Brother's Murder Sentence Slashed by High Court

The Bombay high court overturned a lower court's life imprisonment sentence for Gangadhar Kerkar, reducing it to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. This decision came in the case of his brother's 2019 death. The high court's review found no evidence of premeditation, preparation, or motive, concluding the incident stemmed from a sudden quarrel.

The original trial had resulted in Gangadhar receiving a life sentence for murder, while his brother Vinod was convicted of culpable homicide. The high court highlighted that the lower court erred in its murder conviction against Gangadhar, emphasizing insufficient evidence regarding who inflicted the fatal injury. They also pointed out the unequal sentencing between the brothers despite their shared involvement.

Legal representation included advocate Arun Bras De Sa for the defence and additional public prosecutor Pravin Faldessai for the state. Vinod, who had already served approximately four years, was released. The high court's ruling underscores the importance of clear evidence in murder convictions.