A Thane man received a life sentence for the murder of a security guard after a violent altercation sparked by a vulgar message, highlighting the deadly consequences of escalating disputes.
A court in Maharashtra's Thane has sentenced a 31-year-old man to life imprisonment for killing a security guard following a fight over a vulgar message nearly three years ago.
In his order delivered on Thursday, Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal acquitted the convict Sanket Ramesh Shelke's elder brother Siddhant, alias Sidhu Ramesh Shelke (33), giving him the benefit of doubt.
Additional Public Prosecutor Rashmi Kshirsagar presented 11 witnesses to prove the charges against the accused. Advocate Sagar Kolhe represented the defence.
The prosecution told the court that victim Uday Bhalchandra Kadam was celebrating the birthday of his friend Tushar Damle with a few others on April 8, 2023, in the Mumbra area, when a quarrel broke out over an objectionable message sent to Damle's female relative.
Amid the fight, Sanket, who was present at the spot, assaulted Kadam with a knife.
Judge Agrawal cited the testimonies of witnesses to conclude that the injury "inflicted on his heart was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death".
While he held Sanket guilty of murder, the judge said the material on record does not establish that the accused Siddhant shared a common intention with his brother to commit the crime.
The court convicted Sanket of murder, sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him. Siddhant, who had been in custody since April 2023, was ordered to be released forthwith.