‘Page 3’ faces, they shunned ATMS and cellphones, travelled sleeper class

KADER KHAN, the prime accused in the Kolkata Park Street rape case who was arrested from Greater Noida Friday, is the youngest of seven brothers.

On February 5, 2012 a gang of men, including Kader, had allegedly raped Suzette Jordan at gunpoint. When she tried to get out of the car, which was autolocked, Kader had “beaten her up” and “shoved a gun” into her mouth, Jordan had said in an interview to The Indian Express before her death.

Kader was accused of encouraging others — including his brother Naser — to rape her. Jordan had said, “Even after he raped me, he beat me ... He kept asking his friends to rape me. He had the power. And that made him feel good about himself.”

Kader and the other co-accused were known as the “kings of brawls” in the nightclub where they were partying prior to the incident. A DJ said, “...They would regularly get banned from the nightclub and then find their way back in because of their contacts and money power.”

While the other accused — Ruman Khan, Sumit Bajaj and Naser — were arrested Kader, along with co-accused Ali Khan alias Johnny, had been absconding until their arrest Friday.

Kader, a known face in “Page 3” parties in Kolkata, had not used a cellphone for the last four years. “... He neither used a cellphone nor was directly in touch with his family. They used to communicate through a third party...,” said DC (south) Murlidhar Sharma.

Kader, who lived a lavish life, had reportedly been travelling in sleeper class on trains. “They lived a normal life but were never found at any public place,” said Sharma. Arrested from the paying guest accommodation of Kader’s nephew Faizal, police said neighbours even did not know the names of the two men. “They were introduced as Faizal’s mamus (uncles),” said an officer.

Asked who has been financing their expenses, an officer said: “They were not using ATMS... We are sure they were financed by family members through relatives... We are investigating these points.”