State transport bus driver Santosh Mane was resentenced death penalty by additional sessions judge VK Shewale on Wednesday.
Besides capital punishment, Mane has also been sentenced to 5 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) under theft of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for hijacking bus, 10 years’ RI for attempt to murder, 3 years’ RI for voluntarily causing grievous hurt and 2 years’ RI for mischief.
He was further sentenced to 2 years’ RI for damaging public property under the provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and fined Rs20,500. The sentences will run concurrently. Mane will have to undergo an additional imprisonment from 15 days to two months if the fine is not paid.
Though awarded capital punishment by district judge on April 3 this year, the Bombay High Court had reverted the case to district court after Mane’s lawyer complained that he was not given the opportunity to put forward his say on the quantum of punishment.
While resentencing Mane, judge Shewale on Wednesday rapped his lawyers Dhananjay Mane and Rajesh Kashid for taking ‘undue advantage’ of the provisions of the law by making an application under Criminal Procedure Code to refer him to a psychiatrist claiming that he was mentally unfit to make a statement before the court.
District government pleader Ujjwala Pawar said, “This act of Mane is not out of insanity but this is a heinous act.”
“Due to this incident, innocent people have lost their lives and many injured persons are still dwelling in the same trauma.” Pawar said
An expressionless Mane who was seen wearing a cream shirt and light blue pant was sitting barefoot in the dock when the judgement was read out. His defence lawyer Dhananjay Mane was unsatisfied with the judgement. “The psychiatrist panel’s report had been admitted but it was only not shown to us. The judge did not give us the opportunity to examine the panel.”
His lawyers stated that they would appeal in Bombay High Court against the order.
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