"Bombay High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail in Assault Case Involving Senior Citizen over Meat Controversy"

On 28 August 2024, the informant, a 71-year-old man, was traveling from Chalisgaon to Kalyan on the Dhule-CSMT Express (Train No. 11012) in the general coach. The journey, which began around 8 a.m., was uneventful until the train reached Nashik Road Station. At this point, the informant noticed that an upper berth had become vacant, so he moved from his standing position to sit there. A young man, around 24-25 years old, asked to sit next to him, but due to the limited space, the informant jokingly replied that the young man could sit on his lap. This response angered some other passengers.

The tension escalated when the informant retrieved two plastic jars of buffalo meat, which he was carrying for his daughter, from under the lower seat at Kalyan Railway Station around 1 p.m. Some co-passengers, including young boys, grew suspicious and began questioning him about the contents of the jars. In an attempt to explain, the informant mistakenly mentioned that it was "ox meat," further inflaming the situation.

The boys became hostile, began verbally abusing the informant, and started filming him with their mobile phones. The situation quickly turned violent when one of the boys, with a handkerchief over his mouth, physically attacked the informant, followed by others who began beating him on his face, eyes, and stomach. The group of assailants tore his clothes and stole Rs. 2,800 from his pocket. During the attack, the assailants threatened to throw the informant off the moving train and even kill him.

When the train reached Thane Railway Station around 1:30 p.m., the informant, along with the applicant (Akash Rajendra Avhad) and the other accused, disembarked. The informant attempted to lodge a complaint with the railway police, but no immediate action was taken, and all parties eventually left the station. Fearing further trouble, the informant threw the meat into Kalyan Creek before proceeding to his daughter’s house, where he sought medical treatment for his injuries.

The incident culminated in the arrest of the applicant and other accused individuals. Initially, the applicant was granted bail for bailable offences, but later, more serious charges under Sections 302 and 311 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were added, leading the applicant to seek anticipatory bail.