A sessions court has acquitted a man booked for rioting during the 1992-93 communal riots, holding that there was no evidence to show he was part of the mob that allegedly pelted stones.

Asif Ali Hasmulla Shaikh had been booked by Wadala police in 1993 on charges of rioting. According to the prosecution, on January 12, 1993, police constables on patrol in the Wadala area saw a mob of 300-400 people from both Hindu and Muslim communities pelting stones and soda bottles at each other.

The police said the mob turned aggressive when they attempted to disperse it. Four persons were injured in the incident and 15 were apprehended. The police claimed Shaikh remained untraced for years, leading to a non-bailable warrant being issued against him. He was arrested on July 5, 2025, and granted bail later that month. Three witnesses were examined during the trial.

“There is absolutely no evidence to show that the accused no.9 (Shaikh) actively participated in unlawful assembly. Admittedly, there is no identification parade. There is nothing on record to show that the accused along with other persons formed unlawful assembly and they pelted stones, tube lights…,” additional sessions judge M B Oza observed in the order.

The court noted that the mob had dispersed after police first conducted a lathi-charge and later fired a rifle in the air. It further recorded that none of the witnesses had identified Shaikh, or stated that they saw him armed or present at the spot. Referring to the main witness, a police constable, the court said, “The witness does not know the names of the accused persons. He has not identified the accused.”

Earlier, 14 persons had been acquitted in separate trials arising from the same case.