July 2023 Train Firing: Trial Begins As Mumbai Court Hears First Witness

Fifteen months after a tragic shooting on a Mumbai-bound train, the trial of former Railway Protection Force constable Chetansinh Chaudhary, the accused, has begun with the recording of the first witness’s testimony.

The incident, which took place on July 31, 2023, involved the fatal shooting of 4 people, including Chaudhary’s superior, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena, and 3 passengers on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express.

During the opening day of the trial, the prosecution presented the testimony of a key witness—a dismissed RPF staffer who was present with Chaudhary at the time of the shooting. As the complainant in the case, the witness identified the weapon used by Chaudhary in the crime. The questioning, known as the examination-in-chief, was held before Additional Sessions Judge M.L. More.

Defense lawyer Jaywant Patil reported that Chaudhary could not attend the hearing through video conferencing due to technical issues; he remains detained in a jail in Akola, around 550 km from Mumbai. Cross-examination of the witness is scheduled for November 27, the trial’s next hearing date.

Chaudhary faces serious charges, including murder under IPC Section 302, promoting enmity between groups under Section 153-A, and charges under the Railways Act and Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.

According to the police report, the shooting occurred around 5 a.m. while the train was nearing Palghar station on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Allegedly, Chaudhary used his automatic service weapon to kill ASI Meena and one passenger in coach B5. He then reportedly moved through the train, shooting one passenger in the pantry car and another in coach S6, leaving all four victims fatally wounded.

Chaudhary was apprehended shortly after the attack. As he attempted to flee, passengers managed to pull the train’s emergency chain, halting the train near Mira Road station, where police arrested him with his weapon still in possession.

The trial will continue as witness testimonies and cross-examinations proceed. This high-profile case has garnered attention for its disturbing circumstances, and the trial’s outcome will likely hinge on the testimonies and evidence presented in the coming sessions.

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