Tussle over train seat: Sessions Court acquits accused in 13-year-old case

The Sessions court has acquitted two men, who were accused of engaging in a fight over a train seat, in the year 2005, after the complainant refused to share a seat with the accused which he had illegally reserved for his friend. The court while acquitting the two held that the incident is an old one and by now the accused must have learnt a lesson that committing a crime is never a good thing, and thus, released them by asking them to learn from their own mistakes.

"The case was registered against the accused in the year 2005 and since then, they have mostly attended the trial court. By now they must have learned a lesson that commission of a crime is not a good bargain. Considering that no previous conviction has been proven against them and the fact that they have faced litigation for the past 13 years, a lenient view is required to be taken while imposing the sentence," the court held while acquitting the accused.

Rashid Thani and Wasim Khan, both residents of Mumbra, had boarded a Titwala-bound local from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja Terminus. When the accused boarded the train, the victim was seated next to the window and had reserved an adjacent seat for his friend. When the accused asked him to shift, he refused. The accused thus asked his friends to board the train and assault the victim. The magistrate court had convicted the two and sentenced them to imprisonment until next morning along with a fine of Rs one thousand. The accused had filed an appeal against the conviction.

THE PROCEEDINGS

• The case was registered against the accused in the year 2005 and since then, they have mostly attended the trial court 
   
• The court showed leniency saying, in these years accused has learnt a lesson