
The Belapur Judicial Magistrate Court has acquitted two men who were arrested 14 years ago in a bank fraud case due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The accused, Vijendra Prakash Yelke and Rahiman Abbas Mujawar, were cleared of all charges after the prosecution failed to prove their involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.
Background of the Case
The case dates back to March 12, 2010, when an attempt was made to withdraw ₹22,000 from an Axis Bank branch using a forged cheque. The bank’s executive manager noticed irregularities in the signature and raised an alarm. Following an internal investigation, Yelke and Mujawar were arrested the next day and charged with theft, forgery, and fraud.
Delays and Weak Prosecution Case
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the legal proceedings faced repeated delays. The charges were framed only in January 2019, and witness testimonies began as late as March 2024.
During the trial, multiple witnesses, including bank officials and investigators, were examined. However, inconsistencies in their statements and the absence of key documents weakened the prosecution’s case.
Contradictions in Witness Testimonies
The court found several contradictions in the statements of witnesses. The complainant, Abhaykumar Ramasare Shrivastav, initially stated that bank officials had handed over the accused along with relevant documents to the police. However, a panch witness later testified that the police had only seized the documents three days after the arrests, raising doubts about the authenticity of the investigation.
Missing Evidence
One of the biggest setbacks for the prosecution was the absence of crucial evidence. The alleged forged cheque and bank records showing signature discrepancies were not submitted in court. Additionally, Ajit Kumar Singh, the account holder whose signature was reportedly forged, was never called to testify.
Court’s Verdict
After reviewing the evidence, Judicial Magistrate Mudassar Nadeem ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Due to the lack of strong proof, the court acquitted both accused, closing a case that had been pending for over a decade.