PUNEET @ TITU Vs. STATE OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By judgment dated 26.02.2000 in sessions case No.97/96, the appellant was held guilty and convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 201 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 ("IPC"), the gravamen of the charge being that on 09.09.1993 he had committed the murder of Savita Mohan Verma in premises No.809/7, Govindpuri, New Delhi and thereafter destroyed evidence by cutting her body into several parts and throwing them off at difference places with the intention to screen himself from legal punishment. By order dated 01.03.2000, he was sentenced to imprisonment for life with fine of Rs. 1,000/- and rigorous imprisonment for five years with fine of Rs. 500/- on the two counts with direction that in the event of default in payment of fine he would undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one month and simple imprisonment for 15 days respectively and be entitled to set off under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ("Cr.P.C.").

(2.) This appeal was preferred to assail the findings recorded by the trial court in the impugned judgment to convict the appellant.

(3.) Savita Mohan Verma wife of Surendra Mohan Verma (PW-8), aged about 38 years, resident of 16/5, Kalkaji, New Delhi was engaged in business of garment manufacturing, running her own factory in House No.809, Gali No.7, Govindpuri, a property also owned by her, one located nearby. On 09.09.1993, due to some business commitments, she is stated to have gone to the factory, even though it was a closed day on account of Bharat bandh. She did not return by 6/6.30 PM, as per the normal routine, and her husband (PW-8) lodged a missing report with the local police (vide DD No.23A) on the same night (0130 hours on 10.09.1993). Parts of her dead body came to be recovered from different areas of the city of Delhi on 10.09.1993 and 11.09.1993, which upon being placed/joined together and identified by the husband (PW-8), revealed that she had been killed on 09.09.1993.