Gangster Chhota Rajan's bail in 2001 murder case cancelled; SC questions suspension of sentence
Chhota Rajan allegedly killed the owner of Golden Crown Hotel in South Mumbai because he refused to pay a ransom amount.
The Supreme Court today allowed a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation challenging the order granting Chhota Rajan bail and suspending his sentence in the Jaya Shetty Murder Case.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that Rajan was absconding for over 27 years and was convicted in four cases. "Why suspension of sentence to such a man," the bench said today.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for CBI, told the Supreme Court bench that the high court had suspended the life sentence awarded to Rajan in the case.
Rajan's counsel argued it was a case of no evidence. It was submitted that out of the 71 cases, the CBI did not find any material against Rajan in 47 cases and the probe agency closed them. To this, the bench said the acquittals were due to the reason that witnesses did not come forward.
In July, Supreme Court had granted two weeks to Chhota Rajan for filing his response on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
In October 2024, a division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice PK Chavan had allowed 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 had said.
Case Title: CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, NEW DELHI vs. RAJENDRA SADASHIV NIKALJE @ CHHOTA RAJAN @ NANA SHETH @ SIR & ANR.
Hearing Date: September 17, 2025
Bench: Justices Nath and Mehta