Thane court acquits 21 in 2008 Dahi Handi violence and attack on police

A court in Thane has acquitted 21 people in a 2008 case of rioting and assault. Several policemen were injured in the incident and their vehicles were damaged.

The incident took place on August 25, 2008, when Dahi Handi celebrations were under way in the Tembhi Naka and Tower Naka areas. A dispute reportedly broke out between the Jai Jawan Govinda group (Jogeshwari) and the Majgaon Govinda group. Stones and bottles were thrown. Seeing the situation, a police team led by Inspector Ramdas Rathod arrived to intervene. It is alleged that members of both groups then attacked the police team, injuring policemen and vandalising their vehicles.

A case was registered at Thane Nagar police station under the Indian Penal Code for assaulting a public servant, rioting, unlawful assembly and other sections. The framing of charges was completed only in 2025.

In his order on Saturday, Additional Sessions Judge Pankaj A. Patki said the prosecution could not prove that the accused had played any role in preventing the police from performing their duty.

The judge also noted that the investigating officer himself had admitted that more than 1,000 people had gathered at the spot, which made the identification of the accused extremely important. According to the court, the injured policemen too said nothing about the presence or role of the accused. On these grounds, citing lack of evidence, the court acquitted all 21.