Gujarat High Court
Judgename :A.K.TRIVEDI, J.N.Bhatt
PATEL RASIKBHAI BHAGWANDAS - Appellant
Versus
STATE - Respondent
CRIMINAL APPEAL 270 of 1992
Decided On : 08/14/1998
The culpable homicidal death of deceased Mukesh Ranchhodbhai by A1 and of Ramesh Gandalal by A2-Kapila Bhagwandas has been established without any doubt. The Trial Court has therefore rightly reached the conclusion that A1 is guilty of homicidal death of deceased Mukesh and A-2-Kapila Bhagwandas is guilty of homicidal death of Ramesh Gandalal. We, also agree with the Trial Court that A3-Gita Bhagwandas caused three injuries by giving knife blows to the complainant-Rasik Gandalal. The evidence of three eye witnesses in proving the homicidal death of deceased Mukesh and Ramesh and for causing injuries to complainant by A3-Gita is quite justified. The evidence of three eye witnesses is, fully, supported by the medical evidence and promptly lodged FIR in the backdrop of long-drawn animosity between the parties.
[Para 38]
There is, clear, evidence to infer that the A1-Rasik Bhagwanbhai has committed offence of culpable homicide amounting to murder as provided under Sec. 300 and punishable under 302 of IPC. There was no question of sudden quarrel or any provocation for the commission of offence by inflicting sword blows on the vital parts of the deceased-Mukesh.
The evidence does not permit to agree with the contention that the offence committed by A1-Rasik Bhagwandas was a result of on the spot quarrel or even sudden provocation. Therefore, the version of defence raised before us in this appeal that the offence committed by A1 is not punishable under Sec. 302 IPC but is punishable under Sec. 304 part II is not sustainable.
[Para 45]
A1 is responsible for giving fatal blow of sword on the vital part of deceased-Mukesh and thereby he has committed offence of murder punishable under Sec. 302.
[Para 47]
[See Para 48]
(b) Penal Code, 1860 - Sec. 308 - A-3 convicted under Sec. 307 - She inflicted 3 knife blows on complainant - She intervened at a later stage - No intention to commit murder - Held, offence committed by A-3 falls under Sec. 308 & conviction altered.
The accused No. 3 intervened at a later stage. From the manner and mode, the nature of weapon employed by accused No. 3, it can not be inferred that it was an attempt to commit murder. However, the culpability, of the accused in causing serious injuries to the complainant, in our opinion, was an attempt to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Prosecution has, therefore, in our opinion failed to prove the culpability of accused No. 3 for the offence punishable under Sec. 307 of IPC. However, the attempt or action on the part of accused No. 3 Geeta Bhagwandas in giving knife blows to the person of complainant would fall under the mischief of Sec. 308 IPC. Therefore, the conviction of accused No. 3 under Sec. 307 IPC is required to be altered from Sec. 307 IPC to Sec. 308 IPC.
[Para 51]
( 1 ) BY this appeal under Sec. 374 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Code), the appellants have assailed the judgment and order of the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Mehsana recorded in Sessions Case No 223 of 1991, on 21-3-1992, whereby (i) the appellant No. 1 (A-l) - Patel Rasikbhai Bhagwandas came to be convicted and sentenced for imprisonment for life under Sec. 302 I. P. C, and also to pay fine of Rs. 500. 00 and in default to undergo further imprisonment for six months for having committed murder of Mukesh Ranchhoddas, (ii) Appellant No. 2 (A-2) Patel Kapilaben Bhagwandas came to be convicted and sentenced for imprisonment for life under Sec. 302 I. P. C. and also to pay fine of Rs. 500. 00 and in default to undergo further imprisonment for six months for having committed murder of one Ramesh Gandalal, (iii) Appellant No. 3 (A-3)-Patel Gitaben bhagwandas came to be convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and to pay fine of Rs. 500. 00 and in default to undergo further imprisonment for six months for attempting to murder one Rasik Gandabhai under sec. 307 I. P. C. , (iv) all the appellants (A1 to A3) came to be convicted and sentenced for simple imprisonment for four months and to pay fine of Rs. 250. 00 and in default to undergo further simple imprisonment of one month under Sec. 135 (1) of Bombay police Act, 1951.
( 2 ) SKELETON projection of relevant and material facts, alleged, by the prosecution may, be briefly articulated, at this stage, so as to examine the merits and challenge, against the impugned judgment and order of conviction and sentence.
( 3 ) THE prosecution has, inter alia, alleged that all the three appellants-original accused Nos. I, 2 and 3 respectively (hereinafter referred to as A-l, A-2, and A-3 for short, convenience and brevity) had entertained a common intention of causing death of deceased Mukesh Ranchhoddas and Ramesh Gandalal, the brother of the complainant Rasik Gandalal who has also suffered severe injuries and in furtherance of such common intention attacked on complainant party on 13-8-1991, at about 5-00 p. m. , near the house of accused persons, in village Karajisan of Kadi Taluka, mehsana District. The accused persons gave wild abuses and thereafter A-l-Rasik bhagwandas inflicted a blow of sword on the right side portion of the chest of one mukesh Ranchhodbhai which culminated into his death. The accused No. 2- kapilaben Bhagwandas gave a knife blow on the chest portion of one Ramesh gandabhai which proved to be fatal. The A-3-Gitaben Bhagwandas gave knife blows to the complainant-Rasikbhai in an attempt to murder him.
( 4 ) UPON assessment of testimonial collection and evaluation of documentary evidence, the trial Court found the accused persons guilty and sentenced them, as stated hereinabove by holding (i) that the death of Mukesh Ranchhodbhai was a homicidal death, and accused No. I (A-1)-Patel Rasik Bhagwandas is, individually, liable for causing his murder by inflicting fatal sword blows on the chest portion of the deceased, and therefore, convicted the accused No. 1 (A-l) for imprisonment of life with a fine of Rs. 500. 00 and in default further six months rigorous imprisonment under Sec. 302 I. P. C. , (ii) that the death of Ramesh Gandabhai, brother of complainant-Rasikbhai Gandabhai was a homicidal death caused by A-2- kapilaben Bhagwandas by inflicting a severe knife blow on the chest of Ramesh which culminated into his death and convicted the A-2, individually, for offence punishable under Sec. 302 for imprisonment of lire and fine of Rs. 500. 00 and in default to undergo further six months imprisonment, (iii) that the A-3. Gita bhagwandas. had caused serious injuries in an attempt to murder by inflicting knife blows and convicted and sentenced her for 7 years rigorous imprisonment and to pay fine of Rs. 500. 00 and in default to undergo further six months simple imprisonment under Sec. 307 I. P. C. and (iv) that all the accused pe
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