Thane, Sep 18 (PTI) A court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has acquitted a businessman, who is the husband of a BJP corporator, accused of threatening and assaulting police personnel during a vehicle-towing drive in 2017, citing inconsistencies in witness testimony.
Additional Sessions Judge S S Renge on Thursday cleared Sherbahadur Suresh Singh of the charges of criminal intimidation and deterring public servants from duty under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case stems from an incident that occurred on September 29, 2017, when a police team accompanying a private towing crane arrived in the Nalpada area of Thane after complaints of illegal parking.
The prosecution alleged that Singh confronted the team, used abusive language, threatened officers and set the crane ablaze. He also allegedly attempted to pull a police personnel out of the vehicle.
However, during cross-examination, a prosecution witness admitted that an argument erupted after Singh questioned the team and demanded legal registration and authorisation documents for the private towing crane.
The court observed that the prosecution had failed to produce the registration particulars, ownership documents, contract or authorisation for the crane, and to establish documentary or official evidence based on which the towing operation was being conducted.
It also noted inconsistencies in witness statements, the lack of medical evidence, the absence of a designated “No Parking” sign at the spot, and the prosecution’s failure to examine independent witnesses despite the incident occurring in a crowded area.
The court held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, and cancelled Singh’s bail bond and discharged his surety. PTI COR ARU
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