Pravin' case committed to sessions court on July 24

MUMBAI: A local court has committed to Sessions court the trial of Pravin Mahajan for July 24, who is accused of killing his elder brother and former BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan,  as it does not have the power to try murder.

Earlier, a copy of the chargesheet filed by the police on July 14 under sections 302 (murder) and 449 (trespass in a house with an intention to kill someone) of the IPC, was handed over to Pravin before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate B L Waghmare when he expressed the court's inability to conduct the trial and, hence, committed the trial to the Sessions court.

Meanwhile, Pravin also moved the Sessions Court for bail on July 19. Additional session judge Abhay Thipsay had adjourned the hearing till July 29 with directions to police to file their reply and remain present in court during the next hearing.

While moving the bail plea, Pravin Mahajan had contended that since a chargesheet had already been filed against him on July 14 and the investigations completed, he should, therefore, be released on bail.

Pravin Mahajan has been languishing in jail and according to his plea, nothing remained for further investigation. It was his Constitutional right to be released on bail.

Pravin Mahajan is at present lodged in the high security egg-shaped cell in the Central Prison at Arthur Road. He was arrested after he surrendered before the Worli Police soon after allegedly shooting his brother Pramod Mahajan at his Worli residence a couple of months ago.