Supreme Court Overturns Bombay High Court Order, Grants Chhota Rajan Bail

Strategic Insights -

The Supreme Court has granted bail to gangster Chhota Rajan, who was convicted in the 2001 murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty, overturning a Bombay High Court order. The top court took into account Chhota Rajan's four other convictions and 27 years of absconding. Despite his counsel's argument that there was insufficient evidence, the bench ultimately decided to revoke Chhota Rajan's bail and cancel his suspension. This decision comes after a long trial spanning over two decades, during which multiple accused were acquitted or sentenced to life imprisonment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court granted bail to Chhota Rajan, overturning the Bombay High Court's order suspending his life sentence.
  • Chhota Rajan has been convicted in four other criminal cases and has been absconding for 27 years.
  • During the hearing, the counsel for Chhota Rajan argued that there was insufficient evidence against him, but admitted that he was guilty of murder in the current case.
  • Chhota Rajan was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015 for his role in the murder of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011.
  • He has also been found guilty in the murder of rival gangster Farid Tanasha, and in shootings targeting another hotelier B.R. Shetty and a bookie-turned-builder, Ajay Gosalia.
  • Of the 71 cases registered against him, Chhota Rajan has been convicted in 7 or 6 of them in Mumbai, while at least 7 more remain pending.

Statistics:

  • 4: The number of convictions Chhota Rajan has, including the current case.
  • 27 years: The amount of time Chhota Rajan has been absconding.
  • $16 lakh: The fine imposed on Chhota Rajan under the MCOCA Act.
  • 71: The total number of cases registered against Chhota Rajan.
  • 7 or 6: The number of convictions Chhota Rajan has in Mumbai.
  • 2 decades: The length of time the trial for the Shetty murder case has been ongoing.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times, "Supreme Court overturns Bombay High Court order, grants Chhota Rajan bail" (no date provided in source).
  • Indian Penal Code, Sections 302 and 120B.
  • Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Act.
  • Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times.