SARJIWAN LAL Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment of mine shall dispose of four connected criminal appeal Nos. 112, 167, 264 and 625-SB of 2003, having arisen out of the same judgment dated 7.1.2003 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Patiala, and as such are being decided together. However, for convenience, the facts necessary for disposal of these appeals, are taken up from Criminal Appeal No. 112-SB of 2003.

(2.) In nutshell, the allegations are that on 4.3.2000, at about 10.30 p.m., the accused-appellants (herein referred as, 'the accused') were making preparation to commit dacoity. On the aforesaid secret information received by SI Paramjit Singh, he along with other police officials raided the M.B.S. Factory as disclosed by the informant and arrested, Sarjiwan Lal, Bhupinder Singh, Ramesh Mahanto and Rakesh Kumar. Besides house hold articles Ex. P1 to Ex. P92, two trucks bearing registration No. PB12-B-9753 and HRX 1653, one air gun Ex. P93, one gandasi Ex. P94, one kirpan Ex.P95 and one iron rod Ex. P96 were recovered. The Investigating Officer sent ruqa to the police station on the basis of which FIR was registered. The accused were arrested and on completion of the investigation challan against them was presented in the Court.

(3.) On commitment, the accused were charged under Section 402 IPC to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.