DNYANESHWAR HAIBHAU KULAL vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Dnyaneshwar Haibhau Kulal under Section 302 IPC for murder but modified the death sentence imposed by the Sessions Court. The Court found that while the murder was committed in a depraved manner, it did not meet the threshold of being a 'rarest of rare case' warranting the death penalty. The Court confirmed the conviction under Section 201 IPC as well, emphasizing the need for a stringent standard in death penalty cases.