A local court has acquitted all seven accused tried in connection with murder of a truck operator in 2008 for want of evidence.
Thane Additional Sessions Court Judge A S Waghwase, in his verdict pronounced yesterday, said the prosecution had "miserably failed" to prove the charges against all the accused.
According to the prosecution, the accused abducted the victim, Balvinder Singh Saini (45), from his home in Navi Mumbai on January 27, 2008 and took him to a deserted area in Taloja where they murdered him.
Also Read
Assistant Public Prosecutor Buleshwar Hinge said the accused suspected that the victim had stolen a truck belonging to one of them.
The victim's body was recovered from Khadakpada in Kalamboli area.
The prosecution examined more than a dozen witnesses, including one Swaran Singh, who had seen the victim being beaten to death near the Taloja Jail on January 28, 2008.
The defence lawyers argued that Saini had died in a road accident.
However, the court said since the prosecution has miserably failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and hence the accused get the benefit of the doubt and stand acquitted.
The accused are identified as Buta Singh (65), Nishan Singh (50), Major Singh (65), Sarabjit Singh (70), Jagdeep alias Deepak (45), Jaimal Singh (80) and Swaran Singh (45)--all into transport business.
They were tried under various sections of IPC.
