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2023 Supreme(Raj) 147
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
PANKAJ BHANDARI, BHUWAN GOYAL, JJ.
Shakir S/o. Shri Sadik Mohammad Hussain & Ors. - Appellants
Versus
State of Rajasthan Through P.P. - Respondent
D.B. Criminal Appeal Nos. 729, 610, 730, 731 of 2012
Decided On : 28-02-2023
For the Appellant : Mr. Manu Bhargava with Ms. Kanika Burman, Ms. Priyanka Soni & Ms. Nisha Chandran, Mr. Ashok Sharma.
For the Respondent:Mr. Javed Choudhary, Additional Government Advocate.
Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 120B, 302, 342, and 377 - Criminal conspiracy, murder and sexual offences - The appellants were convicted under the cited sections. The evidence against them included testimonies of accomplices, examined cautiously for corroboration. The court established the necessity for proof of reliability in approver evidence, emphasizing that mere participation does not validate uncorroborated claims. The conviction hinged upon the reliability of witnesses correlating with the established facts. (Paras 1-31)
(B) Evidentiary Standards - Approvers as witnesses - It was emphasized that the evidence provided by approvers, while permissible, requires rigorous corroboration due to inherent risk of bias. The court reiterated the established principle that conviction cannot rely solely on an approver's testimony without strong supporting evidence. (Paras 21-24)
JUDGMENT :
Bhuwan Goyal, J.
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| vihykFkhZ&vfHk;qDRk 'kkfdj ¼vihy la[;k&729@2012½ | |||
| /kkjk | ltk | vFkZn.M | vne vnk;xh vFkZn.M |
| 302 ,oa 120ch Hkk-na-la | vkthou dkjkokl | 1000@i, | 02 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
| 342 Hkk-na-la | 06 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl | 100@i, | 15 fnol dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
| 377 Hkk-na-la | 07 o"kZ dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl | 1000@i, | 02 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
| 201 Hkk-na-la | 03 o"kZ dk dBksj dkjkokl | 1000@i, | 02 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
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| 302 lifBr /kkjk 120ch Hkk-na-la-,oa /kkjk 120ch Hkk-na-la | vkthou dkjkokl | 1000@i, | 02 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
| 342 Hkk-na-la | 06 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl | 100@i, | 15 fnol dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
| 377 lifBr /kkjk 120ch Hkk-na-la | 07 o"kZ dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl | 1000@i, | 02 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
| 201 Hkk-na-la | 03 o"kZ dk dBksj dkjkokl | 1000@i, | 02 ekg dk lk/kkj.k dkjkokl |
| lHkh ltk,a lkFk&lkFk pyus dk vkns'k fn;k x;k gSA | |||
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