Loharia murder: Builder Bijlani surrenders

Suresh Bijlani, the key accused in the daylight killing of builder-developer Sunil Kumar Loharia, surrendered in  the Thane sessions court on Monday. The court rejected his anticipatory bail plea and sent him to custody.

Bijlani has been remanded in the custody of Navi Mumbai police for a day (Tuesday) when he will be presented in a Navi Mumbai court. He will then be sent to the custody of the Mumbai Crime branch.

Loharia, 50, was shot dead in Vashi by two motorcycle-borne men on February 16. On May 15, the Indore high court granted Bijlani 60 days’ transit anticipatory bail which was set aside by the Supreme Court on May 29. Since then, Bijlani had been absconding.

On Monday, Bijlani was to appear before judge KR Warrier in the Thane court. Around 3pm, judge Warrier sent Bijlani for a medical check-up to the Thane Civil Hospital.

Meanwhile, Loharia’s son, Sandeep alias Sunny, alleged on Monday that Bijlani’s claim that he has a cardiac problem is untrue. Bijlani had been admitted to hospital on the grounds that he had a cardiac problem.

“A person, who had been absconding for so many days cannot have any health issues that he has to be admitted to hospital as soon as he surrenders in court,” said Sandeep. “Bijlani is a criminal who has murdered my father and my family wants the death penalty for him.”