09 October,2026 02:13 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
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A special court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted two men accused of chain-snatching and involvement in an organised crime syndicate, citing the failure of investigators to establish their identity as the perpetrators and procedural lapses in the investigation.
Special Judge V G Mohite on Thursday acquitted Rijwan Ismail Shaikh and Mahammad Alam Aslam Qureshi of robbery charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and offences under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in connection with a 2022 chain-snatching incident.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on May 22, 2022, when a woman and her husband were walking near Khadakpada Circle in Kalyan West. Two men riding a motorcycle allegedly approached them, snatched the woman's gold chain and fled.
The suspects were wearing helmets, making it difficult for the witnesses to identify their faces. A first information report (FIR) was subsequently registered at Mahatma Phule Chowk Police Station.
During the investigation, police linked Shaikh and Qureshi to the incident following their arrest in another case. Investigators connected them to multiple alleged chain-snatching offences and invoked provisions of MCOCA, which targets organised criminal activity.
The prosecution also claimed that the stolen gold ornament had been recovered through a jeweller. However, the court found that the evidence presented did not adequately establish the accused men's involvement in the specific incident.
The judge noted that the prosecution witnesses had not properly seen the faces of the alleged robbers because they were wearing helmets. Police had also failed to conduct a test identification parade during the investigation.
Such a parade is intended to help establish whether witnesses can identify suspects they claim to have seen during an offence. In this case, the absence of the procedure weakened the prosecution's attempt to establish the identities of the perpetrators, the court observed.
The court also rejected the validity of a confessional statement recorded by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). It held that the accused had not been given the mandatory statutory period of 24 hours to reconsider their decision before making the confession.
The procedural lapse raised questions about the validity of the statement and its use as evidence in the case.
After considering the evidence and procedural shortcomings, the court acquitted both men of the charges and ordered their immediate release from jail.
(With inputs from PTI)
