too. Sheikh allegedly punched Jadhav, while Surwade picked up a stone from the roadside and struck him on the head, causing heavy bleeding. Pardeshi also attacked Putak with a blade.
According to the police, based on statements from the eyewitnesses, the attackers screamed at them, saying, “Jo beech mein aayega, usko tod dunga! (Whoever interferes, I’ll break him).” As the attackers brandished blades and hurled stones, shopkeepers pulled down shutters and fled indoors.
Apart from the four accused, one more person, Billu Thakur, has been booked by the police, who joined the scuffle at the last moment. “Thakur allegedly is a history sheeter with several criminal cases against him. He has been sent notice too,” confirmed Ajay Joshi, senior police inspector, Mulund police station. Dhusiya told mid-day, “I still feel unwell. One of my friends had to get five to six stitches,” he said.
The victims sought treatment at Agarwal Hospital before approaching Mulund police. An FIR has been registered against the five accused for assault, rioting, and criminal intimidation under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). All five accused have been sent notices by the police.
