Gulshan Kumar murder case: Bombay HC upholds conviction of Dawood aide Abdul Rauf

The Bombay High Court on Thursday upheld the conviction of Abdul Rauf Merchant in the murder case of Gulshan Kumar, founder of T-series. Abdul Rauf Merchant, an aide of gangster Dawood Ibrahim, was sentenced to a life term imprisonment in 2002 for Gulshan Kumar’s murder in 1997.

The court also dismissed an appeal by the state government against the acquittal of accused Ramesh Taurani of Tips Industries.

A division bench of Justice S S Jadhav and Justice N R Borkar noted that Abdul Rauf Dawood Merchant had “criminal antecedents.” “He is not entitled to remission as he absconded right after his arrest. He was released on furlough in 2009. Hence in the interest of justice at large, he does not deserve any leniency,” the bench said.

The bench noted in its order, “Conviction and sentence passed against appellant Abdul Rauf Dawood Merchant under section 302, 307 of IPC by the judgment of sessions court judge dated April 29, 2002, is upheld. Appellant is also convicted for the section under section 120-B of IPC. The appellant however is acquitted of charges under sections 392 (Robbery) and 397 (Robbery or dacoity in attempt to cause death) of IPC.”

The court also partly allowed an appeal by the state against the acquittal of accused Abdul Rashid Dawood Merchant, brother of Abdul Rauf. Abdul Rashid will suffer imprisonment for life.

Gulshan Kumar, the owner of T-Series, was shot dead while coming out of a temple in Mumbai on August 12, 1997. According to the prosecution, his industry rivals had paid money to Dubai-based gangster Abu Salem to kill him. However, the trial court only convicted Rauf and acquitted others.