The court emphasized that circumstantial evidence must provide a conclusive link to the accused's guilt; mere allegations and contradictions among witnesses do not suffice for a conviction.

JUDGMENT :

Ravi Chirania, J.

1. The present appeal has been preferred by appellant Sanjay Kumar against the impugned judgment dated 03.05.2016 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge No.2, Abu Road, District Sirohi in Sessions Case No.83/2015, titled as “State of Rajasthan Vs. Sanjay Kumar” whereby the learned court below convicted the appellant for the offence under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment of life and a fine of Rs.25,000/-, in default of payment of fine, further to undergo one year’s additional simple imprisonment.

2. In nutshell, the brief facts of the case are that a written report (Exhibit-P/1) dated 20.4.2015 was lodged by one Sanjeet Jha (complainant) to the SHO, Police Station, Pindwara, District Sirohi stating therein that he is residing from last more than 23 years in Pindwara and his village-mate, namely, Madan Jha (deceased herein) also resides close to his house from last 15 years; who works in a factory, named, Choudhary Industry.

3. By the aforesaid written report, he further informed the SHO, that the accused-Sanjay Kumar in the past attempted to make illicit relationship with Smt. Ranju Jha, wife of deceased-Madan Jha and due to this, there was an altercation between them in past, which was reported by Madan Jha (deceased) and Smt. Ranju Jha to the police and on account of this, the accused Sanjay Kumar had enmity with the deceased. He further stated that on 19.4.2015 Ranju Jha told him (complainant) that around 7:00 pm accused-Sanjay Kumar came to her house in a Pick-up Van and threatened that today he will kill her husband-Madan Jha (deceased) after he leaves the factory. Around 9:50 pm, as per the complainant, he received an information that some Pick-Up vehicle had hit Madan Jha, who then was taken to hospital in an injured condition, where he died.

4. On the written report, FIR No.123/2015 was registered at P.S. Pindwara, District Sirohi against accused Sanjay Kumar Mali S/o. Mahendra Mali for offence under Section 302 IPC. The written report (Exhibit-P/1) is reproduced as under :-

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