JUDGMENT :

Deepak Kumar Tiwari, J.

1. This criminal appeal preferred by the appellant under Section 374(2) of the Cr.P.C. is directed against the impugned judgment dated 27.1.2021 passed by the learned Second Additional Sessions Judge, Jagdalpur, District Bastar (CG) in Sessions Case No.15/2018, whereby, he has been convicted for the offence under Section 302 of the IPC and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and pay fine of Rs.2000/-, in default, to further undergo R.I. for 3 months.

2. Case of the prosecution is that Lachhindar Baghel S/o late Shivnath Baghel is the cousin brother of deceased – Lachhindar Baghel S/o late Jhimtu Baghel. As per the merg information lodged by Lachhindar Baghel S/o Shivnath Baghel on 1.10.2017 at 13:15 hours at Police Station Kondenar, the job of the deceased was to issue ticket to the shopkeepers in the weekly Barupata market. On 30.9.2017, at 2.30 p.m., the deceased had gone to the said weekly market on his cycle but when he did not return till late evening, a search was made on 1.10.2017 in the morning and thereafter, it was informed by the son of the deceased - Dharmu Baghel (PW-2) that some unknown persons have killed his father near the nur