18 May,2026 06:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The case names eight accused, including MNS chief Raj Thackeray. Two of the accused passed away during the course of the trial. File Pic
A court in Maharashtra's Thane district on Monday reserved its order until May 21 in the 2008 case related to the alleged assault on Railway Recruitment Board examination candidates at Kalyan railway station by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists, reported the PTI.
The case names eight accused, including MNS chief Raj Thackeray. Two of the accused passed away during the course of the trial.
After hearing final submissions from both the prosecution and defence, Chief Judicial Magistrate Abhijit Kulkarni reserved the matter for orders.
According to court officials, the decision will now be delivered on May 21, the news agency reported.
Representing Raj Thackeray and the other accused, advocates Sailesh Sadekar, Sayaji Nagare and Shubham Kanade argued before the court that the prosecution's case was "baseless" and contained several contradictions.
The defence stated that neither the chargesheet nor witness statements established MNS chief Raj Thackeray's presence at the scene of the alleged incident. They also argued that the prosecution failed to provide evidence of any provocative speeches allegedly made by him, according to the PTI.
The defence further highlighted alleged discrepancies in the timing and conduct of the panchnama, along with inconsistencies in police witness statements regarding the arrest of one of the accused persons.
Lawyers for the accused also claimed that prosecution witnesses were unable to identify the alleged attackers during the proceedings.
The defence argued that although the prosecution claimed nearly 150 students had appeared for the railway recruitment examination, no admit cards, identity documents or official records were produced before the court to support the claim.
The case relates to violent protests during the 2008 railway recruitment examination, when MNS workers allegedly targeted outstation candidates, particularly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, claiming that local Maharashtrian youths were allegedly being denied railway job opportunities.
The agitation at Kalyan railway station in Thane district turned violent, leaving several candidates injured and resulting in clashes with the police. Raj Thackeray and others were booked on charges including rioting, unlawful assembly, and obstructing public servants from performing their duties.
(with PTI inputs)
