Supreme Court Overturns Bombay HC Bail for Chhota Rajan, Citing Abscondence and Prior Convictions
(By: Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
New Delhi, Sept 17, 2025 — The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the bail granted to underworld figure Chhota Rajan by the Bombay High Court in connection with the 2001 murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty. The decision was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, following arguments presented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Justice Mehta, while pronouncing the order, questioned the rationale behind suspending the sentence of a man convicted in four separate cases and who had remained absconding for 27 years. “Four convictions and 27 long years of abscondence—why suspension of sentence to such a man?” he remarked.
Counsel representing Rajan argued that the case lacked substantive evidence, pointing out that in 47 out of the 71 cases registered against him, the CBI had not found sufficient material to proceed.
In May 2024, a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court sentenced Rajan to life imprisonment for his role in the Jaya Shetty murder. He was found guilty under Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, and fined ₹1,00,000. Additionally, under Sections 3(1)(i), 3(2), and 3(4) of the MCOCA, he received multiple life sentences and a fine of ₹5,00,000. All four life sentences are to run concurrently, with the total financial penalty amounting to ₹16,00,000.
Rajan was acquitted under Sections 3, 25, and 27 of the Arms Act in the same case.
This marks Rajan’s second life sentence. He is already serving time for the 2011 murder of investigative journalist Jyotirmoy Dey. Arrested in Bali in 2015 and extradited to India, Rajan faces 71 criminal cases in Maharashtra, all of which have been transferred to the CBI for investigation.
