Criminal Appeals Nos. 855/2024, 206/2025 and 687/2025 (High Court of Judicature at Bombay; Coram: Sarang V. Kotwal and Sandesh D. Patil, JJ.; judgment per Sarang V. Kotwal, J.; decided 18-02-2026) - DISMISSED. Convictions and sentences imposed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Thane in Sessions Case No. 151 of 2018 - life imprisonment plus Rs. 10,000/- fine each under S. 302 r/w S. 34 IPC; RI 5 years plus Rs. 10,000/- fine each under S. 307 r/w S. 34 IPC; SI 3 years plus Rs. 2,000/- fine each under S. 201 r/w S. 34 IPC (acquitted of S. 324 r/w S. 34) - upheld without interference. Key findings: (i) though the deceased, angered by derogatory comments relayed through PW-8, had first summoned Accused No. 1, the exchanged messages showed intent only to confront, and the accused arrived armed - three knives in all; (ii) the deceased's multiple stab wounds on vital chest/back regions plus defence wounds on the arms, and PW-1's serious abdominal stab wound, established that the deceased and PW-1 were attacked, not aggressors; (iii) hostile witnesses PW-3/PW-4 unhelpful to either side; CCTV footage unclear and not relied upon; ocular evidence of PW-1/PW-2 corroborated by postmortem (PW-9) and clinical (PW-12) findings; (iv) recovery of two blood-stained knives concealed in a tree trunk at Accused No. 1's instance held valid under S. 27, Indian Evidence Act (exclusive knowledge/authorship of concealment); one knife carried AB Group blood matching the deceased; blood on the accused's clothing ignored as implausible over about 11 days; (v) minor marks on Accused Nos. 2/3 required no explanation - Kumar v. State Rep. by Inspector of Police (2018) 7 SCC 536 distinguished as resting on materially different facts; (vi) no grave and sudden provocation; intention, not mere knowledge - S. 302, not S. 304 Part II; (vii) all three accused, including Accused No. 3 who pulled PW-1 away, acted in pursuance of common intention (S. 34 IPC). Accused No. 2 (on bail) ordered to surrender forthwith; bail bond cancelled; connected interim applications disposed of.
