Bhiwandi court has sentenced 28-year-old Ramshila Phulkarn Paswan to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for culpable homicide in a 2017 assault case that left one man dead and another gravely injured. The verdict, delivered by Additional Sessions Judge N L Kale on September 22, also saw six other accused acquitted due to insufficient evidence, marking a significant turn in a case that has lingered for eight years.
The incident, rooted in a heated dispute over money, unfolded on October 19, 2017, at a factory in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra’s Thane district. What began as a verbal altercation between acquaintances escalated into a violent confrontation, with Paswan allegedly attacking Kamleshkumar Patel with a wooden rod. Kamleshkumar succumbed to his injuries, while Bablu Patel, the complainant, sustained severe wounds during the assault. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting tensions among workers in the industrial hub.
The court convicted Paswan under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), imposing a seven-year sentence and a fine of Rs 8,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional four months of imprisonment. Paswan, who has been in custody since 2017, was granted the benefit of set-off under Section 428 of the Criminal Procedure Code, allowing the time already served to be deducted from his sentence.
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Additional Public Prosecutor Vijay M Mundhe presented a robust case, examining 14 witnesses to establish Paswan’s guilt. The prosecution painted a vivid picture of the violent encounter, emphasizing Paswan’s role in the fatal attack. However, the court found the evidence against the six other accused—migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar—lacking, leading to their acquittal. This split verdict has sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning the strength of the case against the acquitted individuals.
The roots of the 2017 incident lie in a financial disagreement that turned deadly. According to the prosecution, Paswan and the victims were acquaintances working in Bhiwandi’s bustling industrial sector, known for its textile and manufacturing units. The dispute, though initially minor, escalated when Paswan allegedly picked up a wooden rod and attacked Kamleshkumar and Bablu Patel. The brutality of the assault left Kamleshkumar fatally injured, while Bablu, who survived, became the key complainant in the case.
The trial, spanning nearly eight years, faced delays due to the complexities of gathering evidence and witness testimonies. Bhiwandi’s industrial landscape, with its transient workforce, posed challenges in tracking down witnesses and building a watertight case. Despite these hurdles, the prosecution’s focus on Paswan’s actions secured his conviction, though the acquittal of the other six accused has raised questions about the investigation’s scope.
The verdict has reignited discussions about workplace disputes and violence in Bhiwandi, a hub for migrant workers from across India. The case underscores the need for better conflict resolution mechanisms in high-pressure industrial environments, where minor disagreements can spiral into tragedy. Local residents and workers’ groups have called for improved safety measures and mediation processes to prevent such incidents in the future.
For Paswan, the seven-year sentence marks the culmination of a long legal battle, with his time already served bringing him closer to release. However, the fine and potential additional imprisonment add a layer of uncertainty to his future. The acquitted individuals, meanwhile, return to their lives after years of legal scrutiny, though the case’s outcome may leave lingering tensions in the community.
The court’s decision to convict only Paswan while freeing the six co-accused highlights the challenges of proving collective responsibility in such cases. The prosecution’s reliance on witness testimonies and forensic evidence was sufficient to pin the blame on Paswan but fell short for the others. Legal experts note that the acquittals reflect the high burden of proof required in criminal cases, particularly when evidence is circumstantial or incomplete.
As Bhiwandi moves forward, the case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unresolved disputes and the long shadow they cast. For the victims’ families, the verdict offers partial closure, with justice delivered against one perpetrator but questions lingering about the broader circumstances of that fateful day in 2017.
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