Thane: Sessions Court Sentences 45-Year-Old Man To Life Imprisonment For Murder Of Watchman Over Shelter Dispute

Thane: The Principal District and Sessions Court, Thane, has convicted a 44 year old Santacruz resident, originally from Nepal, for murdering his 45-year-old, Padam Bahadur Thakulla Santacruz resident, who was working as a watchman with a Thane based society. The court thus sentenced the accused Indramohan Bharmale Budha to life imprisonment for the murdering Thakulla.

The court found Budha guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for stabbing Thakulla to death which inside a watchman’s room at Neelam Society, Thane.

The prosecution, led by APP A.P. Ladvanjari, established that Budha and Thakulla were relatives from Nepal and worked as watchmen in different parts of Mumbai. On October 2021, day of the incident, Budha visited Thakulla’s home, requesting food and shelter. When Thakulla and his wife refused, Budha left but later returned. In a fit of rage, he stabbed Thakulla multiple times with a kitchen knife at around 3:45 p.m.

Thakulla, gravely injured, managed to step outside the society gate, where witnesses saw Budha following him. He was rushed to Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital, Kalwa, but succumbed to his injuries the next day. The prosecution relied on eyewitness testimonies, medical reports, and video evidence from a mobile phone and CCTV footage to establish Budha’s guilt.

The court held, “At the outset, it would be apposite to mention that the case of the prosecution is entirely based on circumstantial evidence. The links that are sought to be made out for forming the chain of circumstances leading to the guilt of the accused are of Motive, Last seen together, Oral dying declaration, Medical evidence, Conduct of the accused before and after the incident, CCTV footage and the mobile clip, Non discharge of burden under Section 106 of the Evidence Act, No explanation in statement under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.”

In its judgment, the court dismissed Budha’s defense and found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000.