Prosecution Failures Lead to Acquittal in Thane Human Trafficking Case

A Thane court has acquitted five men accused of engaging in human trafficking and operating a sex trade. The ruling cited significant flaws in the prosecution's case, notably the failure to examine key witnesses and the victims.

The case stemmed from a police raid at a hotel in the Mira Road area of Thane district on December 29, 2020. During this raid, two women, one from Bangladesh and another from West Bengal, were rescued from sexual exploitation.

The court, however, criticized the investigation for not having key testimony from the police officer who laid the trap, describing it as a 'grave and fatal lacuna.' The prosecution also relied heavily on a witness who later turned hostile. The judge emphatically noted inadequate evidence led to the accused benefitting from the doubt, thus ordering their acquittal and the discharge of their bail bonds.