HC admits CBI plea to enhance life sentence in Khairlanji case

A division bench of Bombay High Court here has admitted an appeal by CBI for the enhancement of life imprisonment of two accused to death sentence in the brutal killings of four members of a Dalit family.

Justices AP Lavande and PB Varale of Nagpur bench yesterday also admitted another appeal of acquittal of all the eight accused under the provisions of Prevention of Atrocities on SC/ST Act, as the victims belonged to a Dalit family from Khairlanji.

Surekha Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, her daughter Priyanka, sons Sudhir and Roshan were brutally killed by a village crowd on September 29, 2007.

A special court of SS Dass, on September 24 last year, found them guilty and awarded capital punishment to six of them. The two others were awarded life imprisonment.

The six facing death sentence are Sakru Binjewar, Ramu Dhande, Shatrughan Dhande, Vishwanath Dhande, Jagdish Mandlekar and Prabhakar Mandlekar. Gopal Binjewar and Shishupal Dhande were awarded life imprisonment.

The prosecution has moved the High Court for confirmation of death sentence, while the defence has moved for its rejection.

The appeals and cross appeals will be taken up by the High Court from August 24.