The V.P. Road police in Bombay on August 6 arrested Abdul Kadar Ali Mohamed, an associate and neighbour of late drug smuggler Iqbal Mirchi, for allegedly demolishing the New Roshan Talkies in Girgaon (Bombay) and attempting to sell the plot of land for Rs. 15 crore despite the property being under the Enforcement Directorate’s attachment. The ED had lodged an FIR with the Bombay police on August 5.
Abdul Kadar was arrested for cheating, trespass, mischief and disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. He was produced before a court which sent him to police custody till August 8. Abdul had transferred the property to his name. Mirchi’s brother-in-law, Mukhtar Patka, was managing the cinema until it was shut down during the COVID-19 epidemic.
In September 2024, Abdul allegedly contacted Patka and told him that the property was in his name and that he wanted to raze the structure. Patka told the ED that he warned Abdul against it but to no avail.
The FIR stated that Abdul had known Mirchi since 1965. In 1982, a mutual friend, Mumtaz Pehelwan, suggested that they (Abdul and Iqbal Mirchi) jointly purchase the cinema. Following negotiations, they agreed to buy the property jointly for Rs. 6 lakh. Abdul claimed to have contributed Rs. 5.40 lakh.
The ED’s police complaint accuses Abdul of misusing the agreement to transfer the property solely to his name and failing to demonstrate that he had made the necessary payment for its purchase.