Justice Delayed: Families of Train Shooting Victims Struggle to Cope
Mumbai: It’s been three years since Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Chetan Singh Chaudhary unleashed a senseless wave of violence on a Jaipur-Mumbai train, killing his senior officer and three innocent passengers. The case, which has been marred by delays and administrative apathy, remains at a standstill due to a lack of a judge in courtroom number 11.
Trial Stalls Again
Chaudhary’s trial began in November 2024 in the Dendoshi Sessions Court, but it has been plagued by setbacks. The last hearing took place on March 25, 2026, after which the judge was transferred. Since then, there has been no replacement, leaving the trial in limbo. In December 2025, the trial was suspended until February 2026 due to a similar issue, and now the absence of a special public prosecutor (PP) has brought the proceedings to a standstill.
Families Wait in Vain
The delay has taken a toll on the families of the victims, who have been waiting for justice for far too long. Jaffar Khan, who witnessed his employee Syed Saifuddin being killed, is still grappling with the trauma of that day. “He repeatedly asks, ‘Why did this happen? Where has humanity gone?’,” his brother Ismail Khan said, breaking down in tears.
Jaffar Khan was on a pilgrimage with his family when the brutal murder took place. He has been unable to travel by train since then, opting for air travel instead. His first train trip since the incident was just a few days ago, when he traveled to Hyderabad for medical treatment. Now, his family is praying for his safe return.
Impact on Victims’ Families
Many families have been deeply affected by the incident, with some shunning train rides altogether. Ashok Singh, a 39-year-old resident of Kandivali, was seated alone in coach number B/02 when a passenger approached him to inform him about the shooting. He closely follows the trial proceedings, but is disappointed with the slow pace of justice. “Even after three years, they are debating whether he (Chaudhary) was mentally fit or ill. What is the use of such lengthy trials when the outcome is insignificant to the victims,” he said.
Brother of deceased Abdul Kader Bhanpurwala, Ali Asgar, said his family just wants to move past the trauma and pain, but can’t because of a suspended trial. “Kadar’s son Husaain has already left for Dubai while his wife is not in a state to speak about the incident due to health reasons,” he said.
Advocate Calls for Urgent Action
Association for Protection of Civil Rights’s advocate Karim Pathan, serving as the victims’ counsel, has condemned the delay as a “grave failure of the justice delivery system.” “The victims’ families have waited three years for the trial to proceed meaningfully. Justice delayed in a case of this magnitude, where the victims were targeted and a communal motive was evident from the accused’s conduct, sends a deeply troubling message – that even the most serious crimes can languish indefinitely due to administrative apathy,” he said.
Pathan has called for the judicial vacancy to be urgently filled and a special public prosecutor appointed to show that “the rule of law is not held hostage to vacant chairs.” Eighteen witnesses, including railway employees and passengers, have testified in the case so far.
Chaudhary’s Bail Plea
Chaudhary, who previously appeared via video conferencing, has been attending recent court hearings in person after his counsel filed a second bail plea on grounds of temporary insanity. A similar bail plea was rejected in December 2023, but his counsel submitted a second application last November following a five-month stay at Thane Mental Hospital, where he was transferred after exhibiting erratic behavior at Akola Central Jail.
The trial was halted as it could not proceed while he was in the hospital. Although a June 2025 discharge report noted he was “cooperative and communicative,” a subsequent medical evaluation submitted to the court in January found his parameters normal.
A Case of Senseless Violence
Chaudhary had opened fire in the Jaipur-Mumbai train on July 31, 2023, killing his senior assistant sub-inspector, Tikaram Meena, along with three Muslim passengers, Asghar Ali Abbas Shaikh, Abdul Kader Bhanpurwala, and Syed Saifuddin. The case is a stark reminder of the senseless violence that can occur in our society, and the need for swift and effective justice to be delivered to the victims and their families.