Court acquits two accused in Ambani helicopter sabotage case

MUMBAI: A local court today acquitted two persons accused of sabotaging business tycoon Anil Ambani's helicopter in April last year, due to lack of evidence.

Uday Wanekar (32) and Palraj Thewar (38) were arrested for allegedly planting pebbles and gravels in the combined gear box of the helicopter owned by Ambani on April 23 last year, while it was parked in the hanger of Airworks Indian Engineering Ltd for maintenance.

According to the prosecution, the duo, employed as helpers in Airworks, tried to sabotage the helicopter to cause wrongful loss and damage to Airworks following a dispute with the management.

"There was constant dispute between the management and union members including the two accused of Airworks. The duo wanted to take revenge and create trouble for the company," public prosecutor Pradip Gharat had argued.

Additional sessions judge M V Kulkarni, however, disbelieved the prosecution theory and acquitted the two after observing that the benefit of doubt is given to the accused.

The two were booked under the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act and under various sections of IPC.

The case dates back to April 23 last year when technicians Bharat Borge and Ramshankar Chauhan had during inspection and refuelling found the filler cap of the gear box fitted on the reverse side. When the cap was opened, they found stones and soil inside.