GANGARAM MAGAN CHAVAN vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Judgment text excerpt

ssm 29-wp255.2025.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 255 OF 2025 Gangaram Magan Chavan (Through Jail) …..Petitioner Vs. State Of Maharashtra …..Respondent ____________________________________ Ms. Manisha Devkar, appointed Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. Amit A. Palkar APP, for the Respondent-State. ____________________________________ CORAM : A. S. GADKARI AND SHYAM C. CHANDAK, JJ. DATE : 12th JANUARY, 2026. ORAL JUDGMENT (Per:- A.S. Gadkari, J.):- 1) The Petitioner has sent this Petition through jail seeking relief of placing him in a category of convicts to undergo sentence of 22 years for the crime, for which he is undergoing sentence. 2) Heard Ms. Devkar, learned Advocate appointed by the Legal Aid Committee, High Court, Mumbai and Mr. Palkar, learned APP for the State. Perused the record. 1/4 ssm 29-wp255.2025.doc 3) The Petitioner is convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the IPC and sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life by Judgment and Order dated 17 th December, 2008, passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Greater Mumbai in Sessions Case No.778 of 2007, for commission of murder of his wife Anjudevi by pouring kerosene on her person and set her on fire with a burning candle. The said act of burning of his wife was committed by the Petitioner on 22 nd July, 2007 at about 9.30 p.m. in his house. The deceased suffered 79% superficial to deep burns. 3.1) P.W. No.3 Dr. Chauhan, who performed autopsy on Anjudevi has opined that, the cause of death of deceased was Septicemia due to superficial to deep burns. 4) Appeal preferred by the Petitioner bearing Criminal Appeal No.61 of 2009 against the said Judgment and Order of conviction, has been dismissed by the