Advocates:
SHIVAJI M. JADHAVRAVINDRA KESHAVRAO ADSURE

Reportable

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 986 OF 2007

Pandurang Chandrakant Mhatre & Ors. …Appellants

Versus

State of Maharashtra

…Respondent

JUDGEMENT

R.M. Lodha, J.

This criminal appeal by special leave is directed

against the judgment of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay

whereby the Division Bench of that Court upturned the

judgment of acquittal passed by the IInd Additional Sessions

Judge, Raigad in respect of the present appellants and

convicted them for the offences punishable under Section 302

read with Section 149, section 326 read with 149 and Section

148, IPC and sentenced them to suffer imprisonment for life

and different period of sentence under other counts along with

fine and default stipulation.

2.

Nineteen persons were arraigned before the Trial

Court for the offences under Sections 147, 148, 302 read with

Section 149, section 302 read with section 34, section 307

read with section 149 and section 326 read with section 149,

IPC. Trial Court acquitted all of them. The prosecution

challenged the judgment of acquittal before the High