In Sessions

According to the prosecution, the accused Nachiket Kashyap Pandya and Vinod Nandkishore Sharma, armed with fake Lions Club members8217; cards, gained entry into selected residents at Juhu and prepared lists of valuables. In one such visit they had met Shantabai Majumdar, listing the valuables in their diary and managing to obtain her signature too.

The duo allegedly killed Majumdar with a knife on January 17, 1994. While fleeing Pandya dropped his diary, according to the police.

Two days later, Majumdar8217;s daughter-in-law found that while all the jewellery including those worn by the victim and other valuables were left untouched while the old woman8217;s spectacles were missing.

Four days later police arrested Pandya from his residence at Kalyan andrecovered the alleged murder weapon and the spectacles from Bandra. Also, the prosecution produced a set of clothes apparently stained by the murder victim8217;s blood.

However, during the trial, the chemical analysts disclosed that there was no trace of blood on the impounded clothes. Besides, the prosecution produced a single-edged knife while the panchnama on the seized weapon mentioned it as double-edged.

While the handwriting expert confirmed the entries by Pandya in the diary, the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination failed to give the time of Majumdar8217;s death. In all 15 witnesses were examined.

The judge in his acquittal order stated that the prosecution was unable to connect the circumstances which led to Majumdar8217;s death. Mukesh Modi and Rajesh Dharia appeared for the accused.

Life imprisonment for burning wife

Additional sessions judge J W Singh recently sentenced Mahadev Jadhav to rigorous life imprisonment for burning his wife to death five years ago. Jadhav was also beenfined Rs 2000 and in default six months further rigorous imprisonment.

Special public prosecutor Vishwas Patil told the court that late on March 25, 1993 night, Jadhav consumed liqour and picked up a quarrel with his second wife Maya. The fight worsened and Jadhav poured kerosene on Maya and set her on fire and fled from the scene. The incident was witnessed by Maya8217;s sister-in-law Anusuya Sonar. Maya was admitted to Bhagwati Hosptial with 90 per cent burns and four days later she succumbed to her injuries. Jadhav had absconded for nine months. Jadhav8217;s wife had given two dying declarations and had informed her father, sister-in-law, her neighbour and the doctor who was attending to her that she was burnt by her husband.

Her written statements were recorded by police sub inspector N M Dhumal and police inspector S N Jagdale which was treated as the first information report.

Apart from the police statement, Maya8217;s statement was recorded by a special executive magistrate. Jadhav was found guilty undersection 302 murder of the Indian Penal Code. According to the police Jadhav has been charged with 15 cases relating to property and theft matters.