2016 Assault Case: Court Refuses to Discharge Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde

Mumbai: In a significant development, a Mumbai court has rejected the discharge plea filed by city Mayor Ritu Tawde in connection with a 2016 assault case involving two school teachers.

The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Y.P. Manathka, who observed that the statements of the victims and supporting witnesses were sufficient to frame charges against the accused.

The case dates back to July 29, 2016, when an alleged altercation took place at an Urdu medium school run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the Vakola area.

According to the prosecution, the dispute arose over the sudden transfer of a female teacher, who was reportedly battling cancer at the time. It is alleged that Tawde, along with six others, entered the school premises and confronted the management regarding the transfer decision.

During the confrontation, the accused allegedly engaged in a heated argument, hurled abuses, and physically assaulted two teachers. Police further claimed that Tawde was directly involved in the assault, including slapping the victims.

An FIR in the case was registered on August 11, 2016, nearly 13 days after the incident. The defence had argued that this delay was unexplained and raised doubts about the credibility of the complaint.

In her plea, Tawde maintained that her presence at the school was coincidental and that she had no connection with the alleged incident. She also alleged that the complaint was motivated and filed to gain publicity by targeting her political identity.

However, the prosecution, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Iqbal Solkar, argued that the victims had clearly named Tawde as one of the individuals involved in the assault. Witness statements also supported these claims.

The court, while dismissing the plea, noted that the victims had categorically identified Tawde as the person who assaulted them, and other witnesses had corroborated the allegations.

“This is more than sufficient to frame charges against the applicant,” the court observed in its ruling.

The court further подчеркed the seriousness of the incident, stating that such acts within a school environment — a place meant for learning and discipline — must be viewed strictly.

With the discharge plea rejected, the case will now proceed to the next stage of trial, where charges are likely to be formally framed against the accused.

The ruling marks a crucial step in a decade-old case that continues to draw attention due to the involvement of a prominent political figure.