Bombay High Court to hear Pappu Kalani's appeal against conviction in February

The Bombay High Court has admitted an appeal filed by former Ulhasnagar MLA Suresh (Pappu) Kalani against his conviction by the Thane sessions Court in a 23-year-old murder case.

The division bench headed by Justice P V Hardas, which on Monday  admitted the appeal for final hearing, called for the records of proceedings of the trial court in six weeks.

The bench scheduled hearing for February 10 when it will also decide Kalani's bail plea.

Sixty-five-year-old Kalani and three others were found guilty by the court on November 29 and were awarded life imprisonment.

Ghanashyam Bhatija was murdered on February 27, 1990 near the Pinto Resorts in Ulhasnagar of Thane district. His brother Inder Bhatija, who had seen the murder, was also shot dead on April 27, 1990 despite having police protection.

According to police, both the murders were a fall-out of long-standing political and criminal enmities. The police chargesheeted Pappu Kalani, Bacchi Pandey (50), Baba Gabrial (52), Mohamad Asrat Sheikh (45), Narendra Ramsinghani and Richard.

While Bacchi, Baba and Mohamad were held guilty of murder under section 302 of IPC and conspiracy, Kalani was convicted only for conspiracy (section 120-B). Ramsinghani and Richard were acquitted for want of evidence.

Kalani was president of Ulhasnagar Municipal Council and Congress MLA at one time. Later, he floated his own party.