GURDEEP SINGH & OTHERS Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellants assailed the judgment of conviction dated 10.03.2010 whereby appellant No. 1 Gurdeep Singh was convicted for committing offence punishable under Section 302 IPC whereas appellants Kartaro Bai, wife of Nazar Singh and Keedan Bai alias Manjit Kaur, daughter of Nazar Singh were convicted for committing offence punishable under Section 302/34 IPC and each one of them was sentenced life imprisonment with fine.

(2.) The main accused of this case was Gurdeep Singh (appellant No. 1) son of Nazar Singh. Mr. Mehar Singh Rai, Advocate for appellant No. 1 stated that Gurdeep Singh has died in jail. Ms. Manjari Nehru Kaul, learned Additional Advocate General, Punjab confirmed the factum of the death of Gurdeep Singh on 05.07.2015 in Gurdaspur Jail. The aforesaid information was provided to Ms. Manjari Nehru Kaul, learned Addl. Advocate General, Punjab by Surender Singh Saini, Superintendent, Central Jail, Ferozepur. Since Gurdeep Singh has died, therefore, appeal stands abated.

(3.) On the next day i.e. 09.08.2006, accused Gurdeep Singh was produced before the Investigating Officer by Gurnam Singh in the presence of one Kehar Singh. He was arrested and personal search memos were prepared. During the course of interrogation, accused Gurdeep Singh suffered disclosure statement Ex. P18 to the effect that he had kept concealed one spade in the field of Serghum in the east corner to which he has the knowledge and can get the same recovered by giving nishandehi. In pursuance with this disclosure statement, accused Gurdeep Singh got recovered spade from the Chari crop fields and the same was taken into police possession, vide memo Ex. P20. Site plan of the place of recovery of spade was prepared as Ex. P21. The rough sketch plan of the blade of the spade was prepared as Ex. P19. On 17.08.2006, Kartaro Bai was produced before the Investigating Officer by Gurnam Singh. She was arrested.