Raj Thackeray Acquitted in 2008 Rail Protest Case

Mumbai: Raj Thackeray has been acquitted by the Thane Sessions Court in the 2008 railway recruitment protest case after the prosecution failed to present strong evidence linking him directly to the alleged offence. The verdict, delivered on May 21, brought an end to a long-running legal battle connected to the agitation led during the railway recruitment controversy in Maharashtra.

The case dates back to 2008, when protests erupted against the participation of out-of-state candidates in railway recruitment examinations. During the agitation, allegations were made that MNS workers were provoked and encouraged to launch aggressive protests. Based on these claims, a criminal case was registered against Raj Thackeray in Thane.

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However, during the court proceedings, the prosecution failed to establish direct involvement or produce concrete evidence proving Raj Thackeray’s role in the alleged offences. Observing the lack of substantial proof, the Thane Sessions Court granted acquittal to Raj Thackeray and seven other accused in the case.

Following the verdict, Raj Thackeray declined to speak to the media. Later, MNS Thane district president Avinash Jadhav addressed reporters outside the court and strongly defended the party chief.

“Raj Thackeray was wrongly made an accused. Today, after 20 years, he and seven others have been acquitted. At the time of the incident, Raj Thackeray was in Nashik. Maharashtra’s youth had come together for the protest. The incident happened in 2008, but Raj Thackeray’s inquiry started only in 2013. He was deliberately dragged into the case,” Jadhav stated.

Jadhav also highlighted that the entire legal process was conducted in Marathi. “The court told Raj Thackeray that the entire hearing happened in Marathi and even the verdict was delivered in Marathi. That was the happiest part,” he said.

Sharing Raj Thackeray’s reaction after stepping out of court, Jadhav quoted him as saying, “One hair from the bear’s body has fallen off.”

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