Police record statements of Mahajan's kin

Mumbai, Apr 27 (UNI) Mumbai police today recorded the statement of Mrs Rekha Mahajan, wife of senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan who is battling for life in Hindjua hospital here since Saturday when he was shot and greivously wounded, allegedly by his younger brother Pravin.

A team of police officers, including a woman assistant commissioner of Police (ACP) M P Mohite of Agripada zone and Worli area ACP Jai Prakash Jadhav, recorded her statement at the hospital this evening, police sources and witnesses said.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam was also sighted entering the hospital with the police team but he said he was not associated with the police work. '' I only went to see the BJP leader... I did not meet any body in the hospital... I was there only for a few minutes ,'' he told UNI on phone. However, witnesses said Mr Nikam spent at least 15 mintues in the hospital. The police team were still inside when he emerged at around 1815 hrs.

It is learnt that police also recorded the statements of Mr Mahajan's brother-in-law Gopinath Munde and his wife Pratibha. It, however, could not be ascertained if police recorded the statement of Rahul, the only son of the 56-year-old BJP leader.

Mrs Rekha Mahajan was home in the 15th floor apartment of Poorna building in Worli when Pravin allgedly fired four shots at his brother during heated exchange of arguments. It was she who was heard screaming '' marla marla''(killed killed) on seeing her profusely bleeding husband.

Reportedly, it was Mrs Pratibha, wife of Mr Munde, former Home Minister of Maharashtra, who first rushed upstairs to the Mahajans' apartment from her 13th floor flat in the same building. It was Mr Munde who, along with the help of other kin of Mr Mahajan who had arrived in the building, took him to Hinduja hospital after having alerted the hospital bigwigs on telephone.

Pravin, after the crime, hired a cab and gave himself to the police at nearby Worli police station. He also handed over his licensed .32 mm calibre Belgian Browning pistol to the police and reportedly confessed, saying he shot his brother because he treated him like '' dirt.'' UNI GVS-ST SA RA RK2059