In Brief
Banti was convicted by a trial court in Sessions Cases relating to dacoity offences and sentenced to imprisonment. He filed an application to suspend the sentence pending appeal, arguing that his conviction was based on weak circumstantial evidence and that he had remained on bail throughout the trial. A Division Bench of the High Court found merit in the contention and held that the circumstantial evidence was indeed weak, particularly noting that the recovery of a rifle did not establish its use by the appellant and that the body's recovery near his house was not conclusive given the open nature of the location. The court suspended the substantive sentence on condition of a personal bond and sureties, pending final disposal of the appeal.
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