RAMJI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals arise out of common judgment and order   dated   21st  January,   2011   passed   by   the   High   Court   of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Appeal Nos. 775­ SB   of   1997   and   101­SB   of   1998,   whereby   the   High   Court   set aside   the   judgment   passed   by   the   trial   Court   and   altered   the conviction and sentence against the appellant accused from an offence under Section 304 Part II,  IPC  to that of under  Section 302 , IPC .

(2.) The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 21 st July, 1995 at about 9 p.m. when the complainant Darshan Lal (PW 5) and his mother were sitting in the compound of their house, his brother Som Raj (deceased) went upstairs. Soon thereafter, their neighboring  residents Sukhdev Singh (A1), Sandeep Singh (A2), Ramesh   Singh   (A3)   and   Lali   @   Tarlok   Singh   (A4)   armed   with deadly   weapons   came   from  the  upstairs dragging  Som  Raj and beating him with the weapons alleging that he had thrown stones into   their   house.   The   complainant   and   his   mother   though requested the accused not to beat the deceased, the accused did not pay any heed to their request and took away Som Raj to the flour   mill   of   one   Tara   Singh   and   tore   off   his   clothes.   In   the commotion, Som Raj managed to escape from their clutches and ran  into  the  house   of   Bansi Lal in nude form  itself and bolted from inside. The accused again caught hold of Som Raj and given severe beatings to him and brought him near the bus stop of the village. At that point of time, the appellant herein Ramji (A5), who appeared there in his SPO uniform repeatedly gave kick blows to Som   Raj   on   his   head,   chest   and   neck.   By   applying   full   force, Ramji   (A5)   pressed   the   neck   of   Som   Raj   till   he   became unconscious.   Thereafter,   all   the   accused   lifted   Som   Raj   and thrown him in front of his house and fled away. The complainant took him to Civil Hospital, Mukerian where he succumbed to the injuries at about 12.30 a.m. on 22.7.1995.

(3.) Upon informing by the hospital authorities, Inspector Ram   Prakash   (PW   9)   went   to   the   hospital   and   recorded   the statement of complainant and registered FIR against the accused. After   preparing   inquest   report   and   recording   statements   of witnesses,   the   I.O.   visited   the   spot,   prepared   site   plan.   It   was followed   by   the   arrest   of   the   accused   and   recovery   of   weapons used   in   the   offence.   All   the   accused   were   challanned   for   the offence under Section 302/34,  IPC . The case was then committed to the Court of learned Sessions Judge for trial.