PALWINDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Palwinder Singh accused- appellant (herein referred as, 'the accused') having allegedly committed murder of his own wife was put to dock and vide judgment dated 29.8.2008 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Jalandhar, he was convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 10,000/-.

(2.) The accused was married to Neetu Rani five months prior to her death. He was doubting her fidelity. On 9.2.2006, he had demanded motor cycle from his father-in-law Gurbax Singh complainant (herein referred as, 'the complainant') for going to Radha Soami Dera Beas, whereupon, Mangal Singh son of Gurbax Singh delivered the motor cycle at his house on the same day.

(3.) On 12.2.2006, the accused rang up the complainant to tell that Neetu Rani had died by drowning in the canal in the area of village Kalra and told him to reach there, whereupon the complainant, accompanied by his son Mohinder Singh and neighbour Budh Singh, rushed to the place of occurrence, where the accused apprised them that he was waylaid by two persons who were joined by three other persons. They first took them to Dargah of Peer Budhe Shah and after paying obeisance there, they brought them back and threw them in the canal. He tried to save Neetu, but she was washed away by the current of the water, whereas, he escaped and came out. However, since the complainant doubted the accused to be the culprit, he got registered the case against him on 13.2.2006 under Section 302/201 IPC. However, the dead body of Neetu was recovered on 15.3.2006 in Doaba Canal in the area of village Kandola Kalan which was identified by the accused himself. The Investigating Officer (DSP Sukhdev Singh) conducted the inquest Ex.PH on the dead body; got it photographed vide photographs Ex.P1 to Ex.P9 and prepared site plan of the place of recovery Ex.PG. It would be pertinent to mention here that on 13.2.2006 after registration of the FIR Ex.PA/2, DSP Sukhdev Singh had arrested the accused vide memo Ex.PE and interrogated him. During interrogation, the accused made a disclosure statement that he had kept concealed the gold ornaments of his wife Neetu buried in the field near a place called Peer Baba Budhe Shah which was in his exclusive knowledge only and he could get the same recovered. Pursuant to the aforesaid statement Ex.PB, the accused got recovered the neckless, wrist watch and pair of ear rings from the disclosed place which were taken into possession by the Investigating Officer after getting the same identified from Darshan Kaur mother of the deceased. On 15.2.2006, the accused got recovered the motor cycle from the wheat field near village Kalra bridge pursuant to his disclosure statement Ex.PJ. On completion of the investigation, challan against the accused was presented in the court.