KRISHNA VITHU SUROSHE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Janardhan Narayan Suroshe and Krishna Vithu Suroshe were convicted by the Additional Sessions Judge Thana under Section 302, I.P.C. on the allegation that they had caused the death of Bhasker Narayan Suroshe. Each of them was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life. Krishna Vithu Suroshe filed an appeal against the judgment of the trial court but the same was dismissed summarily by the Bombay High Court. Krishna Vithu Suroshe thereafter filed the present appeal to this Court by special leave. At the time the leave was granted it was directed that the appeal would be limited only to the ground wherein it had been stated that the High Court should not have dismissed the appeal in limine.

(2.) Bhaskar Narayan Suroshe was the brother of Janardhan Narayan Suroshe accused. The houses of Bhaskar Narayan Suroshe and Janardhan Narayan Suroshe are situated in village Raite and there intervenes a small lane between the two houses. On March, 24, 1972 at about 9 p.m., it is stated, the two accused started abusing Bhaskar deceased. Bhaskar then came to the kitchen of his house and standing in the door of the kitchen he also abused the accused. The exchange of abuses went on for about 10-15 minutes. Janardhan accused, according to the prosecution, then came forward and gave a blow with a long knife in the abdomen of Bhaskar. Janardhan also tried to pull Bhaskar. Krishna Vithu Suroshe appellant then gave a blow with a long knife in the back of Bhaskar. The occurrence, it is stated, was witnessed by Parvatibai and Janabai, the two wives of Bhaskar deceased as well as by his daughter Lata. Pandurang, servant of Bhaskar was also attracted to the place of occurrence. Bhaskar was thereafter taken in a cart to Govili dispensary. The doctor incharge of the dispensary advised that Bhaskar should be removed to the hospital. Bhaskar was therefore taken in a taxi to Kalyan, but by the time they arrived in the hospital at Kalyan, Bhaskar was declared to be dead. Report about the occurrence was lodged by Parvatibai at Kalyan police station at 11.45 p.m.

(3.) At the trial Parvatibai, Janabai and Lata gave ocular evidence regarding the occurrence. The appellant in his statement under Section 342. Code of Criminal Procedure denied his presence at the scene of occurrence and his participation in the assault on Bhaskar deceased. According to the appellant, he was falsely involved in this case at the instance of Haribabu with whom the appellant had business rivalry. Haribabu is another brother of Bhaskar deceased.