NET RAJ SINGH Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant was convicted of dacoity with murder and was sentenced to death by the Sessions court. On appeal before the High court of Madhya Pradesh, the conviction was upheld but the sentence was reduced to imprisonment for life. He has filed this appeal by special leave. The question which has narrowed down in this appeal, in the light of concurrent findings on facts by the two courts, is whether a presumption could legally have been drawn against the appellant for dacoity and murder on the strength of his possessing one of the stolen articles two days after the occurrence.

(2.) For considering the aforesaid crucial point, we may set out, briefly, the facts: On 11/10/1988, one Sunder Lal (Public witness 8 was proceeding from his village (Nagan Deori) on horseback to Kerpani Village (Madhya Pradesh) with a herd of pigs. His twelve-year-old son Lakhi Ram (Public witness 10 and twenty-year-old daughter (Laxmi Bai) were also accompanying him on foot. As they reached the jungle area (Gadarvada Dehat) five persons emerged from the interior and stopped the passengers. One of the five, who was armed with a gun, pointed the weapon on the chest of Sunder Lal (Public witness 8 and demanded him to surrender all his money and jewellery. Sunder Laldismounted from horseback, but suddenly the gunman fired a shot at him which struck him on his loins resulting in the pellets perforating into his a penis and perineum region and then the assailants snatched a bag containing jewellery from the victim, besides grabbing his wrist-watch and the cash from him. Another person in the gang, who too had a gun, demanded Laxmi Bai to surrender her kardhona (an ornament). When she began to cry, the armed man shot her dead and grabbed her ornaments. Sunder Lal (Public witness 8 managed to stand up and genuflected before the marauders. One of them revealed their identity as disciples of Gobind Das - so saying he threatened him with the butt end of the gun on his chest. Sunder Lal (Public witness 8 slumped down again. In the meanwhile the little boy (Lakhi Ram) managed to escape from the ken of the dacoits. After they left the scene with the booty Sunder Lal tottered up and with the help of his little son Lakhi Ram, mounted on his horse and returned to his village leaving the corpse of his daughter Laxmi Bai lying inside the jungle.

(3.) Sunder Lal (Public witness 8 accompanied by some others went to Dhooma Police Station and lodged a first information statement on the same evening (5.25 p. m. ). But the police, it appears, remained lethargic though they were kind enough to ambulance Sunder Lal to Jabalpur Medical College Hospital.