Dhule Sessions Court acquits ten Muslims, including two women, in the case

Jamiat Ulema Maharashtra (Arshad Madni) provides legal aid
Dhule, 8 December
The Dhule Sessions Court, Additional Sessions Judge Jai Shri AR Plate, has acquitted 10 accused, including two women, in a riot case that took place on the occasion of Holi in Sakri, near Dhule, due to the complainant and other government witnesses deviating from their previous statements. The court acquitted the accused, including Samiya Zakir Sheikh, Shabana Farooq Sheikh, Miraj Ibrahim Syed, Nasser Sapru Sheikh, Irfan Sapru Sheikh, Mohiuddin Sheikh, Nisar Naseeb Khan Pathan, Samad Saleem Sheikh, Zakir Sapru Sheikh, and Saleem Sheikh, from serious charges, including attempt to murder. The Jamiat Ulema Maharashtra (Arshad Madni) Legal Aid Committee, on the request of Jamiat Ulema Dhule, pursued the case of the accused. Advocate Ashfaq Sheikh appeared for the defense, while Advocate NB Kalal pursued the appeal.
On 18 March 2022, communal riots broke out in Sakri on the occasion of Holi, after which the police registered a case against 10 Muslims, including two women, under sections 147, 148, 307, 353, 332, 336, 337, and 295 of the Indian Penal Code. The police also invoked the Arms Act, Section 4/25, against the accused and alleged that they had attacked with weapons. Initially, the case was heard in the Sakri Magistrate Court, but later it was transferred to the Dhule Sessions Court as the police had also invoked Section 307 against the accused.
During the final hearing, Advocate Ashfaq Sheikh told the court that the complainant and his wife did not support the police and deviated from their previous statements, and therefore, the accused should be acquitted.
The Dhule Sessions Court, Additional Sessions Judge Jai Shri AR Plate, in his judgment, said that the accused cannot be punished on the basis of mere suspicion and deviation from the statements of key witnesses, and therefore, all the accused are acquitted.
On the instructions of Jamiat Ulema Maharashtra President Maulana Halimullah Qasmi, Mustaq Sofi (General Secretary, Dhule District) and his companions pursued the case.