July 10: An undertrial today hurled his footwear at the metropolitan magistrate after he was convicted for chain snatching. He also threatened to kill the magistrate and abused him.Kalim Mohammed Mohammed Salim Sheikh, the convict, threw his chappal at Metropolitan Magistrate Mohan Ramrao Puranik of the 36th railway court at Mumbai Central. However, an alert police constable, who saw Sheikh throwing the footwear, put his hand between and managed to divert the chappal, which fell a short distance away from the magistrate.Sheikh was arrested for chain snatching at Lower Parel some months ago. The magistrate found him guilty of the charge and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for a year and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on him and three months RI in default. Sources informed that Sheikh has been convicted 26 times for various offences . He was so used to the court proceedings that he argued the case himself.Prakash Shete, superintendent at the City Civil and Sessions Court, who witnessed the dramatic episode. ``I was present at the court while the proceedings were going on. The accused was defending himself and appeared restless as the magistrate started delivering the order. No sooner did the magistrate pronounced his order, the accused, in a swift action hurled his chappal at the magistrate. Everyone including the magistrate were shocked and there was complete silence in the court room. But within moments, the police on duty rushed to the accused and controlled the situation,'' Shete said. The Mumbai Central railway police have filed a case against Sheikh, who was lodged at Aurther Road jail.
