Steps taken to extradite Gulshan Kumar killer, govt tells Bombay HC

Steps have been taken to initiate extradition proceedings against Abdul Rauf Merchant alias Rauf Raja, the killer of audio King Gulshan Kumar, to bring him to India from Bangladesh where he is lodged in jail, Maharashtra government informed the Bombay high court today. 

Merchant, who jumped parole last year, was arrested in Bangladesh by Interpol following which CBI took steps to commence proceedings to bring him back here, government
pleader Jayesh Yagnik told the court.

"Mumbai police has already sent papers to the Centre and extradition proceedings to bring Merchant to India have been
initiated by CBI," said Yagnik.

Justices Ajay Khanvilkar and UD Salvi asked CBI to file report within eight weeks.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by Merchant against his conviction and also an application by Maharashtra government against the acquittal of 16 accused, including filmmaker Ramesh Taurani, due to lack of evidence. 

Kumar was shot dead outside a temple in suburban Juhu in August 1997. According to police, his rivals had paid money to
gangster Abu Salem to eliminate him.

However, the trial court convicted only Merchant and acquitted the others. Music director Nadeem was declared as an absconding accused. He was in London when Kumar was killed.

Police alleged that Nadeem paid the contract money to Salem. The Indian Government lost the extradition case against London-based Nadeem, who did not face trial here.