Thane court acquits MNS chief Raj Thackeray in 2008 railway exam assault case

A Thane court acquitted all accused, including MNS chief Raj Thackeray, in a 2008 case of alleged assault on Railway Recruitment Board examinees at Kalyan railway station.

A court in Thane on Thursday acquitted all the accused, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, in a 2008 case related to the alleged assault on Railway Recruitment Board examinees at Kalyan railway station by MNS activists.

Eight persons, including Thackeray, were named as accused in the case. Two of them died during the pendency of the trial.

Defence lawyer Sailesh Sadekar told the media that the magistrate pronounced the 'not guilty' verdict in the court and a detailed order was not yet available.

During the trial, the defence contended that neither the charge sheet nor oral evidence established Thackeray's presence at the spot.

The prosecution failed to produce any evidence of provocative speeches allegedly made by the MNS chief, and its witnesses could not identify the accused, the defence submitted.

It further argued that although the prosecution claimed nearly 150 students had appeared for the railway examination, no admit cards, identity proofs or related records were produced.

Reacting to the court order, MNS Mumbai president Sandeep Deshpande said, ''We are glad that Raj Thackeray has been acquitted. He was falsely implicated as he was not even present when the incident occurred.''