Bid to kill mom: Unstable man freed 3rd time

The Thane Principal District and Sessions Court on Thursday acquitted a 49-yearold man accused of attempting to murder his 77-year-old mother in 2022, after concluding that he was mentally unstable at the time of the incident.

- Pranali Lotlikar

This was the third such serious criminal case registered against the man. In the two earlier murder cases, he had been granted protection under Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code, which exempts individuals of unsound mind from criminal liability.

The court has nevertheless issued strict directions to ensure that the accused is immediately admitted to the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane for comprehensive psychiatric treatment. The victim, a widowed senior citizen, opposed her son's acquittal, expressing strong apprehension that he posed a danger to her life. She also told the court that, considering her advanced age and fragile medical condition, the accused should not be permitted to return to her home even if acquitted.