Gangster Chhota Rajan acquitted in 21-year-old case

MUMBAI: With a key witness admitting that he was uncertain about the identity of the person who made calls about threats, a special CBI court this week acquitted gangster Chhota Rajan in a 21-year-old case where he is accused of ordering the violent closure of a construction site after a builder did not pay his dues to certain other businessman.

It was alleged that the builder's accountant escaped with injuries after the goons hired at Rajan's behest opened fire.

Judge AM Patil said, "In the present case in hand, it was the duty of the prosecution to establish how the present accused is connected with the other accused and when he entered into such conspiracy. But, they failed to prove the same. It can be said that the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of the accused."


Rajan (69) will continue to remain in jail as he is serving a life sentence for the 2011 murder of journalist J Dey. The 2004 case against Rajan and others was among the 71 cases that were transferred to CBI after he was deported from Bali in 2015. The injured victim Prakash More, was among the 23 witnesses cited by the prosecution. More revealed that in 2004, he was employed as an accountant at the premises of M/s Shelter Maker India Private Limited, an entity owned by Nandkumar Harchandani, situated at Manjarekar Wadi, Teli Galli, Andheri (East), where development activities were in progress.

He further submitted that on Sept 16, 2004, between 10.15am and 10.30am, while present on duty , a group of approximately six to seven individuals forcibly entered the office. Two members of this groupexclaimed in Hindi, "The boss told you to stop work, didn't he?"

He further deposed that upon his denial of any knowledge, one of the individuals discharged the firearm; however, he evaded the bullet. The remaining individuals present outside assaulted him. Thereafter, he contacted Harchandani and narrated the incident.