HC upholds acquittal of 5 in Koirala secy's murder case

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government received a jolt recently after the Bombay high court upheld the acquittal of five persons who were allegedly involved in the murder of film star Manisha Koirala's secretary Ajit Dewani in 2001.
A division bench of Justice B H Marlapalle and Justice U D Salvi on February 14 dismissed an appeal filed by the government challenging acquittal of Upendra Singh, Ayub Ibrahim Patel, Shah Alam, Nizamuddin Abdul Rauf and Akhilesh Singh.
The accused were acquitted by the trial court on July 10, 2009.
Dewani was shot dead by three assailants in broad daylight on June 30, 2001, in his office situated at RTO Lane, Four Bungalow Road, Andheri (W) around 2.30 pm.
The HC while upholding the acquittal observed: "We confirm the findings of the trial Court that the prosecution could not prove its case against the accused and regarding their complicity in the murder of Ajit Dewani. Hence, this appeal fails and the same is hereby dismissed."
The prosecution had claimed that the assailants were sent by extradited gangster Abu Salem. Salem had allegedly demanded ransom from Dewani, which he refused to pay.
Salem has been discharged by the trial court for lack of evidence.