Mail News Service
Seraikela, March 12: The Seraikela Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court has acquitted 21 accused in a case related to a labour protest at Tayo Rolls Limited, bringing an end to a nearly nine-year-long legal battle.
The case dates back to September 22, 2017, when workers staged a dharna and demonstration in front of the Tayo Rolls Limited premises. The protest was followed by police action, after which a case was registered against several individuals allegedly involved in the agitation.
After prolonged hearings and examination of evidence, the court ruled that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient and reliable evidence to substantiate the charges against the accused.
In its judgment, the court observed that the allegations could not be proven beyond doubt and therefore all the accused were entitled to the benefit of acquittal.
Based on this finding, the court acquitted all 21 individuals named in the case.
Those acquitted include Ajay Kumar Sharma, Shailesh Kumar Tiwari, Yogendra Sharma, Awadhesh Kumar Singh, Harendra Prasad Singh, Dilip Kumar Mishra, Naveen Kumar Sharma, Laxman Pathak, Satyanarayan Prasad, Anil Kumar Singh, Shailendra Kumar, Devendra Singh, Guru Prasad Mahto, Santosh Kumar Singh, Rakesh Singh Chandel, Sunil Kumar Mishra, Keshav Chaudhary, Rishi Kumar, Alok Kumar, Ravindra Tiwari and Sadhu Saroj.
The verdict effectively closes a case that had remained pending in court for nearly a decade following the labour agitation outside the industrial unit in Gamharia.
