Thane court convicts two men for house trespass, outraging modesty

A Thane court has convicted two men for house trespass and outraging modesty in a case where they, along with four others, were accused of barging into a house in Kalwa area and assaulting a man in an extortion attempt, reported news agency PTI.

In the verdict delivered on May 9, the Thane court, however, acquitted the accused of extortion and charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). The copy of the order became available on Tuesday.

Ganesh Rangnath Shinde alias Kala Ganya and Ankush Suryakant Gawand were sentenced to the period of imprisonment already undergone. Ganesh Shinde had been in custody for over six years, and Ankush Gawand for nearly one year and ten months, reported PTI.

Special judge (MCOCA) Amit M Shete also ordered them to pay a fine of Rs. 2,000 per offence each. Out of the fine amount, Rs 5,000 shall to be paid as compensation to the complainant`s wife, the judge said.

As per Kalwa Police, Ganesh Shinde and his associates entered the complainant`s house on September 9, 2016. The intruders demanded Rs 10,000 from him, assaulted him and outraged the modesty of his wife and her sisters, reported PTI.

The judge found Shinde and Ankush Gawand guilty under sections 354 (outraging modesty), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code while acquitting Sandeep alias Sanjay Gadekar, Ajit alias Tilya Maruti Sudke and Devidas alias Deva Rabaji Gadekar. Another accused died during the trial, so did the complainant.

The Thane court relied on the testimonies of the women witnesses, but found no sufficient evidence to back the police`s claim that Shinde and others were part of an “organised crime syndicate” as required for conviction under the stringent MCOCA, reported PTI.

The Thane court also pointed out serious investigation lapses including the police`s failure to secure CCTV footage from the crime scene.

Thane court acquits man booked under MCOCA for highway robbery

A special court in Thane district has acquitted a man booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in a 17-year-old highway robbery and dacoity case, citing insufficient evidence, reported news agency PTI.

Additional Special Judge A N Sirsikar acquitted Shobhan alias Gando Himla Machar of charges under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and MCOCA.

A copy of the order, dated April 29, was made available on Monday.

Machar was arrested in 2008 in connection with a robbery on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on December 9, 2007, during which vehicles were stopped and occupants looted of valuables worth more than Rs 3 lakh, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)

This article first appeared on Mid Day