A significant ruling from a sessions court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has seen five individuals cleared of murder charges originating 32 years ago. The court cited severely damaged and missing legal documents, alongside the prosecution’s failure to present credible witnesses, as key factors in the acquittal.
Additional Sessions Judge P.F. Sayyad of Kalyan delivered the verdict on September 26th, with the details officially released on Friday, October 3, 2025.
The case revolved around the brutal assault and subsequent death of Lucky Premchand Bhatia, who was attacked with sharp weapons in Samrat Ashok Nagar on December 16, 1992.
The five individuals accused in connection with Bhatia’s death were Suresh Dinanath Upadhyaya, Gautam Mahadev Gaikwad, Mohiddin Siddhique Khan, Kanahayya Basanna Koli, and Kumar Chetumal Nagrani.
The protracted legal process, spanning over three decades, presented substantial obstacles. All five accused failed to appear in court after being granted bail, which led to the issuance of non-bailable warrants and a proclamation order in September 2024 to compel their attendance.
Crucially, the judge noted that vital evidence, such as witness statements and the chargesheet, was severely damaged or torn. Furthermore, the essential postmortem report was entirely missing from the court records.
Despite efforts, the prosecution managed to present only two witnesses. However, one witness’s testimony was ultimately dismissed as unreliable by the judge due to the individual suffering from Parkinson’s disease, affecting their credibility.
In light of these considerable evidentiary shortcomings, the court pronounced the acquittal of all five accused, concluding that the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.