EMPEROR Vs. BALWANT KONDO PATOLE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Notwithstanding the very ingenious arguments of Mr. Coyaji in this case, we are of opinion that we must uphold the conviction and sentence.

(2.) On the first point with regard to misjoinder of charges, Section 233 of the Code of Criminal Procedure says : " For every distinct offence of which any person is accused there shall be a separate charge, and every such charge shall be tried separately, except in the cases mentioned in Sections 234, 235, 236 and 239." And Section 235 says : "If, in one series of acts so connected together as to form the same transaction, more offences than one are committed by the same person, he may be charged with, and tried at one trial for, every such offence." And I would refer to illustration (i) to Section 235 which I read. It seems to us that we must have regard to the words of the section itself, " One series of acts so connected together as to form the same transaction. " In the present case the accused is charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with the view of extorting information and that is a " transaction," and in continuation of and pursuance to the same transaction he was charged with and found guilty of making a series of false entries so as to attribute another cause for the death of the deceased Ganu. It appears to us looking to the plain words of Section 235 and illustration (i) that these charges dintinctly come within that section, and therefore, the first point, urged by Mr. Coyaji has no basis, and must therefore fail.

(3.) With regard to the second point, in our opinion, that also must fail. He was charged with causing grievous hurt to the deceased for the purpose of extorting information under Section 331. That was one charge. Then he was charged with another offence under Sections 330 and 114 of which the latter is the abetment section. The Jury were unanimously of opinion that he was guilty of the main offence, viz., causing grievous hurt to the deceased under Section 331. If that is so it is apparent from what the Judge in express terms inferred from their unanimous verdict that they must be taken to have found the accused personally guilty under Section 331, and under these circumstances it was not necessary for them to go into the other question whether he abetted the offence. Under these circumstances, we think, the conviction and sentence are correct and must therefore stand. Batchelor, J.