2009 Supreme(Raj) 1707
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT AT JAIPUR BENCH
S.P.Pathak, J.
Dan Singh and Anr. - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 902 of 2003
Decided On : 09-03-2009
For the Appellants:Moinuddin and Sunil Kumar Sharma, Advocates.
For the State: Alka Bhatnagar and J.R. Bijrania, Public Prosecutor.
Lack of corroboration for eye-witness testimony, inconsistencies in evidence, and withheld information can lead to doubt about the truthfulness of witness statements and influence the court's decision.
Headnote:
Section 302 - I.P.C. - 3/25 Arms - [Section 302 I.P.C., Section 3/25 Arms Act]
Fact of the Case:
The case involved the conviction of accused-appellants Dan Singh and Mohammada for the murder of Sher Khan. The prosecution's case was based on the testimony of eye-witnesses and medical evidence.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the evidence of the eye-witnesses did not inspire confidence and was not corroborated by the medical evidence. It also noted material contradictions and withheld information, leading to doubt about the truthfulness of the witnesses' statements.
Issues: Inconsistencies between oral and medical evidence, withheld genesis of the crime, lack of corroboration for eye-witness testimony
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the lack of corroboration for the eye-witness testimony, inconsistencies in the evidence, and withheld information about the genesis of the crime.
Final Decision: The judgment of conviction and order of sentence were set aside, and the accused were set at liberty.
JUDGMENT
| Dan Singh: |
|
| Under Section 302 I.P.C. | Imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 1,000/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo six months simple imprisonment. |
| Mohammada: |
|
| Under Section 302 I.P.C. | Imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 1,000/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo six months simple imprisonment. |
| Under Section 3/25 Arms | 2 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs. Act 1,000/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo six months simple imprisonment. |
1. This criminal appeal under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed against the judgment and order dated 29.5.2003 passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track), Kama District Bharatpur in Sessions Case No. 50/2002 whereby accused-appellants Dan Singh son of Fateh Singh and Mohammada son of Ateh Singh have been convicted and sentenced as under:
2. Briefly stated, the facts are that PW-4 Ashu son of Sher Khan complainant submitted a written report on 17.9.1995 at 3.15 p.m. (Ex.P-4) in the Police Station Kama with the averments that on the day of incident at about 10.00 a.m. in the morning, his father Sher Khan was taking care of crops in the field and at that time accused appellants Dan Singh and Mohammada were found taking the crops of Jwar and Bajra and on raising an objection to it and further on being told by the deceased to them that the deceased had taken the case and won upto the level of Board of Revenue, Ajmer, therefore, they should not do injustice to him. On hearing the objection both the accused appellants, namely; Dan Singh and Mohammada shouted and called Rassan, Dunda son of Fateh Singh, Safat son of Dan Singh, Deenu, Ajji son of Dan Singh, Ghuggan son of Fateh Khan Mev and Jhejhpuri Nijjar son of Ghuggan Mev to kill his father. All the above persons with the common intention came there with deadly weapons like lathi, ballam, pharsa and guns along with cartridges. The accused Mohammada and Dan Singh opened fire at deceased Sher Khan which hit the deceased in his left hand. The pallets thereof entered at the back of deceased. On account of gun fire injury caused by pallets, Sher Khan, the father of the complainant, fell down and died at the spot. It was also alleged that the incident was seer. by Islam and Saheb Khan. It is also stated that the dead-body was brought by them in Kama Hospital. The post-mortem on the dead body be got done and accused be dealt with according to law without any further delay. On the above report F.I.R. No. 148/1995 under Section 302 I.P.C. was registered and investigation commenced. During the course of investigation, formal F.I.R. Ex.P-5 was registered. Ex.P-1 site plan of the incident with its description was, drawn, Ex.P-2 inquest report, Ex.P-3 seizure memo of two empty cartridges of 12 bore were prepared on 17.9.1995. Postmortem was performed on the dead-body of the deceased by PW-5 Dr. Pramod Bansal. In the opinion of the doctor, death was the result of shock and hemorrhage due to injuries sustained on right lung, spleen and liver which was caused by fire arm and were ante-mortem in nature and were sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. Accused Mohammada gave information which was recorded in Ex.P-13 and accused Dan Singh gave information which was recorded in Ex.P-15. In pursuance of the information given by the accused Mohammada on 15.2.1996 vide Ex.P-11 recovery of 12 bore country made gun was made in the presence of PW-13 Rehmat, the gun was recovered from a thatched house of accused, the site plan, memo of recovery of gun is Ex.P-12. No recovery could be made on the information given by accused Dan Singh under Section 27 of the Evidence Act on 1.10.1995 and'3.10.1995 respectively. Clothes of. - the deceased, one 12 bore K.F. Special Cartridge, one 12 bore Shaktiman express cartridge, 24 lead pellets and one 20 bore country made SBBL gun in
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