RAMESH KUMAR AND ANR. Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants Ramesh and Naresh alongwith another person namely Raju @ Rajkumar were charged for having committed the murder of one Jawahar Lal on 4.10.1995. The Learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Soni -pat, who tried the case, vide the Judgment dated 5.4.1997 found the appellants Ramesh and Naresh guilty of the offence charged and accordingly vide order dated 7.4.1997 sentenced them to undergo imprisonment for life. Each of them were required to pay a fine of Rs. 25,000/ - and in default thereof further rigorous imprisonment for 2 years has been awarded. The learned trial court, however, acquitted the co -accused Raju @ Rajkumar for the charged offence, after extending benefit of doubt to him.

(2.) The present appellants Ramesh and Naresh, through the instant appeal, have laid challenge to the above -referred judgment and order of their conviction passed by the trial court.

(3.) The facts emerges out from the record, necessary for the disposal of the instant appeal, are that Gango Devi and Kanta Devi, the real sisters were married to Kanhiya and Jawahar Lal (since deceased) respectively. Due to strained relations, Kanhiya alongwith his son Ramesh (appellant No. 1) started residing separately from his wife Gango Devi at Village Basodi whereas Gango Devi and her two other sons including Raju (since acquitted by the trial court) started living at Sikka Colony, Sonepat where her sister Kanta Devi was residing with her family. Jawahar Lal, husband of Kanta, used to take care of Gango Devi and her sons, due to which, according to prosecution, Jawahar Lal earned displeasure of appellant Ramesh, elder son of Gango Devi, who was not happy with the visits of Jawahar Lal to his mother. Similarly, Ramesh was not liked by Jawahar Lal.