A court in Thane district has acquitted a 40-year-old man accused in a case under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), giving him the benefit of doubt.
Special Judge A N Shirsikar, hearing cases pertaining to the MCOCA, in the order on Saturday held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the jailed accused, Mohammad Nadeem Merchant alias Nadeem Chikna, defence counsel Poonit Mahimkar said on Sunday.
The prosecution told the court that the accused ran a crime syndicate in and around Mumbra area of Thane and resorted to extortion from builders, hoteliers, citizens, businessmen and media persons.
The accused and his associates and threatened people with dire consequences, the prosecution alleged.
On the other hand, the defence counsel argued that the prosecution failed to prove the case against the accused and there was no recovery from him.
He also submitted that the complainant journalist failed to identify the accused in the court and no movable or immovable property was seized by police.
The judge after hearing both the sides concluded that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against the accused and hence he needs to be freed, Mahimkar said.
