Thane: Fourteen men allegedly associated with gangster Ravi Pujari’s gang, who were arrested by Thane’s Crime Detection Branch in 2017, have been acquitted by the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court. The acquittal came after the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court, presided over by Judge Amit M. Shete, observed that the investigating agencies had failed to collect sufficient material to implicate the accused. In the absence of any credible evidence, the court ruled that the accused must be given the benefit of doubt and acquitted accordingly.
Of the 14 accused, the trial of eight individuals was separated as they had gone absconding. However, even in the separated trial, those accused were acquitted of the charges levelled against them in the same case, thereby resulting in the acquittal of all arrested individuals.
In its order, the court observed: “There is no material on record to show that the accused persons, by forming an organized crime syndicate, were indulging in committing offences for wrongful gain. There is not a single crime in which all or some of the accused were involved. Thus, in the absence of such material, it is hard to say that the accused, by hatching a conspiracy, intended to commit any crime. However, previous charge sheets indicate that the accused were indeed involved in criminal activities, and therefore, to the extent of invoking MCOCA provisions, the prosecution was justified. Nevertheless, the material brought on record through witnesses is not sufficient to prove the offence punishable under MCOCA.”
According to the case details, on April 18, 2017, Crime Detection Branch–1, Thane, was informed that mobile numbers belonging to members of the Ravi Pujari gang—allegedly involved in activities akin to waging war against the State—were under surveillance. Intelligence suggested that 15 to 20 members were likely planning to commit a robbery at Tin Haat Naka and other areas within Thane city, particularly targeting jewellery shops.
Acting on the tip-off, police teams were formed, and 14 suspects were apprehended and brought to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Thane. Based on suspicion, they were formally arrested.
During the investigation, the police claimed to have recovered several items from the accused, including: Gas regulators, Gas pipes, Screwdrivers, Pliers, Adjustable spanners, Hand drills, Katavni (metal cutter), Oxygen regulator set,Gas-cutting nozzles,A sword and a chopper.
Despite the recovery of these articles, the court found that there was no direct or conclusive evidence linking the accused to a conspiracy to commit the alleged crime.
Names of the accused: Abdul Shaikh, Umar Shaikh, Asuddin Shaikh, Mohammad Aktharali, Barkat Shaikh, Senaul Shaikh, Raju Rati Kami @ Raju Nepali, Sirajul Shaikh, Rajkumar @ Bhola @ Mistry Babulal Sharma, Tapal @ Tappu Mandal, Dinesh Gupta, Omprakash Mandal, Babu Mujawar, Raju Yadav, Dashrath Singh.
