The Supreme Court on Wednesday revoked the bail granted to notorious gangster Chhota Rajan in the 2001 murder case of Mumbai hotelier Jaya Shetty, overturning a Bombay High Court order from October 23, 2024. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal, emphasizing Rajan’s criminal history and prolonged evasion of justice.

The court expressed dismay at the high court’s decision to suspend Rajan’s life sentence and grant him bail, noting, “Rajan remained absconding for 27 years and has been convicted in four cases. Why suspend the sentence for such a man?” Rajan, already serving a life term for the 2011 murder of veteran crime reporter J Dey, is a central figure in Mumbai’s underworld, linked to numerous criminal activities.

Rajan’s counsel argued the case lacked evidence, claiming that of 71 cases against him, 47 were closed by the CBI due to insufficient material. However, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the CBI, countered that the high court’s suspension of Rajan’s sentence was unjustified given the gravity of the crime. The bench sharply remarked, “Your name itself is big enough,” dismissing the defense’s claim of acquittals in other cases, which they attributed to witnesses’ reluctance to testify due to fear.

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The 2001 murder of Jaya Shetty, owner of the Golden Crown hotel in Gamdevi, central Mumbai, was a chilling act of gang violence. Shetty was gunned down on May 4, 2001, by two alleged members of Rajan’s gang, reportedly after failing to pay extortion money demanded by Hemant Pujari, a key associate. A special court convicted Rajan in May 2024, sentencing him to life imprisonment, prompting his appeal and bail plea, which the high court initially granted.

The Supreme Court’s decision to cancel Rajan’s bail reinforces the judiciary’s stance against leniency for high-profile criminals. Noting that Rajan remains in judicial custody for other convictions, the court directed the cancellation of his bail bond, ensuring he stays behind bars. This ruling brings renewed hope to victims’ families and underscores the CBI’s persistent efforts to secure justice in one of Mumbai’s most notorious criminal cases, highlighting the challenges of prosecuting underworld figures in India’s complex legal landscape.

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