Mumbai: The murder case of Matka king Suresh
Bhagat has taken a new turn with one of the accused moving the
Bombay High Court saying the sessions court here had no
jurisdiction to try him as the crime was committed in nearby
Raigad district.
Harish Mandvikar, facing charges of taking contract money
of Rs three lakh to murder Bhagat from the victim`s wife Hema
and son Hitesh, filed a petition saying Alibaug sessions court
(and not Bombay Sessions court) had the jurisdiction to try
him.
In June 2008, seven persons, including Bhagat, were
killed after a truck rammed into their Mahindra Scorpio on a
deserted spot near Shahabaj village of Raigad district.
As Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act was applied
in this case, the matter was being tried by a special MCOCA
court in Mumbai. Later, MCOCA was dropped and the case was
transferred to a Sessions Court in Mumbai.
The petitioner`s lawyer Sayaji Nangre said the special
court had erred in transferring the case to Sessions Court in
Mumbai.
It should have transferred the case to Alibaug sessions
court as the matka king was murdered in Raigad district, he
said. Lawyer Sayaji Nangre said the petition had raised an
important question of law for the consideration of the High
Court and prayed for transfer of case from Bombay Sessions
Court to Alibaug Sessions Court.
Government pleader made a statement in the High Court
today saying the state was planning to file an appeal in the
Supreme Court against the order of the special court dropping
provisions of MCOCA in this case.
The state would also challenge the High Court order
confirming dropping of MCOCA charges, he said.
Justice B R Gavai adjourned the case for six weeks.
PTI
