Sudhir @ Sangram Babaso Rupnar Vs the State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Sudhir @ Sangram Babaso Rupnar Vs the State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Suspension of sentence till final disposal of Criminal Appeal No. 26 of 2018 and release of the Applicant on bail on PR Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or more solvent sureties of like amount, subject to conditions of monthly reporting to the Trial Court (1st Monday of every month from December-2025), attendance when the appeal is listed for final hearing, and furnishing address and contact details to the Trial Court.

Issue for consideration

Whether the sentence imposed on the Applicant should be suspended and the Applicant enlarged on bail pending final disposal of Criminal Appeal No. 26 of 2018.

Court's answer

The sentence imposed on the Applicant by the learned Sessions Judge, Sangli in Sessions Case No. 118 of 2015 (judgment and order dated 16th November, 2017) is suspended till the final disposal of Criminal Appeal No. 26 of 2018.

Ratio / Principle

The Applicant-Sudhir @ Sangram Babaso Rupnar is to be released on bail on furnishing a PR Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or more solvent sureties of like amount in connection with Sessions Case No. 118 of 2015.

Key takeaways

Bail conditions: till disposal of the Criminal Appeal, the Applicant shall report to the Trial Court on the 1st Monday of every month commencing from December-2025, shall attend this Court when the appeal is listed for final hearing, and shall furnish address and contact details to the Trial Court.ratio¶¶28
The Court considered suspension of sentence because the Applicant, arrested in April-2015, has been in custody for more than 10 years, and the appeal filed in 2018 cannot be immediately heard finally considering the pendency situation of old matters.ratio¶¶19

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court, Kolhapur Circuit Bench (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) — Interim Application No. 985 of 2025 in Criminal Appeal No. 26 of 2018 — suspension of sentence and grant of bail. The Applicant (original accused No. 4), convicted and sentenced by the learned Sessions Judge, Sangli in Sessions Case No. 118 of 2015 by judgment and order dated 16th November, 2017, had been in custody since April-2015 (more than 10 years). His appeal, filed in 2018, could not be immediately heard finally considering the pendency of old matters. Held: the sentence is suspended till the final disposal of Criminal Appeal No. 26 of 2018; the Applicant is to be released on furnishing a PR Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or more solvent sureties of like amount; subject to conditions that he reports to the Trial Court on the 1st Monday of every month commencing December-2025, attends this Court when the appeal is listed for final hearing, and furnishes address and contact details to the Trial Court. Application disposed of. Coram: M. S. Karnik & Ajit B. Kadethankar, JJ.

11-IA-985-2025.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 985 OF 2025 IN

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 26 OF 2018

Sudhir @ Sangram Babaso Rupnar … Applicant/Org. Accused No. 4.

Versus

The State of Maharashtra … Respondent

Adv. Anush Shetty, for the Applicant. Mr. A. A. Naik, APP for the Respondent No. 1-State.

—————— Coram : M. S. Karnik & Ajit B. Kadethankar, JJ.

Date : November 17, 2025.

P. C. :

1. Heard learned Counsel for the Applicant and learned APP for the Respondent No. 1-State.

2. The Application is iled for suspension of sentence and grant of bail.

Digitally signed by TALLE TALLE SHUBHAM SHUBHAM ASHOKRAO ASHOKRAO Date: 2025.11.18 15:49:48 +0530

3. Mr. Naik, learned APP, for the Respondent No. 1-State opposed the Application for suspension of sentence and grant of bail. It is submitted by the learned APP that the Trial Court, after appreciating the evidence of three eyewitnesses along with the other material on record, has rightly convicted the Applicant.

1 of 3

Shubham Talle

11-IA-985-2025.doc

4. The Applicant was arrested in April-2015 and is now in custody for more than 10 years. This Appeal was iled in the year 2018. It may not be possible for us to immediately hear the appeal itself inally considering the pendency situation of old matters hence we have considered the Application for suspension of sentence.

5. Adv. Anush Shetty, learned Counsel for the Applicant, contended that the Applicant is alleged to have inlicted a single stab wound on the deceased. There was dispute between the two groups of colleges students. The quarrel ensued between the two groups, whereupon the prosecution alleged that the Applicant took out a knife and inlicted the injury. Learned Counsel contended that the prosecution has failed to establish any intention on the part of the Applicant to kill the deceased. It is pertinent to note that the Applicant is now in custody for more than 10 years.

6. We are inclined to enlarge the Applicant on bail. Therefore, we pass following order:-

::ORDER::

[a] The sentence imposed on Applicant by learned Sessions Judge, Sangli vide judgment and order dated 16^th November, 2017 passed in Sessions Case No. 118 of 2015 is suspended till the inal disposal of Criminal Appeal No. 26 of 2018.

2 of 3

Shubham Talle

11-IA-985-2025.doc

[b] The Applicant-Sudhir @ Sangram Babaso Rupnar be released on furnishing bail on his iling PR Bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000 /- with one or more solvent sureties of like amount in connection with Sessions Case No. 118 of 2015.

[c] Till the Criminal Appeal is disposed of, the Applicant shall report to the Trial Court on the 1^st Monday of every month commencing from December-2025.

[d] The Applicant shall attend this Court when the appeal is listed for inal hearing.

[e] The Applicant shall furnish address and contact details to the Trial Court.

7. Application stands disposed of.

[ Ajit B. Kadethankar, J. ]

[ M. S. Karnik, J. ]

3 of 3

Shubham Talle