Gulshan murder convict held in Bangladesh,state tells HC

According to sources,Merchant was traced and captured in Bangladesh about 15 days ago. The court had last month sought a report from Crime Branch Chief Rakesh Maria regarding the whereabouts of Merchant. A senior officer from the Crime Branch had filed a report that they have approached the CBI to locate the convict and bring him back.

According to Deshmukh,the report said that Rauf was likely to be in Bangladesh because of which CBI’s help had been sought. The court was hearing an appeal against conviction filed by Merchant as well as the state’s appeal against acquittal of other 16 accused including film producer Ramesh Taurani in the case.

Rauf reportedly went missing after he was released on parole last year.

Gulshan Kumar was shot dead in August 1997,outside a temple in suburban Andheri. According to the prosecution,his rivals had paid gangster Abu Salem to eliminate him. However,the trial court only convicted Rauf and acquitted others.

In 2007,Nadeem of Nadeem-Shravan fame had moved court for quashing a warrant and a red corner notice against him.

The application was opposed stating that the plan to kill Kumar was hatched in Dubai following which Dubai-based don Abu Salem had allegedly supplied the arms and ammunition which was allegedly funded by Nadeem and Taurani.

Nadeem,who was in London during the incident,was named a prime conspirator in the murder case in August 1997 by the then Mumbai police commissioner following which the Ministry of External Affairs revoked his passport.