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2024 Supreme(Cal) 788

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
CHITTA RANJAN DASH, PARTHA SARATHI SEN, JJ.
Khokan@ Sambhu Mukherjee – Appellant
Versus
The State of West Bengal & Ors. – Respondent
C.R.A. No. 214 of 2004 With CRAN 1 of 2004 (Old CRAN 951 of 2004)
Decided on : 18-01-2024

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya, Amicus Curiae.
For the Respondents: Ms. Z.N Khan, Mr. Ashoke Das, Adv.

The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation and application of different sections of IPC, specifically Section 307, Section 326, and Section 448, in determining the appellant's guilt and altering the extent of the sentence.

Headnote:

Conviction - Assault - Sections 448/326/307 IPC - Section 320, Section 326, Section 307 IPC - The court found the appellant guilty under Sections 448/326/307 IPC and sentenced him to imprisonment for 10 years with fine. The court held that the appellant's act did not fall under Section 307 IPC but affirmed the conviction under Section 326 and Section 448 IPC. The court also altered the extent of the sentence to 7 years for the offence under Section 326 IPC.

Fact of the Case:

The appellant was convicted under Sections 448/326/307 IPC for assaulting his neighbor's family with a sharp cutting weapon, resulting in grievous injuries to the daughter and wife of the informant. The incident occurred in 1993, and the appellant appealed the conviction and sentence.

Finding of the Court:

The court found the appellant guilty under Sections 448/326/307 IPC but held that the conviction under Section 307 IPC was not justified. The court affirmed the conviction under Section 326 and Section 448 IPC and altered the extent of the sentence to 7 years for the offence under Section 326 IPC.

Issues: The issues involved the appellant's guilt under Sections 448/326/307 IPC, the adequacy of the sentence, and the applicability of different sections of IPC to the appellant's actions.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the appellant's act did not fall under Section 307 IPC but affirmed the conviction under Section 326 and Section 448 IPC. The court also altered the extent of the sentence to 7 years for the offence under Section 326 IPC.

Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal in part, directing the appellant to surrender for the remaining sentence and issuing instructions for the disbursement of honorarium to the appointed amicus curiae.

JUDGMENT :

PARTHA SARATHI SEN, J.

1. In this appeal the judgment of conviction dated January 21, 2004 and the order of sentence dated January 22, 2004 as passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, Katwa in connection with Sessions Trial no.78 of 2002 arising out of Sessions Case no. 57 of 1999 arising out of GR Case no. 433 of 1993 in connection with Katwa P.S Case No. 176 of 1993 dated 10.10.1993 has been impugned. By the impugned judgment learned trial court found the appellant guilty under Sections 448/326/307 IPC and thus convicted and sentenced him to suffer imprisonment for 10 years with fine of Rs. 5000/-i.d to suffer further imprisonment for six months for the offence committed by him under Section 307 IPC, imprisonment for 10 years with fine of Rs.5000/-i.d. to suffer further imprisonment for six months for the offence under Section 326 IPC. By the impugned judgment learned trial court however, did not pass any separate order of sentence for the offence committed by the convict under Section 448 IPC. However, by the impugned judgment it was directed that all the sentences would run concurrently after setting off the period of detention already undergone. The convict of the said trial felt aggrieved and thus preferred the instant appeal.

2. For effective disposal of the instant appeal the facts leading to initiation of the aforesaid sessions trial is required to be discussed in a nutshell.

3. One Bankim Banerjee of Kacharipara, P.S Katwa, District Burdwan, lodged a written complaint on 10.10.1993 with the Officer-in-Charge of Katwa Police Station stating inter alia, that on the said day at about 7:30 p.m one of his neighbours namely; Khokan Mukherjee, the appellant herein focussed a torch on the window of his house to which his eldest daughter Mala Banerjee raised objection. It was his further version that the present appellant then became furious and started abusing his said daughter with filthy languages to which the informant’s said daughter and wife Janarani Banerjee again raised objection. It has been stated further in the said written complaint that thereafter the present appellant became excited and he rushed to the house of the informant with a ‘Ram Daw’ ( a sharp cutting weapon)in his hand and at that time the wife of the appellant was instigating him. After entering into the house of the informant the present appellant gave a blow of the said sharp cutting weapon on the right hand wrist of his daughter and he also assaulted Smt. Janarani Banerjee, the wife of the informant on her right hand. It is the further version of the informant that after hearing the hue and cry of the two injured persons as referred to above the informant came out of his room and tried to resist the assailant but he failed and thereafter the neighbours of the informant assembled there and after seeing them the assailant made an attempt to flee away by riding an ambassador car bearing no. WB F 4235. The victims were thereafter taken to hospital for their treatment.

4. On the basis of such written complaint Katwa P.S Case no. 176 of 1993 dated 10.10.1993 under Sections 448/326/307/114 IPC was started. Investigation was taken up and on completion of the same charge sheet was submitted under Sections 448/326/307/114 IPC against the present appellant as well as against her wife Smt. Tanushree Mukherjee.

5. Trial court record reveals that the present appellant being one of the accused was explained of the charges under Sections 448/326/307 IPC against him, which he denied and claimed to undergo trial. The prosecution before the trial court examined 10 witnesses in all and they have exhibited various documents and one material. Before the learned trial court defence has adduced no evidence. However, from the trend of cross examination of the prosecution witnesses and the answers as given by the appellant/ accused in his cross examination under Section 313 Cr.P.C it reveals that the defence case is based on clear denial and false

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