Pune Gangland: Sagar Sahani Murder Trial Set to Commence on June 21
By India Crime Correspondent
PUNE, 16 June 2011
The trial proceedings for the high-profile murder case of 22-year-old Sagar Sahani are scheduled to commence on June 21. Eleven individuals facing charges in connection with the case will stand trial before Special Court Judge S S Gadge.
Abduction, Ransom Payment, and Tragic Outcome
Sagar Sahani, the 22-year-old son of businessman Satinder Sahani from Yamunanagar in Nigdi, was abducted on August 14, 2005.
His lifeless body was discovered on the Mumbai-Vapi highway on August 26, ten days after his abduction.
His family had paid a ransom of Rs 15 lakh through hawala channels in Mumbai, with negotiations involving Dubai-based gangster bid Ali.
Concealing Witness Identity Under Organised Crime Act
Due to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) being applied to this case and the consequent concealment of witness identities, a conventional trial program, which involves submitting a list of witnesses, will not be followed.
Special Public Prosecutor Vikas Shah revealed this, adding that the trial of the twelfth suspect, bid Ali, will be conducted separately as he is currently incarcerated in a Hyderabad jail. Ali’s trial will proceed upon his transfer to Pune police custody.
Fugitive Hawala Operator Eluding Authorities
A non-bailable warrant has been issued for the arrest of Shamshuddin Mohammad Kunni (36), an alleged hawala operator from Kerala, who has been evading authorities after being released on medical grounds on bail in 2007.
Efforts by Mumbai and Kerala police, as well as the Pune police crime branch, have failed to locate Kunni, who went missing after his release.
Complex Web of Suspects and Legal Developments
Fifteen individuals were initially arrested in connection with the case. One of them, Shantilal Modha, who had been released on bail, has since passed away.
A Red Corner notice has been issued for a sixteenth suspect, Vicky alias Aftab Alam Mohammad Ayub, believed to be residing in Sharjah.
The Mumbai and Kerala police have formed special investigation teams to locate Kunni and Ayub, respectively, with ongoing efforts to apprehend them. ………………………..
