Nanda Ganesh @ Lahu Chavan v. the State of Maharashtra
Case brief
What is this about?
Bail application rejected; murder and destruction of evidence; Sections 302, 201 r/w 34 IPC; Indian Evidence Act Section 27 (no recovery, counsel's contention); eyewitness attribution of specific and overt role; child witness stating applicant held legs of deceased and assisted burial; clandestine burial of dead body; trial commenced, three of six witnesses examined; judicial custody since January 2024; two earlier Sessions Court bail rejections; apprehension of witness intimidation and evidence tampering; gravity of offence; woman applicant sole caregiver of two minor children (submission); Yerwada Central Prison; Shirgaon Parandwadi Police Station, Pimpri-Chinchwad; State of Maharashtra; R.N. Laddha, J.; High Court of Bombay, 18 September 2025.
What did the court decide?
On perusal of the charge sheet and annexures, this Court found that the trial has commenced with three of six prosecution witnesses examined, that the applicant's presence at the scene of offence and active participation are prima facie seen, that the prosecution relies on an eyewitness who categorically implicated the applicant attributing a specific and overt role, and that a strong prima facie case exists against the applicant.