Gangster Chhota Rajan gets 8 years in jail in BR Shetty case

File picture of gangster Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, also known as Chhota Rajan during his arrest from Bali island in November 2015. Photo: AFP

A Mumbai sessions court found gangster Chhota Rajan guilty in BR Shetty attempt-to-murder today. Chhota Rajan and the other five accused have been sentenced to eight years' rigorous imprisonment for shooting at BR Shetty in 2012. Prior to this, in 2018, Chhota Rajan was convicted in the murder case of journalist J Dey.

Background of the BR Shetty case

Hotelier BR Shetty was shot at in Andheri in October 2012. Two people on a motorbike fired four rounds at BR Shetty and fled from the spot. BR Shetty received bullet injuries on his shoulder but somehow managed to walk to the nearest police station and was taken to a hospital from there.

In January 2013, the Mumbai police filed a 1,332-page chargesheet. As per the chargesheet, the firing was ordered by gangster Chhota Rajan as he wanted to settle scores with Shetty for being close to Rajan's rival and cop Pradeep Sharma.

Also Read: Fugitive gangster Ejaj Lakdawala's cousin arrested in Mumbai

According to the chargesheet, as per the instructions of Chhota Rajan, his aide Satish Thankappan alias Kalia gave out the orders to shoot Shetty. Kalia was already behind bars at the time in the case of mid-day journalist J Dey's murder.

Along with Chhota Rajan and Satish alias Kalia, Salvan Chellapan, Deepak Upadhyaya, Nityanand Naik and Talvinder Singh alias Sonu are the other accused in the case. Chhota Rajan was arrested from Bali in 2015 and brought back to India and since then, he has been placed in Tihar Jail. Chhota Rajan was sentenced for life in the J Dey murder case last year.

Also Read: Former CBI Director Anil Sinha says, Satisfied with Chhota Rajan conviction

In the BR Shetty case, Special court judge A T Wankhede convicted the six under various sections of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates