Riot over Rane's expulsion: 18 Shiv Sainiks acquitted after 19 years

The trial in the matter commenced only] last year and witnesses couldn't identify the accused

- CHARUL SHAH JOSHI

Nineteen years after over 100 Shiv Sena (undivided) workers were booked for “unlawful assembly and rioting” following Narayan Rane’s expulsion from the party on July 24, 2005 for “anti-party activities”, the sessions court, has acquitted 18 party members, including former mayor Vishakha Raut and former corporator Snehal Jadhav. Interestingly, the trial in the matter commenced only last year and witnesses couldn’t identify the accused owing to lapse of time. The statements of witnesses were also recorded nearly a month after the incident.

The leaders acquitted are Raut, Jadhav, Suryakant Birje, Madhukar Kachave, Ashok Kelkar, Laxman Bhosale, Mahesh Sawant, Pravin Shetye, Sumitra Pathare, Ajit Kadam, Sudha Meher, Shridhar Shelar, Hareshwar Worlikar, Sanjay Bhavake, Chandrapal Chandeliya, Sarita Ingale, Rajani Mistry, and Anusaya Mathapati.