The Bombay High Court on Wednesday suspended the life sentence of gangster Chhota Rajan, who had been convicted for the 2001 murder of Mumbai hotelier Jaya Shetty. The court granted Rajan bail, providing temporary relief to the underworld figure, who was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year.
Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, was convicted on May 30, 2024, by a special court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), along with other co-accused, in connection with Shetty’s murder. The prosecution claimed Shetty was gunned down in 2001 due to a business rivalry, with Rajan allegedly orchestrating the hit.
The High Court’s decision to suspend Rajan’s life sentence came after his legal team argued that the conviction was based on circumstantial evidence and lacked sufficient grounds for a life sentence. His lawyers also highlighted his poor health, which may have influenced the court’s decision to grant bail.