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Mumbai Court Acquits Absconding Man in 1989 Dacoity Case
A Mumbai court heard an old dacoity case even though the accused person could not be found.
The case was filed in 1989.
A lawyer was appointed to defend the missing accused.
The court then acquitted him.
A law called the BNSS allows courts to hold trials without accused people who have been declared proclaimed offenders and are believed to be avoiding arrest.
Other courts in Mumbai are also reopening very old cases that had been waiting for years.
These cases include allegations involving murder and child sexual abuse.
The judge may next consider a similar request in the 26/11 terror attack case.
A Mumbai special court acquitted an absconding man booked in a 1989 dacoity case after trying him in absentia under Section 356 of the BNSS.
The court appointed a legal-aid lawyer to represent the accused, who had been declared a proclaimed offender.
Special Judge Satyanarayan Navander has revived and disposed of several cases from the 1980s and 1990s involving absconding accused.
Other Mumbai special courts have also reopened dormant cases, including cases involving murder and child sexual abuse allegations.
Judge Navander is expected to hear a prosecution plea seeking an in-absentia trial for absconding accused in the 26/11 terror attack case.
- Who
- A Mumbai special court, presided over by Special Judge Satyanarayan Navander, acquitted an unnamed absconding man in a dacoity case.
- What
- The court conducted a trial in the accused's absence under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and found him not guilty.
- Where
- A Mumbai special court.
- When
- The report is dated September 12, 2026; the case was registered in 1989.
- Why
- The accused remained absconding, had been declared a proclaimed offender, and there was reportedly no immediate prospect of arresting him.
Key facts
- Case type
- Dacoity case registered in 1989
- Legal provision
- Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Trial status
- Conducted in absentia while the accused remained absconding
- Defense representation
- A competent lawyer was appointed from the legal-aid panel
- Presiding judge
- Special Judge Satyanarayan Navander
- Other reopened cases
- Cases registered between 1986 and 2003, including murder and child sexual abuse cases
- Potential next matter
- A prosecution plea for an in-absentia trial involving absconding accused in the 26/11 terror attack case
Quotes
Satyanarayan Navander
Special judge who issued the judgment explaining the BNSS provision for trials in absentia
“as per section 356 of BNSS (deals with proceedings against proclaimed offender) when a person is declared as a proclaimed offender and it is found that, he has absconded to evade trial, and there is no immediate prospect of arresting him, he can be tried as if he is present. The provision of trial in absentia has been thus provided by BNSS, provided the accused is defended by a competent lawyer.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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