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2021 Supreme(MP) 714

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH, BENCH AT GWALIOR
SHEEL NAGU, RAJEEV KUMAR SHRIVASTAVA, JJ.
Hameer Singh, S/o. Pahalwan Singh Yadav and Anr. - Appellants
Versus
State of Madhya Pradesh - Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 505 Of 2011
Decided On : 11-06-2021

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellants : Shri Ashok Kumar Jain.
For the Respondent: Shri A.K. Nirankari.

Headnote:(A) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 374 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 302 and 34 - Conviction for murder (Section 302) and common intention (Section 34) - Both appellants sentenced to life imprisonment and fine for murdering the deceased by pouring petrol and setting him on fire - The trial court's reliance on dying declaration and direct witness accounts was upheld. (Paras 1, 5, 56)

(B) Evidence - The evidentiary foundation of testimonies from direct witnesses supported the prosecution's assertion of premeditated murder, which was corroborated by the medical cause of death attributing it to burn injuries - Witness testimonies being from relatives were still deemed credible. (Paras 52, 53)

Facts of the case:
Appellants were convicted for setting the deceased on fire over a crop and monetary dispute, with testimony being supported by medical evidence of burn-related causes of death.

Findings of Court:
The trial court's judgment was confirmed, asserting that the act reflected intent to kill and constituted murder as defined in law.

Issues: The core issue revolved around the weight of witness testimonies and dying declarations amidst claims of false implication and lack of premeditation.

Ratio Decidendi: Evidence established clear intent to kill; the testimonies were consistent and corroborated, necessitating the upholding of the conviction for murder under Section 302 IPC.

Result: Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence affirmed.

Table of Content
1. conviction details and legal basis. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. arguments from the defense and prosecution. (Para 4 , 5)
3. judicial observations and principles of law. (Para 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10)
4. analysis of the reliability of witness testimonies. (Para 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15)
5. explanation of culpable homicide under ipc. (Para 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20)
6. elements of mens rea in murder convictions. (Para 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25)
7. clarification on necessity of intention for homicide. (Para 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30)
8. insights into joint liability in criminal acts. (Para 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35)
9. discussions of participatory elements in criminal responsibility. (Para 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40)
10. defining common intention in criminal law. (Para 41 , 42 , 43 , 44)
11. testimonies supporting prosecution case. (Para 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49)
12. considerations on reliability of witness testimonies. (Para 52 , 53 , 54 , 55)
13. final analysis of the prosecution case. (Para 56)
14. conclusion of the court. (Para 57 , 58)

JUDGMENT :

(Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava, J.) :

1. The instant Criminal Appeal is preferred under Section 374 of CrPC, challenging the conviction and sentence dated 3.6.2011 passed by Second Additional Sessions Judge, Ashoknagar (MP) in Sessions Trial No. 181/2009, whereby appellant No.1-Hameer Singh and appellant No.2-Brijendra Singh have been convicted under Section 302 /34 and Section 302 of IPC, respectively, and each of them has been sentenced to undergo RI for life and fine of Rs.1000/-and in default of payment of fine, to undergo further RI for one year.

2. The facts necessary to be stated for disposal of the instant appeal are that as per prosecution version, on 8.3.2009 at about 12.00 pm (noon) deceased Lallu had objected to thrashing of the crop by the accused persons which had been sown by the deceased on the land taken on lease by the deceased from the appellants. As per prosecution, the deceased had demanded to refund the amount of Rs.21600/-taken by the appellant as well as the crop of chana from the appellants. The appellants refused to do so and on protest, appellant Hameer caught hold both the hands of the deceased and appellant Brijendra poured petrol on the deceased and set the deceased at fire. Bhagwat and Gangaram rushed for rescue and extinguished the fire. In the meantime, deceased's son Ratibhan came and took the deceased to District Hospital where the doctor informed the police and Police registered a case at Crime No. 166/2009 under Section 307 of IPC. During treatment, injured Lallu died, thereupon charge sheet was filed under Sections 307 , 302/34 of IPC.

3. Appellants Hameer Singh and Brijendra Singh were tried for the offences under Sections 302 /34 and 302 IPC, respectively, and have been convicted and sentenced as under :

Name of accused

Section

Punishment

Fine

In default, punishment

Hameer Singh

302 read with Section 34 IPC

Life Imprisonment

1000/- on each count

One year RI

Brijendra

302 IPC

Life Imprisonment

1000/- on each count

One year RI

4. The grounds raised are that the appellants are innocent and have been falsely implicated. There is no motive on the part of the appellants. There are serious contradictions, omissions and inconsistency in the statements of the prosecution witnesses. The prosecution story is concocted, fabricated and afterthought. The impugned judgment of the trial Court is solely based on dying declaration made to the different witnesses ignoring the fact of compromise taken place between the parties in a Panchayat prior to commission of occurrence, which was admitted by witnesses Udaybhan Singh Yadav (PW-1), Ratibhan Singh (PW-3) and Nathan Singh (PW-6). The trial Court has committed mistake in not considering the fact that the deceased died after 16 days of the incident due to serious complication such as, toxemia septicemia. The all

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