Surekha Patil, 9 others acquitted in murder case

Mumbai, Oct 14 (UNI) A local court today acquitted former Shiv Sena Corporator Surekha Patil and nine others in a murder case at Chunabhatti in north-central Mumbai, due to lack of evidence against them.

While pronouncing the judgement, Additional Sessions Court Judge S D Agarwal said the accused were acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove the charges levelled against them.

Ms Patil and the nine Party activists were accused of murdering one Raj Patil, who was referred to her for eve-teasing a girl, near Chunabhatti railway station here on July 27, 2000.

However, the acquittal was based on the statement of a train motorman, who said Raj had dashed against the empty train as he was driving on the railway track running despite the horn.

Meanwhile, Ms Patil said the Opposition Party had pressurised the police to file a case, though she had helped the girl's family and Raj reach a compromise, just because he had met the accident on the day she had talked to him.

Ms Patil was given bail in the case after spending 11 months in jail. She said she would file a case against the investigating officer soon.

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