NATARAJAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is yet another case, which illustrates the perfunct investigation done by the police and the indifferent attitude shown by the prosecution, while conducting the trial, where the stake -holders in the criminal justice delivering system, have failed to discharge their legal obligations in proper manner. We will state our reasons for these opening remarks, a little later.

(2.) THE appellant is the sole accused in S.C. No.210 of 2008, on the file of the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court No.II, Trichy. The appellant stood charged for the offence under Sections 302 and 201 I.P.C. By Judgment, dated 20.08.2010, the Trial Court convicted him under both the charges and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 500/ - in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months for the offence under Section 302 I.P.C. and to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and to pay a fine of Rs. 500/ - in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months, for the offence under Section 201 I.P.C. The sentences have been ordered to run concurrently. Challenging the said conviction and sentence, the appellant is before this Court, with this Criminal Appeal. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is as follows:

(3.) WHILE so, on 29.12.2006, at 09.30 a.m., the accused appeared before the then Village Administrative Officer of Valavanthankottai Village in Tiruchirappalli District. On such appearance, he wanted to confess voluntarily before him. Accordingly, he orally confessed, which was reduced to writing by P.W.1. In the said confession, he disclosed that on 21.12.2006, by about 12.00 midnight, he committed the murder of the deceased and buried the body on the bank of Valavanthankottai tank. The accused signed the said statement under Ex.P.1. P.W.1, prepared a Report under Ex.P.2. Then, he took the accused along with Ex.P.1 and Ex.P.2 and produced them before P.W.18.