MUMBAI: While quashing by mutual consent two 2010 criminal proceedings, the Bombay high court has directed eight persons to take part in the clean-up campaign of Versova beach conducted by environmental activist and lawyer Afroz Shah "on every second and fourth Sundays for six months."
Justice Prasanna Varale and S M Modak allowed two 2021 petitions in respect of two FIRs filed in a dispute between four college students. The first FIR registered on April 24, 2010, at Charkop police station was by Ajay (name changed). He was introduced to one Meena by a common friend. Both went to movies, pubs, hookah parlour and Meena paid each time. They were joined by Ajay's cousin and another friend. Meena had given Ajay Rs 35,000 to keep. On April 23, 2010 Ajay was called to the friend's house where Meena's parents and two maternal uncles allegedly detained him, forced him to return Rs 50,000 and threatened to have him killed. Meena's kin were booked for wrongful confinement, extortion and criminal intimidation but later granted bail. Police then filed a chargesheet before the Borivli magistrate.
On April 27, 2010, Meena filed a counter complaint with the Amboli police station alleging that the boys had spiked her drink, took her pictures and blackmailed her. She claimed they also compelled her to part with nearly Rs 4.5 lakh. Later, the three boys were also booked for extortion, arrested and released on bail. The police later filed a chargesheet before the Andheri magistrate.
In 2021, the parties met and decided that since they are from respectable families, and keeping in mind the age and future of the four youths, they should put an end to the dispute and move on. The parties involved then file two petitions seeking to quash criminal prooceedings. The petitions also said that trial did not commence between 2010-2021.
In their April 27 order, the judges said that the parties made allegations against each other thereby parting with money in different circumstances. "In view of the settlement between the parties, no purpose will be served in continuing the prosecution. It will be mere futility. In future, both parties are not required to attend the criminal court," they added. The seven petitioners and Meena will take part in Versova beach clean-up.
