Gulshan Kumar murder case: HC seeks CBI report on convict in 4 weeks

“The report also said Rauf was likely to be in Bangladesh. Owing to this,the CBI’s help has been sought by the Crime Branch,” said Additional Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh.

The Division Bench of Justice P B Majmudar and Justice Rajesh Ketkar on Tuesday sought a report from the CBI and Crime Branch and asked to file it within four weeks.

The court was hearing an appeal against the conviction filed by Merchant as well as the state’s appeal against acquittal of other 16 accused including film producer Ramesh Taurani.

The court sought to know Merchant’s whereabouts after his counsel told the court that he is absconding. Rauf reportedly went missing after he was released on parole last year.

Gulshan Kumar was shot dead in August 1997,outside a temple in suburban Andheri. According to the prosecution,his rivals had paid money to gangster Abu Salem to kill him. However,the trial court only convicted Rauf and acquitted others.

In 2007,Nadeem had moved the court for quashing warrant and red corner notices against him. The application was opposed stating that the plan to kill Kumar was hatched in Dubai following which Dubai-based don Abu Salem had allegedly supplied arms and ammunition allegedly funded by Nadeem and Taurani.

Nadeem,who was in London during the incident,was named a prime conspirator in the murder case.