JITENDRA Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN
LAWS(RAJ)-2007-4-85
HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Decided on April 20,2007

JITENDRA Appellant
VERSUS
STATE OF RAJASTHAN Respondents

JUDGEMENT

SHARMA, J. - (1.) MISFORTUNE stalked Mehboob Ali on September 16, 1998 while he was traveling in a car along with his family members. Three monsters traveling in another car way laid Mehboob Ali and shot him dead. Jitendra (appellant herein) alongwith co-accused Rajesh and Rajpal put to trial before learned Additional Sessions Judge Fast Track No. 1 Ajmer for having committed murder of Mehboob Ali. Since Rajesh died and Rajpal absconded, trial proceeded only against appellant and on completion of trial learned Judge convicted and sentenced appellant vide judgment dated December 20, 2003 as under - U/s. 302/34 IPC: To suffer imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 5000/-, in default to further suffer simple imprisonment for three months. U/s. 341 IPC: To suffer simple imprisonment for one month and fine of Rs. 500/-, in default to further suffer simple imprisonment for seven days. U/s. 3/25 Arms Act To suffer rigorous imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs. 1000/-, in default to further suffer simple imprisonment for fifteen days. U/s. 3/27 Arms Act To suffer rigorous imprisonment for five years and fine of Rs. 2000/-, in default to further suffer simple imprisonment for one month. The substantive sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Appellant State of Rajasthan and complainant Bhanwaroo Khan also assailed the said judgment by filing Cr. Appeal No. 73/2005 and Cr. Revision Petition No. 322/2004.
(2.) IT is the prosecution case that informant Bhanwaroo Khan (PW. 12) handed over a written report (Ex. P. 15) to SHO PS Magliawas, at Amrit Kaur Hospital Beawar to the effect that on September 16, 1998 around 1 PM the informant alongwith his brother Mehboob, daughter Dilkhush and nieces Sbina, Rabina and Firdaus proceeded in Maruti Esteem RJ 30 C 1171 from village Kelva for Sujangarh. When they reached near village Kesarpura they had to stop their car because road was blocked on account of accident. One Maruti Zen in the meanwhile touched their car. Three persons were sitting in Maruti Zen. Mehboob Ali who was in the car some how managed to cross the road and while the car had passed village Mangliawas, Maruti Zen over took it and persons sitting in Maruti Zen asked Mehboob to stop the car. As soon as the car got halted two persons armed with revolvers came down of Maruti Zen. When the informant and his brother (Mehboob Ali) got down of their car the miscreants started abusing them. One miscreants who was not having revolver, lifted envelope from the car. When Mehboob Ali objected to it, one person opened fire at the informant but he managed to save him. Another miscreant in the meanwhile opened fire at Mehboob Ali that hit on the left side of his chest as a result of which he fell down. The miscreants took out the key of Maruti Esteem and fled away. After some time police arrived and removed Mehboob Ali to the Hospital where he was declared dead. On that report case under sections 302, 307, 394, 341 and 34 IPC and Section 3/25 Arms Act was registered and investigation commenced. After usual investigation charge sheet was filed. In due course the case came up for trial before the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Tack) No. 1 Ajmer. Charges under sections 302, 302/34, 394, 341 IPC and Sec. 3/25 and 27 Arms Act were framed against the accused, who denied the charges and claimed trial. The prosecution in support of its case examined as may as 34 witnesses. In the explanation under Sec. 313 Cr. P. C. , the appellant claimed innocence. One witness in defence was examined. Learned trial Judge on hearing final submissions convicted and sentenced the appellant as indicated herein above. We have heard learned counsel for the appellant, learned counsel for the complainant and learned Public Prosecutor, and with their assistance we have scanned the material on record. Death of deceased Mehboob Ali was homicidal in nature. Vide post mortem report (Ex. P-19) following antemortem injury was found on the dead body :- 1. Gunshot wound on left side chest 2" outside left nipple size 1-3/4" x 3/4" x 6" depth. It is semilumar in shape margins irregular, redish in colour, they are invertic. There is blackening discoloration of skin around the wound which is 1/2" wide belt. There are three small porches of (Blachis) discoloration near the wound. There are small patches of black colour in the based of wound. The skin around the wound is bluish in colour which is away from blackish coloration. In the opinion of Dr. Rajesh Tekchandani (Pw. 23) the cause of death was gun shot wound leading to injury to left lung profuse bleeding. In order to establish guilt of the appellant the prosecution examined informant Bhanwaroo Khan (Pw. 12), Rubina (Pw. 1), Sabina (Pw. 2), Dilkhush Bano (Pw. 22) and Firdaus (Pw. 13), who were sitting in the car along with deceased at the time of incident. Corroborating the averments made in the FIR Bhanwaroo Khan (Pw. 12) stated that on September 16, 1998 he along with Mehboob, Dilkhush. Sabina, Rubina and Firdaus was going from Kelva to Sujangarh in the car. When their car reached near Beawar he found that traffic was not moving because of accident. Suddenly a Maruti Zen of white colour pushed their car from the back. Three persons were sitting in that car. After their car crossed the traffic and passing Mangliawas Maruti Zen overtook their car and forced them to stop their car. Two persons armed with revolvers got down of Maruti Zen and pulled informant and his brother Mehboob out of the car and started beating them. When the third person took out the key of car and lifted envelop Mehboob objected to it. One of the person opened fire at the informant but the informant managed to save himself. Another person opened fire at Mehboob that hit his chest, as a result of which he fell down. All the persons then fled away. After some time police arrived and removed Mehboob to hospital where he was declared dead. Testimony of Bhanwaroo Khan gets corroboration from the statements of Rubina, Sabina, Dilkhush Bano and Firdaus. It also appears from record that after their arrest the accused Rajesh, Jitendra and Rajpal were kept `baparda' (with covered face ). Identification parade was held by Shri Bhuvan Goyal (PW. 30) learned Judicial Magistrate No. 3 Ajmer on October 7, 1998. In the parade Bhanwaroo Khan correctly identified Jitendra, Rajesh and Rajpal. A look at the identification memo (Ex. P. 16) reveals that learned Magistrate observed all necessary precautions before conducting identification proceedings. Constable Rajesh Kumar (PW. 32) deposed that on September 16, 1998 when he was posted at Police Station Dudu he received information from Control Room Ajmer that vehicle bearing No. H,r. 02 C 0002 be stopped. Police Station Dudu then put barriers for the Naka Bandi. Having found the police obstructing the way one Maruti Zen took turn towards Narena Road. Since Railway crossing gate of Narena Road was closed, the miscreants left the car and rushed towards Jungle. He (Rajesh Kumar) and other police persons chased them and caught hold of them. Accused Rajpal had loaded Desi Katta 12 bore (country made gun) and two bullets were kept by him in his pocket. Rajpal got arrested and necessary memos were drawn. Jitendra was arrested vide arrest memo Ex. P. 45 whereas Narain Lal and Mool Singh put their signatures on the arrest memo. Jitendra also put his signatures on the memos. Maruti Zen also got seized vide recovery memo Ex. P. 47 which bears the signatures of Rajesh, Mool Singh, Narain Lal as well as Jitendra, Rajpal and Rajesh.
(3.) MOOL Singh ASI (PW. 34) corroborated the testimony of Rajesh Kumar (PW. 32) and deposed that after the arrest the faces of three miscreants were covered and keeping them `baparda' they were handed over to C. O. Kishangarh and SHO Bander Sindra. MOOL Singh and Rajesh Kumar identified appellant Jitendra in the trial court. Jabbar Singh I. O. ( PW. 29) at the instance of Rajesh got recovered the key and envelops, country made gun and empty got recovered on the basis of disclosure statement of accused Rajpal. Appellant Jitendra gave information under section 27 of the Evidence Act to Jabbar Singh that he had concealed Desi Katta in a pit. Disclosure statement of Jitendra got recovered in the Memo Ex. P. 34. On the basis of information supplied by Jitendra, Desi Katta ( loaded ) got recovered vide recovery memo Ex. P. 13. In yet another information given by Jitendra to Jabbar Singh stain gun allegdly robbed by Jitendra from Haryana Police got recovered vide recovery memo Ex. P. 35. Vide mechanical report Ex. P. 18 the key got recovered at the instance of Rajesh, was found of the car recovered from the possession of three accused. Armour Bhawani Singh (PW. 31) examined the guns recovered at the instance of appellant Jitendra and accused Rajpal and opined that they were serviceable firearms. Opinion of armour was drawn in the memo Ex. P. 41. Sanction of prosecution ( Ex. P. 49) under the provisions of Arms Act was accorded by Shri Karni Singh District Magistrate Ajmer ( Pw. 33 ). ;


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