A Mumbai Sessions Court has delivered a stern verdict in a case involving an attack on police personnel, sentencing two men to two years of rigorous imprisonment. The accused were found guilty of assaulting constables and attempting to flee from custody back in July 2018.
The Court's Verdict and Charges
On Thursday, Additional Sessions Judge Avinash Kulkarni held Abbas Khan and Sunil Chavan guilty for their roles in the incident. The court convicted them under multiple sections of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 224 (attempt to escape custody), Section 353 (assault to deter public servant), and Section 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to public servant).
In his ruling, Judge Kulkarni emphasized that the acts of the accused were "conscious and intentional". The court noted the offence was "sufficiently grave to warrant a substantive sentence," leading to the two-year prison term. The duo were in their twenties at the time of the crime.
Details of the 2018 Incident
The events unfolded on July 9, 2018. The accused, who were already in judicial custody in connection with an Arms Act and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case, were being transported from Arthur Road Jail to the Esplanade Court.
At around 2:10 PM, they requested permission to use a washroom. While being escorted to the facility located in the adjoining premises of the Crime Detection Cell at Azad Maidan Police Station, the accused launched their escape plan. As per the prosecution's case, one of them flung a powdery substance into the eyes of the accompanying policemen, causing temporary loss of sight. The other accused assaulted a constable, and both then attempted to flee.
However, their escape was short-lived. Alert police personnel gave chase and successfully apprehended them shortly after the attempt.
Evidence That Sealed the Case
The prosecution's case was strongly supported by technological evidence. The court placed significant reliance on CCTV footage retrieved from the Azad Maidan police station. The video clearly showed the duo pushing the police officers and running away, corroborating the eyewitness accounts.
Judge Kulkarni remarked on the importance of such evidence, stating, "Courts have consistently recognised the value of corroborative evidence, including medical reports, CCTV footage, and spot panchnamas, in supporting the testimony of eyewitnesses." This evidence proved crucial in establishing the sequence of events and the intent behind the accused's actions.
The sentencing brings a conclusive end to a case that highlighted the risks faced by law enforcement officers while performing their duty and the judiciary's firm stance against attempts to obstruct justice.
