SANTOSH KUMAR SATISHBHUSHAN BARIYAR vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction and life imprisonment sentence under Sections 363 and 387 IPC for the accused involved in the kidnapping of Kartikraj for ransom. The Court confirmed the High Court's decision, which had accepted the reference under Section 366 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and emphasized the necessity of establishing a conspiracy to commit kidnapping and the demand for ransom. The Court found sufficient evidence to support the conviction and dismissed the appeals filed by the accused while rejecting the State's plea for enhanced sentencing.