The death of T-Series owner Gulshan Kumar is still one of the biggest tragedies in the history of Indian cinema. On 12 August 1997, he was shot dead in broad daylight outside the Jiteshwar Mahadev Temple in Mumbai. Later underworld’s Abdul Rauf alias Dawood Merchant was convicted for his murder in 2002. Mumbai’s top police officer Rakesh Maria was involved in the investigation months before Gulshan’s murder. Rakesh Maria has talked about Gulshan Kumar’s death in a recent interview. He told that he had received the tip months ago.

Rakesh Maria talked about Gulshan Kumar’s death in a podcast with Raj Shamani. He said- ,While working in the Crime Branch and investigating the Mumbai bomb blasts, I had created a good network of informers. So I think late at night on April 22, 1996, I got a call. There were no mobile phones then, so I got a call on the landline. The informer told me – Sir, Gulshan Kumar’s wicket is about to go.,

a conspiracy was hatched to murder

Rakesh Maria further said- ,The informer told that Abu Salem is plotting to murder Gulshan and as soon as he goes to Shiv temple as usual, he will be shot. It will be around 2-3 in the morning. I was not able to sleep. My wife saw me sitting after the call and she was used to seeing all this happening. He said- Why don’t you inform anyone? I said- Yes, I will.,

Called Mahesh Bhatt

Rakesh Maria said- around 6 in the morning:30-7 I called Mahesh Bhatt who had directed many romantic films for Gulshan Kumar’s T-Series. I told him- You tell him not to come out of his house, if he is going to Shiva temple. I am talking to the crime branch and sending some protection for him.

Also read: Charu Asopa, upset due to being a single mother, said – I wish there was some support