A special court in Mumbai dealing with cases under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) delivered a stern verdict on Friday, convicting and sentencing two men to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. The case involved a violent episode of extortion and robbery targeting an elderly couple in the Dahisar area.
Brutal Assault on Senior Citizens
The court found Maru Yallappa Kunchikorve and Sunny Sultan Singh guilty of terrorizing and robbing an elderly couple who managed a local auto-rickshaw parking stand on Link Road in Dahisar (West). According to the prosecution led by Special Public Prosecutor Vijay Malankar, the crime dates back to January 2020. Kunchikorve, identified as a habitual offender with a long criminal history, first approached the couple to demand extortion money.
When the seniors refused to comply with his illegal demands, Kunchikorve returned with his accomplice, Sunny Sultan Singh. The duo then launched a brutal attack on the couple. They used weapons, including a chopper and a knife, to assault and intimidate the elderly victims before robbing them.
Conviction Under Stringent Laws
The accused were prosecuted under multiple sections of the law, reflecting the serious nature of their crime. The charges included relevant sections of:
- The Indian Penal Code (IPC)
- The Arms Act
- The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)
The invocation of MCOCA was particularly significant as it is designed to dismantle organized crime syndicates and carries severe penalties. The MHB Police Station was responsible for registering and investigating the case, building a strong evidence base that included testimonies from several witnesses.
Hefty Punishment: Jail Term and Financial Penalty
Beyond the decade-long prison sentence, the court imposed a substantial financial penalty to further punish the convicts and act as a deterrent. The two men were ordered to pay a combined fine of Rs 17 lakh. This heavy penalty underscores the court's zero-tolerance approach towards crimes targeting vulnerable sections of society, especially senior citizens.
The successful conviction, secured by prosecutor Vijay Malankar based on witness evidence, sends a strong message about the legal consequences of organized extortion and violence in Mumbai. The use of the stringent MCOCA law in this case highlights its application in crimes beyond traditional syndicate activities, extending to violent street-level organized crime that terrorizes communities.
