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Synopsis

The Supreme Court on April 21, 2025 ordered forthwith release of a convict from a Maharashtra jail in a POSCO case, after finding that he was originally sentenced to seven years imprisonment but he has served eleven years and eight months of incarceration i.e. a sentence more than what was stipulated originally.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma while exercising inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, said, "it is noted that the appellant herein while initially subjected to imprisonment of seven years has completed an actual sentence of eleven years and eight months", issuing directions for immediate release.

The Top Court found the orders of the High Court and consequently, of the Special Court to be erroneous, holding those as liable to be set aside.

Impugned judgment dated February 26, 2016 and the subsequent orders dated March 02, 2016, March 08, 2016 were further set-aside. Order of the Special Court dated April 28, 2016 passed in Special (POCSO) Case convicting and sentencing the appellant to life imprisonment and with a fine of Rs 5,000 in default to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months was also set-aside.

"Since the appellant has completed eleven years and eight months of incarceration i.e. a sentence more than that originally imposed on him, we find that the ends of justice would be met if, instead of rehearing his appeal on the original sentence, the matter is concluded and the appellant is released from jail forthwith," the bench added.

Court directed the respondent-State and Superintendent, Nagpur Central Jail, Maharashtra to release the appellant from the jail forthwith, rendering the criminal appeal in the matter infructuous.

Case Title: Sachin v. State of Maharashtra