CHHAGAN LAL Vs. STATE
LAWS(RAJ)-2009-1-242
HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN (AT: JAIPUR)
Decided on January 30,2009

CHHAGAN LAL Appellant
VERSUS
STATE Respondents

JUDGEMENT

Guman Singh, J. - (1.) CHALLENGE in this appeal is to the judgment dated 19.2.2003 passed by learned Addl. District & Sessions Judge (Fast Track), Kama in sessions case No. 165/2002 whereby the accused -appellant Chhagan Lal was convicted and sentenced as under: Under Section 302 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 1000/ -, in default of payment of fine to further undergo simple imprisonment for six months. Under Section 376 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 1000/ -, in default of payment of fine to further undergo simple imprisonment for six months. Under Section 377 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for seven years and fine of Rs. 1000/ -, in default of payment of fine to further undergo simple imprisonment for six months. Under Section 201 IPC: To suffer rigorous imprisonment for five years' and fine of Rs. 1000/ -, in default of payment of fine to further undergo simple imprisonment for six months. All the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
(2.) BRIEFLY stated, the prosecution case is that one Nazar Khan, resident of P.S. Pahadi submitted a written report on 12.9.98 at 11.00 AM to the Station House Officer, P.S. Pahadi, District -Bharatpur who had reached to the place of occurrence on receiving information about a dead body lying in a well at village Pahadi. In the report, it was reported by Nazar Khan that on 11.9.98, his niece Ruksina, aged 8 years, had gone to graze goats in nearby jungle as usual. When he was returning to his house at about 5.00 PM in the evening, her niece Ruksina was sighted grazing goats in the nearby jungle. At that time, one Chhaganlal son of Chota was also grazing his catties there. When deceased Ruksina did not return to home until 7.00 PM, he got worried and tried to search her in the village but he did not get any clue of her whereabouts. On 12.9.98 in the morning, Roojdar (PW -3) and Jeewan (PW -2) informed him that when they were returning from their field in the preceding night at about 2.00 AM, they heard a sound of something being thrown in the Well. There they met Chhagan and on seeing him, they thought that some stone could have been thrown by him in the Well. They asked Chhagan as to what he was doing there in the dead of night, he told that he was searching his lost goats. So Sami Khan (PW -9), Moobil Khan (PW -4) and Nazar Khan (PW -8) called Chhagan in the morning and inquired about Ruksina. Then Chhagan confessed before them that he first committed rape with Ruksina in the nearby 'Jawar' field and when she became unconscious, he had threw her in the Well. On receipt of this report containing above' facts, the same was sent by Uttam lal, SHO to the Police Station for registering the case. On the basis of said report, a case under Sections 302, 376, 377 and 201 IPC was registered against the accused -appellant and the FIR was sent to the SHO, who had already proceeded with the investigation. During the course of investigation, Panchnama of dead body was prepared, site inspection was done. Dead -body was sent for post mortem examination. Kurti & Salwar from the dead body of deceased Ruksina were seized. Accused -appellant was arrested. He was medically examined for the purpose of injuries on his body as well for potency to confirm his capacity to perform sexual intercourse. After collecting the necessary evidence, accused -appellant was challaned in the court. In due course, case came up for trial before the trial court. The accused appellant was charge -sheeted for the offence under Sections 302, 376, 377 and 201 IPC. He pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. The prosecution examined as many as 11 witnesses in support of its case. Statement of accused -appellant under Section 313 Cr.P.C. was recorded. In his statement, accused did not furnish explanation and merely stated that he was falsely implicated on account of enmity. However, no witness in defence was examined. The learned trial Judge on hearing the final submissions, convicted and sentenced the accused -appellant in the manner indicated herein above.
(3.) IT is contended on behalf of the accused -appellant that evidence pertaining to extra judicial confession adduced by the prosecution is a very weak type of evidence as the extra judicial confession has not been made voluntarily because the accused appellant was beaten by the villagers including witnesses to extract the confession. It has further been contended that rest of the evidence led by the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence and the circumstance proved do not complete the chain so as to bring home the guilt of the accused -appellant beyond doubt.;


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