Read Time: 03 minutes

Synopsis

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to underworld gangster Chhota Rajan and suspended his sentence in the Jaya Shetty Murder Case. 

A division bench of the high court comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice PK Chavan was hearing an appeal against the order of the Special Court convicting Rajan for the murder of Shetty and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

Jaya Shetty, the owner of the Golden Crown Hotel in South Mumbai, was allegedly killed because he refused to pay a ransom amount. After the shooting, the hotel staff managed to catch hold of one of the attackers.

The Special MCOCA Judge AM Patil had convicted Chhota Rajan of murder under Section 302 and criminal conspiracy under Section 120B of the IPC. The Sessions Court had also convicted co-accused Ajay Mohite, Pramod Dhonde, and Rahul Pansare in the case.

Rajan then moved the Bombay High Court challenging his conviction. Simultaneously, he filed an application seeking the suspension of his sentence. 

The division bench of the high court allowed the application and granted him bail, pending the hearing of his appeal before the court. 

“Execution of sentences allowed by the special court in MCOCA case stands suspended pending the appeal,” the bench said.

However, Rajan would remain in Tihar Jail in the other cases registered against him.