A former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA has been acquitted of an alleged threat made against a prison medical officer in 2016. The Mumbai Sessions Court acquitted the ex-MLA after a trial concerning the incident, where he was accused of threatening the medical officer while in prison.
Mumbai: Former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Ramesh Kadam has been acquitted by the Mumbai Sessions Court in a 2016 case involving allegations of abusing and threatening a medical officer while in Arthur Road Central prison.
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Kadam, who had been in prison since 2015 due to his involvement in the Sahityaratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation (SLASDC) scam, faced prosecution until last year.
The incident in question occurred on February 24, 2016, when Kadam reportedly entered the superintendent’s cabin without permission during a meeting with prison officials, he was allegedly upset that the police escort party for his hospital visit had not appeared.
According to the prosecution, Kadam used foul language and threatened the medical officer.
Dr. Rahul Ghule, stating, “Tu mala baher bhet, tujhi vat laun takta” (Meet me outside, I will kill you) and also threatening to harm the officer.
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Advocate Prakash Salsingikar, representing Kadam, argued that Kadam could not have abused Ghule, as assigning escorts was not within his jurisdiction but the superintendent’s responsibility.
“The accused had raised a voice against the corrupt practices of the then jail administration. Hence, he has been falsely implicated in different cases,” claimed Kadam’s lawyer,, Prakash Salsingikar.
Dr. Ghule filed a complaint, resulting in charges under IPC sections 353, 504, and 506. However, during the court deposition, Ghule was declared hostile, admitting that Kadam hadn’t abused him but rather the superintendent. Ghule revealed that he lodged the complaint on behalf of the superintendent.
The prosecution presented evidence from other prison officials to support their case. After considering all the evidence and arguments, Special Judge RN Rokde acquitted Kadam in the case.