Case Overview

• Criminal appeal under Cr.P.C. Section 374(2) against conviction and life imprisonment under IPC Section 302 by Additional Sessions Judge, Nainital, in Sessions Trial No. 141 of 1988 (!) (!) (!) [26000029370002][26000029370003].
• Appellants: Diwan Singh and Bachuli Devi (convicted); their son Nar Singh acquitted by trial court (!) [26000029370002][26000029370007].

Prosecution Story

• Deceased Prem Singh (brother of Diwan Singh) accused by Bachuli Devi of his sons stealing wheat flour and potatoes; quarrel ensued [26000029370001][26000029370006].
• Appellants and Nar Singh allegedly entered deceased's house, Diwan Singh held head, Bachuli Devi poured 'NUVAN' insecticide poison into mouth, Nar Singh held hands; Leela Devi (PW2) snatched empty bottle [26000029370001][26000029370006][26000029370007].
• Deceased informed wife Parwati Devi (PW1), attempted to go to doctor but died en route; FIR lodged next day by PW1 via PW4 with Patti Patwari [26000029370001][26000029370006].

Investigation and Evidence

• Patti Patwari PW6 Bachchi Singh registered crime, prepared inquest report (Ext. A-3), site plan (Ext. A-11), sent viscera for analysis; charge sheet (Ext. A-12) filed [26000029370001][26000029370002].
• Postmortem by PW7 Dr. M.N. Dhondiyal (Ext. A-13): No ante-mortem injuries, congested organs, cause undetermined; FSL report (Ext. A-14) confirmed insecticide in stomach, intestine, liver, gall bladder, kidney [26000029370005].
• Prosecution witnesses: PW1 Parwati Devi (wife, eyewitness), PW2 Leela Devi (daughter, eyewitness), others formal [26000029370002][26000029370006][26000029370007].

Trial Court Findings

• Charges framed under IPC Section 302 against all three accused post Section 207 Cr.P.C. compliance; appellants convicted and sentenced to life, Nar Singh acquitted as minor (!) [26000029370002][26000029370007].

Appellate Court Analysis and Doubts

• FSL and medical evidence supports homicidal poisoning death [26000029370005].
• Inconsistencies: Deceased (32 years old) unlikely unable to resist unarmed assailants or spit out poison [26000029370008].
• PW1 and PW2 (wife and daughter) improbably passive during incident [26000029370009].
• Contradiction in place of occurrence: PW1 says inside house, PW2 says outside [26000029370010].
• Unexplained movement of body from pathway to field per site plan (Ext. A-11) [26000029370010].

Ratio and Decision

• Prosecution failed to prove IPC Section 302 beyond reasonable doubt due to inconsistencies creating doubt; benefit to accused [26000029370008][26000029370009][26000029370010][26000029370011].
• Appeal allowed; appellants acquitted, no need to surrender as on bail [26000029370011].