STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. JAGJIT SINGH ALIAS JITI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this judgment Murder Reference No. 4 of 2009 (State of Punjab v. Jagjit Singh alias Jiti) and Criminal Appeal No. 989-DB of 2009 (Jagjit Singh alias Jiti and Anr. v. State of Punjab) arising out of, F.I.R. No. 12 dated 16.2.2006 under Sections 302, 201, 120-B and 148 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code') and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959 (for short 'the Act') registered at Police Station Kurali against Jagjit Singh alias Jiti and Baljit Singh (hereinafter referred to as 'the accused') along with Baldeep Kaur, Ranjit Singh, Devinder Singh and Ranjit Kaur (acquitted by the trial Court) are being disposed of.

(2.) Vide judgment of conviction dated 28.10.2009 rendered by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Rupnagar, accused Baljit Singh was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Code for committing murders of Ravinder Singh, Kul-want Singh and Balwinder Singh and Sections 25 and 27 of the Act whereas accused Jagjit Singh alias Jiti was convicted under Section 302 of the Code for committing the murder of Ravinder Singh and Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Code for committing the murders of Balwinder Singh and Kulwant Singh.

(3.) As per the sentence order dated 29.10.2009 passed by the learned trial Judge, accused Jagjit Singh alias Jiti was sentenced to death under Section 302 and Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Code, subject to confirmation by this Court. Accused Baljit Singh was sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and to pay fine of Rs. 5,000/- in default whereof to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one year under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Code. Under Section 25 of the Act, accused Baljit Singh was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay fine of Rs. 500/-, in default whereof to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for two months. Accused Baljit Singh was also sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay fine of Rs. 500/- and in default thereof to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for two months under Section 27 of the Act. The sentences awarded to accused Baljit Singh under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Code and Sections 25 and 27 of the Act were ordered to run concurrently.