Summary: In a surprising turn of events, the Bombay High Court set free three men who were previously found guilty of a terrible crime in Sangli. The court noticed big problems in the case presented by the lawyers trying to prove them guilty, which led to the release of the accused.
On October 16, 2012, the body of a young woman was found in a well near Sangli, Maharashtra. The case quickly escalated as authorities arrested four men, accusing them of group assault and murder. The charges were serious, including murder, gang rape, and hiding evidence under the Indian Penal Code.
The trial court in Sangli found the accused guilty on July 16, 2019, sentencing them to life imprisonment. However, one of the accused, Sagar Hattekar, died during the trial, so the case against him was dropped.
The appeals were heard in the Bombay High Court by Justices Suman Shyam and Shyam C. Chandak. The decision, announced on December 24, 2025, reversed the guilty verdicts because there wasn't enough evidence and there were mistakes in the legal process.
"The lawyers trying to prove them guilty have failed to show a complete story, including why the crime was committed and the idea that the accused were last seen with the victim," noted the judgment.
Lack of Evidence: The court found that the evidence presented was not enough to definitely prove guilt. The stories from witnesses didn't match up, and important evidence was either missing or not trustworthy.
Doubtful Witness Testimonies: Witnesses like PW-8 and PW-11 gave conflicting stories, making it hard to trust them. Their delay in reporting important information made them even more suspicious.
Inconclusive Forensic Evidence: The forensic reports, including DNA tests, did not clearly connect the accused to the crime. For example, the DNA found did not match all accused.
Unnatural Conduct: The behavior of witnesses and the way the investigation was conducted were questioned. The court noted the possibility of witnesses being influenced by the police.
The court ordered the immediate release of Anuj Arjun Pawar, Lakhya @ Laxman Sandipan Sargar, and Dadaso Bhaskar Athawale from Kolhapur Central Prison, emphasizing the need for a fair trial and the importance of strong evidence.
The court decided to release the men because the evidence was not strong enough to prove they were guilty. It shows how important it is to have fair and unbiased investigations in the justice system. The decision also highlights that if there's doubt, it should favor the accused when evidence is lacking.
As Justice Chandak stated, "The benefit of doubt, therefore, must go to the Appellants."
