MANIRAM @ MANIYA Vs. STATE OF M P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal preferred u/s. 374(2) Cr.P.C. assails the judgment dated 26th April, 2002 passed in S.S.T. No. 56/2001 rendered by Special Judge S.C. & S.T. (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Vidisha whereby the trial Court has convicted the appellant Maniram @ Maniya for the charge u/s 302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment with fine of Rs. 1,000/- for murder of each of the five deceased namely Sannu, Sadi Bai, Kallu, Sunita Bai and Ramkali Bai with further conviction u/s 394 r/w 397 IPC and sentenced to suffer 7 years R.I. and u/s 201 IPC to suffer two years R.I. With fine of Rs.1000/- with default stipulations.

(2.) Learned counsel for the rival parties are heard finally.

(3.) Bare facts giving rise to the present case are that Harbhajan (PW-15) along with his wife Ramkali Bai, the deceased, had come down from his village Surkara to attend the Manaura fate "Mela". After attending the fate both visited the house of Sannu ( deceased) Mama of PW-15. On 06.07.2000, immediately whereafter Harbhajan (PW-15) went to village Kishanpur to pickup his father-in-law Mohanlal and when he returned to village Manaura on 07.07.2000 along with his father-in-law, he found his wife Ramkali Bai and another deceased Sadi Bai ( wife of Sannu), missing. On making inquiry from Sannu, Harbhajan was told that deceased Ramkali Bai had gone for weeding of Soyabeen crop. In the night intervening 7th and 8th July, 2000 (PW-15) and his fatherin-law MohanLal slept in the night at the house of deceased Sannu.