A Thane court in Maharashtra has acquitted three individuals accused of using a casteist slur, citing insufficient evidence to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to the PTI, Judge P P Muley of the Kalyan Sessions Court acquitted former sarpanch Ravindra Malu Gadge, Kashinath Tukaram Bhundere, and Shantabai Tukaram Bhundere of charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Protection of Civil Rights Act, and Section 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code. The court order, dated November 3, was made available on Friday.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in Uchale village on February 2, 2006, when the accused allegedly rejected a contract proposal from the Ramai Mahila Bachat Gat, whose member belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, to provide meals for an aanganwadi. During the rejection, the trio was said to have made casteist remarks.
However, the court found that the prosecution failed to establish the allegations due to a lack of corroborative evidence. The key witness “specifically denied giving caste-based abuses,” and the court observed that there was “no reference in the entire evidence of the informant regarding those abusive words.” Consequently, the accused were acquitted, reported PTI.
Bangladeshi woman convicted by Thane court for illegal stay; to be deported
A court in Maharashtra`s Thane has convicted a Bangladeshi woman for staying in India even after the expiry of her visa and ordered her deportation, reported news agency PTI.
A copy of the order of November 11 by Additional Sessions Judge G T Pawar was made available on Friday.
Sobironbegum Wahab Kha, alias Ratana Sinha, was arrested by the Navghar police in August 2023. Additional Public Prosecutor Manisha N Pawse proved in the court that her visa had expired in 2018, reported PTI.
While the defence argued that she had acquired Indian citizenship through marriage, the Thane court rejected the claim, citing the “burden of proof” under the Foreigners Act.
“…She failed to produce any material on record to show that she married an Indian citizen and accordingly acquired Indian citizenship. Neither the marriage certificate nor any other document is produced on record,” the Thane court said, reported PTI.
The judge sentenced her to 2 years, 2 months, and 18 days of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000. Since the woman has already spent that time in jail, the court ordered her immediate deportation, reported PTI.
The court asked the authorities to return the woman`s passport to her to facilitate the deportation process.
