The District and Sessions Court (DJ-10) has found three individuals guilty in the sensational Kamble double murder case and handed down life imprisonment sentences to them. The case pertained to the brutal killing of journalist Ravikant Kamble’s mother Ushabai and his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Rashi on February 17, 2018. The convicted individuals have been identified as Ganesh Shivbaran Shahu, his wife Gudiya Shahu, and his brother Ankit Shahu. The court, presided over by Judge S B Gawande, delivered the verdict after carefully considering the evidence presented during the trial. During the final arguments presented in court, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam outlined the prosecution’s case against the accused. He highlighted the strong evidence brought forward by the police, in accordance with the Evidence Act. A total of 35 witnesses testified in this case, providing further corroboration of the prosecution’s claims.

 

One of the key pieces of evidence presented by Adv Nikam was the discovery of blood stains belonging to Ushabai Kamble and Rashi Kamble, the victims, in the accused’s residence and their four-wheeler, a Mahindra XUV 500. Forensic tests confirmed a match between the blood stain samples obtained from the house, the car, and Ushabai Kamble’s DNA. Eyewitnesses also reported seeing the accused individuals, namely Ganesh, Ankit and Gudiya at the scene of the incident. Furthermore, witnesses observed the accused carrying two sacks from their house, placing them in a car, and later discarding them in the canal at Durga lay-out behind Vihirgaon. These evidences were argued by Adv Nikam to demonstrate a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence and dispose of the victims’ bodies.

In their defence, the accused, along with a teen, presented their case through their lawyer R M Bhagwat. Adv Bhagwat vehemently refuted the prosecution’s claims, stating that the entire case against his clients, including the presented evidence, was false. He maintained that they were not responsible for the murders. Advocate Chandekar, representing Ganesh Shahu, raised concerns about the alleged falsity of the evidence presented by the police. He argued that the chain of circumstantial evidence did not hold up and suggested inconsistencies and breaks. On May 10, 2023, Adv Nikam filed a counter-reply on behalf of the state, along with a written submission. This submission highlighted the accused’s involvement in the double murder case based on eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence, such as the presence of blood stains in their house and car. The defence failed to provide a substantial response to this evidence.