Bombay High Court upholds Santosh Mane's conviction

July 24, 2014 01:47 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 05:13 am IST - MUMBAI

Upholding the conviction of Pune rogue driver who mowed down nine persons, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed the former State Transport driver's plea of insanity. Santosh Mane had hijacked a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus in January 2012 from the Swargate bus depot in Pune.

In the 45-minute rampage, he had injured 37 persons and killed nine. His drive would have continued had a group of feisty citizens not overpowered him and handed him over to the police.

The Pune trial court had awarded death sentence to him in December 2013. The Bombay High Court will hear arguments to decide on the quantum of his sentence on August 5.

The reasons behind the upholding of conviction will be known later, lawyers said.

During the arguments, Mr Mane's lawyer had argued that he was insane and had undergone treatment for mental illness. The government pleader had argued that Mr Mane was of sound mind, and had not shown any remorse after the dreadful incident. The government pleader produced copies of medical reports certifying his mental condition.

But Mr Mane's lawyer had argued that Mr Mane had taken treatment for his mental illness in the year 2010, and that his medical records showed how he heard weird sounds in his head.

The Bombay High Court had recently quashed criminal proceedings against Dr Dilip Burte who had treated Santosh Mane in 2010. The Pune court had issued a show cause notice to him after Santosh Mane's conviction, asking him why no action should be taken against him for giving false evidence.

* Santosh Mane (42) hijacks an empty bus from Pune's Swargate depot at 8.15 am on January 25, 2012

* He goes on a killing spree, knocking down many pedestrians, two-wheelers

* Nine die, 37 injured

* School children, housewives, businessmen among injured and deceased

* After 45 minutes, feisty residents overpower him, force him to alight, and hand him to the police

* In December 2013, Pune sessions court awards death penalty to him

* In February 2014, Bombay High Court admits the death confirmation and appeal

* 23 July 2014: Bombay High Court upholds Mane's conviction, dismisses insanity plea

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