REPORTABLE 2026 INSC 257 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. OF 2026 [Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 19427 of 2025]

BHOLA MAHTO …APPELLANT VS.

THE STATE OF JHARKHAND …RESPONDENT

J U D G M E N T

1. Leave granted.

2. Appellant challenges the judgment and order dated 2^nd December, 2024, Digitally signed by of the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi², which was rendered while disposing of his appeal³ under Section 374(2), Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. While partly allowing such appeal by setting aside the conviction recorded by the relevant sessions court against the appellant under Section 302, Indian Penal Code, 18604 Signature Not Verified and the sentence of life imprisonment, a Division Bench of the High rashmi dhyani pant Date: 2026.03.18 Reason:1 impugned order

2 High Court

3 CRADB No. 58 of 2003

4 IPC Court altered the conviction to one under Section 304 - Part II, IPC and sentenced the appellant to 5 years rigorous imprisonment.

3. While hearing the appeal, we are reminded of the expression “give him an inch and he will ask for a mile”.

4. Having regard to the final order we propose to pass, it is not considered necessary to examine the appeal on its own merits by appreciating and analysing the evidence – oral and documentary – presented at the trial. Suffice it to note, the appellant was convicted by the relevant sessions court on 25^th November, 2002 in respect of the crime of murder committed by him on 28^th October, 2000, whereafter he carried such conviction before the High Court in appeal in the early part of 2003 itself. It was initially considered on 21^st January, 2003 and then on 25^th February, 2003. Right from 29^th October, 2000, the appellant was in pre-trial custody. The custody certificate reveals that he was released from custody on 10th March, 2003. Though the relevant order is not on record, we find from the impugned order that the appellant was on bail. It is, therefore, assumed that he obtained an order for suspension of sentence and was consequently released on bail. For long 20 years thence, the appeal was not listed for hearing. Ultimately, the appeal came to be listed before a Division Bench of the High Court on 14^th November, 2024. The order passed on that day records that none had appeared on behalf of the appellant despite repeated calls. The appeal having been filed in 2003, the Division Bench appointed an advocate of more than 15 years’ standing as amicus curiae, amicus to assist the Court. Office was directed to hand over the soft copy of the entire brief to the amicus and the appeal was directed to be relisted after two weeks. The name of the amicus was also directed to be reflected in the cause list on behalf of the appellant.

5. The learned amicus argued the appeal on 2^nd December, 2024. He raised the point that the “case cannot come within the purview of Section 302” of the IPC. According to him, insofar as the weapon of offence is concerned, the evidence of PW-2 on the one hand and the PW-3 and PW-4 on the other were contradictory. That apart, the entire incident occurred in the heat of passion when a sudden quarrel had taken place due to watering of the field; hence, Exception 4 of Section 300, IPC would be attracted in the case. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the appeal and argued that having regard to the nature of injuries suffered by the deceased (four blows on the head and one on the leg), there was clear intention of the appellant to commit murder. The discrepancy pointed out insofar as the weapon of offence is concerned, counsel argued, was immaterial. Since the statement of the autopsy surgeon (PW-1) suggested that the cause of death was due to shock and haemorrhage caused by hard and blunt substance, it substantiated and corroborated the oral evidence of PW-3 and PW-4. Dismissal of the appeal was, accordingly, prayed.

6. Upon threadbare consideration of the evidence led at the trial, the Division Bench formed the opinion that t