prosecuting agency by way of padding so as to fasten the guilt of this heinous crime, on the accused appellant and thereby lay a claim to have solved the case. 67. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mandar Vasant Dharmadhikari [(PW-18), 2nd Investigating Officer], was assigned the investigation of the case on 3rd October, 2013. He visited the place of the incident and claims to have recovered some blood stained soil from the second room in the watchmen chawl. The evidence of this witness (PW-18) does not indicate as to how he reached the conclusion that the crime had taken place in the said room. The accused appellant was arrested on 3rd October, 2013. Till then, there was no material on the investigation file so as to even cast a minimal suspicion against the accused appellant. The Investigating Officers did not even possess the barest evidence which could have 60 Criminal Appeal No(s). 1954-1955 of 2022