Pune: A sessions court on Thursday acquitted former BJP corporator Deepak alias Baba Misal and six co-accused in a 2013 attempt-to-murder case registered with the Sahakarnagar police. Baba Misal is the brother-in-law of state urban development minister Madhuri MisalAs per the prosecution’s case, the incident dates back to Dec 2013, when the complainant, Rajendra Deshmukh, executive president of a city-based sports club, alleged that he was intercepted and assaulted by a group of people in the Sahakarnagar area of Pune. The FIR stated that the attack was carried out by multiple assailants, forming an unlawful assembly, and involved the use of weapons, causing injuries to the complainant. It was further alleged that the assault was carried out at the instance of former BJP corporator Baba Misal. Based on the complaint, police registered offences under relevant provisions of the IPC, along with sections of the Arms Act and the Bombay Police Act and initiated investigation. Misal had been arrested in Jan 2014 in connection with the case and was remanded in magisterial custody at the time.In its judgment, the court acquitted all seven accused of offences punishable under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 143, 144, 147, 148, 149 (unlawful assembly and rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and 109 (abetment) of the IPC.The court directed that all accused be set at liberty. Their bail bonds were cancelled, the court permitted each of them to furnish a personal bond of Rs25,000 and granted eight days’ time to furnish surety.
