MEENABAI LOBAJI GAIKWAD vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Judgment text excerpt

APEAL-852-2019.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 852 OF 2019 WITH INTERIM APPLICATION (ST) NO. 11514 OF 2026 Smt. Meenabai Lobaji Gaikwad . Appellant Age: 61 years, Occupation- nil . Residing at - Opposite Pink City, Vinod Kalte Brick Kiln, Wakad, Pune. Presently Lodged at: Yerawada Central Jail V/S. State of Maharashtra . Respondent (through Hinjewadi Police Station) . ------------------- Adv. Sachin Salunke for Appellant. Dr. Dhanlakshi S. Krishnaiyyer, APP for Respondent-State. -------------------- CORAM : MANISH PITALE & SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, JJ. RESERVED ON : 12th JUNE 2026 PRONOUNCED ON : 23rd JUNE 2026 JUDGMENT: (PER SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, J.) 1. The present Appeal has been filed challenging the impugned Judgment and Order dated 28.11.2016 passed by the Court of Sessions, Pune in Sessions Case No. 666/2013, whereby the Appellant Bhalerao 1 of 30 APEAL-852-2019.doc has been convicted under Section 235(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C.) for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and has been sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and pay a fine of Rs. 10,000/- and in default to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for 6 months. 2. BRIEF FACTS OF THE PROSECUTIONS CASE a. It is the case of the Prosecution that Meenabai Gaikwad, the Appellant herein is the mother-in-law of the deceased Savitra Vijay Gaikwad. Savitra was married to Vijay Gaikwad (son of the Appellant) in June 2006. The Appellant came to reside with them four months prior to the incident. It is further the case of the prosecution that the Appellant used to pick up quarrels with the deceased. b. It is further the case that the Appellant had mortgaged her gold ornaments with one jeweller (Mar