Ramesh Shrirang Sawant v. The State Of Maharashtra

25 Ia-3123-2025.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 3123 OF 2025 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 590 OF 2018 Ramesh Shrirang Sawant Presently in Visapur Open Jail.

...Applicant.

Versus

The State of Maharashtra and Others.

...Respondents.

------ Madhavi Gomathieshwarn for the Applicant (thr. V.C.). Ms. Veera Shinde, APP for the Respondent-State. ------ Coram : M. S. Karnik & Sharmila U. Deshmukh, JJ.

Date : October 15, 2025.

P. C. :

1.

This is an application for suspension of sentence and enlargement on bail. We have heard the learned Counsel for Applicant and learned APP for the State, who opposed the application.

2.

The Applicant has been convicted by learned Sessions Judge, Vaduj in Sessions Case No.8 of 2014 for commission of ofence punishable under Section 302 read with 34 of IPC and sentenced to sufer imprisonment for life. It is the case of prosecution that the Applicant along with co-accused assaulted Prakash on 10th October 2013 at about 1.30 p.m. in Gram Panchayat oice Mohi and thereafter outside Gram Panchayat oice. There are 3 eye witnesses to the incident.

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25 Ia-3123-2025.doc 3.

The earlier application for bail was rejected on 4th June 2018. The coaccused has been enlarged on bail. 4.

Considering that Applicant is in custody for almost 12 years and Appeal may take some time to come up for inal hearing, we are inclined to suspend the sentence and enlarge him on bail in view of the guidelines laid down in Saudan Singh v. State of U.P.1.

5.

In the light of above, we pass the following order : [a] The sentence imposed on Applicant by learned Sessions Judge, Vaduj vide judgment and order dated 11th August 2017 passed in Sessions Case No. 8 of 2014 shall remain suspended till the inal disposal of Criminal Appeal No. 590 of 2018. [b] The Applicant be released on furnishing bail in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one or more solvent sureties of like amount in connection with Sessions Case No. 8 of 2014.

[c] Till the Criminal Appeal is disposed of, the Applicant shall report to the Trial Court on the 1st Monday of every month commencing from November 2025. The Applicant shall furnish his address and contact details to the trial Court. [d] The Applicant shall attend this Court when Appeal is listed for inal hearing.

6.

Application stands disposed of.

[Sharmila U. Deshmukh, J.] [M. S. Karnik, J.] (2023) 17 SCC 446.

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