22 February,2026 06:48 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
The court found the evidence linking the accused to the crime insufficient. Representational pic
A special court in Thane district on Sunday acquitted nine persons booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for a 2017 attempted dacoity and firing, citing insufficient evidence against them, news agency PTI reported.
Special Judge VG Mohite acquitted the accused of charges under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity), and 397 (robbery with attempt to cause death) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with provisions of the MCOCA. A copy of the order dated February 17 (Tuesday) was made available on Sunday.
According to the prosecution, on July 22, 2017, the accused intercepted a jeep carrying Rs 7 lakh in cash belonging to a wine shop in Bhiwandi and fired at the vehicle, injuring three employees, PTI reported. The driver managed to escape, preventing the theft.
The court, however, found the evidence linking the accused to the crime insufficient. It noted minor discrepancies in witness testimonies and observed that the accused did not have the opportunity to snatch the cash bag from the injured persons. No money was reportedly stolen from the vehicle.
While weapons and cash were recovered from one absconding accused, the judge ruled that this did not incriminate the others. The trial against the absconding accused, Raju Shetty, has been separated, PTI reported.
A sessions court in Mumbai on Friday convicted two men in a 2019 kidnapping and robbery case registered at Borivali Police Station. The court, while passing the order, held them guilty under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The verdict was delivered by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge SR Navandar after the completion of final arguments.
The case was registered under Sections 394 (robbery), 363 (kidnapping), 364A (kidnapping for ransom), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, along with Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), 3(4), and 3(5) of MCOCA. After completion of the final hearing, the court held that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The convicted accused have been identified as Praveen Mahadev Helkar (30) and Suresh Omprakash (33).
Under Section 394 read with 34 of the IPC, the court sentenced both to six years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each. The court also stated a condition where, in default of payment, they will undergo an additional six months' imprisonment.
(With PTI inputs)
