Mumbai: Eleven years after a 35-year-old Mankhurd resident repeatedly stabbed the fiance of the woman for whom he had one sided feelings, a sessions court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for attempt to murder. The accused, Vijay Shegokar, was also fined Rs 15,000.The defence sought leniency, saying he had no criminal antecedents and had to maintain a wife, child and parents. The prosecution opposed leniency.Principal judge S S Adkar rejected the plea, saying, “The offence committed by the accused is of serious nature. The reasons given for leniency in punishment are of general nature. The accused should have thought about the consequences of his acts before doing the same.” Shegokar, who was on bail, was directed to be taken into custody.On whether the offence amounted to attempted murder, the court said the injuries were not grievous, but the circumstances showed intention. “But it cannot be forgotten that when the accused assaulted…Prashant Waghmode was inside his car and he had no escape route. He could save himself only because after the first attack, he caught hold of the knife.”The court concluded, “Therefore, considering the circumstances in which Prashant was assaulted and considering the weapon which was used by the accused for committing the offence, it is evident that the accused intended to cause his death.”The prosecution submitted that the incident took place on January 27, 2015, around 7.15 pm, when Prashant Waghmode had left home for jogging and was sitting in a car parked near Nadkarni Park, Wadala. According to the prosecution, Shegokar approached the car, knocked on the window, and told Waghmode that something was on the bonnet. When Waghmode rolled down the window, Shegokar attacked him on the neck with a knife.The victim, his fiancée, and an eyewitness deposed during the trial.The court accepted the evidence of Waghmode and eyewitness Vinod Sonawane. “The statements of…Prashant (Wahhmode) were not shattered during his cross-examination. He remained firm on material points.”The court further noted, “Admittedly, he was not knowing the accused prior to the incident. Therefore, he had no reason to depose falsely against the accused.”The court also relied on Sonawane’s testimony, recording that he had seen the assault from a distance of 25-30 feet. “Thus, he was in a position to clearly see what was happening. He was also not knowing the accused prior to the incident. Therefore, he had no reason to depose falsely against the accused.”The prosecution alleged that the motive for the attack was linked to Waghmode’s proposed marriage with the woman. The woman told the court that Shegokar had one-sided love for her and that she was not interested in him. The court accepted this evidence and observed, “Thus, the accused had a motive to commit the offence in question.”Medical evidence showed that Waghmode had suffered incised wounds on the neck and injuries on the left hand. The medical officer told the court that one neck wound required suturing.The defence argued that Shegokar had been falsely implicated because of caste differences and disapproval of an alleged relationship with the woman. The defence also raised an alibi, claiming Shegokar was in Alibaug at the time. The court rejected both arguments. On the alibi claim, the judge said that it was nothing but an afterthought.
