State of Maharashtra vs Vasant Shivram Sawant Advocate - बी. एस. आंबेकर — 588/2024

Summary The Judicial Magistrate First Class, Panhala acquitted 77-year-old Vasant Shivram Sawant of charges under Section 65(e) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act for allegedly possessing 14 bottles of country liquor. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the seizure of contraband due to lack of independent witness corroboration, absence of chemical analysis confirming the substance was intoxicant, and insufficient evidence quality. The court emphasized that while a sole witness's testimony can be believed if trustworthy and discrepancy-free, the prosecution's failure to examine independent witnesses and provide lab reports created reasonable doubt, warranting acquittal. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.