BANSHI LAL Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AGGRIEVED by the judgment and order dated 15.12.2008, passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track), Chittorgarh in Sessions Case No. 7/2008, recording conviction and awarding sentence under Section 302 Indian Penal Code, the appellant has preferred this appeal.

(2.) THE factual matrix necessary to be noticed is that in the night of 8.10.2007, a young girl of about 14 years seriously burnt was brought to Sanwaria General Hospital, Chittorgarh and while undergoing treatment, at 09:45 PM a statement given by her, was reduced in writing as per document Ex. P/35 by Shri Darshan Singh, Sub Inspector, Police Station, Chittorgarh. The Sub Inspector while reducing the statement of the girl in writing obtained a fitness certificate from the treating doctor Shri Dinesh Kathed (PW -10) on the same paper leaf on which the statement was drawn. The girl disclosed her name as Pooja, aged 14 years, daughter of Shri Banshilal, resident of Kachi Basti, Senti, behind Seeds Godown, Chittorgarh. Kumari Pooja stated that on the same day at 09:00 PM she was cooking food on stove. At that time her father Shri Banshilal came under intoxication and started abusing her. He then poured kerosene on her from a jericane already available in the room and that caught fire from the stove resulting into serious burns.

(3.) LOOKING to serious condition of Kumari Pooja she was referred for treatment to Maharana Bhupal Government Hospital, Udaipur where she died on 22.10.2007. As per the medical evidence the cause of death was septicemia shock due to dry heat flames burn. Consequent to death of Kumari Pooja the investigating agency registered a case against the appellant accused for an offence punishable under Section 302 Indian Penal Code. The appellant accused was arrested on 16.10.2007 and as per injury report Ex. P/30 he too was having few burn injuries.