Rajan seeks bail in 18 cases, says CBI didn’t file investigation report
1ST TIME SINCE DEPORTATION Gangster’s lawyers say speedy trial a right; agency says action taken
: More than two years after being deported to India, gangster Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan has approached a special court seeking bail in 18 cases, on the grounds that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not yet filed a report on the progress in their investigations.
Rajan was deported to India from Bali in November 2015. After his arrival, the Central government, with the consent of the state government, on November 21, 2015, issued a notification to transfer all 71 cases against him to CBI. Of these, 27 can be tried in the sessions court. The agency has so far commenced trial in seven cases, including murder of journalist J Dey and murder of fisherman John Pareira which dates back to 1983. Rajan has been given life imprisonment in the Dey murder case, while he has been acquitted in the Pareira case for want of evidence.
Rajan’s lawyers Tushar Khandare and Sudeep Pasbola said despite repeated orders of a special CBI court, the agency failed to file the reports. “Speedy trial is
MUMBAI
A fisherman, John Pareira, was killed over a dispute in business in February 1983. Rajan was arrested in connection with the case on March 3, 1983, but escaped the trial the fundamental right of an accused and because of inaction by CBI, the fundamental right of the accused is being violated,” reads one of the 18 bail applications filed by Rajan.
It is contended that ever since his deportation and arrest in various cases, his custody has been extended in these cases beyond On October 3, 2012, Shetty, who ran a chain of hotels in Mumbai and abroad, was shot at by two bike-borne men in Andheri. It was ordered by Rajan the stipulated period prescribed by the law.
Under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the prosecuting agency has to submit a charge sheet against the accused within 180 days, failing which the accused is entitled to bail. The defence contended that Rajan On February 13, 2010, five men fired at gangster Asif Dadhi in Bhendi Bazaar. Although Dadhi escaped with minor injuries, his friends, Shakeel Ibrahim Modak and Mohammad Irfan Qureshi, were killed. Two others were injured. Two henchmen of Rajan were later arrested. The police suspected the shootout was a fallout of a redevelopment project in Bhendi Bazaar was shown as wanted accused in several cases, but despite his arrest, the agency did not take any steps to update his arrest in the records or take further action.
The prosecution objected to the bail applications questioning its maintainability. The agency claimed action was being taken in the cases against him. 2013, when he was stepping out of a mall in Malad. According to police, the firing was ordered by Rajan over old rivalry. It was alleged that the order of execution was given to one Satish Kalia.
RAJAN WAS DEPORTED TO INDIA IN NOVEMBER 2015. THE CENTRE THEN TRANSFERRED ALL 71 CASES AGAINST HIM TO THE CBI