ABHIMANYU VISHWANATH Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD learned Advocate Shri R. N. Dhorde for the petitioners and Shri V. D. Sapkal, learned A. P. P. , for the State. Rule, returnable forthwith with the consent of the parties.

(2.) THE present petitioners are prosecuted for having committed the offences punishable under sections 3/7 of the essential Commodities Act. The chargesheet came to be filed on 15th February, 1993. The list of witnesses was filed on 24th of May, 1996. The plea of accused was recorded on 31st of May, 1996. There was no progress after recording of plea of the petitioners. No oral evidence was recorded by the special Judge.

(3.) RELYING on Raj Deo Sharma s case AIR 1998 SC 3281, the present petitioners filed application dated 7-7-1999, in the trial Court and sought a direction from the court to close the prosecution evidence. The said application has been rejected by the Judge, Special Court, Ahmednagar, by order dated 7-7-1999. This rejection order is challenged in this Criminal Writ Petition.