SANTOSH VISHNU JUGDAR vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR

Judgment text excerpt

:1: 901--APEAL-976-1165-2023-976-2024J.odt IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION [1] CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1165 OF 2023 Rahul Ravindra Barai …..Appellant [Orig.Accused No.1] Versus The State of Maharashtra & another .….Respondents ….. WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO.3504 OF 2023 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1165 OF 2023 [2] CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.976 OF 2023 Jishan @ Ishan Hamaja Ali Kureshi …..Appellant [Orig.Accused No.2] Versus The State of Maharashtra & another .….Respondents …... WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO.3191 OF 2023 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.976 OF 2023 ….. WITH [3] CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.976 OF 2024 Santosh Vishnu Jugdar …..Appellant [Orig.Accused No.3] Versus The State of Maharashtra & another .….Respondents ……. WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO.4960 OF 2024 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.976 OF 2024 1 of 76 Deshmane(PS) :2: 901--APEAL-976-1165-2023-976-2024J.odt ----- Mr. Sachin Deokar, Advocate for the Appellant in Apeal/1165/2023. Ms. Vrushali Maindad, Advocate for the Appellant in Apeal/976/2023. Mr. Aniket Vagal, Advocate for the Appellant in Apeal/976/2024. Ms. Kranti Hiwrale, APP for the Respondent-State. Mr. Jugal Kanani, Advocate for the Respondent No.2 in Apeal/1165/2023 & for the Applicant in IA/3504/2023. Mr. Advait Tamhankar, Advocate for the Respondent No.2 in Apeal Nos.976/2023 & 976/2024 and for the Applicant in I.A. Nos.3191/2023 & 4960/2024. ----- CORAM : SARANG V. KOTWAL & SANDESH D. PATIL, JJ. DATE : 12th & 13th FEBRUARY, 2026 JUDGMENT : [PER SARANG V. KOTWAL, J.] 1. All these three Appeals are decided by this common judgment because they arise out of the same impugned judgment and order dated 26.5.2023 passed by the learned Special Judge under POCSO Act & Additional Sessions Judge, Pune in Special Case Child Prot. No.246/2014. For convenience,