Nanasaheb Ghamaji Jadhav v. The State of Maharashtra

ORDER :-

Heard learned counsel for the applicant and learned APP for the respondent - State.

¶2This is an application for suspension of sentence imposed against the applicant/appellant by learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Vaijapur, Dist. Aurangabad, in Sessions Case No.148 of 2023, by the judgment and order dated 14.10.2024. Vide the impugned judgment and order, the applicant/appellant has been convicted for the o/ence punishable under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code and sentenced to su/er imprisonment for life with 2ne of Rs.3,000/-, in default, to undergo R.I. for six months. 2024:BHC-AUG:27161-DB

¶3It is the case of prosecution that the deceased was step-mother of the applicant/appellant. The step-brother of the applicant, i.e. the informant, was given half acre more land by his father, which did not went well with the applicant. He, therefore, used to quarrel with the informant and the deceased. On 29.06.2023, the applicant had quarreled with the deceased on that count. On 01.07.2023, the applicant assaulted the deceased with a sickle, which proved to be fatal. The incident was reported to the police. The deceased died due to "hypovalemic shock due to hemorrhage due to multiple lacerated wound and large vessels injuries". The applicant/appellant fell in the well situated near the place of the incident.

¶4During the course of investigation, the blood-stained sickle was seized at the instance of the applicant. The C.A. reports disclosed that the DNA of the blood found on the sickle and the DNA of the blood of the deceased matched. On the basis of the evidence on record, the trial court convicted the applicant/appellant.

¶5It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant/appellant that the material witnesses of the prosecution have not supported the case. The circumstantial evidence available on record is not su>cient to maintain the conviction and sentence. He submits that since unknown persons were assaulting his mother, the applicant saw the same and he fell inside the well. He submits that the blood stains found on the clothes of the applicant were of male origin and therefore, not consistent to link with the crime. He submits that the evidence of the panch witness for disclosure statement and discovery shows that no statement was made by the applicant/appellant in his presence. He submits that the evidence of discovery is brought on record through the evidence of the Investigating O>cer. There is nothing to prove the charge. He submits that the applicant is behind the bars for more than one and half years and there is no likelihood that the appeal would be heard in the near future. He, therefore, prayed that the application may be allowed.

¶6Learned Addl. Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the application. He submitted that though the material witnesses have not supported the case of prosecution, discovery of sickle is proved. He submits that after the incident, the applicant had hidden the sickle and thereafter, he jumped into the well, which shows his presence on the spot of the incident. He submits that learned trial court has rightly appreciated the evidence on record. He prays that the application may be rejected.

¶7Indisputedly, the informant is the step-brother of the applicant. He is not an eye-witness to the incident. The persons named by him in his evidence, through whom he came to know about the incident, are not examined. The material witnesses, i.e. PW 6 and PW 7 have not supported the case of prosecution. Then, what remains is the discovery and seizure of the sickle at the instance of the applicant/appellant. The general diary entries at Exhs.75 and 76, read as under:- General Diary Details Bk.ks nSuafnuh ri'khy State (jkT;) : egkjk"V~ District (ftYgk) : vkSjaxkckn xzkeh.k P.S (iksyhl Bk.ks): oStkiwj

¶1G.D. No. (Bk.ks nSuafnuh dz-) : 021

¶2G.D. Date & Time (Bk-nS-fnukad vkf.k osG): 03/07/2023 11 :09 oktrk

¶3G.D. Type (Bk.ks nSuafnuh izdkj) : brj

¶4Entry of (officer) (dfjrk uksan) (vf/kdkjh) : Sanjay Mahadev Lohakare /iksfyl fujh{kd

¶5Case Type (izdj.kkpk izdkj) :

¶6G.D. Brief (Bk.ks nSuafnuh laf{kIr) : ;kosGh vkEgh iksfu-yksgdjs uksan djrks dh vkeP;kdMs riklkoj vlysyk xqUgk 346@2023 dye 302 Hkknoh e/;s ihlhvkj e/;s vlysyk vkjksih ukes ukuklkgsc ?kekth tk/ko ;kl uqUg;kaps rikl vuq"kaxkus fopkjiql dj.ks dkeh ykWdi ckgsj dk<ys dfjrk uksan-

¶7G.D. Subject (Bk-nS-pk-fo"k;) : vkjksih rikldkeh ykWdi ckgsj dk<ys ckcn uksan

¶8Acts & Sections (vf/kfu;e vkf.k dye) : Sr. No. Acts (vf/kdkjh) Sections (dye) General Diary Details Bk.ks nSuafnuh ri'khy State (jkT;) : egkjk"V~ District (ftYgk) : vkSjaxkckn xzkeh.k P.S (iksyhl Bk.ks): oStkiwj

¶1G.D. No. (Bk.ks nSuafnuh dz-) : 022

¶2G.D. Date & Time (Bk-nS-fnukad vkf.k osG): 03/07/2023 11 :25 oktrk

¶3G.D. Type (Bk.ks nSuafnuh izdkj) : brj

¶4Entry of (officer) (dfjrk uksan) (vf/kdkjh) : Sanjay Kashinath Ghuge/iksfyl gokynkj

¶5Case Type (izdj.kkpk izdkj) :

¶6G.D. Brief (Bk.ks nSuafnuh laf{kIr) : ;kosGh vkEgh iksfu-yksgdjs uksan djrks dh ;krhy uksan dza-21 e/khy vkjksuh ukes ukuklkgsc ?kekth tk/ko ;kdMs xqUg;kar okijysY;k gR;kjkckcr fopkjiql dsyh vlrk R;kus xqUg;kar okjysys gR;kj yks[kaMh foGk gk R;kps vxj lk;xko f'kokj e/khy 'ksr xV ua-85 e/khy R;kaps 'ksrkr vlysY;k ,dk fyackaP;k >kMkP;k [kkyh BsoysY;k dik'khP;k dkM;kaP;k QklkP;k [kkyh yioqu BsoYksyk vkgs eyk ?ksoqu pyk eh rks dk<qu nsrks vls fuosnu fnY;kus fuosnu iapukek dj.ks dkeh 'kkldh; iap feG.ksckcr u-i-oStkiqj ;kauk 'kkldh; iap feG.ksckcr i= fnys vkgs iap gtj ;srkp iq<hy ;ksX; rh dk;Zokgh djr vkgksr-

¶7G.D. Subject (Bk-nS-pk-fo"k;) : uksan

¶8Acts & Sections (vf/kfu;e vkf.k dye) : Sr. No. Acts (vf/kdkjh) Sections (dye)

General Diary Details Bk.ks nSuafnuh ri'khy State (jkT;) : egkjk"V~ District (ftYgk) : vkSjaxkckn xzkeh.k P.S (iksyhl Bk.ks): oStkiwj

¶1G.D. No. (Bk.ks nSuafnuh dz-) : 028

¶2G.D. Date & Time (Bk-nS-fnukad vkf.k osG): 03/07/2023 13 : 06 oktrk

¶3G.D. Type (Bk.ks nSuafnuh izdkj) : brj

¶4Entry of (officer) (dfjrk uksan) (vf/kdkjh) : Sanjay Kashinath Ghuge/iksfyl gokynkj

¶5Case Type (izdj.kkpk izdkj) :

¶6G.D. Brief (Bk.ks nSuafnuh laf{kIr) : ;kosGh vkEgh iksfu-yksgdjs uksan djrks dh ;krhy uksan dza-21 e/khy vkjksuh ukes ukuklkgsc ?kekth tk/ko ;kaus nksu iapkle{k fuosnu fnys dh] R;kus xqUg;kar okjysys gR;kj yks[kaMh foGk gk R;kaps vxj lk;axko f'kokj e/khy 'ksr xV ua-85 e/khy R;kaps 'ksrkr vlysY;k ,dk fyackaP;k >kMkP;k [kkyh BsoysY;k dik'khP;k dkM;kaP;k QklkP;k [kkyh yioqu BsoYksyk vkgs eyk ?ksoqu pyk eh rks dk<qu nsrks vls fuosnu fnY;kus fuosnu iapukek dj.ks dkeh vkEgh Lor%gk lkscr nksu iap] vkjksih ukuklkgsc ?kekth tk/ko o iksyhl LVkWi vls iks-LVs-ps 'kkldh; okgu dza MH20GK1497 ;kus fuosnu iapukek dj.ks dkeh vkjksih P;k lkax.;kizek.ks jokuk >kyks dfjrk uksan-

¶7G.D. Subject (Bk-nS-pk-fo"k;) : jokuk

¶8Acts & Sections (vf/kfu;e vkf.k dye) : Sr. No. Acts (vf/kdkjh) Sections (dye) General Diary Details Bk.ks nSuafnuh ri'khy State (jkT;) : egkjk"V~ District (ftYgk) : vkSjaxkckn xzkeh.k P.S (iksyhl Bk.ks): oStkiwj

¶1G.D. No. (Bk.ks nSuafnuh dz-) : 030

¶2G.D. Date & Time (Bk-nS-fnukad vkf.k osG): 03/07/2023 14 : 42 oktrk

¶3G.D. Type (Bk.ks nSuafnuh izdkj) : vkxeu

¶4Entry of (officer) (dfjrk uksan) (vf/kdkjh) : Sanjay Mahadev Lohakare/iksfyl fujh{kd

¶5Case Type (izdj.kkpk izdkj) :

¶6G.D. Brief (Bk.ks nSuafnuh laf{kIr) : ;kosGh vkEgh iksfu-yksgdjs uksan djrks dh] LvsMk uksan dza-28 osG 13-06 e/khy vkEgh iksyhl Lvi] nksu iap o vkjksih ukuklkgsc ?kekth tk/ko ;kaP;klg vkjsihus lkaxhrY;kizek.ks fuosnu iapukek d#u vkjksihlg iks-LVs-yk ijr vkyks-iapukek dkjokbZ njE;ku vkjksihus lkaxhrY;kizek.ks xqUg;kr okijysys gR;kj yks[kaMh foGk dk<wu fnY;kus rks iapkale{k tIr dj.;kr vkyk vkgs-vkjksihph vax>Mrh ?ksmu iqUgk ykWdvi can dj.;kr vkys djhrk uksan-

¶7G.D. Subject (Bk-nS-pk-fo"k;) : fuosnu iapukek d#u Ikks-LVs-yk ijr vkys ckcr uksn

¶8Acts & Sections (vf/kfu;e vkf.k dye) : Sr. No. Acts (vf/kdkjh) Sections (dye)

¶8The evidence on record including the above entries show that the voluntary statement was made by the applicant at 11.30 a.m., whereas, the panchas who were summoned for the same, reached the police station at 12.00 a.m. This makes it clear that the panchas reached afterwords. Therefore, the evidence of the discovery statement and recovery pursuant thereto, cannot be said to be concrete in nature. Admittedly, no blood stains of the deceased were found on the clothes of the applicant/appellant. Even if the blood stains on the sickle matched with the blood stains on petticoat of the deceased, it would not be su>cient to maintain the conviction against the applicant/appellant.

¶9There is no possibility that the appeal would not be heard in the near future. Hence, the application is allowed in terms of the following order:-

(i) The application is allowed.

(ii) During pendency of the appeal, the substantive sentence of imprisonment imposed against the applicant/appellant by learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Vaijapur, Dist. Aurangabad, in Sessions Case No.148 of 2023, by judgment and order dated 14.10.2024, convicting and sentencing the applicant/appellant for the o/ence punishable under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code, to stand suspended.

(iii) The applicant/appellant be released on bail, on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand) with one surety in the like amount. [NEERAJ P. DHOTE, J.] [R.G. AVACHAT, J.]

KBP

11-crappln4318.2014.odt IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.4318 OF 2024 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.939 OF 2024 Nanasaheb s/o. Ghamaji Jadhav ..Applicant Vs. State of Maharashtra ..Respondent ---- Mr.Chaitanya Deshpande, Advocate h/f. Mr.B.N.Magar, Advocate for applicant Mr.S.D.Ghayal, Addl. Public Prosecutor for respondent ---- CORAM : R.G.AVACHAT AND NEERAJ P. DHOTE, JJ. DATE : NOVEMBER 18, 2024