17 Years Later, Thane Court Acquits Man in Highway Robbery Case Over Lack of Evidence
Thane, 13th May 2025: A special court in Thane has acquitted a man arrested 17 years ago in a highway dacoity case, ruling that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence. The accused, Shobhan alias Gando Himla Machar, was cleared of all charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The verdict, delivered by Additional Special Judge A N Sirsikar on April 29, became public on Monday. The court held that the evidence presented was inadequate to sustain the charges.
Machar had been arrested in 2008 for his alleged involvement in a violent robbery that occurred on December 9, 2007, on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway. A group of dacoits had intercepted vehicles and looted valuables worth over ₹3 lakh. Among the victims were three Youth Congress leaders who were en route to Surat for a public function.
However, the court found that the prosecution failed to establish the accused’s identity beyond reasonable doubt. Judge Sirsikar observed that eyewitnesses could not clearly identify Machar, casting significant doubt on the case.
The court also raised concerns regarding the admissibility of confessional statements. A senior police officer had recorded a confession from one of the co-accused, but the judge noted a breach of procedural rules. Specifically, the officer who documented the confession was overseeing the police stations involved in the investigation, a violation of Rule 3(2) of the MCOC Rules, which mandates that officers involved in the probe cannot be present during confession recordings.
In relation to Machar’s own alleged confession, the court ruled that it could not be accepted as the sole basis for conviction without corroborating evidence. “A confession alone, especially under these circumstances, cannot establish guilt,” the judge noted.
The court subsequently acquitted Machar and discharged three other co-accused who had remained absconding since the incident.
