A G BHAGWAT Vs. U T CHANDIGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As is commonly said, even God loves things beautiful; as did the appellant. He, however, turned a monster on April 27, 1985, when he tried to disfigure or destroy the very object of his love by pouring sulphuric acid on Dr. (Mrs.) Neelam Marwaha, complainant, PW 18 causing extensive burns on her person. For this he has been held guilty under S.307, I.P.C. by the Sessions Court, Chandigarh, and has been awarded imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs. 10,000/-. He appeals.

(2.) The prosecution version as unrolled by Mrs. Marwaha in her initial statement to Mr. Darshan Kumar, ASI, within three hours of her receiving the injuries, is as follows :-

(3.) On the day of occurrence, i.e. April, 27, 1985, when she was on duty from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and was working in her laboratory, he suddenly entered her room at about 1.20 p.m. At that time he was holding a dark brown coloured bottle in his right hand which bore no label. Immediately thereafter he started splashing the contents of the bottle at her face and neck. Instinctively she covered her face with her arms. Then he grasped her hair and, kept on pouring the contents of the bottle on her head, neck, back and chest. He was trying to pour the same on her face. Thereafter he threw the bottle on the ground which broke into pieces. Then he tried to throw her on the broken pieces of glass with her face downwards. She, however, did not fall and as his grip loosened, she immediately rushed out of the room in the corridor and started screaming that "Dr. Bhagwat (appellant) had burnt me". She, however, fell down on the floor in the corridor. Dr. Kim, PW. 6, who at that moment was standing in the corridor, came running towards her. A short while later, she also noticed that Dr. Tarlochan Singh PW. 7 and Dr. Sobha Sehgel, also rushing towards her. They hurriedly arranged for a trolley and after physically lifting her, put her on the same. They removed her to the Emergency Department while she was having terrible burning and choking sensation in her throat. No sooner did she reach the Emergency Department, her treatment started. Dr. Pradeep Rebala, P.W. 16 attended to her. Some time later the police came to the Emergency Department and recorded her statement (Exhibit PA) referred to above. It was signed by her and was attested by Dr. Pradeep Rebala, PW. 16 and Dr. Ramesh Sharma.