RAM PAL ALIAS BUNDA Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole appellant is the accused who was convicted for the offences under Sections 302 and 376, Indian Penal Code (IPC). He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and 10 years rigorous imprisonment for committing rape and murder of one Devi (real name disguised). According to the prosecution, a telephonic intimation was received in the police station regarding the dead body of Devi resident of Mangalore within the jurisdiction of Shahzadpur police station, Ambala, lying in the fields of one Prithi Pal. On reaching the spot PW-14, SHO recorded the statement of PW-10 Sumitra Devi the mother of the deceased. It was learnt through her that she had two daughters, that the elder one was married while the younger one who went to the fields on 18.2.2005 at 6.30 p.m. to ease herself did not return and their intensive search was in vain. In her statement she mentioned the name of the appellant who was stated to have been found at the place of search and on being asked, he pleaded ignorance about the victim. It was her further statement that only on the next day morning in day light they were able to trace the body of the victim whose neck was wrapped with a blue shawl owned by her. The complainant PW-10 raised suspicion about the involvement of the appellant in the commission of the offence in view of his past misbehavior towards her elder daughter on which occasion he was reprimanded before the local Panchayat and was forced to tender an apology. As it was a case of circumstantial evidence, the trial Court after scrutinizing the evidence of prosecution witnesses and after taking into account the stand of the appellant in his 313 Cr.P.C. statement noted the circumstances in paragraph 17 of the judgment.

(2.) The circumstances noted were as under:

(3.) While examining the above circumstances, on the motive aspect the trial Court found that PW-11 Natho Devi, the elder daughter of PW-10 in her evidence deposed that in the year 2002 when she along with her cousin was returning from the fields, the appellant met them on the way along with his cousin Sham Lal and that both of them teased deceased PW-11 and her cousin and the bundle of the grass carried by them fell down. It was also her statement that by providence they could save themselves from the onslaught of the appellant and his cousin on that occasion. She reported the same to her parents. Pursuant to her complaint, a Panchayat was convened in her village and in the Panchayat, the appellant and his cousin begged pardon and that the appellant thereafter used to tell her that one day or other he would take a revenge for the said incident. It was also in her evidence that she belonged to labour class and the appellant was nurturing a long standing grievance and grudge in his mind against the family of the complainant as he felt that he was humiliated in the Panchayat. The said version of PW-11 was also corroborated by PW-10, the mother of the victim and Natho Devi, PW-11. In the 313 statement except making a simple denial, the appellant did not come forward with any explanation insofar as the motive aspect was concerned.