Latest news with #Rajan
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
CBI court refuses bail to gangster Chhota Rajan in 2005 arms seizure case
MUMBAI: A special court designated under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of gangster Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, alias Chhota Rajan, in connection with a 2005 case involving a major arms seizure at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). The court, in its order dated May 28, noted that the trial was nearing completion and the case was of a serious nature. 'All important witnesses have been examined, and the trial is likely to conclude within a few months,' said special judge A M Patil while denying the bail plea. The case dates back to May 21, 2005, when Mumbai police recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition concealed in drums filled with grease at a logistics facility near JNPT. The raid was triggered by the arrest of one Mukund Patel, who was found in possession of a loaded revolver at a bar near Kandivali West railway station. During interrogation, Patel allegedly disclosed that Rajan's aide, Bharat Nepali, had facilitated the smuggling of weapons into the city. Acting on this information, the Mumbai Crime Branch conducted a search at Trans India Logistic Park, recovering nine packets containing 34 revolvers, three pistols, one silencer, and 1,283 live cartridges. Following the seizure, police invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), citing the involvement of an organised crime syndicate. The CBI took over the investigation in 2015, after Rajan was extradited to India. In his bail application, Rajan contended that there was no direct evidence linking him to the arms haul and claimed he had been falsely implicated. His counsel argued that he has been in judicial custody since October 2015, and the delay in concluding the trial infringed on his constitutional right to a speedy trial. The defence also questioned the admissibility of call records purportedly linking Rajan to the other accused, arguing that the sanction to invoke MCOCA was vague and procedurally flawed. However, the prosecution strongly opposed the plea. The special public prosecutor maintained that the charge sheet contained sufficient evidence tying Rajan to the smuggling operation. It was also submitted that a police officer had identified Rajan's voice in an intercepted conversation and cautioned that given his history of absconding, he posed a flight risk if granted bail. Upholding the prosecution's arguments, the court ruled that Rajan's continued detention was justified and that the cited legal precedents in the defence's argument were not applicable at the current stage of the trial.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Four dead as rain continues to batter Kerala
Four people died in rainfall-related incidents in Kerala as the Southwest monsoon rainfall continued to batter the State on Friday, causing extensive damage to property and prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to scale up alert levels over the course of the day. The deceased included a 52-year-old fisher in Thiruvananthapuram whose body was recovered on Friday, two men aged 36 and 37 in Kottayam who died after their boat capsized, and a 39-year-old man who drowned in the Madhuvahini river in Kasaragod. Efforts were also on to trace several people who were reported missing, including nine fishers who had gone out to sea in two fishing boats in Thiruvananthapuram district. By Friday afternoon, the IMD had put eight Kerala districts on red alert for extremely heavy rainfall, while the remaining districts were on orange alert for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. IMD forecasts indicate that the intensity of rainfall is likely to weaken over the weekend and through the coming week. All districts are on yellow alert on Saturday for isolated heavy rainfall as per a 4 p.m. weather update. Revenue Minister K. Rajan, speaking to the media in Thrissur, urged the people to remain alert in the days ahead. So far, 1894 people are currently accommodated in 66 relief camps across the State, Mr. Rajan said. The IMD said strong Westerlies were likely to continue over Kerala and Lakshadweep region during the next two days. Fishers have been warned not to set out to sea till June 1 as squally weather prevails over the Kerala coast. The southwest monsoon had set in over Kerala on May 24 this year. Kerala has recorded 111% excess rainfall during the period from March 1 to May 30, which is a 'large excess' in IMD parlance. Meanwhile, the deep depression over Bangladesh and West Bengal has weakened into a depression. It is expected to weaken into a well-marked low pressure area by the early hours of Saturday. (With Inputs from District Bureaus)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Court denies bail to gangster Chhota Rajan in 20-year old arms haul case
IN A 20-year-old case of alleged concealment of arms among drums of grease at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), a special court rejected the bail plea of gangster Chhota Rajan, calling it a 'serious offence'. Rajan was deported to India in 2005 and is currently lodged in Tihar jail in New Delhi. Rajan sought bail in the case stating that he has spent 10 years in jail as an undertrial and the trial is yet to conclude. After his deportation, all the cases pending against him were transferred for a probe to the CBI and a special court has been designated for trial in these cases. This particular case dates back to May 21, 2005, when one Mukund Patel was arrested for possessing a loaded revolver near Kandivali railway station. His interrogation revealed that Bharat Nepali, a henchman of gangster Chhota Rajan, has imported a huge quantity of firearms and ammunition concealed in one drum, hidden among 27 drums of grease. He also led the police to the drum kept at a logistic park in the JNPT area. The container had 34 revolvers, three pistols, one silencer and 1,283 live cartridges concealed. Police invoked sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. Rajan was named as an absconding accused in the case as the leader of an organised crime syndicate, called the Chhota Rajan gang. Rajan sought bail stating that there is no evidence against him and he has been in judicial custody since 2015. Special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat submitted that there is evidence, including an intercepted conversation, and that the case is nearing conclusion. The court said that Rajan has been punished for offences ranging from life imprisonment to two years. Rajan was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for the murder of journalist J Dey in 2011. 'The present matter is of a serious nature. Prosecution has already examined a total 45 witnesses…all the important witnesses have been examined by the prosecution. Now, there may be few witnesses who remain to be examined…and thereby, the trial may be completed within a few months,' special judge A M Patil said in the order passed on May 28.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Arms haul case: Court refuses bail to gangster Chhota Rajan, says offences serious
A special court here has refused bail to gangster Chhota Rajan in a 2005 arms case noting that the offence is of a serious nature. Special judge A M Patil, in his order of May 28, also refused to accept Rajan's argument of delay in trial. "The present matter is of serious nature. Prosecution has already examined a total of 45 witnesses and as per the prosecution, the trial is likely to be completed soon," the court said. Rajan is not entitled to bail in the present case, the court said. A huge cache of 34 revolvers, three pistols, one silencer and 1283 live cartridges meant for use by Rajan's henchmen as part of a crime syndicate was seized by police in 2005. The prosecution's claim is that the arms were imported by Rajan's close aide Bharat Nepali. Live Events Rajan was booked under various provisions of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Customs Act and Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). Rajan, in his bail plea, said he has been implicated in the case despite no evidence and that he has been in judicial custody since his arrest in 2015. Rajan, who is presently lodged at the Tihar jail in Delhi, also cited delay in the trial in the case. PTI Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘India can unlock big FDI gains, if…': Raghuram Rajan shares simple idea to attract foreign investment as firms exit China
India has a significant opportunity to attract foreign investment as multinational firms rethink their global supply chains, according to former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan . Speaking to CNBC-TV18 on May 28, Rajan emphasised that India needs to act quickly to capitalize on this moment. He stated that ensuring stable policies and reforms is crucial. 'It could be India's moment' Rajan, currently a Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, believes that "it could be India's moment," highlighting the potential for increased foreign direct investment ( FDI ) as global firms shift their operations. He advised against relying too heavily on subsidies, advocating for a consistent, long-term production framework. "If India can put out the red carpet and say, we will have a predictable tax and policy regime… it could result in a significant increase in foreign direct investment," Rajan said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tại sao ngày càng nhiều người cao tuổi chọn cấy ghép răng giá phải chăng? Cấy ghép răng | Quảng cáo tìm kiếm Tìm hiểu thêm Need for proactive reforms Rajan stressed the importance of proactive reforms and strong execution to establish India as a reliable destination for global investors. "India needs to be a lot more proactive than reactive," he noted. Bilateral deals may fill global trade gap While acknowledging the absence of a major international trade agreement as "unfortunate," Rajan suggested that bilateral agreements and regulatory transparency could help bridge this gap. Live Events Trump's message to Apple a negotiation move Rajan also commented on former US President Donald Trump's message to Apple, viewing it as a negotiation tactic. "I see Trump's message to Apple as a negotiation move. Not many CEOs would want to cross the Trump administration," he said. China's role in controlling inflation Regarding global inflation, Rajan pointed out that China's continued ability to keep the cost of goods low could play a role in controlling inflation levels. More flexibility for rate cuts outside US Finally, Rajan noted that countries outside the United States, including India, have more flexibility to lower interest rates or inject liquidity to stimulate economic growth. Growth not enough, private sector must step up Earlier this year, Rajan pointed out that demand from India's lower middle class is still weak due to limited job creation, even though consumption at the higher end has improved. He noted that this concern has persisted over time and continues to impact the broader economy. According to official estimates, India's GDP is expected to grow at 6.4% in FY25, marking the slowest pace in four years. Rajan said India appears to have moved past a phase of economic adjustment and is now growing at a stable rate around 6%. However, he cautioned that this level of growth is not enough for a country like India, which needs to take full advantage of its demographic dividend. He also stressed the need for greater private sector involvement instead of relying mainly on government spending.
