A Mumbai court on Thursday convicted gangster Chhota Rajan in the murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty in 2001 and awarded him a life sentence.
A Special judge for cases under the Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), AM Patil pronounced the verdict in the case today.
Jaya Shetty was a renowned hotelier in Mumbai who owned the Golden Crown Hotel at Gamdevi in central Mumbai.
Rajan had demanded extortion money from Shetty. On not receiving the same, Shetty was shot dead by two members of the Chota Rajan gang inside his hotel on May 4, 2001.
Chhota Rajan is currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail following his deportation to India. He was arrested in Indonesia in October 2015 and subsequently deported.
Last year Chhota Rajan made headlines after he approached the Bombay High Court against filmmaker Hansal Mehta and owners of Matchbox Shots LLP, who produced the web series ‘Scoop'. He had objected to his picture and voice being used by the filmmaker without his permission.
Who Is Chota Rajan?
Rajan's real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje and his became a part of organized crime world after initially committing petty crimes like selling black market movie tickets. Rajan's journey as a gangster began when he joined the Rajan Nair gang, led by the notorious 'Bada Rajan.' Chhota Rajan became the leader of Rajan's gang after Bada Rajan's death.
Rajan was also know for his close ties with Dawood. However, violent clashed emerged between the two gangs after 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and it was said that he broke ties with Dawood after that.
After absconding for several years, Chota Rajan was arrested in 2015.