Thane court acquits 10 accused in 2014 murder case after 11 years

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A Thane court has acquitted all 10 accused in a 2014 murder and rioting case, noting that key witnesses failed to support the prosecution, reported PTI.

Additional Sessions Judge A S Bhagwat, in the order on Tuesday, said the prosecution could not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, reported PTI.

The case stemmed from an alleged violent clash in the Kalwa area of Maharashtra's Thane city on December 16, 2014, resulting in the death of Bhaskar alias Shankar Anant Kadam and injuries to several others.

According to the prosecution, the accused, armed with knives and choppers, allegedly attacked Kadam and others, reported PTI.

During the trial, the prosecution examined 14 witnesses, including the deceased's wife, who is the complainant in the case.

The court, however, observed that she denied the contents of her initial complaint that the accused had repeatedly struck the deceased.

The complainant also said in her cross-examination that she did not know the contents of the document she signed, and that she could not state the reasons behind the discrepancies in her statements, reported PTI.

The eyewitnesses also did not identify the assailants or confirm they carried weapons.

The prosecution failed to establish the charges, including unlawful assembly, rioting, and murder, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Arms Act, the judge noted while ordering the acquittal of 10 accused persons, reported PTI.

Another accused died during the pendency of the trial, and proceedings against him were abated in August 2024.

Thane court acquits three in 2021 murder case

In another case, a Thane court has acquitted three persons accused in a 2021 murder case, noting that the prosecution failed to establish their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, with key witnesses not supporting the case, reported PTI.

While the medical evidence confirmed homicidal death, it was insufficient to link the accused to the crime, Principal District and Sessions Judge SB Agrawal said in the order passed on Monday.

The prosecution alleged that the accused had assaulted the victim, Gulab Shaikh, with an iron pipe of an umbrella on December 3, 2021, in the Kalwa area of Maharashtra's Thane city, following a monetary dispute over liquor consumption. The victim later died, reported PTI.

The accused, however, contested the charges against them.

During the trial, the prosecution examined eight persons, including an informant, a medical officer, an investigation officer and two "eyewitnesses'.

The court found significant gaps in the prosecution's case. Both alleged eyewitnesses also did not support the prosecution.

The court also found the evidence about the recovery of the alleged weapon weak.

While the medical evidence confirmed homicidal death due to "intracranial haemorrhage with injury to neck structures due to hard and blunt impact," the court held that it was insufficient to link the accused to the crime.

"Considering all the aforesaid aspects, it cannot be said that the prosecution has been successful in bringing home the guilt of the accused persons at all," it observed.

The court acquitted Akash Kisan Palas (25), Faisal Faiyaz Khan (27) and Sani Dhanu Sonkar (30), giving them the benefit of doubt, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)