New Delhi: ‘I am not surprised’ was the reaction of Pravin Mahajan, after he was found guilty by a Sessions Court in Mumbai, almost two years after he was held for shooting his elder brother and senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan.
"For the last 10 days, I have been hearing the dictation of judgment. I am not surprised," Pravin said.
While Pravin looked unruffled, his wife Sarangi, who has been by his side during the entire trial, was in tears.
However, no one from Pramod Mahajan's family was present in the court when the judge delivered the verdict.
The court accepted Pramod's last words to his brother-in-law, Gopinath Munde – ‘What was my fault that Pravin fired bullets at me?’ – while being taken to the hospital on April 22 last year, as his dying declaration.
However, it rejected the prosecution's contention that ‘Pravin's lust for money’ was the motive behind the murder.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the prosecution would study the judgment before deciding on what sentence they would seek for Pravin.
"After we read the judgment we will know on what grounds Pravin has been found guilty and whether the case falls in the rarest of rare category," Nikam said.
Meanwhile, the prosecution wants maximum punishment for Pravin Mahajan. Investigation officer Anil Makwan said, “We will be asking for death sentence.”
On April 22, 2006, Pramod Mahajan was shot thrice, allegedly by his younger brother Pravin, who then went to the Worli police station and surrendered. Pramod Mahajan passed away 12 days later.
A total of 35 witnesses were examined in the trial, including Pravin Mahajan's wife Sarangi and over 600 pages of depositions were recorded by the court. Pramod Mahajan's widow Rekha and their servant Mahesh Wankhede were the main witnesses in the case.
(With PTI inputs)
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