Bombay High Court

POPAT GANPAT DHUMALversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS

Decided: 11 August 2026
Disposal: Disposed Off

Holding

The petition was dismissed as moot because the petitioner had already served his entire sentence.

Summary

The petitioner, Popat Ganpat Dhumal, filed a writ petition challenging certain aspects of his conviction. During the hearing, counsel informed the court that the petitioner had already been released after completing his entire sentence. The court noted that, with the petitioner no longer in custody, there was no longer any relief to be granted. Consequently, the court held that the petition was moot. The petition was therefore disposed of without any further order.

Issues considered

What relief, if any, remains for a petitioner who has completed his sentence?
Whether the writ petition can proceed when the petitioner is no longer in custody?

Subjects

criminal law
writ petition
release
mootness
jurisdiction

Judgment

                       supriya                           1 of 1                 9-WP-3905-2025


                                 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                       CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                                        WRIT PETITION NO. 3905 OF 2025

                      Popat Ganpat Dhumal                                   ..Petitioner
SUPRIYA                    Versus
PRAMOD
JAWARE                The State Of Maharashtra & Ors.                       ..Respondents
Digitally signed by
SUPRIYA
PRAMOD JAWARE
Date: 2026.08.12
12:11:53 +0530
                                                    __________

                      Ms. Ankita Naik for the Petitioner.
                      Ms. Supriya Kak, APP for the Respondent-State.
                                                  __________

                                          CORAM : SARANG V. KOTWAL &
                                                  RANJITSINHA RAJA BHONSALE, JJ.

                                          DATE    : 11 AUGUST 2026
                      PC :

                      1.           Learned Counsel for the Petitioner states that, the

                      Petitioner is released from the prison after serving out his entire

                      sentence.


                      2.           In view thereof, nothing further survives in the present

                      Petition. Accordingly, the Petition is disposed of.



                      (RANJITSINHA RAJA BHONSALE, J.)             (SARANG V. KOTWAL, J.)

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