Thane, Aug 13 A court in Maharashtra's Thane district on Thursday acquitted eight office-bearers and workers of the united Shiv Sena in a 17-year-old criminal case related to an agitation staged by the party against power tariff hike, citing lack of credible evidence against them.
The verdict was pronounced by District and Sessions Court Judge Vishwas Ganpat Mohite, who noted the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against the accused, including a then-state secretary of the party, beyond reasonable doubt using credible evidence.
According to the prosecution, on June 30, 2009, a protest rally was organized under the leadership of Shiv Sena against the then-prevailing hike in power tariff.
The rally originated from Chandanwadi in Naupada area of Thane city and proceeded to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) office in the Wagle Estate locality.
Around 700 to 800 office-bearers and workers of the then-Opposition party participated in the demonstration. Upon reaching the MSEB office, several activists attempted to enter the complex to meet senior officials and voice their grievances.
Police intervened to stop the protesters. Following the rally, police registered a case against several Shiv Sena activists under various legal sections the same day.
Charges were pressed against them under multiple provisions of the IPC, including sections related to unlawful assembly, rioting, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, mischief causing damage and house-trespass after preparation for hurt/assault.
Advocates Rajan Salunkhe and Jayesh Tikhe represented all the accused.
After reviewing witness statements, police records, and evidence presented during the lengthy trial, Judge Mohite observed that the prosecution has failed to establish guilt meeting the statutory legal standards required in criminal law, resulting in acquittal of all the accused.
The acquitted individuals were: Ram Pandurang Repale (then-state secretary, Shiv Sena), Popat Gulab Dhotre, Abhijit Ananta Aapankar, Rajesh Yadunath Phatak, Dinesh Shatrughna Malpe, Sanjay Jijaba Jadhav, Hemant Chandrakant Pawar and Ghanshyam Shivaji Kanse.
