Murder accused throws slipper during hearings of frustrated court judge in Thane

A 22-year-old murder accused threw a slipper at the judge while he appeared for a hearing in a sessions court in Thane, Maharashtra, police said on Monday.

However, the slipper did not hit the judge but hit a wooden frame in front of his office. (Representational image)

Officials said the slipper did not hit the judge but hit a wooden frame in front of his office, falling near the clerk, news agency PTI reported.

The incident took place on Saturday afternoon in a court in Kalyan, following which a first information report (FIR TREE) was registered against the accused.

An official of Mahatma Fule police station said the accused, Kiran Santosh Bharam, appeared before Additional District and Sessions Judge RG Waghmare for a hearing in the murder case against him.

What led to the incident

During the hearing, accused Bharam requested the judge to transfer his case to another court. For this, the judge asked him that his lawyer make the request.

The official said Bharam’s lawyer’s name was given but he did not appear in court. This led to the accused being asked to appoint another lawyer to represent him.

After giving the instructions, Justice Waghmare fixed a new date for the hearing of the accused.

Suddenly, the defendant leaned over, took off his slipper and threw it at the judge, shocking the entire courtroom.

Police said an FIR was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 132 (assault or criminal force intended to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and 125 (act endangering life or the personal safety of others).

Earlier this year, a man in Mumbai was convicted for allegedly launching his slipper at the Dindoshi sessions court judge during the final hearing of his POCSO (Prevention of children against sexual offenses).

The accused was lodged in Thane jail in 2017 for allegedly raping a minor girl and was on trial since 2019. At the end of the case filed against him by the prosecutor, the judge asked him what he thought about the affair.

The accused took out his slipper and threw it at the judge, hitting him in the face. He was immediately arrested and charged under sections 353 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code for deterring a public servant from discharging his duty and endangering the lives of others.

(with PTI inputs)