PUTAI Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard.

(2.) Vide judgment of conviction and order of sentence dtd. 14/3/2014 and 19/3/2014, passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No. 13, Lucknow [Hereinafter, being referred to as the 'trial Court'], in Sessions Case No. 61 of 2013, the accused-appellants were convicted for the offences punishable under Ss. 376(2)(g), 201 and 302 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 [Hereinafter, being referred to as the 'IPC'] and were sentenced in the terms below: <IMG>JUDGEMENT_86_LAWS(SC)8_2025_1.jpg</IMG> <IMG>JUDGEMENT_86_LAWS(SC)8_2025_2.jpg</IMG>

(3.) The trial Court made a reference [Capital Sentence No. 3 of 2014] to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad [Hereinafter, being referred to as 'High Court'] for confirmation of the death sentence awarded to accused No.1- Putai under Sec. 366 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 [Hereinafter, being referred to as 'CrPC']. The accused-appellants also preferred separate appeals [Accused No.1-Putai preferred Criminal Appeal No. 444 of 2014 and accused No.2-Dileep preferred Crl. Appeal No. 597 of 2014] for assailing their conviction and the sentences awarded to them by the trial Court. The High Court answered the death reference in the affirmative, confirming the death penalty awarded to accused No.1-Putai and dismissed the appeals against conviction preferred by the accused-appellants vide judgment dtd. 11/10/2018, which is subject matter of challenge in these appeals by special leave.