Blind Man behind Bars for five Vehicle Thefts

Ahmed Shaikh (32), a resident of Rakhial, has been behind bars for more than 2 months in connection with 5 two-wheeler thefts.

Ahmed Shaikh's medical reports certify him as being 100% blind. He has moved the High Court of Gujarat to quash all 5 FIRs citing that he is 100% blind and couldn'dt have been involved in such incidents.

In Dec 2019, Shaikh was booked for stealing two-wheelers from parts of the city. Ramol, Isanpur and Naroda Police registered one FIR each against him, and Vatva Police booked him in 2 theft cases. He was arrested in the cases, one after the other, on statements by other accused, showing him to be part of the alleged gang of vehicle thieves.

As soon as Shaikh was arrested and brought before the Court in various cases, his Lawyer M A Sangram presented medical certificates issued by the Blind People's Association in 2009 and by Civil Hospital in 2017. He opposed Shaikh's remand proceedings and judicial custody, but the Metropolitan Courts were inclined to send him to jail in the second week of Jan.

This isn't the first time Shaikh was arrested by city police in a criminal case. He was booked in 2 cases of vehicle theft in 2017 by Bapunagar police. He was acquitted along with a common co-accused, Aslam Chhotu, in one of the cases, whereas he still faces trial in the other case.

Cops challenge Shaikh’s claim of being blind citing CCTV footage

Interestingly, in the case in which Mr Shaikh was acquitted, Police had strongly challenged his allegations of being completely blind. The Police officers told the Court that a CCTV camera in Bapunagar captured Shaikh riding a two-wheeler. Sangram put up a lame argument that it was the handiwork of his co-accused. However, the complainant, in this case, was in no mood to prolong the case because his vehicle had been found and returned to him. 

As he hadn't received relief in these cases, Shaikh moved the High Court last month, seeking quashing of all FIRs. His Lawyer in the High Court, Anurag Rathod, contended that Shaikh couldn't have taken part in the thefts because he is 100% blind. He needs assistance in his day-to-day activities as well. He was arraigned in the theft cases merely on the basis of statements by the co-accused, which have no value as evidence in the absence of independent evidence against him.

After hearing the quashing appeal, Justice S H Vora sought a reply from the State Govt as to how Shaikh was involved in the offence. A further hearing is posted for March 24.

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