AKSHAY YUVRAJ PATIL Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) All these three Appeals are being disposed of by this common Judgment and Order because they arise out of the same Sessions Case. For the sake of convenience, all the Appellants are referred to either by their names or by their status before the trial Court as accused. The Criminal Appeal No.355/2019 is preferred by the original accused No.1 Santosh Kotewad, the Criminal Appeal No.350/2019 is preferred by the original accused No.2 Akshay Yuvraj Patil, and the Criminal Appeal No.915/2019 is preferred by the original accused No.3 Kavoo @ Fransis Patrick Manwel.

(2.) We have heard Mr. Aniket Vagal, learned counsel for the Appellants in Criminal Appeal Nos.355/2019 and 915/2019, Ms. Prabha Badadare, learned counsel for the Appellant in Criminal Appeal No.350/2019 and Ms. P.N. Dabholkar, learned APP for the Respondent-State.

(3.) The Appellants/accused have challenged the judgment and order dtd. 2/2/2019 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge- 10, Nashik in Sessions Case No.273/2015. They were convicted for commission of the offence punishable under Sec. 302 read with 34 of IPC and they were sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000.00 each and in default to suffer further SI for one month. There was the fourth accused i.e. accused No.4 Juned Tarabak Choudhari. He was acquitted from the charge of commission of offences punishable under Ss. 201 and 109 read with 34 of IPC. The Appellants were arrested on 5/6/2015 and since then they are in custody.