SC Notice To Chhota Rajan On CBI Plea Challenging Suspension Of Life Sentence

The Supreme Court has recently taken cognizance of a petition submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which seeks to overturn the Bombay High Court’s ruling that suspended the life sentence of notorious underworld figure Chhota Rajan in the 2001 homicide of hotelier Jaya Shetty and granted him bail.

A judicial panel consisting of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta has formally issued a notice to Rajan, mandating his response within a four-week period.

“Issue notice, returnable within four weeks. In the meantime, counsel for the petitioner shall also clear the defects as pointed out by the Registry,” stated the judicial bench.

In May of the previous year, a special court adjudicated Rajan guilty of orchestrating Shetty’s assassination and imposed a life imprisonment sentence. Rajan, in response, filed an appeal before the Bombay High Court. Subsequently, on October 23, 2024, the High Court ruled in his favor by suspending the sentence and granting bail, a decision that the CBI has now escalated to the Supreme Court for review.

Jaya Shetty, proprietor of the Golden Crown hotel situated in Gamdevi, central Mumbai, was fatally shot on May 4, 2001, on the premises’ first floor by two operatives affiliated with Rajan’s criminal syndicate. Forensic investigations and testimonial evidence indicate that Shetty had been subjected to persistent extortion threats from Hemant Pujari, a close associate of Rajan.

His assassination was allegedly executed as a direct consequence of his failure to remit the demanded sum.

Chhota Rajan, who is presently serving a life sentence for his involvement in the targeted killing of esteemed crime journalist J. Dey, remains incarcerated within the high-security confines of Delhi’s Tihar Jail.