The Supreme Court has issued a notice to notorious gangster Chhota Rajan, responding to a plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that contests a Bombay High Court decision to suspend Rajan’s life sentence. The contested ruling pertains to the 2001 murder case of hotelier Jaya Shetty, for which Rajan was previously granted bail.
The notice was issued by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta, who have demanded Rajan’s response within four weeks. During this period, the petitioner’s counsel has also been instructed to rectify any procedural defects identified by the Registry.
In May of the previous year, Rajan was convicted by a special court for the murder of Shetty and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. Following his conviction, Rajan appealed to the High Court, which, in an order dated October 23, 2024, suspended his sentence and released him on bail. This decision has been met with controversy, prompting the CBI to seek a reversal from the Supreme Court.
The murder of Jaya Shetty occurred on May 4, 2001, at the Golden Crown hotel, located in Gamdevi, central Mumbai. Shetty was fatally shot by two associates of Rajan on the first floor of his hotel. Investigations revealed that Shetty had been subjected to extortion demands from Hemant Pujari, a known affiliate of the Chhota Rajan gang, and his murder was allegedly the consequence of failing to meet these demands.
