Thane court sentences man to life for killing security guard; brother acquitted

THANE: A court in Maharashtra’s Thane has sentenced a 31-year-old man to life imprisonment for killing a security guard after a quarrel over a vulgar message nearly three years ago. In an order delivered on Thursday, Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal acquitted the convict’s elder brother, Siddhant alias Sidhu Ramesh Shelke (33), giving him the benefit of doubt. The man convicted in the case has been identified as Sanket Ramesh Shelke, according to news agency PTI. Additional Public Prosecutor Rashmi Kshirsagar examined 11 witnesses to prove the charges against the accused.

Advocate Sagar Kolhe appeared for the defence. According to the prosecution, the victim, Uday Bhalchandra Kadam, was celebrating the birthday of his friend Tushar Damle with a group of people on April 8, 2023, in the Mumbra area when an argument broke out over an objectionable message sent to Damle’s female relative. During the altercation, Sanket, who was present at the spot, attacked Kadam with a knife. Judge Agrawal referred to witness testimonies while concluding that the injury “inflicted on his heart was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death”.

While holding Sanket guilty of murder, the judge said the evidence on record did not establish that Siddhant shared a common intention with his brother to commit the crime. The court convicted Sanket of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Siddhant, who had been in custody since April 2023, was directed to be released forthwith.