2001 Supreme(Raj) 1731
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT AT JODHPUR BENCH
N.N.Mathur, Jagat Singh, JJ.
Ramesh Kumar - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
D.B. Criminal Appeal Nos. 129, 53 of 1999.
Decided On : 13-08-2001
Advocates:
For the Appellant:Doongar Singh, Advocate.
For the Respondent: Panney Singh, Public Prosecutor.
Headnote:
Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 302 - Appeal against conviction in a murder Case - Incident took place suddenly for re-payment of money - In the incident, deceased sustained three injuries in which only one injury was enough in ordinary circumstances to cause death - It was argued that accused committed offence in the spur of the moment - The relations of the accused with the victim were also cordial - The high court held that offence under Section 302 Indian Penal Code was not made out - The high court altered the conviction and convicted him under Section 304 part-I I.P.C. - The high court allowed the appeal partly.
JUDGMENT
1. - This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 8.1.1999 passed by Additional Sessions Judge, Nohar convicting the appellant for offence under Section 302 I.P.C.and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 10000/-.
2. The prosecution case as disclosed during the trial is that P.W.1. Rajendra alias Raju, Hari Singh and deceased Ram Dutt all residents of Khoda were staying in a rented house of one Gulab Ram at Rawatsar for appearing in the examination. In the neighbourhood P.W. 4 Mamraj and P.W.2 Har Dutt were living in the house of Lal Chand. On 13.4.98 Hari Singh was sent to khoda for collecting ration. Therefore, P.W. 1. Rajendra and deceased Ram Dutt went to the house of P.W.4 Mamraj for dinner. While P.W.4 Mamraj, P.W.2 Har Dutt, P.W.1 Rajendra and deceased Ram Dutt were taking food, the appellant Ramesh arrived. He was a driver on a Jeep. All the five dinnered together. After finishing the food, deceased Ram Dutt reminded appellant Ramesh of repayment of loan of Rs. 200/-. He stated that Rs. 150/- was paid and as such only a sum of Rs. 50/- was outstanding. The appellant Ramesh expressed that at the moment, he was having only Rs. 10/- with him and that too he required for seeing movie. A verbal altercation took place between them and they went outside the house. All of a sudden, the appellant Ramesh stabbed knife in the fell down. Ram Dutt was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries. A report of the incident was lodged by P.W.1 Rajendra alias Raju at police Station, Rawatsar on 13.4.98. at 8.30 RM. The Police registered a case for offence 302 IPC Station 302 and I.P.C.and proceeded with investigation. The police prepared the inquest and sent the dead body for autopsy. The appellant was apprehended. The knife was recovered in pursuance of the information given by him. After usual investigation, the police laid charge-sheet against the appellant for offence under section 302 I.P.C.
3. The appellant pleaded not guilty and faced trial. The prosecution in support of the case examined 9 witnesses and produced certain documents. The appellant in his statement under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure denied the correctness of the prosecution evidence appearing him. The trial court relying on the testimony of the eye witnesses corroborated by the prompt F.I.R. medical evidence and recovery of the knife found the prosecution case proved. He convicted and sentenced the appellant in the manner noticed above.
4. We have heard Mr. Doongar Singh the learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Public Prosecutor and perused the record carefully. The defence has not contested that deceased Ram Dutt died of homicidal death; otherwise also it is proved by the statements of P.W.1 Rajendra. P.W.4 Mamraj, P.W.2 Har Dutt and the medical evidence P.W. 6 Dr. Hanuman Singh.
5. P.W.2 Har Dutt has stated that he was staying in a rented house along with P.W.4 Mamraj at Rawatsar. On 13th April,1998 at about 6.00 RM. deceased Ram Dutt and P.W.1 Raju visited their room and expressed desire to have food with them, as they were not having ration with them and Hari Singh had gone to the village for collecting the same. All the four engaged themselves in cooking the food. At that time appellant Ramesh arrived. He also expressed his desire to join them in dinner. All the five took dinner together. At the time of taking dinner, deceased Ram Dutt reminded appellant Ramesh of the loan of Rs.200/- out of which Rs.150/- were paid and Rs. 50/- was due. He asked him to repay the balance amount of Rs.50/-, The appellant Ramesh stated that he was having only Rs.10/- with him and that too, it was required for seeing the movie. The deceased Ram Dutt told Ramesh that he was in need of Rs. 10/- for arranging the ration. Both of them went out side the house. A verbal altercation took place between them. The out cry of Ram Dutt attracted P.W. 1 Raju and P.W. 4 Mamraj. He further stated that Ramesh inf
Click Here to Read the rest of this document