Gulshan Kumar murder case: Dawood aide Abdul Rauf's conviction upheld by Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court affirmed Abdul Rauf Merchant's conviction in the murder of T-series creator Gulshan Kumar on Thursday. In 2002, Abdul Rauf Merchant, a criminal Dawood Ibrahim's assistant, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Gulshan Kumar.

The court also dismissed the state government's appeal of accused Ramesh Taurani of Tips Industries' acquittal.

Abdul Rauf Dawood Merchant had "criminal antecedents," according to a division bench of Justice S S Jadhav and Justice N R Borkar. “He is not eligible for remission because he tried to flee after his arrest. In 2009, he was granted a leave of absence.  Hence in the interest of justice at large, he does not deserve any leniency,” the bench said.

“The conviction and punishment passed against appellant Abdul Rauf Dawood Merchant under sections 302, 307 of the IPC by the judgement of a sessions court judge dated April 29, 2002 is upheld,” the bench wrote in its order. The appellant was also found guilty under section 120-B of the IPC. The appellant, on the other hand, was found not guilty of robbery and attempted robbery under sections 392 and 397 of IPC.

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The court also approved the state's appeal against the acquittal of accused Abdul Rashid Dawood Merchant, Abdul Rauf's brother. Abdul Rashid will be imprisoned for the rest of his life.

On August 12, 1997, T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar was shot dead as he departed a temple in Mumbai. His industry competitors allegedly offered money to Dubai-based gangster Abu Salem to kill him, according to the prosecution. The trial court, on the other hand, only found Rauf guilty and acquitted the others.