SATNAM SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This case relates to the dare act of the appellant/accused Satnam Singh (herein referred as 'the accused'), who pounced upon the team of public servants consisting of a Sub-Divisional Engineer, Junior Engineer and Assistant Linemen; deterred them from discharging their duties and caused grievous injuries to Amrik Singh, SDE on the back side of his head. Consequently, he was tried and vide judgment dated 21.2.2000, he was convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years under Section 326, rigorous imprisonment for one year under Section 353, and rigorous imprisonment for six months under Section 332 IPC. However, all the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

(2.) Originally, the accused was challaned for the offences under Sections 307/353/332/186/324/323 IPC, on the allegations that on 6.6.1997, when Amrik Singh, SDE, PSEB along with Ved Kumar JE, Lakhwinder Singh and Sohan Singh, Assistant Linemen went to village Jande to check the theft of electricity, then at about 10.15 AM, SDE Amrik Singh found the accused stealing electricity by means of running an illegal motor. Amrik Singh asked the linemen to remove the condenser and wire of the motor, on which the accused enraged and exhorted to teach them a lesson. He picked a 'kahi' (a sharp-edged agricultural tool) lying outside the tube-well and inflicted an injury on the back side of the head of Amrik Singh and two more injuries from its blunt side on his arm. Amrik Singh was shifted to the Civil Hospital, Bhulath. Sub-Inspector Inderjit Singh recorded the statement (Ex.PB) of Ved Kumar, on the basis of which formal FIR (Ex.PE) was registered. On 8.6.1997, the accused was apprehended and on 9.6.1997, on disclosure during interrogation, the 'kahi' (Ex.P3) was recovered and taken into possession vide memo Ex.PG.

(3.) After recording the statements of the witnesses and on completion of the investigation, challan was presented against him.