Chhota Rajan’s statement to be recorded via video call

Mumbai: On an application moved by deported gangster Chhota Rajan’s lawyer, the special MCOCA court on Wednesday directed the director general (DG) prison to make arrangements to record Rajan’s statement in the case of senior journalist J. Dey’s murder under section 313 of the CrPC. Rajan has not been produced before the court via video conferencing since January 1, due to a problem in the video conferencing facility at Tihar Jail where Rajan is being kept. Under section 313 of the CrPC, the trial judge asks questions directly to the accused at the very end of the trial. These questions are prepared by the judge based on statements of witnesses and evidence adduced before the court during the trial.

Hasnen Kazi, lawyer of Rajendra Nikalaje alias Chhota Rajan, had moved an application before special MCOCA court judge Sameer Adkar, requesting him to direct the DG prison to repair or replace the video conferencing facility at Tihar Jail on or before January 29 so that Rajan’s statement could be recorded under section 313 of the CrPC. According to advocate Kazi, his client Rajan had not been produced before the court via the video-conferencing facility at Tihar Jail since January 1 because of some problem in it.