P.C. (Mrs. Mridula Bhatkar, J.)

1. Accused no.1 Deepti Anil Devasthali (daughter of Accused no.2) and Accused no.2 Leena Anil Devasthali are convicted by the learned Ad Hoc Sessions Judge, Pune by judgment and order dated 27th December, 2007 for committing the offence of abduction and murder of one Dr.Deepak Mahajan alongwith other offences. They are sentenced to death for the offences of abduction for ransom and murder. Hence this appeal against the conviction filed by both the Accused and the reference for confirmation.

2. As per the case of the prosecution Accused no.1 Deepti and Accused no.2 Leena who are related as daughter and mother conspired to abduct Dr. Deepak Mahajan in order to demand ransom and commit his murder. Both the ladies started a detective agency by name Blue Bird Detective Agency having its office at Shaniwar Peth, Near Omkareshwar Temple, Pune. On 11/6/2006 they gave an advertisement in newspaper Sakal that they wanted to employ young, healthy and clever men to work in their detective agency. In response to their advertisement, PW3 Pravin Dnyaneshwar Kamble, PW2-Ashok Jagannath Magar, PW1 Ketan Pramod Kale and Court witness (CW1) Rahul Abhimanyu