Panaji, Jul 23 A Goa court on Thursday acquitted Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane and eight others in a 2013 toll plaza vandalism and assault case.
Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa, delivered the verdict in the presence of Rane and other accused. Rane's lawyer told reporters outside the court that the prosecution could not establish the case against the accused.
The court said the prosecution could not provide the evidences pointing to the involvement of accused in the case, the lawyer added.
Rane and eight others were chargesheeted for alleged involvement in vandalising the Dhargal-Pernem toll booth while travelling from Sawantwadi in Maharashtra to Goa's Calangute.
The prosecution had alleged that the group assaulted employees and vandalised the booth after being asked to pay toll.
The others named in the chargesheet were Rahul Parab, Mukund Parab, Harishchandra Parab, Rakesh Parab, Prashant Malkar, Vinamra Achrekar, Sagar Patil and Santosh Raut.
