Thane: A Thane court has acquitted a 43-year-old man accused of robbing a woman at knifepoint in Kalwa 23 years ago, citing insufficient evidence against him.
Additional sessions judge Premal S Vithalani, in the order on Nov 18, held that the prosecution failed to prove charges against the accused, Mohamad Sajid Iliyas Shaikh, who needs to be given the benefit of doubt, and hence acquitted him.A copy of the judgment, which follows an 18-year trial, was uploaded on Monday.
Two bike-borne men confronted the woman while she was returning home on July 3, 2001. One of them allegedly brandished a knife, threatened her, and robbed her mangalsutra worth Rs 12,000. The attackers fled after the woman’s neighbours intervened.
During the probe, Shaikh and three other accused were identified and arrested. Two of them were acquitted last year, while one died.
During the trial,a bike, a knife and gold ingots were presented. But, discrepancies arose, including the lack of signatures on memorandum statements and panchnamas. The goldsmith who allegedly received the ingots was also not examined.
PTI