Justice Prevails: Acquittal in Mumbai Riots Case After Three Decades

A court acquitted Asif Ali Shaikh, charged in the 1993 Mumbai riots, citing lack of evidence. The verdict, delivered nearly three decades post-violence, highlighted prosecutorial failures to prove Shaikh's involvement in unlawful assembly and rioting. Previous acquittals in the case cited similar reasons.

A Mumbai court has cleared Asif Ali Shaikh of all charges related to the 1993 communal riots, citing insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution. This case has lingered in the judicial system for nearly 33 years.

The additional sessions judge M B Oza, in a verdict announced on December 5, noted the failure of the prosecution to demonstrate Shaikh's active involvement in the alleged riots, which erupted post the Babri Masjid demolition.

Previously, 14 other individuals were acquitted between 2003 and 2023 for lack of evidence, highlighting systemic challenges in proving culpability in this decades-old case.

(With inputs from agencies.)