CBI takes over 2 more Chhota Rajan cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over two Mumbai police cases against incarcerated gangster Chhota Rajan that pertained to the February 2001 murder of a Mumbai 1993 serial blasts’ accused Hanif Kadawala and hotelier Jaya Shetty in May 2001 by his alleged associates.

Kadawala had been accused of handing over an AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt. The actor had, however, denied any knowledge of the blasts’ conspiracy and was acquitted from charges under TADA in the case. The actor was convicted under the Arms Act.

Kadawala was arrested on April 16, 1993 under TADA for being part of the conspiracy and transporting weapons from Gujarat to Mumbai but was released on bail five years later. The second case pertained to Shetty, who was the owner of Golden Crown Hotel in south Mumbai.

CBI spokesperson RK Gaur confirmed to The Asian Age that the agency had taken over the two cases on the state’s references, saying supplementary chargesheets could be filed if required after its probe. The Bandra police had registered the Kadawala case on February 7, 2001 while the Gamdevi police lodged the Shetty case on May four, 2001. The Mumbai police’s FIRs in both cases had named Rajan and his associate as accused for their suspected roles in the attacks.

The two cases, in which the police FIRs were re-registered by the CBI, are part of the 71-odd cases allegedly involving Rajan that were handed over to the CBI by the state after the gangster’s deportation from Bali, Indonesia on November 6 last year.

The Kadawala case was registered against Rajan and his associates under sections related to murder read with common intention under the IPC and offences related to the Arms Act.