Thane: Court Sentences 3 Men To 2 Months Imprisonment For Assaulting ST Bus Driver

Thane: The Additional Sessions Judge of Thane, A. S. Bhagwat, have convicted three men, Hemant Parshuram Panchal (39), Santosh Narayan Shelar (39), and Vikas Prabhakar Mahimkar (40)—on the charges of assaulting a public servant an on duty State Transport (ST) driver, and thereby obstructing his official work. The accused were found guilty under Sections 353, 332, and 504, read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

The incident occurred on August 14, 2015, at the Khopat State Transport (ST) bus stand in Thane. The complainant, Sharad Shirsat, an ST bus driver, said that while parking his bus after completing his duty from Thane to Alibag, the three accused assaulted and abused him. The attack was witnessed by the bus conductor and other ST employees, who later intervened and reported the matter to the police.

During the trial, the prosecution examined seven witnesses, including the complainant, the bus conductor, medical professionals, and eyewitnesses. Medical evidence corroborated the complainant’s injuries, confirming that they were inflicted by physical assault. The court also considered the statements of eyewitnesses and the evidence presented by the investigating officer.

The accused however had argued that they were falsely implicated, asserting that the complainant and other ST employees initiated the altercation. However, the court found the prosecution’s case credible and concluded that the accused acted in furtherance of their common intention to obstruct the complainant’s duties and insult him, thereby breaching public peace.

The judgment copy reads, the evidence produced by the prosecution clearly established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The court however dismissed the plea for leniency under the Probation of Offenders Act, emphasizing the gravity of the offense and its impact on the functioning of public servants. Thus the accused were sentenced to two months of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 500 each.