HC refuses bail to Chhota Rajan's wife in extortion case

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected the bail application of Sujata Nikalje, gangster Chhota Rajan's wife arrested under a tough law on charges of extortion and links with organised crime syndicate.

Sujata, known as `Nani', was arrested by Crime Branch on December 14 last year after a city builder filed a police complaint alleging the Rajan gang had threatened him for money.

The complainant stated that he delivered, on Rajan's instructions, Rs five lakh to Sujata at her residence in suburban Chembur sometime in 2004.

Sujata, alongwith Rajan's younger brother Prakash and some others, were booked in the case under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Her bail applications had been twice rejected by the MCOCA court.

In arguments before Justice S C Dharmadhikari last month, Sujata's counsel Shirish Gupte contended that she had no involvement in her fugitive husband's activities. "At best she could be a passive receiver of the money from complainant."

"There is nothing to suggest she knew that the money complainant was handing her over was in fact a ransom demanded by Rajan," he claimed.

However, Public Prosecutor Satish Borulkar had alleged Sujata was not only aware of her husband's criminal activities, but was involved in it.

He also contended Sujata was booked under MCOCA not only for accepting extortion money, but also for allegedly being a member of 'organised crime syndicate' and holding property of crime syndicate derived out of crime.