A sessions court in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/thane-tribunal-grants-rs-54-62-lakh-to-kin-of-technician-killed-in-2021-truck-crash-23634342" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Thane district of Maharashtra</a> has acquitted 11 men accused in a 2013 sand dredging assault case, reported the PTI.
The assault case was linked to a sand dredging dispute.
The court acquitted the accused in the case after key witnesses failed to identify the alleged attackers during the trial. The court extended the benefit of doubt to all the accused, observing that the prosecution was unable to establish their involvement in the incident.
According to the prosecution, the case dates back to December 12, 2013, when a violent clash reportedly broke out on the Diva-Agasan Road in the Mumbra area of Thane district, the news agency reported.
A group of men allegedly attacked Bholanath Munde and others using swords and bamboo sticks during a dispute related to sand dredging activities in the area.
During the clash, aeveral individuals <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/mumbai-best-bus-accident-shivaji-park-police-begins-probe-after-registering-fir-driver-held-23634243" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">sustained injuries in the incident</a>, leading the police to register a case that included charges of attempted murder, according to the PTI.
<h2>Court notes lack of identification evidence</h2>
In the judgment delivered on June 8, Additional Sessions Judge R.S. Bhakare noted that medical records confirmed that the victims had suffered injuries, according to the PTI.
However, the court observed that the prosecution failed to prove the identity of the persons responsible for the assault.
The case weakened significantly after complainant Sanjay Munde and the injured eyewitnesses turned hostile during the trial of the case, as per the PTI.
<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/maharashtra-gift-deed-cancellation-latur-tribunal-cancels-gift-deed-after-man-fails-to-take-care-of-89-year-old-woman-23634366" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">While testifying before the court</a>, they reportedly stated that they had been attacked by "unknown persons" and did not identify any of the accused as the assailants.
As a result, the prosecution was unable to directly link the accused to the over a decade old case.
<h2>Court orders acquittal</h2>
Taking into account the lack of reliable identification evidence, the court ruled that the charges had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt, reported the PTI.
The surviving 11 accused were therefore acquitted of all charges and granted the benefit of doubt.
The <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/court-cites-lack-of-evidence-and-complaints-refusal-to-pursue-prosecution-in-2008-house-breaking-case-23633351" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">judgment brought an end to a case</a> that had remained pending for nearly 13 years, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)

A sessions court in Thane district of Maharashtra has acquitted 11 men accused in a 2013 sand dredging assault case extending the benefit of doubt in case

2013 sand dredging assault case: Thane court in Maharashtra acquits 11 men in 2013 sand dredging assault case

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The court in Thane district extended the benefit of doubt to all the accused, observing that the prosecution was unable to establish their involvement in the incident

Maharashtra: Thane court acquits 11 men in 2013 sand dredging assault case

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