JUDGMENT

SHINGHAL, J. :— This appeal by Kasturi Lal accused arises from the judgment of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana dated April 7, 1971, upholding his conviction for various offences, including the offence of committing the murder of Sardari Lal for which he has been sentenced to imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs. 500/- under Section 302 read with Section 149, I.P.C. There was six other accused in the case including Khazan Singh and Gurdial Singh,, but both of them were acquitted by the Sessions Judge of Karnal by his judgment dated December 19, 1970, whereas the appellant and the other accused were convicted for various offences of imprisonment. Four appeals were filed in the High Court including an appeal by the present appellant Kasturi Lal and on appeal by the State of Haryana against the acquittal of Khazan Singh and Gurdial Singh. The High Court dismissed all the four appeals and the present appeal of Kasturi Lal has come up for consideration by special leave.

2. A report of the incident in this case was lodged by Girdhari Lal (P.W.4), brother of Sardari Lal deceased, at police station Ladwa, on December 25, 1967, at 5.15 p.m. It was stated in the report that Gir