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2023 Supreme(SC) 295

SUDHANSHU DHULIA, J. B. PARDIWALA
Balu Sudam Khalde – Appellant
Versus
State Of Maharashtra – Respondent


Advocates appeared:
For the Appellant(s) : Mr. K. L. Janjani, AOR Mr. Pankaj Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Kailash J. Kashyap, Adv.
For the Respondent(s): Mr. Abhikalp Pratap Singh, Adv. Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv. Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, AOR Mr. Bharat Bagla, Adv. Mr. Sourav Singh, Adv. Ms. Shreya Saxena, Adv. Ms. Yamini Singh, Adv.

Judgement Key Points

Based on the provided legal document, the key points are as follows:

  1. Witness Credibility and Recall: A witness cannot be expected to accurately recall the sequence of events that occur in rapid succession or over a short time span. The presence of an injured eye-witness at the scene is generally not doubted unless there are material contradictions in their deposition (!) (!) .

  2. Evidence of Injured Witnesses: The testimony of an injured eyewitness has greater evidentiary value and is not to be lightly discarded unless there are compelling reasons. Minor embellishments or exaggerations do not necessarily undermine the credibility of their entire testimony (!) .

  3. Appreciation of Ocular Evidence: The appreciation of ocular evidence is complex and must be approached without a rigid formula. Minor discrepancies on trivial matters are not sufficient grounds to reject the entire evidence, especially when the overall version appears truthful and consistent (!) (!) .

  4. Effect of Cross-Examination Suggestions: Suggestions made by defense counsel during cross-examination that are incriminating or imply the presence of the accused at the scene are binding on the accused and can be considered as part of the evidence. Such suggestions are not without evidentiary value and may support the prosecution’s case (!) (!) (!) .

  5. Role of Defense Suggestions: The primary purpose of cross-examination is to discover the truth, and suggestions are tools that can either weaken or strengthen a witness’s credibility. If a suggestion directly incriminates the accused, it can be relied upon in conjunction with other evidence (!) (!) .

  6. Principles of Evidence and Transaction: Evidence relating to facts that are part of the same transaction or are so connected as to form part of the same incident is relevant and admissible. Such evidence must be contemporaneous or closely connected in time and place (!) (!) (!) .

  7. Application of Legal Principles to the Case: The evidence indicates that the death was caused by multiple injuries inflicted with dangerous weapons, which are sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. The nature and number of injuries, along with medical evidence, support a conclusion of murder rather than culpable homicide not amounting to murder (!) (!) .

  8. Consideration of Exceptions: The case does not satisfy the criteria for applying the exceptions to the definition of murder, such as acts done in a sudden fight without premeditation or undue advantage. The injuries inflicted and the circumstances do not align with the conditions necessary to invoke these exceptions (!) (!) (!) .

  9. Court’s Discretion in Appellate Review: The appellate court generally refrains from interfering with concurrent findings of fact unless there are significant errors or circumstances indicating a gross misapprehension. The court carefully examines whether the findings are supported by evidence and whether principles of criminal jurisprudence have been correctly applied (!) (!) .

  10. Final Judgment: The appeal was dismissed as the evidence and circumstances did not justify a departure from the findings of the trial and appellate courts. The accused were ordered to surrender to serve their sentences, with provisions for bail cancellation and surrender conditions (!) (!) .

These points summarize the critical legal principles and factual findings from the document, emphasizing the evaluation of evidence, the importance of witness credibility, and the application of legal standards in criminal cases.


JUDGMENT :

J.B. PARDIWALA, J.:

1. This appeal by special leave is at the instance of two convict persons and is directed against the judgment and order dated 02.03.2009 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay in Criminal Appeal No. 637 of 2003 by which the High Court dismissed the criminal appeal referred to above, and thereby affirmed the order of conviction and the consequence sentence dated 12.03.2003 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Pune dated 12.03.2003 in Sessions Case No. 323 of 2001, by convicting both the appellants herein for the offence under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, ‘the IPC’) and sentencing them to suffer life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1000/- each with the stipulation that in default of payment of the fine they would undergo rigorous imprisonment for further six months.

2. It may not be out of place to state at this stage that in all four persons were put to trial including the two appellants herein in the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Pune for the offence punishable under Secti


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