A sessions court in Pune on Thursday acquitted former BJP corporator Deepak alias Baba Misal and six co-accused in an attempt-to-murder case registered in 2013 with the Sahakarnagar police. Baba Misal is the brother-in-law of Maharashtra's urban development minister, Madhuri Misal.
Case Background
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in December 2013 when the complainant, Rajendra Deshmukh, the executive president of a city-based sports club, alleged that he was intercepted and assaulted by a group of individuals in the Sahakarnagar area of Pune. The First Information Report (FIR) stated that the attack was carried out by multiple assailants who formed an unlawful assembly, used weapons, and caused injuries to the complainant. It was further alleged that the assault was carried out at the behest of former BJP corporator Baba Misal.
Based on the complaint, the police registered offenses under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with provisions of the Arms Act and the Bombay Police Act, and initiated an investigation. Misal was arrested in January 2014 in connection with the case and was remanded in magisterial custody at the time.
Court's Verdict
In its judgment, the court acquitted all seven accused of offenses punishable under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 143, 144, 147, 148, 149 (unlawful assembly and rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 109 (abetment) of the IPC.
The court directed that all accused be set at liberty. Their bail bonds were canceled. The court permitted each of them to furnish a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and granted eight days' time to furnish surety.
This acquittal marks a significant turn in the case that had been pending for over a decade.
