2 convicted for robbery bid at Raju Shrivastav’s house

Two accused, who had attempted to rob comedy artiste Raju Shrivastav’s Oshiwara house in 2006, were convicted by the Dindoshi sessions court, on Thursday.
The main accused, Zulfiqar Choudhary, has been sentenced to seven years in jail for armed robbery since he was carrying a gun, and Raja Syed, has been sentenced to a year in prison for ‘attempt to commit robbery’.

However, Rizwan, the mastermind in this conspiracy, is absconding. On May 30, 2007, while Raju was on an overseas tour, the three accused went to his residence at noon posing as dress designers. They also displayed some of the merchandise. Antara, and her mother received the trio. The mother went in to get some water.

When she returned, she was faced with two men armed with a country-made pistol and a knife. They tried to gag her. The third man was guarding the entrance. Antara identified the accused in court. She said that she ran to her bedroom when she heard her mother scream, bolted her bedroom door and cried for help.

The watch man testified that he heard her cries and rushed. Two accused were caught by the watchman with the help of other residents, two beat marshals and patrolling constables. However, Rizwan escaped.
 cooperd@dnaindia.net