October 23, 2024: In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has granted bail to notorious gangster Chhota Rajan by suspending his life sentence in the high-profile 2001 murder case of hotelier Jaya Shetty. The court’s decision, rendered by Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan, allows Rajan's life sentence to be suspended pending the outcome of his appeal.

Despite this development, Rajan, currently incarcerated at Tihar jail in Delhi, will remain behind bars as he continues to serve a life sentence for the murder of journalist J Dey. The court has instructed Rajan to provide a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, along with sureties of the same amount.

Rajan was convicted by a special CBI court in Mumbai on May 30, 2023, alongside three accomplices in connection with the murder of Shetty, the owner of the 'Golden Crown' hotel in South Mumbai. Shetty was shot dead on May 4, 2001, allegedly for refusing to pay a ransom. At the time of his murder, he had been provided police protection, which had been withdrawn just two months prior.

The case is marked by its violent history, with key suspect Ajay Suresh Mohite apprehended at the murder scene, only to be killed in a police encounter while on parole after his conviction. Co-accused Kundansingh Rawat was also captured but died before the trial concluded.

During the court proceedings, Rajan’s senior advocate, Sudeep Pasbola, argued that the evidence against Rajan was insufficient for a conviction, stating, "There was no material available on the basis of which the accused could have been convicted." In contrast, Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat opposed the bail plea, referencing Shetty’s prior reports of threats and extortion calls from Rajan, underscoring the seriousness of the case.

While Rajan's bail in the Shetty case marks a notable shift in his legal battles, the ongoing life sentence for the murder of J Dey continues to complicate his prospects for immediate release.