E. SOMAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal has been filed by the appellant challenging the verdict passed by the learned 5th Additional Sessions Judge, Kozhikode in S.C. No. 675 of 2011 by which the appellant was found guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for brevity 'IPC') and is sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with a default stipulation of rigorous imprisonment for one year.

(2.) Prosecution case is as follows:

(3.) Prosecution examined PWs 1 to 27 as witnesses, marked Exts.P1 to P32 documents and identified MOs 1 to 9 as material articles. During 313 examination, the appellant pleaded innocence. According to him, he attended the marriage function but he left the place at about 01.00 p.m. after completing the work. He pleaded complete ignorance about the incident. Ext.D1 was marked on his side.