Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, May 31: After nearly three decades, the Dindoshi Sessions Court has acquitted Roshanlal Sundarlalsingh Thakur, a 55-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, of charges of kidnapping, forced marriage, and sexual assault, citing lack of evidence and the victim’s refusal to support the prosecution.

The case dates back to April 30, 1995, when Thakur, then 25, was accused of kidnapping a minor girl aged 15–16 from Mumbai, taking her to his hometown in UP, performing a mock marriage, and allegedly sexually assaulting her repeatedly.

However, in a significant development during the trial, the now 42-year-old victim turned hostile, telling the court she could not recall the incident, denied having lived with the accused or having had any physical relationship with him, and expressed no interest in pursuing the case. She also denied giving any statement to the police earlier.

The FIR in the case had been filed by the victim’s father at Dahisar Police Station on June 9, 1995, and Thakur was arrested a month later. After being released on bail that year, he was re-arrested on a non-bailable warrant in January 2024, and had been in custody at Thane Central Jail since then.

The NGO Dard Se Humdard Tak, led by Advocate Prakash Salsingekar, represented Thakur in court, providing legal aid as part of its mission to assist undertrial prisoners who lack legal support.

The court noted that no corroborative evidence was presented and attempts to examine the victim’s parents and the investigating officer failed—either due to hearsay concerns or unavailability.

Observing that the entire case rested on the victim’s testimony, which failed to support the charges, the court ruled that the prosecution had not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, resulting in Thakur’s acquittal after 29 years.