Christopher Bhatti (1978–2001) was an aide and driver of fraudster and key accused in the 2003 scam Abdul Karim Telgi. Bhatti was murdered in 2001 by Telgi’s associates for grabbing money.
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Wiki/Biography
Christopher Chennappa Bhatti was born in 1978 (age 23 at the time of death). He was a resident of Khanapur, Karnataka. According to his father, he was the only educated member of his family.
Family
parents and siblings
His father’s name is Chennaya Bhatti and mother’s name is Saroja. According to Saroja, Chennaya Bhatti initially worked in a paper mill, and after retiring from the job, he worked as a part-time loader, leaving him the only earning member in the family after Christopher’s death. Among his four siblings, Chemaya is his elder brother, who is mentally unstable.
Wife
There is not much information about his marital status.
other relatives
His brother-in-law’s name is Arun Hurley.
Introduction to Telgi and alleged theft
In 2000, Christopher met Abdul Karim Telgi through his brother-in-law, Arun Hurley, who was Telgi’s neighbor. Telgi later offered him a job in his fake stamp paper manufacturing company in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, which he accepted. According to sources, Christopher also worked as Telgi’s driver. According to the report, Christopher later along with Suraj Butki embezzled about Rs 10 lakh. Rs 3 lakh missing from Telgi’s business; Some sources also claim that Bhatti earned around Rs. Looted Rs 1,80,000 from Telgi’s business and disguised it as a robbery before leaving the job. When Telgi learns that Christopher has taken his money, he convinces his associates to let Christopher come to Mumbai to resolve the matter.
murder and investigation
On 27 August 2001, Christopher visited Telgi with Arun Hurley near the Meenu Manor Building in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. Instead of solving the case, Telgi’s associates brutally tortured and killed Christopher, after which Telgi allegedly kept Christopher’s body in the trunk of his car and dumped it in Mahim Creek. Police found Christopher’s body in the creek the next day, but they could not identify him. After this, a case was registered at Shahu Nagar police station and Christopher’s clothes and photographs were kept for identification before disposing of the body. Nine months later, during the investigation of the 2003 stamp paper scam, Telgi’s associate Sajid exposed the details of Christopher’s murder. The case of Christopher’s murder was reopened and the Cuffe Parade police investigated it first. Later the case was transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch. API Dilip Kamat, who was later arrested for assisting Telgi in the scam, later took charge of Christopher’s murder case. On 27 October 2002, Telgi was arrested and charge sheet filed against him in connection with the case. Further investigation revealed that Christopher had been severely tortured, resulting in a broken leg and multiple cigarette burns. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) re-investigated Christopher’s murder along with the stamp paper scam case and found that the initial investigation into Christopher’s case was inadequate. Police Inspector Mahabole explained in an interview that when there was no evidence to prove that the body found in the creek was that of Christopher, he sought help from a forensic expert at the Kolkata Forensic Science Laboratory. Ultimately, the DNA from the blood on a bandage found on the body matched blood found in Telgi’s home and car. The bandage that was used to bind Christopher’s leg was the same one associated with Telgi’s work. This evidence confirmed that the body was indeed Christopher’s, and that he had been killed by Telgi and his associates. On 29 November 2007, the special CBI court convicted Telgi and four of his associates, Sajid Khan, Mohammed Ghaus Shigwe, Makdoom Hussain and Kaleem Bandenwaz under IPC section 304 Part II.
Facts/General Knowledge
- According to Christopher’s mother, he was quite famous among his neighbors for playing the tabla. According to some sources, he also played harmonica in church.
- According to Christopher’s parents, when he worked for Telgi, he used to send them money. Rs 2,000 every month for household expenses.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn