In a sensational development, a Mumbai court on Monday acquitted notorious gangster Chhota Rajan in the 2011 murder case of Arif Abubakar Sayyad, the driver and bodyguard of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, Iqbal Kaskar. Special Judge A.M. Patil, designated under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), ruled that there was insufficient evidence to convict Rajan.
Sayyad was gunned down on May 17, 2011, in south Mumbai by two unidentified men. The police had claimed the murder was orchestrated at the behest of Rajan and charged him with murder and conspiracy under the IPC, MCOCA, and Arms Act. However, the case collapsed in court due to weak evidence, leading to Rajan’s acquittal.
Rajan, currently serving a life sentence in Delhi’s Tihar Jail for the murder of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, appeared before the court virtually for the hearing. Despite this acquittal, Rajan will remain imprisoned due to his previous convictions and pending trials, including the high-profile double murder case of Chhote Miyan and Asif Dadhi.
The verdict has triggered mixed reactions — with some viewing it as justice prevailing, while others fear it might embolden the city’s underworld elements. Law enforcement agencies remain vigilant as Mumbai continues to grapple with the shadow of organized crime.
The court, in its order, stated, “He (Rajan) be released forthwith if he is not required in any crime or case.” However, given his multiple convictions and ongoing legal battles, Rajan’s release is improbable. All eyes are now on further developments in his pending criminal cases.
