Chhota Rajan Gets Lifer For Dey Murder

Mumbai: A Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment to mafia don Rajendra S. Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan and eight others found guilty in the sensational June 2011 killing of journalist J. Dey.

The verdict was pronounced by Special MCOCA Court Judge Sameer Adkar, after several hours of arguments between Special Public Prosecutor Pradip Gharat and the defence lawyers on the quantum of punishment after nine of the accused were held guilty this morning.

The court acquitted two co-accused, including former journalist Jigna Vora and Joseph Paulson, who was charged with providing mobile SIM cards for executing the planned murder.

The court found mafia don Rajendra S. Nikhalje, alias Chhota Rajan, guilty of the sensational murder case of journalist J. Dey in June 2011.

Co-accused journalist Jigna Vora who was charged with conspiracy has, however, been acquitted by Special Judge Sameer Adkar, Special Public Prosecutor Pradip Gharat told IANS. There were a total of 11 accused in the case of whom eight, including some sharpshooters, were found guilty.

The verdict came almost seven years after the brutal daylight killing of Dey in a public place in suburban Mumbai.

-IANS