Here's a breakdown of a recent court decision from the Bombay High Court, where several accused were found not guilty in a serious assault case.
On the night of August 17, 2017, a brutal attack happened near Happy Games Zone in Kala Nagar, Nashik. Witnesses said that Nikhil More, along with Suraj Khode and Amol Nikam, was attacked by a group of men. The attackers used weapons like sickles and choppers, leaving Nikhil More seriously injured.
On November 10, 2020, the Additional Sessions Judge in Nashik found five accused, including Arif Qureshi and Sharad Pagare, guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. They received sentences ranging from six months to life in prison.
Arif Qureshi and Sharad Pagare challenged the decision, saying that the evidence against them was not reliable. On December 1, 2025, Judges Manish Pitale and Manjusha Deshpande found the accused not guilty, for several reasons:
Unreliable Witness Testimonies: The court found differences in the stories of the two injured witnesses, Suraj Khode and Amol Nikam. Their accounts were considered not entirely trustworthy.
Doubtful Presence of a Key Witness: Sachin Kadam, another supposed eyewitness, was found unreliable. His presence at the scene was doubted, which affected the stories of the other witnesses.
Lack of Supporting Evidence: The weapons supposedly used in the attack were not found, and the ballistic report was negative. This lack of physical evidence weakened the prosecution's case.
Previous Enmity: There was evidence of past disagreements between the parties, raising the possibility of false accusation.
The court decided that the prosecution's evidence was not enough to keep the convictions. As a result, Arif Qureshi and Sharad Pagare were found not guilty, and the court ordered their immediate release, provided they were not needed in any other case.
This case shows the importance of reliable evidence and how past disagreements can affect legal proceedings.
