WILFRED ROZARIO FERNANDES vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA HOME DEPARTMENT SECRETARY — Crl.A. No. 880/2012

Summary of Crl.A. No. 880/2012 (Wilfred Rozario Fernandes v. State of Maharashtra) The Supreme Court dismissed the appellant's criminal appeal challenging his conviction for murder (IPC Section 302) by the trial court and the High Court's confirmation thereof. Fernandes was convicted of murdering Sachin Harisingh Bogati on October 5, 1997, based on circumstantial evidence including: being last seen with the victim, financial disputes and motive, absconding and surrendering days later, recovery of blood-stained clothing matching the victim's blood group, and failure to explain incriminating circumstances. The Court found concurrent findings by both lower courts and held the circumstantial evidence chain established guilt. Fernandes, sentenced to life imprisonment plus Rs. 1,000 fine, was directed to surrender before the trial court by September 13, 2023. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.