OP.APEAL.644-90 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.644 OF 1990 Smt.Sindhu Khandu Satpute, ..APPELLANT. [Orig.Accused] Vs. State of Maharashtra. ..RESPONDENT. .......... Ms.Ameeta Kuttikrishnan, Advocate appointed for the Appellant. Ms.M.H. Mhatre, A.P.P. for the State. .......... CORAM : A.M. KHANWILKAR AND A.R. JOSHI, JJ. DATE OF RESERVING THE ORDER : 18TH FEBRUARY, 2011. DATE OF PRONOUNCING THE ORDER : 01st MARCH, 2011 OPERATIVE ORDER For the reasons recorded separately in the Judgment, the following operative order is passed : :: O R D E R :: i. Criminal Appeal No.644 of 1990 is allowed. ii. Impugned judgment and order of conviction dated 2nd April, 1990 in Sessions Case No.277/1989 passed by the learned Vth Additional Sessions Judge, Pune is quashed and set aside and the appellant is acquitted of the charges for which she was tried in the said case. Appellant/Accused shall be forthwith released from the jail custody, if not required in any other matter. iii. Fine amount if already paid, shall be refunded to appellant/accused. iv. Copy of this judgment and order be forthwith forwarded to the appellant who is in jail, for information. v. The Court expresses a word of gratitude to the learned amicus curiae Ms.Ameeta Kuttikrishnan for her able assistance for espousing the cause of the Appellant. (A. R. JOSHI, J.) (A. M. KHANWILKAR, J.)