STATE OF RAJASTHAN Vs. KHERAJ RAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In the Shakespearian epic Othello principal character Othello suspected his wifes fidelity because of the Machinations of villain Iago. The tragic consequences which followed have become literary history.

(2.) In the present case, according to the prosecution, suspecting infidelity on the part of his wife, the respondent-accused Kheraj Ram had killed her, two children and brother-in-law on 10.10.1992. The deceased persons namely, Amru (wife of the accused), Achla (brother-in-law of the accused) and daughters Kesi and Meera and fatally assaulted and suffered homicidal death. Law was set to motion by a First Information Report which was lodged on 10.10.1992 at about 7.30 a.m. and the alleged murders took place after mid-night of 9.10.1992 i.e. around 2.00 a.m. on 10.10.1992. The informant was one Daula Ram who was examined as PW-1. He lodged the FIR on the basis of what he had heard from Gaina Ram (PW-9). According to the prosecution, the following is the factual background.

(3.) Accused woke up Gaina Rai (PW-9) 2.00 a.m. on 10.10.1992 telling that some one had given beatings to his children. When Gaina Rai (PW-9) asked him who the person was and what type of clothes he was wearing, the accused replied that he could not see his clothes but the person had run away. The accused told him that he was sleeping in the small room, and when he came out and started making uproar hearing the said person ran away. On a query of the witnesses as to where the said person had gone, accused replied he did not know. The accused then informed the witness that not only his children, but also his wife and brother-in-law had been beaten. The witness went to the dhani of accused. The accused went inside. From the fencing line outside the dhani, the witness could see that Amru, Achla and Kesi were lying on the cots, and Meera was crying in pain that she was dying. The witness got perplexed. He asked accused to remain present in the house and went to call the neighbours namely, Khartha and Khumbha. He told them about what the accused had told them. Thereafter, the witness and Khartha went to the house of Khumbha, who was also told about the incident. Khartha and Khumbha were sent to the dhani of Kheraj, and the witness called one Daula (PW-1) who was sleeping in the gudal of his house. He disclosed what he had heard and seen to Daula and he and Daula went to the dhani of Kheraj where Khumba and Khartha were sitting outside. Thereafter, the witness and Daula opened the back-door and went inside and saw that all the four persons were lying drenched with blood. Immediately they entered inside, and found that except Meera, the rest three had died. He enquired from Meera as to what had happened, but she could not speak. At that time Kheraj was smoking chilam in the courtyard. The witness came out and sent Daula to lodge a report with the police. Subsequently, Meera also died. Then he sent Khartha to call Lalla and Sadula (brother of the accused). After sunrise, they searched for footprint, if any. Though they noticed footprints of a person in the north side going to the dhani of Achla and returning from there, the footprints were of shoe-worn. The footprints were also present in the east of the dhani. The accused used to blame the deceased Amru for her alleged infidelity and was quarrelling with her. He was told by Kannu and Veero (PWs 5 and 6 respectively) that the accused and his wife had a quarrel in the night. The police investigated into the allegations, and came to the conclusion that accused was responsible for the four killings. Initially, a case was registered for commission of offences punishable under Section 302 and Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short the IPC), and subsequently, it was modified to Section 302 IPC when all the four died.