Mumbai court finds ex-railway cop accused of killing four on train fit for trial

The trial of dismissed Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Chetansingh Bacchusingh Choudhary resumed after a five-month gap, as a Mumbai court declared him mentally fit to stand trial.

Choudhary is accused of shooting and killing four people, including his senior colleague, onboard the Jaipur-Mumbai Express on July 31, 2023, between Vaitarna and Mira Road stations.

The proceedings had been stalled after Choudhary claimed mental instability and sought transfer to the Thane mental hospital.

Last month, Dindoshi Sessions Judge M.H. Pathan received a medical report from the Regional Mental Hospital which stated that Choudhary was mentally fit. The court then ordered the trial to proceed.

On Monday, a key witness, also a former RPF constable, resumed his deposition. Narendra Parmar, who was present on the train during the incident, described the final moments of one of the victims, passenger Asghar Shaikh.

He told the court that Shaikh had pleaded with Choudhary, saying, "Main aam mulazin hoon. Main bhi bhagwan ko maanta hoon. Bhagwan aur Allah ek hain." (I am just an ordinary employee. I also believe in God. God and Allah are one.)

Despite this, Choudhary allegedly shot him twice in the chest.

Parmar testified that he feared intervening might provoke Choudhary to shoot more passengers or himself. However, he did alert a colleague to contact the control room.

Choudhary is accused of killing Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena and three passengers using his service weapon during the early morning incident. He was arrested shortly afterward and has been in custody since.

The court also directed the jail authorities not to transfer Choudhary from Thane Central Prison without prior court permission.

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