SHRIKANT KAMAL CHAVAN vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Judgment text excerpt

APEAL- 762 OF 2021 Digitally signed by IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY PURTI PURTI PRASAD PRASAD PARAB PARAB Date: CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION 2026.03.07 15:06:28 +0530 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.762 OF 2021 Shrikant Kamal Chavan Aged about 29 Years Occupation : Labour, R/o. Karnal Tanda, Tal. Sindgi, District : Vijapur (Vijaypur) State : Karnataka. At present detained in Central Prison Yerwada, Pune. ... Appellant V/S The State of Maharashtra (Through Senior Inspector of Police, Wanwadi Police Station, Pune) ... Respondent _______ Ms. Anjali Patil a/w Mr. Tohin Shaikh for the Appellant. Dr. Dhanlakshmi S. Krishnaiyer, APP for Respondent-State. _______ CORAM : MANISH PITALE & SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, JJ. RESERVED ON : 4th FEBRUARY 2026 PRONOUNCED ON : 7th MARCH 2026 JUDGMENT (PER SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT J ): 1. The present Appeal has been filed challenging the Impugned judgment and order dated 17.03.2021, passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Pune, convicting the accused-appellant for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentencing him to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000/- and in default to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months. Anant Naik/Purti Parab 1 APEAL- 762 OF 2021 2. Brief facts of the case of the prosecution are as under: a. It is the case of the prosecution that on 01.04.2019, at about 11.29 am, Complainant Tarabai Jaywant Rathod lodged a complaint at Wanawadi Police Station stating that she was residing at Wadkar Mala, Laxmi Park, Mohammedwadi, Hadapsar, Pune, along with her husband Jaywant, son Uttam and daughter Pallavi. Her elder daughter Sangita Shrikant Chavan was residing since 29.03.2019 in a temporary hut erected in an open space, along with her husband Shrikant Kamal Chavan (the accus