Jandel Singh vs State of Madhya Pradesh

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2022 Supreme(MP) 1361

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH BENCH AT GWALIOR
Gurpal Singh Ahluwalia, Milind Ramesh Phadke, JJ.
Jandel Singh – Appellant
Versus
State of Madhya Pradesh – Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 497 of 2012 with Criminal Appeal No. 494 of 2012 with Criminal Appeal No. 500 of 2012
Decided On : 01-11-2022

Subject

Criminal Law - Murder and Unlawful Assembly

Act Referred

ARMS ACT: S.25, S.25(1)(ba), S.27, S.30
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE: S.313
INDIAN PENAL CODE: S.141, S.147, S.148, S.149, S.201, S.302, S.307, S.324, S.336

Headnote

(A) Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 148, 149, 302, 307, 323, and 336 - Arms Act, 1959 - Sections 25(1-B)(a) and 27 - Murder and attempt to murder during Holi celebration - Appellants convicted for murder and related offenses; acquitted of charges under certain sections due to lack of evidence of common object - Evidence established a premeditated attack leading to the death of the victim, driven by a personal grudge stemming from earlier disputes. (Paras 1-4, 10-11)

(B) Unlawful assembly - Common object - The court determined that while some accused were guilty of forming an unlawful assembly with a common object of committing violence, others were acquitted due to lack of evidence supporting common intentions to kill. The distinction of roles during the incident was pivotal in the court's decision. (Paras 48-54)

(C) Burden of proof - The prosecution's evidence, particularly eyewitness accounts, were deemed more credible than contradictions in the investigation, reinforcing the principle that ocular evidence prevails over medical evidence when credible. (Paras 35-39, 66-68)

(D) Findings asserted the critical nature of the accused's actions and conspiracy to commit violence, marking the court's emphasis on evaluating the intent behind their assembly and actions. (Paras 35-90) (E) All sentences to run concurrently, with specific fines and compensations identified to be paid. (Para 95)

Advocates Appeared:
Shri V.D. Sharma - Advocate., Shri R.K. Shrivastava - Advocate, Shri Sanjay Gupta - Advocate, for the Appellant; Shri C.P. Singh - advocate, for the Respondent

Table of Content
1. incident leading to investigation (Para 2 , 3 , 4 , 20)
2. witness reliability and consistency (Para 10 , 11 , 19 , 25 , 26)
3. medical evidence corroborates witnesses (Para 14 , 18 , 36 , 43)
4. common object and unlawful assembly principles (Para 28 , 51 , 56 , 67)
5. judgment and sentence modifications (Para 99 , 100 , 101 , 104)

JUDGMENT

G.S. Ahluwalia, J. - All the three Criminal Appeals have been filed against the judgment and sentence dated 27-4-2012 passed by 1st Additional Sessions Judge, Dabra, Distt. Gwalior in S.T. No. 295/2011 by which the Appellants have been convicted and sentenced for the following offences :

S. No.	Appellant	Conviction under Section	Sentence
1	Gautam Singh	148 of IPC	1 year R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 3 months R.I.
		302 of IPC	Life Imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- in default 2 years R.I.
		307/149 of IPC	7 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1000/- in default 1 year R.I.
		323/149 of IPC	6 months R.I. and fine of Rs. 750/- in default 1 month R.I.
		336 of IPC	1 month R.I. and fine of Rs. 250/- in default 7 days R.I.
2	Jandel Singh	148 of IPC	1 year R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 3 months R.I.
		302/149 of IPC	Life Imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- in default 2 years R.I.
		307 of IPC	7 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1000/- in default 1 year R.I.
		323/149 of IPC	6 months R.I. and fine of Rs. 750/- in default 1 month R.I.
		336 of IPC	1 month R.I. and fine of Rs. 250/- in default 7 days R.I.
		25(1-B)(a) of ARMS ACT	3 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 6 months R.I.
		27 of ARMS ACT	3 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 6 months R.I.
3	Vijay Singh	148 of IPC	1 year R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 3 months R.I.
		302/149 of IPC	Life Imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- in default 2 years R.I.
		307 of IPC	7 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1000/- in default 1 year R.I.
		323/149 of IPC	6 months R.I. and fine of Rs. 750/- in default 1 month R.I.
		336 of IPC	1 month R.I. and fine of Rs. 250/- in default 7 days R.I.
4	Dilip Singh	148 of IPC	1 year R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 3 months R.I.
		302/149 of IPC	Life Imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- in default 2 years R.I.
		307 of IPC	7 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1000/- in default 1 year R.I.
		323/149 of IPC	6 months R.I. and fine of Rs. 750/- in default 1 month R.I.
		336 of IPC	1 month R.I. and fine of Rs. 250/- in default 7 days R.I.
5	Hakim Singh son of Dilip Singh	148 of IPC	1 year R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 3 months R.I.
		302/149 of IPC	Life Imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- in default 2 years R.I.
		307/149 of IPC	7 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1000/- in default 1 year R.I.
		323 of IPC	6 months R.I. and fine of Rs. 750/- in default 1 month R.I.
		336 of IPC	1 month R.I. and fine of Rs. 250/- in default 7 days R.I.
6	Kalu @ Ranveer	148 of IPC	1 year R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 3 months R.I.
		302/149 of IPC	Life Imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- in default 2 years R.I.
		307/149 of IPC	7 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1000/- in default 1 year R.I.
		323 of IPC	6 months R.I. and fine of Rs. 750/- in default 1 month R.I.
		336 of IPC	1 month R.I. and fine of Rs. 250/- in default 7 days R.I.
7	Hakim son of Nathu Singh	148 of IPC	1 year R.I. and fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default 3 months R.I.
		302/149 of IPC	Life Imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- in default 2 years R.I.
		307/149 of IPC	7 years R.I. and fine of Rs. 1000/- in default 1 year R.I.
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