11 September,2026 01:52 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
A Thane court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 10 years in jail for attempted murder. Representational pic
A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to murder a businessman's son during a dispute over money last year.
Additional Sessions Judge G T Pawar convicted Shahrukh Sadik Shaikh under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. A copy of the order was made available on Thursday.
According to the prosecution, Shaikh got into an argument with Hussein Khan over financial matters on March 4, 2025. During the dispute, Shaikh allegedly threatened to kill Khan.
Later that evening, Shaikh attacked Khan with a spade near a mosque, striking him on the head. The assault caused a skull fracture and resulted in serious injuries to the victim.
The defence argued that Khan had suffered the injuries after accidentally falling on the steps of the mosque. However, the court rejected this claim after considering the evidence presented during the trial.
The court relied on Khan's testimony, medical evidence and what it described as "partial eyewitness corroboration" while reaching its conclusion.
The judge held that the evidence was sufficient to establish the offence and rejected the defence version that the injuries were caused by an accidental fall.
"In order to constitute an offence under Section 307 IPC [now Section 109 BNS] two elements are essential to be established. First, the intention or knowledge to commit murder. Secondly, the actual act of trying to commit the murder. Thus, it must have both the necessary mens rea and actus reus," the court said.
Section 109 of the BNS deals with an attempt to commit culpable homicide or murder, replacing the corresponding provision under the Indian Penal Code.
Following the conviction, the court sentenced Shaikh to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000.
The court further directed that Shaikh would undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine.
The prosecution was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Rakhi W Pande, while advocate Nadeem Khan appeared for Shaikh.
The conviction followed the court's assessment of the victim's account, medical findings and supporting evidence relating to the attack.
(With inputs from PTI)
