Noorjehan Begum was burnt to death by her husband Usman Sheikh and his two sisters Hashmi Begum and Nasrin Begum on April 28, 1996. Usman's mother was acquitted after she was given the benefit of doubt.

Special Public Prosecutor Dinanath Joshi informed the court that Noorjehan and Usman were married in 1992. Frequent quarrel broke out between Noorjehan and her in-laws after she failed to conceive. She, however, asked Usman to marry again provided she was allowed to stay with him.

At 5.30 pm on April 28, 1996, the young housewife was gagged and strangled and she was set on fire. Noorjehan suffered 100 per cent burns and succumbed in the hospital following which Usman, his sisters and mother were arrested under sections 302, 304 readwith 34 of the IPC.

Bail denied to MHADA manager

Additional Principal JudgeA J Dholakia on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail application of an estate manager of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) who along with his colleagues were accused of cheating MHADA of Rs 40 lakh.

Madhukar V Bhagwat had moved the sessions court following the arrest of his colleagues Narayan Kelkar, senior auditor, and Chandraban Patil, joint chief officer in April this year.

Chief Public Prosecutor D G Paranjpe informed the court that Economics Offences Wing of the Crime Branch had arrested Kelkar and Patil after Madhu Chavan, chairman of Mumbai Buildings Repair and Reconstruction Board, informed the police about the duo's role in a fraud. Investigations revealed that Bhagwat, Kelkar and Patil received Rs 1.83 lakh from one Abdul Kader Mohammed Esaaq for overlooking forged signatures and approving false affidavits he produced stating that two persons have relinquished their tenancy rights in favour of Kader. The total value of tenements in Dadar fraudulently allotted toKader was Rs 40 lakh. Kader, meanwhile, is missing.

Murder of 2 cop: Accused acquitted

Additional Sessions Judge M L Tahiliyani on Monday acquitted five persons charged with the murder of two police constables three years ago after most of the witnesses turned hostile and the prosecution failed to link the circumstances to the murders.

The bodies of police constables Chandrakant Murlidhar Vyal and Ankush Omase were found dumped at Gorai creek in March 4, 1996. On March 3, the duo had raided illicit liqour dens at Gorai village and warned the dealers at the spot Traven, Wilson and Colen Gudinho (all brothers) to stop brewing the drink.

The cops allegedly demanded Rs 30 lakh from the Gudinhos and while they were haggling over the bribe, three accused Govind Choudhury, Lala Choudhury and Kanhaiyya Bhaiyya fatally attacked the constables with sickles and stones after throwing chilly powder into their eyes. The bodies were later dumped at the creek.

Since the case was based on circumstantialevidence and the police could not link the murders to the circumstances, the sessions judge acquitted the accused.