Mumbai Court Acquits Absconding Man In 1989 Dacoity Case

A special court in Mumbai has acquitted an absconding man who was booked in 1989 for dacoity. The trial was conducted in absentia, under the provisions of the Bombay Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (BNSS).

The accused, who has been absconding for over three decades, was tried by special judge Satyanarayan Navander. The judge has so far disposed of several cases registered in the 80s and 90s, where the accused were absconding.

In one such case, the judge had acquitted Rajendra Giri, a resident of Sakinaka, who was accused of looting a house with valuables worth Rs 3.80 lakh at gunpoint in 1992. The court had appointed a lawyer to defend Giri, who had been declared a proclaimed offender.

The provision for trial in absentia under BNSS allows for the trial of an accused who has absconded to evade trial and has no immediate prospect of being arrested. The accused must be defended by a competent lawyer.

Other courts in Mumbai have also initiated the process of conducting trials in absentia for cases that have been pending due to the absence of the accused. Special judge A.S. Wairagade, who deals with cases of child sexual abuse, has opened around five cases that were registered between 1988 and 2003, where the accused are still absconding.

The special court has also acquitted Jaspalsingh Chaulansingh, a resident of Thane, who was booked for murder charges in 1986. The trial was conducted in Chaulansingh's absence, while the other accused in the case were acquitted in 1996.

The development is significant, as it allows for the disposal of long-pending cases where the accused are absconding. The special judge has so far disposed of four such cases registered between 1986 and 1988.

The court's decision to conduct trials in absentia is expected to have implications for other pending cases, including the 26/11 terror attack case. The prosecution has filed a plea to conduct the trial against absconding accused in the 26/11 case in their absence.

The move to conduct trials in absentia is seen as a step towards bringing closure to victims and their families, who have been waiting for justice for decades. It also highlights the need for the police to track down absconding accused and bring them to justice.

In conclusion, the Mumbai court's decision to acquit an absconding man in a 1989 dacoity case after conducting a trial in absentia marks a significant development in the city's judicial system. It is expected to have far-reaching implications for pending cases and highlights the need for effective law enforcement and judicial processes.