A special CBI court has acquitted gangster Chhota Rajan alongside four other accused in connection with the alleged 2009 attempt on the life of Shiv Sena leader Ajay Bhosale in Pune. The court cleared all five individuals of charges spanning attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, and provisions under the Arms Act, concluding a legal battle that stretched over fifteen years.
The individuals exonerated alongside Rajan include Pune-based builder Surendrakumar Agarwal, Vijay Tambat, Mohammad Khan, and Rajesh Yadav. A detailed order elaborating on the specific grounds for the acquittals has not yet been made public by the court.
Rajan Attended Proceedings via Video Link from Tihar Jail
Due to security precautions, the 70-year-old Rajan participated in the court proceedings through video conferencing from Tihar Jail in New Delhi, where he remains incarcerated. While Rajan had secured bail in this particular case last year, the acquittal will not result in his release from custody, as he continues to serve a life term handed down for the 2011 murder of journalist J Dey.
The Firing Incident of October 11, 2009
The origins of the prosecution trace back to October 11, 2009, when two alleged associates of Rajan opened fire on the vehicle carrying Ajay Bhosale in Pune. Bhosale managed to escape unharmed without any injuries, though his driver sustained bullet wounds in the attack.
According to the prosecution, the roots of the violent confrontation lay in a protracted property feud among three Pune residents: Surendrakumar Agarwal, R K Agarwal, and V K Agarwal. Investigators claimed that Surendrakumar had approached Vijay Tambat, who allegedly maintained connections with Rajan, in an attempt to resolve the dispute and secure his desired share in the disputed estate.
Allegations of Threats and Over 50 Phone Calls
State prosecutors contended that Rajan had personally issued telephonic threats to R K Agarwal, and further asserted that Bhosale received upwards of 50 phone calls from Rajan between March and May 2009.
Investigators argued that Bhosale became a target because Rajan suspected him of impeding a financial settlement between the conflicting parties. Before the actual shooting, alleged operatives of the gang had reportedly confronted R K Agarwal on May 1, 2009, at the Residency Club in Pune to force a resolution to the ongoing real estate disagreement.
Transfer of Investigation from Local Police to CID and CBI
The criminal complaint was originally registered at Pune's Bund Garden Police Station before authorities transferred the dossier to the Maharashtra CID for deeper inquiry. Following Rajan's deportation to India in 2015, the Central Bureau of Investigation assumed control of this case alongside approximately 70 other criminal proceedings pending against the underworld figure.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors characterized Rajan as the head of an organized crime syndicate, pointing to his prior convictions and extensive record across various offenses. In response, Rajan's defense counsel argued that the state failed to produce tangible, corroborative evidence proving an overarching conspiracy or linking him directly to the ambush on Bhosale. Finding the evidentiary threshold unmet, the special court cleared all five individuals.
