Thane Court Acquits Five in Human Trafficking Case Citing Major Evidence Gaps

Thane- A court in Thane has acquitted five men accused of human trafficking and running a flesh trade racket, pointing to serious shortcomings in the prosecution’s case, including the absence of crucial witness testimonies.

In its order dated April 21, Additional Sessions Judge Vasudha L Bhosale observed that while human trafficking remains a grave social issue, a conviction cannot be sustained without strong and reliable evidence. The court stressed that it cannot compensate for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.

The case dates back to a police raid conducted in December 2020 at a hotel in the Mira Road area of Thane district, where two women were rescued from alleged sexual exploitation. However, during the trial, the court noted multiple lapses in investigation and presentation of evidence.

One of the most critical gaps highlighted was the failure to examine a key police officer involved in setting up the raid. Additionally, the victims themselves were not produced as witnesses, which the court termed a major setback, as their testimony is central in trafficking cases.

The prosecution also relied on a “decoy customer”, who later turned hostile and denied participating in the operation, further weakening the case. The court observed that such testimony required strict scrutiny and could not be relied upon without corroboration.

It was also pointed out that the hotel owners were not charge-sheeted, leaving only lower-level staff to face trial, raising questions about the completeness of the investigation.

Given these deficiencies, the court concluded that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and granted the accused the benefit of doubt, ordering their acquittal.