Mumbai Court Declares Ex-RPF Constable Fit to Stand Trial in Jaipur-Mumbai Train Shootings

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A Mumbai sessions court has ruled that former Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Chetansingh Chaudhary is mentally fit to stand trial for the 2023 Jaipur-Mumbai train shooting case, where he allegedly shot and killed four individuals, including a fellow RPF officer and three passengers.

The incident occurred on July 31, 2023, on board the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express between Vaitarna and Mira Road stations. According to authorities, Chaudhary opened fire using his service rifle, killing Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena along with passengers Kadar Bhanpurwala, Syed Saifuddin, and Asghar Shaikh.

Following his arrest, Chaudhary was sent for psychiatric evaluation after claims of mental instability. He was housed at a mental health facility in Thane while the trial remained on hold. However, a recent report from the Mental Health Review Board concluded that Chaudhary is now stable, cooperative, and fully capable of understanding legal proceedings. Based on this report, the Dindoshi sessions court lifted the stay on the trial.

On resumption of the trial, the court recorded the statement of former RPF head constable Narendra Parmar, who was present on the train during the incident. Parmar testified that he witnessed Chaudhary shoot one of the passengers after the latter pleaded for his life, stating that he was just a regular employee who believed in God. Parmar told the court he was too fearful to intervene, concerned that he too might be shot.

The court has ordered that Chaudhary must not be transferred out of Thane Central Jail without explicit permission from the bench. Forensic identification of physical evidence has been postponed to a later date.

Chaudhary is facing multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code, including murder and promoting enmity on religious grounds, as well as offenses under the Railways Act. The case drew nationwide attention due to the communal angle suggested in the killings and the breach of public safety aboard a running train.

Further hearings will involve witness testimonies and examination of physical evidence collected from the crime scene.