24-Year-Old Assault Case Sees Accused Discharged Due to Prolonged Absence

A court in Maharashtra's Thane has discharged eight accused in an assault case unresolved for over 24 years due to their prolonged absence. The court directed the police to trace them for a fresh chargesheet. The case involved an attack on security supervisor Ramnath Gaydhani and his colleague Jayaprakash Dubey in 2000.

A court in Maharashtra's Thane has made a significant decision in an assault case unresolved for over 24 years. Eight accused have been discharged due to their prolonged absence, with the court directing police to trace them and file a fresh chargesheet. This judgment was handed down by Additional Sessions Judge Amit M Shete on July 24, with the order copy made available on Friday.

The case dates back to April 22, 2000, when security supervisor Ramnath Gaydhani, working for Kalpataru Builders, was attacked with wooden logs by Chhotelal Dudhnath Verma and several others. Jayaprakash Dubey, Gaydhani's colleague, sustained injuries during the violent altercation. The charges were severe, falling under Indian Penal Code sections for unlawful assembly, rioting, and attempted murder, later elevated to murder. However, the trial faced delays as the accused, construction workers without permanent addresses, remained untraceable.

Despite issuing non-bailable warrants in July 2012, the prolonged absence made continuing the trial unfeasible. As a result, the court has discharged the accused and mandated the Vartak Nagar police to locate them and submit a supplementary chargesheet upon apprehension.