Mumbai court clears taxi driver after 17 years; assault charges fall flat
MUMBAI: A Metropolitan Magistrate court at Esplanade on Monday acquitted a 39-year-old taxi driver, Rajender Yadav, of charges under Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly assaulting a commuter in 2007, citing insufficient evidence.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Manoj Damania, who alleged that while he was waiting to engage a taxi, taxi driver Yadav assaulted him near the Churchgate railway station taxi stand on April 23, 2007, after refusing to take him to Bora Bazar.
The complainant claimed Yadav struck him in the face with a key ring, causing serious dental injuries. Damania lodged a police complaint with the Marine Drive police station under IPC sections of 325, which deals with voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
While a charge sheet was filed and the complainant deposed in court, the 64th Esplanade Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate Hemant Umakant Joshi, observed that the prosecution failed to corroborate the incident with independent witnesses or documentary evidence.
Though the complainant stated that 8 to 10 people witnessed the altercation, none were examined. Additionally, the police failed to seize or properly identify the alleged weapon — the key ring.
The court noted discrepancies in the complainant's testimony and pointed out that neither the investigating officer nor the medical officer appeared for examination.
There was also no conclusive evidence to prove the key ring belonged to the accused. 'The prosecution could not present strong evidence. It is not possible to convict the accused on the basis of mere allegations,' the court stated, acquitting Yadav under Section 248(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Advocate Sunil Pandey for Yadav alleged that he was falsely implicated in the case, claiming he was a victim of circumstances and was trying to resolve the fight with another taxi driver when the police implicated him. The taxi driver got justice after a 17-year-long battle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'Serving During Op Sindoor Doesn't Give You Immunity': SC To Commando Accused Of Killing Wife
Last Updated: A Black Cat commando sought Supreme Court exemption from surrender in a dowry case, citing Operation Sindoor service. The court declined, noting his wife's death conviction. A Black Cat commando has appealed to the Supreme Court to exempt him from surrender in a dowry case, citing that he served during Operation Sindoor and was a part of the Black Cat commando unit of India's National Security Guard (NSG) for the past 20 years. The apex court, however, declined to grant him an exception, saying that serving during Operation Sindoor or being a Black Cat commando does not give him immunity from committing atrocities at home. The commando has been accused of killing his wife and was convicted by a trial court in July 2004 under section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with dowry deaths.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Commando Accused Of Killing Wife Says He Was In Op Sindoor. What Court Said
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today refused to provide relief to a Black Cat Commando accused of murdering his wife. When the Commando mentioned that he was part of Operation Sindoor, India's counterstrike to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, the court replied sternly that it "does not give you immunity". The bench was hearing a Special Leave Petition in which the Commando sought exemption from surrender before the police. "I am a participant in Operation Sindoor. I am a Black Cat commando," he said. Black Cat Commando is a term popularly used to refer to members of the National Security Guard, India's elite counter-terrorism force. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan responded to the Commando's argument, "That doesn't give you immunity. How physically fit you are, you alone could have strangulated your wife." Justice Bhuyan also noted the "gruesome manner" in which the Commando allegedly choked his wife to death and said this was not a case for exemption. Justice Vinod Chandran noted that the High Court had denied relief to the Commando. The Commando is accused of killing his wife under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with dowry deaths. The Commando's counsel said the only allegation against him is that he demanded a motorcycle in dowry and this charge was made by two witnesses closely related to his dead wife. The counsel said these witnesses are "highly discrepant". The court, however, refused to grant relief. It issued a notice, seeking a response from the prosecution on the Special Leave Petition. "We decline the prayer for exemption from surrendering. Issue notice on the SLP returnable in six weeks." When the Commando's counsel sought time to surrender, the court granted him two weeks.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian-origin student convicted after committing sexual act with classmate's teddy bears at Northumbria University
An Indian-origin student at the Northumbria University broke into a female classmate's dorm room and allegedly committed sexual acts with her teddy bears, according to police. Yadav is a civil engineering undergraduate at the Northumbria University in Newcastle, United Kingdom. (Wikimedia Commons) The student, Udkarsh Yadav, 18, who is the son of a building magnate in India according to UK's Daily Express, was able to access to the classmate's bedroom through a faulty gym card, which allowed him access to all rooms. He was handed a suspension of 2 years, with rehabilitation requirements, and directed to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a fine of £117 for three soft toys and bed covers as punishment. Yadav is a civil engineering undergraduate at the Northumbria University in Newcastle, United Kingdom. The gym card that he used was reportedly wrongly set up, granting him access to all areas of the university. 'Don't think I have ever come across something like this,' says Newcastle court judge The counsel for the prosecution, Jennifer Coxon, said that after the female student's room was broken into, the key card had been traced to Yadav as the intruder. Coxon said that the DNA from the substance found on the student's bed was also linked to Yadav. Following this, Yadav admitted to the offence, stating that he was 'overcome with desire'. Meanwhile, defending counsel Shada Mellor said that Yadav had chosen to study in the UK because he wanted to 'leave a lasting impact on the world', while admitting that his actions were 'wholly out of character'. 'I don't think I have ever come across anything like this before. It really is hard to imagine what was going through the defendant's mind when he did this,' Recorder Mark McKone KC said. The judicial officer said that the victim had been at home with her family when the offence was committed. Meanwhile, Yadav was shifted from the university accommodation and asked to arrange for an alternative residence. Pleading against his visa withdrawal, Yadav's counsel Mellor said that he wanted to complete a master's degree in the course. Mellor submitted before court that the university had said it would consider the same.
