Pravin convicted for Pramod Mahajan's murder

Pravin Mahajan was convicted of killing his brother and BJP leader Pramod Mahajan by a court here today, which said it will pronounce the sentence in the case tomorrow.

Delivering the verdict, Sessions Judge S P Davare convicted 48-year-old Pravin for murder and house trespass with intention to commit a serious offence.

While convicting Pravin, the judge relied on the statements of Pramod's wife Rekha, servant Mahesh and his own statement to his brother-in-law and BJP leader Gopinath Munde while on way to the hospital after being shot at on April 22 last year.

Pravin had fired four bullets at his elder brother at the latter's residence. Mahajan died after battling for his life for 12 days in a hospital here.

Davare said the prosecution's case had inspired "every confidence."

Reacting to the judgement, Pravin, who looked unruffled, said he was "not surprised" by the verdict. "For the last ten days, I have been hearing the dictation of the judgement. I am not surprised," he told reporters. His wife, Sarangi, however, was in tears.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told reporters outside the court room that the prosecution would study the judgement before deciding on what type of sentence they would plead for in the case.

"After we read the judgement we will know on what grounds Pravin has been found guilty and whether the case falls in the rarest of rare cases. Depending on this we shall seek the sentence for him," Nikam said.

During the trial, special public prosecutor Niteen Pradhan had sought the death penalty for Pravin who was held guilty under section 302 (murder) and section 449 (illegal trespass) of IPC.

No one from Pramod Mahajan's family was present in the court when the judge delivered the verdict.

Nikam said the court took into consideration other circumstantial evidences as well as the ballistic expert's opinion.

Following is the chronology of the Pramod Mahajan murder trial:

April 22, 2006: Pravin Mahajan shoots Pramod Mahajan at his Worli residence.

April 22, 2006: Pravin surrenders before the Worli Police.

April 23, 2006: Pravin sent to police custody by Bhoiwada court.

April 27, 2006: Cops record statement of Mahajan's family.

May 3, 2006: Pramod Mahajan succumbs to injuries and dies at a city hospital.

July 14, 2006: 650-page chargesheet filed before Bhoiwada court for charges under IPC Section 302 (murder) and 449 (house trespass).

July 24, 2006: Pravin files for bail application before Sewri sessions court.

July 30, 2006: Pramod Mahajan's murder case committed to the session's court.

August 1, 2006: Sessions judge Abhay Thipsay rejects his bail plea.

Sept 1, 2006: Harshad Ponda appointed as defence lawyer by Pravin.

Sept 8, 2006: Special prosecutor Srikant Bhatt withdraws from the case.

Sept 25, 2006: Special prosecutors Ujjwal Nikam and Niteen Pradhan appointed by the state.

Jan 23, 2007: Pravin pleads not guilty.

March 21, 2007: Trial commences at the sessions court.

March 23, 2007: Rekha tells the court that she saw Pravin firing bullets at her husband.

April 10, 2007: Rekha tells the court that Pravin had threatened Pramod and demanded Rs 1 crore.

April 11, 2007: Brother-in-law Gopinath Munde tells court that Pravin had sent threatening SMS to Pramod.

April 18, 2007: Supplementary chargesheet filed in Mahajan trial.

May 11, 2007: Key eyewitness and Pramod's domestic help, Mahesh Wankhede, deposes before the court.

Oct 15, 2007: Pramod's daughter Poonam Mahajan identifies Pravin before the court and breaks down after cross-examination.

Oct 29, 2007: Pravin shocks the court by stating that he had not killed his elder brother.

Oct 30, 2007: Pravin makes allegations on Pramod's character in the court.

Nov 1, 2007: Defence witness B Harikrishnan tells the court that SMS can be manipulated.

Nov 16, 2007: Harikrishnan manipulates an SMS in a demonstration before the court.

Nov 22, 2007: Sarangi admits to having sent an SMS to Pramod, says SMS was tampered.

Nov 30, 2007: Advocates start final arguments.

Dec 3, 2007: Prosecution says money is the motive for murder.

Dec 6, 2007: Judge S P Davare begins dictating the judgement as both defence and prosecution conclude arguments.

Dec 17, 2007: Court holds Pravin guilty in the case.