SANJIT RAI Vs. STATE OF SIKKIM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The murder of a young school going girl, ironically wearing a T-shirt which said 'Good Things are Going to Happen' on that fateful 10th day of August, 2020 by the appellant, who was known to her, by inflicting multiple stab wounds on her body, perforating the lungs and liver by a 10 inch 7 centimetres 'Rambo Knife' with sharp edges on one side, resulting in severe haemorrhage shock and death before she could reach the hospital, led to the appellant's conviction.

(2.) The impugned judgment dtd. 24/2/2022 and the order on sentence dtd. 25/2/2022 sought to be assailed by the appellant found him guilty under Sec. 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and sentenced him to imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000.00 for the offence under Sec. 302 IPC. In default, the appellant was to undergo further imprisonment for one year. The appellant was also sentenced to 7 years and to pay a fine of Rs.5000.00 for the offence under Sec. 201 IPC. In default, he was to undergo further imprisonment for a term of 6 months. The sentences were directed to run concurrently. An amount of Rs.6,00,000.00 was also awarded to the parents of the deceased victim under Sec. 2(e) of the Sikkim Compensation to the Victims (or their Dependants) Scheme, 2021 for the loss of the life of their child. Circumstances held against the appellant.

(3.) According to the learned Sessions Judge, the present case was based on circumstantial evidence as there were no eyewitnesses. The following circumstances were considered by the learned Sessions Judge to conclude that the chain of circumstances was complete, cogent and coherent and it was the appellant who was guilty of the offences charged and no other.