The Apex Court on 15.02.2019, in KRIPAL SINGH v STATE OF RAJASTHAN[1] , had dismissed the appeal that was made against the High Court of Judicature of Rajasthan’s order and judgment which confirmed that appellant’s conviction for the omission of murder that had been passed by the Trial Court.
FACTS:
A written report was submitted to the Police Station stating the incident wherein the informant along with his brothers had gone to the agricultural farm in the village on a motorcycle describing the attack upon the deceased.
On their way back home, the accused along with four other had surrounded them with weapons and started attacking them, the informant and the other person could escape but the deceased could not as a result of inflicting severe blows resulted in the deceased’s death.
An FIR was registered and all the four accused were arrested and charged under various Sections 302, 394, 394/34, 324 or 324/34 IPC which was denied by them and further claiming trial. The appellant was convicted further being sentenced under the sections of 302, 204, 394 and 324 IPC, thereby resulting in an appeal before the State of Rajasthan along with an appeal against the acquittal of the co-accused persons, which eventually faced dismissal thereby affirming the Trial Court’s judgment. Being aggrieved, an appeal by special leave was made to the Apex Court.
DECISION HELD BY THE APEX COURT:
The Apex Court while dismissing the appeal held that the statement made by the eyewitness along with injuries sustained, recovering of weapons as well as the vehicle followed by the doctors ‘statements stated that such injuries upon the head which had been attributed to the appellant would be enough in causing death, which in turn steer clearly had corroborated with the case of the prosecution leaving no stone unturned to uphold the active involvement of the appellant in committing the crime. Hence, once a fact has been proved beyond reasonable doubt, any partial statement that had been doubted cannot be taken up as a defense to shake the version of the prosecution.
[1] https://www.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2008/13917/13917_2008_Judgement_15-Feb-2019.pdf