Mumbai Sessions Court Issues Open-Dated Arrest Warrant for Alleged Gang Leader in 2007 Murder Case
A sessions court in Mumbai has issued an open-dated arrest warrant against alleged gang leader Kumar Pillai in connection with a 2007 shooting incident that left one man dead and another seriously injured. This development comes as police recently discovered that Pillai, despite being extradited from Singapore a decade ago to face charges in three other cases, remained a "wanted" accused in this specific 2007 case involving charges of murder and attempted murder.
Background of the 2007 Vikhroli Shooting Incident
The crime occurred in 2007 at Vikhroli, where several men allegedly fired upon a complainant and his associates using a foreign-made pistol. The attack resulted in the tragic death of Sunil Magade and the attempted murder of Shashank Ahire. Three other accused individuals—Amit Bhogle, Anil Pandey, and Silvaraj Pillai—were previously tried for this crime. Notably, Pandey died during the trial, and the remaining two were acquitted in 2017.
Prosecution's Arguments and Court's Observations
During the court proceedings, the prosecution argued that Pillai's arrest is essential for further investigation. They also submitted that because Pillai has ties abroad, a formal proposal must be made to the Government of Singapore to facilitate his apprehension. In the order, the judge noted that the chargesheet clearly identifies Pillai as an absconding party who acted in furtherance of a common intention with the other accused.
The judge stated, "The Police Authorities wanted to arrest the accused and conduct further investigation against him. Therefore, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, it is necessary to issue a warrant of arrest against accused Kumar Krushna Pillai." The court further observed the severity of the allegations, emphasizing that the suspects are accused of using lethal firearms to carry out the assault.
Pillai's Current Status and Legal Moves
Kumar Pillai, an engineer who was once alleged to be a gang leader, has been seeking to return to Hong Kong. Having been cleared of all criminal charges for over a year, Pillai had formally approached a special court to request repatriation to the place he identifies as his true home country. However, this new arrest warrant complicates his legal situation, as the court's final order explicitly states, "Issue open dated warrant against accused Kumar Krushna Pillai....."
The prosecution highlighted that though Pillai had been dealt with in other cases, this specific investigation remained open, underscoring the ongoing nature of this legal matter. This case serves as a reminder of the long arm of the law and the complexities involved in cross-border criminal investigations.
