Court Acquits Two Hawkers in 10-Year-Old Thane Encroachment Case

Two hawkers were acquitted in a decade-old case of abusing a woman corporator during an anti-encroachment drive in Thane. The court ruled a lack of evidence, stating the prosecution failed to prove charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

In a significant ruling, two hawkers have been acquitted in a 10-year-old case pertaining to the alleged abuse of a woman corporator during an anti-encroachment operation in Thane city. The judgment was delivered by Additional Sessions Court judge AS Bhagwat, who highlighted the prosecution's inability to substantiate the charges against Khemchand Nihalchand Nainani and Tulsi Kukumal Sewkani.

The incident in question dates back to April 18, 2015, when a civic team from Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) conducted a drive to clear illegal hawkers from the Station Road area. The complainant alleged that the accused hurled abuses at the corporator, impeding the eviction process, which led to an FIR charging them under sections 353 and 504 of the IPC.

Despite five witnesses being presented during the trial, which commenced in June 2022, the court found the evidence inadequate. The decision, recorded on March 7, was made available to the public on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies.)