Former sarpanch sentenced to five yrs jail in a murder case

A 40-year-old former village sarpanch has been sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment while two others were awarded three years prison term by a court here in a 2012 murder case.
Sessions Judge V V Bambarde sentenced former sarpanch of Kevani village in Bhiwandi taluka of the district, Ramnath Patil to five years rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty of killing a youth, Sandesh Patil, on August 15, 2012.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place after a gram sabha meeting on August 15, 2012, where a villager, Bhushan Patil, along with other locals, had raised objection of then sarpanch Ramnath Patil favouring one Yogesh Patil in a matter of levying of taxes on houses in the village.

The prosecution told the court that Bhushan and the sarpanch had some previous animosity and once again clashed during the meeting.
"Following the meeting, the sarpanch returned at the spot armed with sharp weapons and sticks and attacked Bhushan. Other villagers present at the spot intervened to rescue Bhushan. In between the entire episode, victim Sandesh got hurt by a knife and died while being taken to hospital," the prosecution said.
The former sarpanch and seven others were charged with murder, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

Judge Bambarde in his verdict on Tuesday said that the prosecution had failed to prove the murder charge against Ramnath, and hence he was convicted under IPC section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and not section 302 (murder).

Two others -- Laxman Patil (30) and his father Maruti Patil (70) -- were sentenced to three years in jail and a fine of Rs 1,000 each was also slapped on them.
The five other accused were released on probation for five years on execution of good behaviour and a bond of Rs 5,000.