Six years after city resident Ramesh Kini died under mysterious circumstances in a Pune theatre amidst allegations of political pressure, the trial court today acquitted his landlords Laxmichand Shah and son Suman from the charge of abetment to commit suicide.
Disbelieving the prosecution's case, judge S P Nikam also acquitted the father and son duo from the charges of conspiracy, common intention and extortion.
Kini's death had raked a controversy with police charging Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray with the conspiracy leading to Kini's death. The Central Bureau of Investigation, however, exonerated him from the charges.
The judge observed that it was not a case of suicide, but that Kini had met a natural death and passed away due to Ischemic heart disease.
Upholding the contention of defence lawyers Satish Maneshinde, Harshad Ponda and Sayaji Nangre, the judge noted that evidence of medical officers and experts were totally contradictory to the case of the prosecution.
The judge observed that Kini was in a habit of writing suicide notes as he had once threatened his uncle Anand Prabhu to vacate the flat or else he would commit suicide. (Prabhu was the original tenant and Kini was sub-tenant).
The court also observed that the offence of extortion was not established because the flat was still in the possession of Kini's widow, Sheila.
The judge noted that allegations about Kini visiting the office of 'Saamna' newspaper a day before he was found dead could not be proved. Evidence suggested that on the same day he had gone to meet his lawyer P G Lad.
On June 27, judge S P Nikam had framed charges against Kini's landlords Laxmichand Shah and his son Suman. Altogether 130 witnesses were cited by the prosecution in this case.
Laxmichand and Suman were charged with section 306 IPC (abetment of suicide), section 386 IPC (extortion by putting victim in fear of death) read with section 34 IPC (common intention) and section 120-b IPC (conspiracy).
Another accused in the case Ashuthosh Rane, a Vidyarthi Sena leader, was discharged on April 4 by the trial court which felt there was no evidence to nail him in the crime.
Kini was found dead on June 23, 1996 at Alka theatre in Pune. A bottle of cynide was found from his pocket. Police initially suspected suicide, but later it was revealed that he was forced to take the extreme step by the accused.
The case of the prosecution is that the Kini's landlords wanted him to vacate the rented premises and pressured him time and again.
It was alleged that they sought help of Sena leaders Ashutosh Rane and Raj Thackeray in this regard.
