February 25: Designated judge A P Bhangale today declared the absconding sessions judge J W Singh, underworld don Chhota Shakeel and co-accused Pydhonie as proclaimed offenders in a case of alleged extortion. The offenders have now been ordered to present themselves before the court on March 15. The court also ordered the attachment of Singh's movable property and of the building owned by his wife. The court has restrained the judge's family members from selling any movable property. Senior Police Inspector of the Sion police station has been appointed as the court receiver, and has the right to enter the house of the accused, make an inventory of the movable properties in the presence of two independent witnesses. The court receiver has been asked to submit a report to the court on or before March 15.Judge Bhangale issued the proclamation under section 20 (3)(a) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The proclamation order comes after the court was informed that efforts made by police to trace the suspended judge since December 22 had failed. The non-bailable warrants, issued against the judge on earlier occasions, were returned unexecuted on January 28.The building owned by the suspended judge's wife, situated at plot number 249, Road 11, Sion, is estimated to be worth Rs 90 lakh. However, the police told the court that they had no information on the properties of the other two accused in the case. Singh had allegedly asked Shakeel to recover his chit fund money (Rs 40 lakh) from a shopkeeper, Sardar Singh Abrol alias Dara, in return for judicial favours.Public prosecutor leading the case, Ujwal Nikam, described before the court Judge Bhangale had issued warrants against Singh, Shakeel and Pydhonie on December 22 last year. The warrant was extended on January 10 after the police failed to produce the accused before the court. The judge had earlier rejected Singh's plea through his lawyer to suspend the warrant. He was given another opportunity to appear on January 28.Police had registered an offence against the three under provisions of the MCOCA after they recorded telephonic conversations allegedly between Singh, Shakeel and advocate Liyakat Ali Shaikh, who was shot dead recently. In the conversation, Singh had requested Shakeel to recover his money.
