Mon Dec 01 06:12:44 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:
Summary:
A special MCOCA court in Thane, Maharashtra, acquitted seven individuals accused of a 2019 dacoity at a cable company godown. The prosecution failed to convincingly establish the identity and involvement of the accused, and significant legal and procedural lapses marred the evidence presented. Key eyewitness testimonies were deemed unreliable, and recoveries of items were also discredited. The court further ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the essential elements of offenses under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), notably the requirement of continuous unlawful activity.
News Article:
Thane Court Acquits Seven in 2019 Cable Godown Dacoity, Citing Weak Evidence
Thane, Maharashtra – December 1, 2025: A special MCOCA court in Thane today acquitted all seven individuals accused of a 2019 dacoity at a cable company’s godown in the Mankoli area of Bhiwandi. The court found that the prosecution’s case was riddled with inconsistencies, procedural errors, and failed to adequately establish the identity and involvement of the accused.
The incident occurred on July 18, 2019, when eight unidentified individuals allegedly broke into the godown, tied up workers, and stole cable wire valued at ₹6.77 lakh, along with cash and a driving license. Police subsequently arrested Baitulla Ruabali Chaudhary (51), Kabir Usman Shaikh (48), Swapnil alias Gotya Rajendra Panchal (38), Bablu Jangbahadur Vishwakarma (44), Puran alias Kancha Sherbahadur Sonar (28), Deepak Jagat Vishwakarma (30) and Jamil Majid Khan (54) in connection with the crime.
Judge V.G. Mohite, in the November 26th order released today, cited unreliable eyewitness testimonies, problematic identification procedures, and discredited recoveries of evidence as reasons for the acquittal. The court specifically noted contradictions in the witness accounts and concerns regarding the identification parade held at Adharwadi Jail.
Furthermore, the court rejected the prosecution’s claim that call detail records proved coordination among the accused, asserting that the data alone was insufficient to establish guilt. Critically, the court also found that the prosecution failed to meet the stringent requirements for offenses under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), particularly the element of ongoing unlawful activity.
“Considering the evidence placed on record and the legal provisions of the MCOC Act, it is noted that the prosecution has failed to prove the involvement of the accused in the crime,” the court stated in its ruling, bringing the long-running case to a close.
First Piper 