Maharashtra: Court acquits trio accused of damaging public property during MNS protest in 2008

Thane: A court in Maharashtra’s Thane has acquitted three men who were allegedly part of a group of MNS workers that damaged public property during a protest in the city 14 years ago, giving the trio the benefit of doubt.

Sessions Judge Dr Rachna R Tehra said that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. A copy of the order passed on Tuesday was made available on Thursday.

The prosecution told the court that the three belonged to a mob that went on a rampage following the “arrest” of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on October 21, 2008. The group damaged buses and set afire a few of them in Thane city, the court was told.

A few prosecution witnesses said that their bus was obstructed by a group of protesters who were shouting “Manse (MNS) zindabad and Raj saheb zindabad”, while some people pelted stones at the vehicle.

Advocate A N Rajurkar, who represented the three men, said the trio had no role in the incident.

After hearing both sides, Judge Tehra said, “All in all, from the material on record it is crystal clear that the informant and prosecution witness both are eye witness of the incident. But both of them stated nothing against accused persons. The prosecution has failed to establish that the accused have formed the unlawful assembly and committed alleged offence.”