BUVAJI SAHADEO HAJARE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard rival submissions on this criminal appeal preferred by the appellantaccused challenging the judgment and order of conviction dated 31.3.2004 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Satara in Sessions Case No. 1 of 2003.

(2.) By the said impugned judgment and order the appellant accused was convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC for committing murder of both the victims, one Pandurang Vithoba Hirave and one Manubai Pandurang Hirave and was sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs.5,000/, in default to suffer further RI for three years.

(3.) The case of the prosecution, in nut shell, is as under : Deceased Pandurang and deceased Manubai were husband and wife and were residing at Limbachiwadi, taluka Khandala, District Satara. Complainant PW2 Vishnu Dhebe is also resident of village Limbachiwadi. He is related to the victims and is a son of sister of deceased Pandurang. The couple had no male issue but had only one daughter by name Prabhavati (PW5). She was married to one Ananda Dhebe. PW5 Prabhavati and her husband were residing along with parents of PW5 i.e. the victim couple. PW8 Jayashri Hirve is also related to the victim couple as she is cousin daughterinlaw of deceased Pandurang. She was residing in the neighbourhood of the victim couple. One Laxmibai PW6 was also residing in the neighbourhood of the couple. The appellantaccused Buvaji is also resident of the same village Limbachiwadi and was known to the family of the victim couple and also their other relations.