Rathi murder convict, out after 25 yrs on death row, held for smuggling opium

On August 26 in 1994, three persons armed with knives had entered the Rathi family house in Kothrud, Pune, and brutally killed six members of complainant Sanjay Rathi’s family including his mother, his pregnant wife. his two sisters, his three-year-old son, 18-month old nephew, and the maid. A probe had revealed that all of them were all killed one by one by “inflicting numerous knife blows”.

Chaudhary and two others, Rajusingh Rajpurohit and Jitu Nayansingh Gehlot, were charged for dacoity and murder in the case, as Rajpurohit turned approver. The trial court in Pune in 1998 awarded them the death penalty, which was upheld by HC in 1999, and Supreme Court in 2000. Gehlot’s mercy petition was rejected, he is still on death row at Yerawada Central Jail.

Five years ago with the help of advocacy group Project 39A, Chaudhary had moved SC which ruled that he ‘be set free forthwith’ as he was a juvenile in 1998.

A team from Wakad police station on September 2, intercepted a suspect near Pune-Mumbai highway. Upon search, police recovered 898 gm opium worth Rs 3.6 lakh from the suspect. He was arrested and identified as Narayan Chetanram Chaudhary (41) from Bikaner district, Rajasthan.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Kakasaheb Dole said, “Our probe suggests that after his release, he came in contact with Sugnaram, at whose behest Chaudhary smuggled the contraband to Pune. Narayan has been remanded to police custody till September 6.”