Mumbai: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Tuesday acquitted Jayant Mule, the brother-in-law of Chhota Rajan, and Santosh Bhosale, an alleged member of the jailed gangster gang, in connection with the 2005 murder of the man businessman Sanjay Gupta. , in which Rajan is also accused. The special court acquitted the two men on the grounds that the evidence presented by the prosecution was not sufficient to prove the charges against them.

Gupta, a Navi Mumbai-based cable operator, was shot dead by suspected members of Rajan’s gang at his office in Nerul on March 21, 2005. According to the prosecution, the murder took place following a business rivalry between Gupta and Pradeep Madgaonkar, an assistant of Chhota Rajan, also known as Bandya Mama, who allegedly tried to take over the former’s business.

According to Gupta’s brother and wife, Madgaonkar was annoyed after the deceased formed a group of cable operators against Chhota Rajan and his aides. To gain supremacy in the region, Madgaonkar, Chhota Rajan and his organized crime syndicate got Gupta killed, they claimed.

However, the main witness, who was present in Gupta’s office at the time of the shooting, told the court that he was not aware of the death threats made against Gupta, adding that he did not see clearly the three accused who had entered the office. The court observed that the testimony of the main witness did not support the prosecution’s case.

Gupta’s brother, who was one of the witnesses, told the court that Mule came to Gupta’s office one day to inform him that Rajan was angry with him. He added that the matter was resolved between Rajan and Gupta over a phone call. However, the court found his evidence insufficient to prove the charges against Mule. The investigating officer who arrested Bhosale and Mule said the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) was not invoked against the duo.

The court observed that there was no medical evidence relating to the homicidal death of Gupta. “On the evidence on record, it appears that the prosecution has failed to connect this accused with the alleged incident beyond reasonable doubt,” observed Special Sessions Judge AM Patil .

While acquitting Bhosale, the judge said, “The prosecution examined four witnesses, but they did not support (the) prosecution’s case and, therefore, the accused is likely to be acquitted.” »

In 2021, the CBI had filed a closure report regarding the murder case. However, the special CBI court had refused to accept the closure report, observing that the fact that the witnesses had shown hostility towards other accused in a separate trial was not enough to close the case against the accused.

Mumbai Police had arrested Shripad Padalkar, also known as Nilesh; Baliram Vaidya, also known as Kolhya; and Rajesh Bhosale in connection with the murder. During the investigation, Santosh Bhosale, also known as Junun; Sandesh Kamble, also known as the Doctor; Mule Jayant Rajaram; Madgaonkar; Sunil Kadam; Bhagwant Singh Thakur, also known as Bharat Nepali; Kiran Dhokare, also known as Balu; Chhota Rajan and one Raju have been identified as wanted accused.