4 accused of firing at producer acquitted

The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Thursday acquitted four men accused of firing at a television producer.

The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Thursday acquitted four men accused of firing at a television producer.

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Anand Mahendroo, who had produced the show Dekh Bhai Dekh, was shot at on January 18, 2006, in Versova. The bullet grazed Mahendroo’s chin.

The police arrested Mahendroo’s servant, Illam Singh Rawat, and accused him of planning the attack with his aides, Tayeeb Kidwai, Alam Shabbir and Haroon Sheikh.

The police said Rawat was trying to extort money from Mahendroo. He had met the other three accused at Arthur Road jail where he was lodged earlier after being arrested for allegedly stealing from Mahendroo’s office.

They were booked for attempt to murder and later MCOCA was invoked in the case.

Defence lawyer Mahesh Mule argued that the prosecution failed to bring eyewitnesses in the case. Another defence lawyer, Wahab Khan, pointed out the discrepancies in the statement of the police regarding the wounds on Mahendroo’s body. He argued that MCOCA could not be applied in the case.

The court accepted the defence’s argument and acquitted the accused.