In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has suspended the life imprisonment sentences of two convicts involved in the 2014 murder of Mathadi Kamgar Sanghatana leader Prakash Laxman Chavan in Pune's Chinchwad area. The court has granted them bail while their criminal appeal against the conviction is pending.
Case Background and Original Conviction
The legal saga stems from a murder that occurred nearly a decade ago. On November 16, 2024, a Pune sessions court convicted and sentenced six accused individuals to life imprisonment for the killing of union leader Prakash Chavan. Among those convicted were Amol Narayan Shinde and Prakashsing Chandrasing Bais. Following the verdict, the duo, represented by their lawyers Satyam Harshad Nimbalkar and Harshwardhan Milind Pawar, promptly filed an appeal challenging the conviction.
High Court's Rationale for Bail and Sentence Suspension
A bench comprising Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale heard the plea on December 4. The court took serious note of the extensive period the applicants had already spent behind bars. The bench observed that Amol Shinde had undergone 10 years, 2 months, and 9 days of imprisonment, while Prakashsing Bais had spent 10 years, 4 months, and 16 days in jail, including both pre-trial and post-trial incarceration.
The court expressed concern over the remote possibility of the appeals being heard in the near future due to the existing pendency of cases. Relying on precedents set by the Supreme Court in the Suleman v State of Uttar Pradesh and Saudan Singh v State of Uttar Pradesh cases, the bench held that the applicants were entitled to bail during the pendency of their appeal.
Bail Conditions and Court Directives
The High Court formally suspended the substantive sentence of imprisonment imposed by the trial court. It ordered the release of Shinde and Bais on bail upon their furnishing a personal recognizance (PR) bond of Rs 50,000 each with one or two local sureties.
However, the bail comes with strict conditions. The court directed the two men to report to the Nigdi police station on the first Monday of every month for one year. After the initial year, the reporting frequency is reduced to the first Monday of every three months. This condition will remain in effect until their criminal appeal is finally decided by the court.
This decision highlights the judiciary's balancing act between ensuring justice is served and addressing the practical realities of prolonged incarceration during lengthy appeal processes. The case continues as the High Court prepares to hear the substantive criminal appeal filed by the convicts.
