CCI chief shoots self, is in critical condition

Hours after his anticipatory bail plea was heard by the sessions court, Cricket Club of India CEO Kamaljeet Rajpal shot himself in the head on Friday evening. He was rushed to Bombay Hospital, where he was battling for life.

In March, a woman member of the CCI complained to the police that Rajpal had sent her obscene emails.

Police said Rajpal, a resident of Venus Apartments, Cuffe Parade, went to his room and shot himself in the head with his licensed revolver at about 7pm.

Hearing the shot, family members rushed in to find Rajpal lying in a pool of blood. They rushed him to Bombay Hospital, where he was operated upon.

The bullet pierced Rajpal’s temple and exited from the other side. Hospital spokes-man Ashish Tiwari said his condition remained critical. 

Senior inspector Dhanraj Vanjari said police would record the statements of Rajpal’s family members.

Earlier in the day, Rajpal was present in the sessions court when his anticipatory bail plea was being heard. Judge CA Jadhav reserved his orders till Monday.

Rajpal’s advocate, Harshad Ponda, argued that the woman had filed the complaint two years after the alleged obscene email was sent to her in March 2007. This, he said, proved that her intention was mala fide. He said she continued to maintain cordial relations with Rajpal after receiving the email. “The lady continued to send Rajpal emails and had even invited him home for her birthday party in October 2007,” Ponda said.

Rajpal’s charge was that the woman had filed the complaint because he had not supported her in a case of disciplinary action by the club for allegedly misbehaving with other committee members.

But the woman’s lawyer, Robin Jaisinghani, argued that Rajpal had started making sexual advances and tried to get intimate with her after sending her the email. “When she refused to accept his obscene advances, Rajpal initiated a false disciplinary action against her,” he said.