Shahs acquitted in Ramesh Kini case

The Mumbai police was shamed yet again for the lacunae in investigations, with the Sessions Court acquitting two prime accused in the sensational Ramesh Kini case for want of evidence. Judge S.P. Nikam acquitted landlord of Laxmi Niwas, Laxmichand Shah and his son Suman, charged with abetment to suicide of Kini, a tenant of the Shahs. Kini, a freelance photographer, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Alka Talkies in Pune on July 23, 1996.

The judge held the duo not guilty of Section 306 (abetment of suicide) read with Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy), Section 385 (extortion by instilling fear of death or grievous hurt) and Section 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Kini’s death had raised a storm in the state, with allegations that the Shahs had sought the help of Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray to evict the Kinis from their Matunga flat. They are also alleged to have sought the assistance of Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena leader Ashutosh Rane, later named an accused but discharged from the case three months ago. The CBI gave Thackeray a clean chit.