New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled the bail and suspension of sentence granted to gangster Chhota Rajan in the 2001 murder case of Mumbai hotelier Jaya Shetty. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that Rajan had absconded for nearly 27 years and is already convicted in four cases, making the Bombay High Court’s earlier decision unsustainable.
The apex court’s order came on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had challenged the Bombay High Court’s October 23, 2024 order that had suspended Rajan’s life sentence and granted him bail.
Supreme Court Cancels Suspension of Sentence: CBI’s Argument
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju, representing the CBI, strongly opposed the relief earlier given to Rajan. He submitted that Rajan was convicted in the Jaya Shetty murder case and that the high court had erred in suspending his life sentence. The bench remarked, “Why suspension of sentence to such a man?” while emphasizing Rajan’s long record of absconding and criminal convictions.
Supreme Court Cancels Suspension of Sentence Amid Defence Argument
Rajan’s counsel argued that the case lacked evidence, pointing out that out of 71 cases registered against him, 47 were closed by the CBI due to lack of material. He also contended that Rajan had been acquitted in several cases and insisted that the Shetty murder case had no concrete proof against him. However, the bench dismissed this argument, noting that Rajan is already serving a life sentence in another case.
Background of the Jaya Shetty Murder Case
Hotelier Jaya Shetty, the owner of Golden Crown hotel in central Mumbai’s Gamdevi area, was shot dead on May 4, 2001, by two alleged members of Rajan’s gang. In May 2024, a special court convicted Rajan in this case and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The gangster had later appealed before the Bombay High Court, seeking suspension of his sentence and bail.
Rajan’s Criminal Record and Ongoing Sentences
Chhota Rajan, once a close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, has a long history of criminal cases. He is already serving a life sentence for the 2011 murder of veteran crime journalist J Dey. Despite being acquitted in some cases, Rajan remains convicted in multiple serious offences, and the Supreme Court’s ruling ensures that he remains in custody.
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