In a recent ruling by a Mumbai sessions court, Mehtab Siddiqui, who threw a stone from a moving train in 2012, injuring Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Mahindra Ahire at Sewri station, was fined ₹500 without jail time. The court considered Siddiqui’s age at the time (20 years) and the minor nature of the injury, stating that imprisonment was unnecessary to serve justice.

This decision contrasts with other cases where individuals have received harsher penalties for similar offenses. For instance, in 2019, a man was sentenced to 10 years in jail for pelting stones at Mumbai local trains, causing injuries to passengers. Under Section 153 of the Indian Railways Act, stone pelting on trains is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Stone pelting incidents remain a significant concern, with over 7,900 cases reported since 2023, leading to substantial financial losses and safety risks.

Sources