Kalyan court acquits Thackeray, Shinde in decades-old defamation case

The Kalyan District Court on Thursday acquitted both Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray in the long-pending defamation case, citing lack of substantive evidence. The court's verdict came after examining the available records, witness testimonies and statements presented during the proceedings, which the judge found inadequate to establish the charges.

In its judgment, the court identified critical gaps in the investigative process and inconsistencies in the sequence of events as documented in the case proceedings. These lacunae in the evidence presented by the prosecution formed the basis for the acquittal, according to legal observers familiar with the case.

The case, which had stretched across 17 years, represents one of several legal matters involving Maharashtra's top political figures. The acquittal brings closure to the protracted litigation, though it underscores persistent challenges in managing defamation cases through India's judicial system.

Shinde, who currently serves as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and Thackeray, the former chief minister and Shiv Sena patriarch, have been at the centre of significant political developments in the state over recent years, particularly following the 2019 government formation and subsequent political realignments.