KM NOKHA Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellant is Km. Nokha who has been convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment by Sri L. S. P. Singh, the then Sessions Judge (Non-Metropolitan Area), Kanpur by judgment dated 25-5-1983 recorded in Sessions Trial No. 300 of 1982. THE brief resume of the case as surfacing from the FIR and evidence adduced in the Court is necessary for proper appreciation so as to reach the right conclusion. THE occurrence took place on 8-9-1982 at about 11 a. m. near the field of Rampal Singh, in village Rajepur, P. S. Sheorajpur, District Kanpur Dehat. THE report was lodged on 8- 9-1982 at 1 p. m. PW 4 Anant Ram, an eye-witness and son of the deceased. THE distance of the police station from the place of occurrence was 4-1/2 kms. THE victim of offence was Sukhrani. THE appellant had allegedly illicit relations with one Kamlesh, resident of Kakupur. THE deceased saw the appellant and Kamlesh in compromising position on 8-9-1982 and she scolded them resulting in exchange of abuses between them and deceased Sukhrani. She also threatened to disclose this fact to the parents of the appellant. At about 11 a. m. on the fateful day, the deceased was returning to her house after grazing her goats. When she reached in front of the field of Rampal Singh, Kamlesh armed with a Khurpi (used to scrap grass) and the appellant armed with a Danda started assaulting her. She fell down on the ground and raised alarm. Her son PW 4 Anant Ram and witnesses PW 3 Babu Lal, Hori Lal and Hulla reached the spot and witnessed the incident. Kamlesh and the appellant fled from the scene, but the appellant was apprehended at the spot while Kamlesh managed to escape. Sukhrani, who had sustained multiple injuries on her person, was then taken on a cot to the police station. In the way, PW 1 Ananti Devi, Pradhan of village Bilhan enquired about the cause of the incident from her and she disclosed to her that she had been assaulted by the appellant and Kamlesh. PW 1 Ananti Devi recorded the statement given to her by Sukhrani. She died of her injuries a little before reaching the police station. PW 4 Anant Ram son of the deceased got the report scribed by Mahabir Prasad and lodged the same at the police station.

(2.) THE police took up the investigation which was first made by PW 11 S. I. Ram Sewak Singh Bhadoria and ultimately concluded by PW 8 S. O. Om Prakash Ojha.

(3.) THE defence of the appellant was of denial. According to her, she had been falsely implicated as she had refused to oblige the informant Anant Ram who wanted her to work in his field and also to establish illicit liaison with her.