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Sector 37 property grab case: Another prosecution witness seeks protection citing threat to life
Rajiv Manektalla, an NRI and cousin of victim Rahul Mehta, is the third prosecution witness to seek protection in the Chandigarh Sector-37 property grab case
Another prosecution witness in the Sector-37 property grab case has sought protection, citing threat to life.
Rajiv Manektalla, an NRI and cousin of victim Rahul Mehta, is the third prosecution witness to seek protection.
In his plea, Rajiv stated, “I am feeling fearful for my personal safety and till I leave India, for the UK, on March 21, I seek the necessary protection.”
Rajiv, who has been living in the UK since 1968, works in the information technology department of the ministry of defense, UK.
He said his maternal aunt Santosh Mehta (mother of Rahul Mehta) had made his the mother executor of the will and had bequeathed the house in question in favour of four persons, including him, his younger brother Sanjiv Manektalla, cousin Rahul Mehta and his brother Mohit Mehta.
Identifying the accused Sanjeev Mahajan in the court, Rajiv said he is the “instigator” and “master mind” of the crime. “He (Sanjeev Mahajan) told me he had obtained the signatures of my cousin Rahul Mehta for transferring the property in his name and offered me ₹25 lakh to withdraw my case pending before the high court.”
Rajiv further told the court that he had intimated the police about this.
“Both Surjit (another accused) and Sanjeev Mahajan stared at me quite aggressively and stated that in case I do not accept their offer, they will do something to me and my cousin Rahul Mehta,” he said.
Rajiv further added that he had not given any authority to anyone to demolish the house in question.
Mahajan, along with others, had allegedly kidnapped and tortured Rahul Mehta, 48, the only surviving heir of his family, in April 2017 to usurp his 338 square yards house in Sector 37 and sell it for ₹2.9 crore in March 2019.
HC judge recuses from hearing bail plea
A high court bench on Monday recused from hearing the bail pleas of some accused persons in the Sector-37 property grab case.
The high court bench of justice Avneesh Jhingan ordered that case be listed before some other bench after obtaining orders from the chief justice. The judge has not cited reasons behind recusal. The case was being heard by the bench since October 2021.
The bail pleas were from suspended inspector Rajdeep Singh, businessman, Khalendra Kadyan, one Gurpreet Singh and former journalist Sanjeev Mahajan, all accused in this case.
