Daijiworld Media Network - Thane

Thane, Mar 19: A sessions court in Thane has convicted two men in connection with the 2017 murder of a fruit vendor in Mira Road, sentencing them to life imprisonment while acquitting two others due to insufficient evidence.

Additional Sessions Judge D.S. Deshmukh found Sunilkumar Rajak and Sudipkumar Ravidas guilty under provisions related to murder, criminal conspiracy, and the Arms Act. However, co-accused Umesh Ravidas and Ashish Bhuiya were cleared of charges, with the court noting that their involvement could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The case dates back to April 6, 2017, when the victim, Shamu Gaud, was shot dead at his residence after responding to a late-night knock. The attacker had allegedly posed as a neighbour before firing at close range and escaping on a motorcycle.

According to the prosecution, a financial dispute was at the heart of the crime. Gaud had reportedly lent over Rs 1.5 lakh to Rajak during his time in jail in another case. The failure to repay the amount led to escalating tensions, which the court accepted as a key motive.

Despite the absence of direct eyewitnesses, the prosecution built its case on circumstantial evidence, including call records, recovery of the weapon, and witness accounts pointing to prior disputes and the presence of the accused near the scene.

While this chain of evidence was deemed sufficient to convict Rajak and Ravidas, the court found that it did not conclusively link the other two accused to the crime, granting them the benefit of doubt.