Pravin Mahajan case committed to Sessions Court

Mumbai, Jul 23: A local court has committed to a Sessions court the trial of Pravin Mahajan for tomorrow, who is accused of killing his elder brother and former BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan, as it does not have the power to try murder.

Earlier, a copy of the chargesheet filed by the police on July 14 under sections 302 (murder) and 449 (trespass in a house with an intention to kill someone) of the IPC, was handed over to Pravin before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate B L Waghmare when he expressed the court's inability to conduct the trial and, hence, committed the trial to a Sessions court.

Meanwhile, Pravin also moved a Sessions Court for bail on July 19. Additional session judge Abhay Thipsay had adjourned the hearing till July 29 with directions to police to file their reply and remain present in court during the next hearing.

While moving the bail plea, Pravin Mahajan had contended that since a chargesheet had already been filed against him on July 14 and the investigations completed, he should, therefore, be released on bail.

Pravin Mahajan has been languishing in jail and according to his plea, nothing remained for further investigation. It was his Constitutional right to be released on bail.

Pravin Mahajan is at present lodged in the high security ''anda (egg-shaped) cell'' in the Central Prison at Arthur Road. He was arrested after he surrendered before the Worli Police soon after allegedly shooting his brother Pramod Mahajan at his Worli residence a couple of months ago.

UNI