VINOD KUMAR Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant Vinod Kumar has been convicted of offence under Section 302 Indian Penal Code for the murder of his wife Meera and sentenced to imprisonment for life.

(2.) There are no eye witnesses of the incident. The case is based entirely on circumstancial evidence.

(3.) Vinod and Meera were married in the year 1983. They were living as tenants in the house of Dharam Singh. Both were working. Meera was working with Vikram Overseas Pvt.Ltd. and Vinod at a garment factory of Shiv Dayal. It is alleged that on 4th May, 1987 at about 8.30 p.m. Vinod went to the factory where Meera was working and brought her home. At about 10 p.m. Dharam Singh saw Vinod sitting on a Cot in his room in the darkness and learning that electric connection was out of order, asked Vinod to take a 'Diya' or candle from him but he did not take anything. Vinod went to his factory at about 12 mid night after killing his wife and remained there till next morning. On 5th May, 1987 at about 8 a.m. Vinod raised an alarm and asked the neighbours to see as to what had happened to his wife. The alarm attracted the neighbours and Dharam Singh his 698 landlord. Vinod did not call any Doctor nor made attempts to call the police. Someone else informed the police. Vinod also went to his employer Shiv Dayal and told him that his wife has been bitten by snake and had died. On request of Vinod Shiv Dayal cleared his accounts after making the payments. Sub-Inspector Ram Pal Singh reached the house and found the body of Meera lying on a cot and on the body some neem leaves had also been put. No injury was visible except finger tip of the right middle finger was found cut with blade. The dead body was sent for post-martem to All India Institute of Medical Science and after collection of the post-martem report, case under Section 302 Indian Penal Code was registered on 20th May, 1987 and the Vinod was arrested.