5 acquitted in 18-yr-old case on protest related to Narayan Rane

Four other cases related to the same clash remain pending before the court with accused, including political leaders, who are now in different political parties.

The case dates back to when Rane started his political career in his 20s with the Shiv Sena, led by Bal Thackeray. In 2003, at a convention in Mahabaleshwar, the party named Thackeray’s son, Uddhav, as the “executive president”, which Rane opposed. Two years later, Rane was expelled from the party by Balasaheb, with allegations that he indulged in “anti-party activities”. This caused a divide among many who continued with their loyalty towards the Sena and others who supported Rane.

On July 24, 2005, a meeting was held by supporters of Rane in the office of the NCP in Prabhadevi when those angry over splitting the Sena gathered to disrupt it. Anticipating trouble, police increased bandobast with extra platoons of SRPF. Those supporting the Sena gathered with party flags, shouting slogans in support of Balasaheb and Rane’s supporters gathered shouting slogans against Uddhav. This resulted in a clash and stone-pelting between the groups.

Police said a deputy commissioner of police was hit with a stone and filed five separate FIRs at the Dadar police station.

In one of the FIRs, police named seven persons, including Sena shakha pramukhs. The other FIRs include names of leaders like now MLAs Sadanand Sarvankar, Anil Parab, MP Arvind Sawant, all of whom deny any involvement in the charges against them. The case was first heard before a magistrate court and was transferred last year before the special court set up to hear cases against MLAs and MPs.

Special Judge RK Rokade on Thursday pronounced five persons not guilty in the first case. Ashok Kelkar, Laxman Bhosale, Ajit Kadam, Dattaram Shinde and Shashi Phadate were acquitted. Kelkar, who suffered a stroke early Thursday, could not remain present before court. The court exempted him from personal appearance, noting his medical condition. The court said that the evidence did not specify the presence or role of these five persons at the clash.

The court also said that while initially it was claimed that police had booked 8-10 persons from the spot, there was no reference to who they were and why they were not eventually named as accused. The court also noted discrepancies in the injuries caused to the police. Defence lawyers for the accused Ashok Parte and Prachi Parte, said they were falsely implicated and were never present at the spot.