Court Orders Mental Evaluation for Railway Constable Accused of Train Shooting

A sessions court has ordered the mental evaluation of Chetan Singh, a Railway Police constable accused of a deadly shooting on a train in 2023. The court's directive requires the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane to assess Singh's mental fitness for trial and provide regular updates. Singh's defense has argued that his mental health is unstable, a claim that has been a focal point in his bail applications. The case has drawn significant attention due to the tragic loss of life, including three Muslim passengers and a senior officer. As the legal proceedings continue, the court's decision highlights the intersection of mental health and criminal justice.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 27, 2026, 18:20 IST

Court Directs Mental Health Assessment

A sessions court has instructed the authorities at Thane Central Jail to admit Chetan Singh, a dismissed Railway Police constable charged with the fatal shooting of three Muslim passengers and his superior officer on a train in 2023, to the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane for assessment and treatment, as reported by a local news outlet.

In a ruling issued on Wednesday, the court mandated that the hospital provide biweekly updates regarding Singh's mental state, including evaluations on his fitness to stand trial and ability to mount a defense.

This directive was made during the proceedings concerning his second bail request.

On March 2, Singh's attorney, Pankaj Ghildiyal, contended that his client should be granted bail due to his purportedly unstable mental health.

The court had previously requested a report on Singh's conduct in prison by March 25, but no such report was submitted.

Currently held in Thane Central Jail, Singh had previously spent four months at the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane after concerns about his behavior were raised by officials at Akola Central Jail. He was released in June, with discharge documents indicating he was “cooperative, communicative, oriented to time, place, and person,” according to the report.

In December, Singh underwent another examination at the Thane prison hospital following the court's instructions, shortly after his second bail application was submitted. The assessment deemed his condition “stable,” with all physical parameters reported as normal.

Singh's initial bail request, made shortly after his arrest in 2023, also cited mental instability as a reason for release. However, the court denied this request in December 2023, highlighting that eyewitness testimonies and Singh's own statements during the incident suggested he was in a “well-settled position and mind to commit the murder of the persons of the particular community.”

Details of the Incident

The case

On July 31, 2023, Singh fatally shot Assistant Sub Inspector Tikaram Meena along with three Muslim passengers – Abdul Kaderbhai Bhanpurwala, Sadar Mohammed Hussain, and Asghar Abbas Sheikh – aboard the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express.

Witnesses reported that Singh traversed four train coaches to select his victims, asking them for their names before committing the murders.

After one of the victims' bodies fell to the ground, Singh instructed the remaining passengers to record a video while he delivered a speech praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, and possibly either Uddhav Thackeray or Raj Thackeray.

He proclaimed, “If you want to vote, if you want to live in India, then I say Modi and Yogi, these are the two and your Thackeray.”

Following his arrest, Singh was charged under the Indian Penal Code for murder and the Arms Act. A week later, additional charges of kidnapping and promoting enmity based on religion were filed against him.