Man tortured in police station, 2 others let off in 2010 murder

THANE: Three men booked for the murder of a Bhiwandi youth in 2010 were given the benefit of doubt and set free by the district sessions court. One of them, Kalidas Thale was beaten up during police interrogation, a video clip showed.
Thale, Kaluram Pawar and Sunil Kadam walked out free after additional sessions judge VV Bhanmarde said the evidence before him was inadequate and that the prosecution failed to prove Bhiwandi resident Shivaji Kumbhar was killed by the trio.
The video, recorded by one of the policemen, showed Thale being stripped and beaten by cops with his hands being tied to a ceiling fan.
The then sub-divisional police officer had taken cognizance of the video clip and registered a case leading to the suspension of two police personnel. The state CID was asked to take over the investigations into the case.
The three accused used the clip to secure their acquittal saying the confession was made under duress.
It was alleged that the trio had killed Kumbhar to settle an old enmity. Kumbhar was riding his bike towards Kalyan when he was attacked using sharp weapons.
Advocate Munir Ahmed, representing the suspects, said there were serious discrepancies in the panchanama on the recovery of weapon.