SHAILESH RAMCHANDRA TUPKARY Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals are directed against appellants' conviction for various offences and sentences imposed upon them for those offences by the learned 2nd Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nagpur, in Criminal Case No. 358 of 2002.

(2.) In the year 1999, a scandal of bogus degrees, mark-sheets and unwarranted increase of marks in revaluation at various examinations conducted by the Nagpur University surfaced. The University authorities reported the matter to police, whereupon various crimes including Crime No. 346 of 1993 were registered on 24-3-1999 on the complaint of Shri Prakash Mistry, original accused No. 2. Eventually, in Crime No. 348 of 1999, Shri Prakash Mistry was himself arrested by the police. Investigation into the crimes was conducted by PI Sayyad and after him by PSI Anil Lokhande. Originally one chargesheet was filed bearing Regular Criminal Case No. 387 of 1999 and after separate trials were ordered, separate supplementary chargesheets for various offences came to be filed against various offenders.

(3.) Facts, which led to prosecution and conviction of the appellants are as under: