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Charges framed against 17
in Gulshan murder case

A sessions court on Monday framed charges against 17 accused in the Gulshan Kumar murder case.

One accused -- Pratap Singh Shaukin -- was discharged due to lack of evidence.

Shaukin was accused of helping the alleged killers of Gulshan Kumar -- Anil Sharma (now dead) and Mohammed Rauf Raja -- in their escape from Bombay. He allegedly drove them in his tempo from Mumbra to Nasik.

Except for the panchnama of the tempo's seizure and the statement of a police officer, there was no other evidence against Shaukin.

Additional Sessions Judge M L Tahilyani framed charges against 17 accused, including the chairman of TIPS Cassettes Industries Ramesh Taurani. The judge would record their statements on May 3 when they would get an opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty.

All 17 accused have been charged under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (murder) read with Section 120-B (conspiracy).

Gulshan Kumar was shot dead on August 12, 1997 outside a temple in suburban Andheri.

The prosecution has alleged that Ramesh Taurani and music composer Nadeem Akthar Saifi had paid a supari (contract money) of Rs 25 lakh for Gulshan Kumar's murder.

Nadeem is now based in London and the Maharashtra police has lost an extradition case against him.

PTI

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