After 19 Years in Jail, Woman Convicted in Doctor’s Abduction Case Released on Remission
After 19 Years in Jail, Woman Convicted in Doctor’s Abduction Case Released on Remission
Pune, June 2, 2025:
Leena Deosthale (65), convicted in the 2006 abduction case of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Deepak Mahajan, has been released from Yerwada Central Prison after serving 19 years of a life sentence. Her release follows a remission granted by the Sentence Review Board of the state government on May 16, with her official release taking place on May 23.
Deosthale, a former lawyer from Dahisar, Mumbai, was originally sentenced to death along with her daughter, Deepti — a culinary expert and writer — by a Pune fast-track court in 2007. The charges stemmed from the alleged kidnapping and attempted ransom of Rs 25 lakh from Dr Mahajan, who was reportedly given a fatal overdose of sedatives in July 2006. The Bombay High Court, however, acquitted the duo of murder in 2009 due to lack of evidence, while upholding their conviction for abduction and extortion, resulting in life imprisonment.
Leena’s application for remission was filed through the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Pune. Her case was represented pro bono by lawyer Sachin Salunkhe under the guidance of DLSA Secretary Sonal Patil. The appeal highlighted her advanced age, her expression of remorse, 19 years of actual incarceration, and her potential for rehabilitation — all aligning with the principles of restorative justice.
While the state prisons department initially opposed the remission on grounds of the seriousness of the crime and the pending Supreme Court appeal, Salunkhe cited a 2022 Supreme Court order. The court had stated that even if an appeal is pending, cases involving convicts who have completed 14 years in prison can be considered for premature release. Furthermore, government resolutions from 2006 and 2008 supported remission in cases involving elderly and long-term convicts, including those under Section 364A (abduction for ransom).
Despite objections from the prisons department over an unpaid fine of ₹59,000 ordered by the trial court, Salunkhe deposited the amount on Deosthale’s behalf to ensure her release.
Deepti Deosthale, who is also serving a life term in the same case, has submitted a separate application for remission. Her plea is currently under review by the Sentence Review Board.
Speaking on the development, Salunkhe remarked, “Her release marks an important step in the ongoing conversation around justice reform, balancing accountability with compassion.”
