Suryarao’s discharge plea rejected

MUMBAI, APRIL 6: The trial in the sensational JJ Hospital shootout case of 1992 began today at the designated TADA court of special judge...

MUMBAI, APRIL 6: The trial in the sensational JJ Hospital shootout case of 1992 began today at the designated TADA court of special judge P K Chavre, with the judge rejecting the discharge application of one of the accused Jayant Suryarao.

Suryarao, who was president of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Council when the shootout took place, had along with one Janhur Ismail Jaki carried one of the gangsters injured in the shootout, Shrikant Rai, to the residence of another accused Nasir Jariwala. Suryarao used his official car to take gangsters Rai and Subhash Singh Thakur outside Mumbai’s limits to help them escape. Later, he also sent his driver back to JJ Hospital instructing him to tear the pages of the log book in which names of those who had entered the hospital premises had been recorded.

Shailesh Haldankar, a member of the Gawli gang, was killed by members of the Dawood Ibrahim gang in the shootout which took place on September 12, 1992. The main accused in the murder of Dawood’ brother-in-law IsmailParkar, Haldankar had been arrested by the police earlier in 1992 and was undergoing treatment at the JJ Hospital when the Dawood gang targetted him.

Between 1.30 and 2.30 am on September 12, accused Mehboobi Aziz Khan, who is now out on bail along with accused Mohammed Hussain alias Mohammadu (now absconding) visited JJ Hospital, located the whereabouts of Haldankar and assessed the strength of the police force and the cops’ positions.

At 3.40 am, Subhash Singh Thakur, Mohammed Ahmed Mansoori, Sunil Sawant (now dead), Prasad Khade, Jaiprakash alias Bacchi Singh, absconding accused Nasir Mohammed Faki, Nasir Ali Jariwala, Shrikant Rai alias Pradhan, Vijay, Brijesh Singh, Pappu Singh alias Babloo, Pappu Singh and Nirmal, armed with 9 mm pistols, .38 and .32 revolvers and AK-47 assault rifles barged into ward no 18 in the General Administrative building of the hospital where Haldankar was admitted and indiscriminately opened fire at him.

While Haldankar died on the spot, two police constables, namely,head constable P G Javsen and constable K B Bhanawat were also killed. Gangster Shrikant Rai was injured in the cross-firing by PSI K G Thakur and staff. Thakur, constable Nagare, a patient, a nurse and a visitor to the hospital were injured in the shootout.

The examination of more than 200 witnesses in the case will begin shortly as certain formalities are yet to be completed.

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Initially, there were 33 accused in the case, but with the death of some and the discharge of others, only 24 accused, including 14 absconding accused, will face trial now.

Dr Shivprasad Kamble, Dr Akenkumar Desai and independent MLA Pappu Kalani have been discharged from the case by Supreme Court. Mohammed Salim Kasamwala alias Salim Passport and Manish Lala, who were out on bail, were killed by rival gang members last year. Four accused who were absconding – Sunil Sawant, Shanti Patel, Ramesh Patel and Mohammed Salim Kasamali – have also been killed.

Those are out on bail include Janhur Ismail Jaki, Jayant Suryarao, MeharbanuAziz Khan, Anil Amarnath Sharma, Anil Nirbhay Sharma, and Jaiprakash alias Bacchisingh. Those in custody are Subhash Singh Thakur and Kishore Garikapatti, both convicted by a Delhi court in another case, Ahmed Mohammed Mansoori, also an accused in the March 1993 serial blasts case, and Prasad Khade, who was also convicted in another TADA case.

The absconding accused are Dawood Ibrahim, Rahim Mohammed Faki, Mohammed Hussain Hassanali, Nasir Mohammed Faki, Nasir Jariwala, Farooq Mohammed Yasin Mansoori, Ahmedali Antulay, Virendra Rai, Shrikant Rai, Vijay, Brijesh Singh, Pappusingh Babloo, Pappusingh, and Nirmal.

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Special public prosecutor Rohini Salian will appear for the state.