Mr Mayur Vira, elder son of deceased, said, "On several occasions my father feared for his life after he raised his voice against Khan’s illegal encroachment in Vakola.. Officers also recovered CCTV footage. "Almost 15 days earlier, my brother-in-law, who stays in Bangalore, paid a visit to him (Vira) and he felt that my father in law was very scared of Khan and wasn’t even allowing him to go out," said Ms Vira. Khan allegedly visited Vira frequently and threatened him in person. During the scuffle, Khan tried to stab Mr Vira and he sustained injuries. Vira, who had started a campaign against 150 illegal commercial galas that were directly and indirectly connected to Khan, feared that goons would kill his son. She also demanded the arrest of Khan’s other sons and son-in-law, claiming that they often used to threaten the senior citizen. An FIR in the case was filed by a relative of Vira on Sunday and the document mentioned the Khans.

Former Congress corporator Razzak Khan (68) and his son Amjad (45) have been arrested in connection with the murder of 70-year-old anti-encroachment activist Bhupendra Vira, who was shot dead at his residence in Kalina, Santa Cruz around 9. "The investigation is on, and we are establishing the role of the duo and their relatives in the crime," said Mr Wavale. According to Mr Vira, his father owned a steel factory and in October 2010, when they shut it, Khan, then a corporator, tried to encroach it and this China Mattress Fabric Manufacturer led to a scuffle between Khan and himself." According to Ms Sheila Vira, the daughter-in-law of deceased, Vira had filed an NC against Razzak a month ago for threatening him, but the police avoided giving him protection. Mahadeo Wavale, senior police inspector of the Vakola police station, confirming the arrests, said Khan and Amjad, a fabric businessman, were arrested from a hospital on Sunday, based on their alleged constant threats to Vira. Another officer said that the police is also investigating the contract killing angle in the case. Later, the crime branch handed them over to the police. According to the officer, four to five people are wanted in the case. Ms Vira further alleged that her father-in-law died to due to the negligence of BMC officers, as they delayed to act against the encroachment, even after Vira approached the Lokayukta.45 pm on Saturday.