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Life Sentences Suspended by Bombay HC
5 Jul
Summary
- Convicts' life sentences suspended pending appeal by Bombay HC.
- Accused of murdering mother's 10-year-old son in 2019.
- Court noted prosecution evidence was circumstantial and motive weak.
The Bombay high court's Kolhapur bench has suspended the life imprisonment sentences for Ashwini Chavan, 29, and Sachin Kumbhar, 41. This decision affects their conviction in the 2019 murder of Chavan's 10-year-old son, Gaurav. Their interim applications were allowed on July 3, with the suspension in place until their criminal appeals are fully disposed of.
Chavan and Kumbhar, who were co-workers, were arrested in May 2019 for allegedly pushing Gaurav into a canal. The boy's father had initially filed a missing complaint. The Satara police alleged an illicit affair between the two and that the son discovered it, leading to the murder plot.
Doctors confirmed Gaurav died from asphyxia due to drowning, with marks suggesting he was dragged or pushed. The trial court sentenced them to life imprisonment for murder and five years for kidnapping, concurrent sentences. The judges noted the prosecution's evidence was circumstantial and the motive was prima facie weak, especially as the husband was aware of the affair.
The judges stated that while the appeals were filed in 2025, their resolution might take considerable time. As a condition for suspension, both accused must report to the trial court on the first Monday of every six months, starting from August 2026.
