2017 Supreme(Del) 2542
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
G.S. SISTANI, CHANDER SHEKHAR, JJ.
Amit Kumar - Petitioner
Versus
The State (NCT of Delhi) - Respondent
Crl. A. No. 174 of 2017
Decided On : 31-07-2017
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Rajender Prasad
For the Respondent: Mr. Rajat Katyal
The main legal point established in the judgment is the reliance on testimonies of witnesses, the recovery of the scooter and knife, and forensic evidence to establish the guilt of the appellant beyond any shadow of doubt.
Headnote:
Code of Criminal Procedure - Appeal - Section 374 - Indian Penal Code - Section 302 - [Section 374, Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, Section 302, Indian Penal Code 1860] - The judgment discusses the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and the appeal filed under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 against the impugned judgment and order of sentence. The court examined the testimonies of witnesses, the recovery of the scooter and knife, and the forensic evidence to establish the guilt of the appellant.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of the deceased. The prosecution's case was based on the testimony of witnesses, the recovery of the scooter and knife, and forensic evidence. The appellant denied the charges and claimed false implication.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the prosecution had established its case beyond any shadow of doubt against the appellant. The testimonies of witnesses, the recovery of the scooter and knife, and the forensic evidence proved the guilt of the appellant. The court dismissed the appeal, upholding the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
Issues: The issues revolved around the credibility of witnesses, the recovery of the scooter and knife, and the forensic evidence. The appellant denied the charges and claimed false implication.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the testimonies of witnesses, the recovery of the scooter and knife, and the forensic evidence to establish the guilt of the appellant beyond any shadow of doubt.
Final Decision: The appeal was held to be devoid of any merit and was accordingly dismissed. The court upheld the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
Chander Shekhar, J.
The appellant has filed the present appeal under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (Cr.P.C.), against the impugned judgment, dated 10.02.2015, and order of sentence, dated 12.02.2015, respectively passed by Sh. Sandeep Yadav, Additional Sessions Judge-5, South District Court, Saket, New Delhi in case FIR No.359/2009, P.S.-Vasant Vihar, whereby the appellant has been convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 and sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for life and fine of Rs.5,000/- and in default of payment of fine further simple imprisonment for one year.
2. The case of the prosecution as noticed by the trial court is that Sujeet, elder brother of complainant Barjeet, was married with one Jyoti on 15.01.04. Out of this wedlock, one boy namely Kunal was born in the year 2006. In December 2008, Jyoti w/o Sujeet went with appellant Amit and left her son Kunal with Sujeet. Complainant Barjeet, his elder brother Sujeet and appellant Amit, were residing at Moti Lal Camp, DDA Flats, Munirka, New Delhi. When Jyoti came back, a panchayat was held in the area and as per the decision of the panchayat, marriage between Sujeet and Jyoti was dissolved and therefore Jyoti started living with Amit in slums. Appellant Amit used to taunt and abuse Sujeet on this issue. On 10.11.09 at about 10.30 pm Barjeet (brother of the deceased) and his elder brother Sujeet, were plucking leaves from tree for their goat on the boundary wall of Health Society. Sujeet was standing at a distance of 10-15 steps from complainant Barjeet. At that time, appellant Amit came on a grey colour scooter and hit against Sujeet, as a result of which Sujeet fell down, thereafter, appellant Amit shouted that he will not spare Sujeet, as Sujeet was intending to snatch Jyoti from him. Appellant Amit caught Sujeet by collar with his left hand and assaulted on his neck repeatedly with a meat cutting knife. Sujeet after receiving first knife blow from Amit asked Amit to leave him but Amit did not leave Sujeet. Appellant Amit hit Sujeet on his face with the heal of his shoes when complainant Barjeet came down from the wall and rushed to save his brother, appellant Amit rushed towards Barjeet with the knife to hit him. Barjeet ran away to his house and called his family members to the spot. By that time, appellant Amit had fled away from the spot with the scooter. Barjeet categorically stated that appellant Amit has killed his brother on account of previous enmity regarding Jyoti.
3. The manner in which the crime was detected and investigated stands detailed in Police report filed under Section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Thereafter, information regarding this incident was received in Police Station Vasant Vihar vide DD no. 21-A and thereupon PW-13 SI Sujit along with Ct. Mahesh reached cremation ground in front of Moti Lal Nehru Camp, DDA Flats, Munirka and found one person lying in pool of blood in front of the gate of cremation ground. Police officials found deep wound with sharp edged weapon on the neck of the injured. Inquiry revealed the name of the injured as Sujeet, s/o. Naubat Ram, after recording the statement of Barjeet, dead body was sent to Safdarjung Hospital where the concerned doctor declared Sujeet as brought dead. Thereafter, a case under Section 302 IPC was registered. ASI Surjit lifted blood sample of deceased and earth control from the spot. Blood stained mat of scooter was lifted from near the dead body and one sleeper was also lifted and seized. Thereafter, the investigation of this case was transferred to Inspector Kishore Kumar and appellant Amit was arrested from Nelson Mandela Road Near Aggarwal Sweets Munirka based on the identification of Barjeet. Disclosure statement of appellant Amit was recorded. Appellant got recovered the knife and scooter used in the crime, blood stained pant, jacket, shoes of appellant which he was wearing at the time of commission of crime, and he