Builder Suresh Bijlani on Monday surrendered before the sessions court in Thane in connection with the murder of NRI builder and real estate agent Sunil Loharia
He was remanded in one day’s judicial custody. The Supreme Court on Thursday had given an ultimatum to Bijlani to surrender before the court under police protection.
Bijlani presented himself at the sessions court at around 12 pm yesterday. Lawyer Ramesh Tripathi demanded interim bail on the grounds of Bijlani’s father’s illness, but the court rejected his plea. The Mumbai Crime Branch demanded his custody but the court overturned it and remanded him in judicial custody. After surrendering, Bijlani complained of chest pains and was admitted to a civic-run hospital. Later in the day yesterday, doctors discharged Bijlani and he was sent to Taloja jail. The Crime Branch plans to make a fresh plea for his police custody today.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bijlani’s lawyer Ramesh Tripathi said, “Complying with the Supreme Court order, Bijlani surrendered himself on Monday.”
Bijlani, his brother Mahesh, who is absconding, and architect Anurag Garg stand accused in the murder case of Sunil Loharia. On February 16, 2013, Loharia was shot dead outside his office in Vashi’s sector 28.
Last month, the Thane sessions court issued non-bailable warrants against Bijlani, Mahesh and Garg. The Thane sessions court, the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court had rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of Bijlani.
On May 17, Bijlani had obtained a 60-day transit bail order from an Indore court in Madhya Pradesh, stating that his father was suffering from cancer. On June 18, Loharia’s son Sunny got the bail order cancelled. Niket Kaushik, additional commissioner of police (crime), said, “Bijlani has surrendered but I am still awaiting the court report and I will comment after that.”u00a0