Ranjit Mahanti
A division bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice P D Kode of the Bombay high court on Tuesday confirmed the death sentence of state transport (ST) driver in Pune Santosh Mane who went on a rampage mowing down pedestrians and motorists. Nine people were killed and 37 others injured in the incident.
Mane had appealed against death sentences announced by lower court. The High Court rejected his plea but stayed its verdict for eight weeks to allow him to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.
Public prosecutors Sandeep Shinde and Madhvi Mhatre had opposed the plea of insanity, saying Mane was very much in his senses and was upset that he was not given day duty and was given only night duty.
According to police, on January 25, 2012, Mane had hijacked a ST bus from Swargate depot in Pune and drove recklessly on the roads mowing down everything in his path.