2026:BHC-AUG:2613 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 604 OF 2024

1] Rahul Baban Zaware Age: 38 years, Occ. Advocate, R/o. Venkute, Tq. Parner, Dist. Ahmednagar.

2] Sandip Laxman Choudhari Age: 42 years, Occ. Agri., R/o. Hanga, Tq. Parner, Dist. Ahmednagar

3] Dipak Dnyandev Lanke Age: 49 years, Occ. Agri., R/o. Hanga, Tq. Parner, Dist. Ahmednagar … APPELLANTS (Ori. Accused Nos.1, 7 & 18)

VERSUS

1] The State of Maharashtra Through Police Station Officer, Tophkhana Police Station, Dist. Ahmednagar

2] The Superintendent of Police Ahmednagar, Dist. Ahmednagar

3] X. Y. Z. … RESPONDENTS .…

Mr. R. R. Karpe, Advocate for the Appellants Mr. R. D. Raut, APP for Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 Mr. A. D. Ostwal, Advocate for Respondent No.3 .…

CORAM : Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, J.

RESERVED ON : January 17, 2026 PRONOUNCED ON : January 22, 2026 JUDGMENT :-

1. The appellants/original accused Nos. 1, 7 and 18 in Crime No. 0698 of 2024, registered with Tophkhana Police Station, Ahmednagar, on 07.06.2024, have invoked the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and takes exception to the judgme