In a twist, the High Court has returned a case involving Mohammed Javed Abdul Wahab to the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Buldhana. The Magistrate needs to rethink the evidence before deciding if it should go to a higher court.
Mohammed Javed Abdul Wahab, a 35-year-old worker from Deulghat, Buldhana, was accused of serious crimes under sections like 420 and 467 of the Indian Penal Code. These charges can lead to life in prison or up to ten years in jail.
On April 30, 2024, the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Buldhana decided to move the case to the Sessions Court. Why? Because the possible punishment was more than what the Magistrate could handle, which is up to seven years.
Judge Pravin S. Patil, on January 29, 2026, felt the Magistrate didn't explain why the case needed to be moved. The Magistrate should have talked about the evidence and explained why a tougher punishment might be needed.
"The maximum punishment doesn’t mean it should always be given," Judge Patil noted.
The State and the informant's lawyers argued that the law doesn't require the Magistrate to explain the move to a higher court. But the High Court disagreed, saying the Magistrate must show why a tougher sentence is necessary.
The High Court has sent the case back to the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Buldhana. The Magistrate must now review the evidence and decide if the case really needs to go to the Sessions Court.
The High Court decided that the Magistrate should have explained the reasons for moving the case to a higher court. Now, the Magistrate must look at the evidence again and make a clear decision on whether a harsher punishment is justified.
