RAJU SHIKARI Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) CHALLENGE in this appeal is to the judgment dated December 11, 2003 of Sessions Judge Jaipur District Jaipur whereby two appellants Raju Shikari and Bheem Singh were convicted and sentenced as under:- Raju Shikari: u/s. 302 IPC: To suffer imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 500/-, in default to further suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months. u/s. 324 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months. u/s. 447 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for three months. u/s. 323, 34 IPc To suffer rigorous imprisonment for three months. Bheem Singh: u/s. 302/34 IPc To suffer imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 500/-, in default to further suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months. u/s. 324/34 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months. u/s. 324/34 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months. u/s. 447 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for three months. u/s. 323/34 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for three months. The substantive sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

(2.) CHHANWA (since deceased) was admitted to the Emergency Ward of SMS Hospital Jaipur on March 7, 2001. Around 11. 30 PM CHHANWA handed over a written report to the Head Constable of Police Station Kanota. It was interalia stated in the report that Raju Shikari and Bheem Singh Shikari entered into his hut and caused injuries with Chhura on his person. When his wife Bidami intervened she was also beaten up. On that report a case under Sections 307, 452, 323 and 324 IPC was registered. During the course of investigation CHHANWA succumbed to his injuries and Section 302 IPC was added. After usual investigation charge sheet was filed. In due course the case came up for trial before the learned Sessions Judge Jaipur District Jaipur. Charges under Sections 302, 302/34, 447, 341, 323, 323/34, 324 and 324/34 IPC were framed against the accused, who denied the charges and claimed trial. The prosecution in support of its case examined as may as 18 witnesses. In the explanation under Sec. 313 Cr. P. C. , the appellants claimed innocence. Two witnesses in defence were examined. Learned trial Judge on hearing final submissions convicted and sentenced the appellants as indicated herein above.

(3.) HAVING analysed the evidence at the trial by the yardstick of probabilities, its intrinsic worth and animus of witnesses we find that the prosecution is only able to establish beyond reasonable doubt that appellant Bheem Singh caught hold of Chanwa and Raju Shikari inflicted blows with knife. The evidence on record relating to the occurrence cannot be taken to provide any safe basis for their conviction under Sections 447 and 323/34 IPC. Conduct of appellants in taking deceased to the hospital goes to show that they never intended to kill deceased. Very probably the appellants would not anticipated that the act done by them would have escalated to such proportion that Chhanwa might die. We are inclined to think that all that the appellants thought of was to inflict injuries to Chhanwa and to frighten him but unfortunately the situation slipped out of their control and went to the fatal extent. The appellants would not have intended to inflict the injuries which the deceased sustained on account of act of appellants. Therefore we are persuaded to bring down the offence from first degree murder to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The Apex Court had taken into consideration the conduct of the accused in Kalu Ram vs. State of Rajasthan (2000) 10 SCC 324 and altered the conviction from 302 to 324 IPC.