Pune’s Davdi Murder Case: Sagar Kothari to Represent Prosecution in High Court Appeal
Mumbai/Pune, 27th October 2026: The Maharashtra Government has appointed Advocate Sagar Vasant Kothari as Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to represent the prosecution in Criminal Appeal No. 367 of 2025 pending before the Bombay High Court in connection with the Davdi murder case in Pune district.
The appointment was made by the state government’s Law and Judiciary Department through Notification No. SPP.3119/C.R.228/D-XIV dated October 27, 2026. The appeal arises from C.R. No. 223 of 2018 registered at Khed Police Station in Pune district.
Advocate Kothari had also conducted the prosecution during the trial before the Additional Sessions Judge at Khed, Rajgurunagar. The prosecution examined 16 witnesses, including the informant, other material witnesses, a medical officer and investigating officers.
In its judgment dated February 7, 2025, followed by a sentencing order on February 10, 2025, the trial court convicted accused Ajit Bhagwan Kanhurkar of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined ₹1 lakh. However, the court acquitted him of charges under the Arms Act and the Maharashtra/Bombay Police Act.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on June 12, 2018, when Shrinath Sudam Khese and his sister, Pournima, boarded a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at the Khese Wasti bus stop. While the bus was travelling towards Rajgurunagar, the accused allegedly attacked Shrinath with a sickle inside the bus and fled the scene.
Shrinath was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Khed Police subsequently registered a case and investigated the incident.
With his appointment as Special Public Prosecutor, Advocate Kothari will now handle the prosecution’s case at the appellate stage before the Bombay High Court, having previously conducted the trial that resulted in the accused’s conviction for murder.
