Nagpur police are considering applying the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the Sheikh Sharif-Sheikh Mohsin gang, known as Baba Tiger. The gang is accused of conspiring to eliminate their rival, Mohd Akram, alias Bhuru, in a staged accident that occurred on August 11 on Wardha Road. This potential move underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the police’s intent to tackle organized crime in the region.
Because both Sharif and Baba Tiger have earlier been arrested under the organised crime law, senior police officers are examining the possibility of applying MCOCA provisions in the case.
Police sources said invoking MCOCA would allow them to build a stronger case by linking the latest conspiracy to the gang’s earlier organised activities. The Sonagaon police, who initially registered it as an accident case, filed an attempt-to-murder case after fresh evidence and statements a week later indicating a ‘supari plot’. Bhuru has also faced MCOCA proceedings in the past. All three are known as hardcore gangsters with long criminal histories. Their simmering rivalry has kept the police on high alert for several months. The law provides for extended detention and stricter provisions that are often used against habitual offenders involved in gang wars.
Further investigation is underway to identify all conspirators and gather evidence that can sustain MCOCA charges.