Bombay High CourtAPEAL/99/2026disposed off

Shaikh Azhar Shaikh Kadir v. The State Of Maharashtra And Another

2026-03-26Hon'Ble Shri Justice N. B. Suryawanshi , Hon'Ble Justice Vaishali Patil-Jadhav3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD 926 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 139 OF 2026 Ajay Nanasaheb Mhaske And Another

VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra ...

Advocate for Appellants : Mr. N.S. Ghanekar APP for Respondent/State : Mr.M.A. Aher ...

WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 556 OF 2026 IN APEAL/99/2026 Shaikh Azhar Shaikh Kadir

VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra And Another ...

Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Vishal Amritlal Bagdiya APP for Respondent/State : Mr. M.A. Aher Advocate for Respondent no.2 : Mr. V.D. Hon, Sr. Advocate i/b Mr. A.D. Khedkar WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 984 OF 2026 IN APEAL/99/2026 Shaikh Azhar Shaikh Kadir

VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra And Another ...

Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Vishal Amritlal Bagdiya APP for Respondent/State : Mr. M.A. Aher WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 1029 OF 2026 IN APEAL/139/2026 Ajay Nanasaheb Mhaske And Another

VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra And Another

...

Advocate for Applicants : Mr. Ghanekar N.S.

APP for Respondent/State : Mr.M.A. Aher Advocate for Respondent no.2 : Mr. V.D. Hon, Sr. Advocate i/b Mr. A.D. Khedkar WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 99 OF 2026 Shaikh Azhar Shaikh Kadir

VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra And Another ...

Advocate for Appellant : Mr. Vishal Amritlal Bagdiya APP for Respondent/State : Mr. M.A. Aher Advocate for Respondent no.2 : Mr. V.D. Hon, Sr. Advocate i/b Mr. A.D. Khedkar ...

CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, JJ.

DATED : 26th MARCH, 2026.

OPERATIVE ORDER :

For the reasons recorded separately, the following order is passed.

ORDER

(a) Criminal Appeal Nos. 139/2026 and 99/2026 are allowed.

(b) The judgment and order of conviction dated 20.01.2026 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Aurangabad in Sessions

Case No.458/2022 is hereby quashed and set aside. (c) The appellants in both these appeals stand acquitted. They be released forthwith if not required in any other case. (d) The fine amount deposited by the appellants in both these appeals shall be confiscated to the Government. (e) The appellants shall deposit cost of Rs.50,000/- each within four weeks from the date of uploading of this order which should be given to the Police Welfare Fund.

(f) In view of this order, Criminal Application Nos.556/2026, 984/2026, 1029/2026 stand allowed in the aforesaid terms. .

List the matter for compliance on 08.06.2026. (VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV,J.) (NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI,J.) sga