Mumbai – In a significant development, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday suspended the life sentence of notorious gangster Chhota Rajan in connection with the high-profile murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty and granted him bail. Rajan, who is currently incarcerated at Tihar Jail in Delhi, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court earlier this year for his role in the 2001 murder. The decision was made by a division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan, who directed Rajan to furnish a bond of Rs one lakh as a condition for his bail.
However, it is important to note that Rajan will remain in custody due to other pending criminal cases against him. Rajan’s appeal against his conviction was filed following his sentencing in May, where he sought interim relief by requesting the suspension of his sentence. The court's ruling comes as a pivotal moment in Rajan's long history of criminal activities. The case dates back to May 4, 2001, when Jaya Shetty, the owner of the Golden Crown hotel located in Gamdevi, Mumbai, was shot dead by two alleged members of Rajan's gang on the premises of the hotel.
Investigations revealed that Shetty had previously received extortion calls from Hemant Pujari, a known associate of the Chhota Rajan gang, and was murdered after failing to comply with their demands for payment. Chhota Rajan is also serving a life sentence for the murder of veteran crime reporter J Dey, further complicating his legal battles. The court's recent decision to suspend his life sentence in the Shetty case adds another layer to the ongoing saga of one of India's most infamous criminals. As Rajan navigates through the complexities of his remaining cases, the implications of this ruling will likely be closely monitored by both legal experts and the public alike.