CHUNARAM HANSDA Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal against a judgment and order dated 21.11.2009 and 23.11.2009 passed by the Learned Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Fast Track, 3rd Court, Paschim Medinipur in Sessions Trial Case No. II/June/2008 arising out of Kharagpur (L) P.S. Case No.27/2008 and G.R. Case No.175/2008 whereby the appellant was held guilty of offence punishable under Section 302 IPC and was sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/-, in default, to suffer imprisonment for five months more.

(2.) The written complaint was lodged by one Khudu Soren (P.W.1) on 10th February, 2008 at about 10:25 a.m. which was to the effect that on that day at about 6:30 a.m. he came to know from the people of the village that Hiramoni @ Basanti Hansda (the victim), wife of Chunaram Hansda (the convict) had died the previous night. On hearing this he went to Chunaram's house and upon being questioned, Chunaram admitted that at about 1:00 a.m. in the night he had beaten his wife to death with Lathi (stick). The First Information Report was lodged on the same day on the basis of the written complaint.

(3.) Investigation ensued and the accused was charged for having committed offence punishable under Section 302 IPC for having knowingly caused the death of the victim. The contents of the charge-sheet were read over and explained to the accused person in Bengali to which he pleaded 'not guilty' and claimed to be tried. Hence, the trial.