Mumbai: A Nagpada builder, who was recently questioned by the Thane Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Cell in the Iqbal Kaskar extortion case, died on Tuesday night. The family said that the 59-year-old builder had no serious illness and his death has come as a shock to them.
Farid Mohammed Ali Welder, a builder and partner with Excellent Realtors that is constructing the 45 – storey Ozone Residential Tower in Mumbai Central area, died due to a heart attack.
Welder was a well-known builder in D-gang’s stronghold, Nagpada area, and was associated with several projects.
“My father did not suffer from any serious illness. He had diabetes and blood pressure but that was never a serious issue,” said Farquan Farid, Welder’s son.
Farquan, who studied aeronautical engineering, says he has decided that he will not join his father’s business.
“I don’t know whether he was questioned by the Thane crime branch in any case. He never spoke to us about his professional life,” said Farquan.
However, several officials from police department told Mumbai Mirror that Welder was under their scanner as he had received Rs 10 lakh from Kaskar. Welder on his part is said to have told the cops that the money was the booking amount Kaskar had paid him for a property in his project.
Kaskar is presently in the custody of ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma’s Anti Extortion Cell and he was questioned by the Thane Crime Branch in that matter.
“We have been questioning several people associated with Iqbal Kaskar and want to go to the root of the network,” Pradeep Sharma told to newspaper Mumbai Mirror.
After Welder suffered a heart attack he was rushed to the nearby Prince Aly Khan Hospital, Mazgaon, where he was declared dead on arrival. He has two sons and one daughter and the family stays in K D Tower in Nagpada area.
