Chhota Rajan Found Guilty in Jaya Shetty Murder Case: Mumbai Court Delivers Verdict
Mumbai, 30th May 2024: In a significant development, a special court in Mumbai has delivered a verdict in the case of the 2001 murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty, finding gangster Chhota Rajan guilty. Special Judge AM Patil, presiding over cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), convicted Rajan under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder. The court is expected to determine the sentencing later today.
The tragic incident involving the murder of Jaya Shetty occurred on May 4, 2001, at the Golden Crown Hotel in Gamdevi, central Mumbai. Shetty, who had been receiving extortion threats from the Chhota Rajan gang, was shot by two alleged members of the gang on the hotel’s first floor. Despite seeking police protection and reporting the threats, Shetty had opted to withdraw his security detail two months prior to the attack.
Chhota Rajan, currently in detention, has been housed in Tihar’s Jail no. 2, a high-security facility, since his extradition to India in 2015. Rajan, formerly known as Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje, rose from humble beginnings in the streets of Mumbai to prominence in the world of organized crime. Initially involved in petty offenses such as selling black market movie tickets, Rajan eventually joined the gang of Rajan Nair, also known as ‘Bada Rajan.’
Following Nair’s demise, Rajan assumed leadership of the gang, becoming a formidable figure in the underworld. His relationship with Dawood Ibrahim soured after the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, leading to violent clashes between their factions spanning Mumbai, Dubai, and Nepal.
After evading law enforcement agencies for years, Rajan’s capture in 2015 was a result of a fortuitous WhatsApp call that inadvertently revealed his location. His extradition to India marked a significant achievement for law enforcement, bringing an end to his fugitive status and signaling a major breakthrough in the fight against organized crime.
