STATE OF MAHARASHTRA Vs. AJITSINGH HARNAMSINGH GUJRAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Confirmation Case relates to the sole accused Ajitsingh Harnamsingh Gujral so also the Appeal which has been filed by him. The accused has been convicted by Additional Sessions Judge, Greater Bombay for the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder of his wife Mrs.Kanwaljeet Kaur, his son Amandeepsingh and two daughters viz. Neeti and Taniya and, he was sentenced to death subject to confirmation of this Court. The accused has challenged his conviction by filing separate appeal. Both were, obviously, heard together by us. The Additional Sessions Judge has also passed an order relating to Muddemal Property with which we are not directly or immediately concerned.

(2.) The accused is a businessman. He was a married man having one son and two daughters. He was married with deceased Kanwaljeet Kaur about 25 to 27 years prior to the incident dated 10-04-2003. He had a son Amandeepsingh aged about 20 years and two daughters viz. Neeti and Taniya, aged about 22 years and 13 years respectively. All of them were killed by this accused in early hours of the morning on 10-04-2003 by pouring petrol on their persons and setting them on fire.

(3.) Earlier the accused belonged to Ludhiana. However, he was shifted to Mumbai with his family and started residing in Jyotsna Building. Initially he was doing business of catering in the same building and his son Amandeepsingh was assisting him in that business. After some time, the accused shifted his catering business in Kamlesh Building which is situated in the same locality of Shere-Punjab colony, Andheri. There were several employees of the accused to assist him in the business of catering. Those servants used to sleep in front of his flat in the varandah. The accused was having his Maruti Zen Car and his son was having motorcycle.