Donate to charity and get case quashed: Bombay High Court tells 10 Mankhurd youths

Observing that cricket bats were for hitting balls, not assaulting people, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered 10 people, accused of assaulting four of their friends in 2015, to donate either to the Police Welfare Fund or any charitable institution, if they want the proceedings against them quashed.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and A Sayyed said, "These accused, who are in the age group of 20-26 years, should feel the pinch. They cannot be allowed to let go easily or else they will repeat their act."

The court asked their advocate to either make the donation on their own or bring payment receipts on the next date of hearing, or the court would then impose a fine on them. Further, it also directed the accused to tender consent affidavits from victims, agreeing to quashing of the proceedings.

One of the accused person, Swapnil Kashid, had approached the court seeking quashing of the case registered against them at the Mankhurd police station. According to the police, accused and victims live in the same area.

They were playing cricket on January 9, 2015, when they got into an argument over a minor issue. The accused then assaulted the victims with bats.

The bench stated, "The accused should learn a lesson." The matter has been kept for hearing on June 21. Earlier in another case, while agreeing to quash proceedings against some youths, the high court directed them to clean railway stations or their nearby vicinities on weekends.