In a surprising change of events, the Bombay High Court has canceled the death sentence of Tejas @ Dada Mahipati Dalvi and asked for a new trial. The case involves serious charges, including the death of a young girl, and the court found problems with how evidence was handled.
Tejas Dalvi, currently in Yerwada Central Prison in Pune, was found guilty on March 22, 2024, by the Sessions Court in Pune. He faced charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The charges included kidnapping, murder, and sexual assault of a minor.
The prosecution claimed that Tejas attacked a 6-year-old girl, which led to her death. It was said that his mother, Sujata Dalvi, helped hide the crime. The case was built on indirect evidence and forensic reports, but the defense argued that these reports were not properly checked in court.
The court, led by Justices Manish Pitale and Shreeram V. Shirsat, noted that the forensic reports, which were crucial to the conviction, were not properly examined. The experts who prepared these reports were not called to be questioned, which is a big mistake.
"The trial was flawed because the scientific experts were not questioned," the court observed.
The High Court has ordered the case to be sent back to the Sessions Court. This time, the experts must be questioned, and the accused will have a chance to respond to this new evidence. The court emphasized the importance of a fair trial, especially in cases involving the death penalty.
Sujata Dalvi, accused of helping hide the crime, has been granted bail. She has already served over three years of her seven-year sentence, and the court recognized the need for her release while the new trial is pending.
The new trial is set to begin on April 7, 2026. The court has given clear instructions to the Sessions Court to handle the case quickly, with a deadline to finish within four months. This decision shows the judiciary's commitment to making sure justice is served, with all evidence properly checked.
The retrial will provide an opportunity to address previous mistakes and ensure a fair outcome.
