Two prime accused in the sensational case, involving mysterious death of city resident Ramesh Kini, today filed an appeal in Mumbai high court challenging the order of a lower court which refused to discharge them. Kini's landlords Laxmichand Shah and his son Suman Shah filed a criminal revision application in the Mumbai high court through their lawyers Satish Maneshinde and Sayaji Nangre. It will come up before justice Ranjana Desai this week. A sessions court had on April 4 discharged former Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena leader Ashotosh Rane but refused to set free the other accused, Laxmichand and Suman. The death of Kini six years ago had created ripples in political circles here with the police questioning Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray on his alleged involvement. Sessions judge S P Nikam turned down the discharge plea of Kini's landlords Laxmichand and Suman saying there was sufficient ground to frame charge against them. However, the judge discharged Rane as he felt that there was not a single circumstance in the entire chargesheet to show his involvement in the crime. Kini died on July 23, 1996 in Alka talkies at Pune under mysterious circumstances. It was alleged that he had committed suicide as a bottle of cynide was recovered from his pocket. Later, it transpired that he was under threat from landlords Laxmichand and his son Suman to vacate the house. The controversy surrounding Kini's death took a dramatic turn after allegations were levelled against Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray for his involvement in the crime. He was, however, exonerated by CBI after investigations.
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