Sanjay S/O. Rangnath Haware vs The State Of Maharashtra

Case Significance

Sanjay S/O. Rangnath Haware vs The State Of Maharashtra is a Bombay High Court decision dated December 14, 2024 (citation: ik-25098740). Two connected criminal appeals challenged convictions under Section 376-D IPC (gang rape) and Section 6 of the POCSO Act by the Special Court, Jalna. The Court found the prosecutrix's evidence fell in the category of neither wholly reliable nor wholly unreliable, lacking corroborative medical evidence — the medical evidence ran counter to the prosecution case, and critical forensic reports and video recordings were not placed on record. Both appellants were acquitted and ordered released. The bench comprised Justices Neeraj P. Dhote and R.G. Avachat. The judgment was delivered by Justice R.G. Avachat. Counsel appearing: R.A. Jaiswal (counsel for appellant), Ranjana Reddy (counsel for respondent), S.J. Salunke (counsel for appellant), S.N. Deshmukh (counsel for respondent).