Tapan Ghosh and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 10,000/- along with default clause. The prosecution case, in a nutshell, is that on 04.09.2012, at about 10:30 p.m., when the deceased was coming home after closing his shop, the appellant, armed with a sharp weapon (dao and dagger), had chased the deceased person into the house of Trilochan Singh and hacked him to death.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Lanka Police Station had made G.D. Entry No 94 on 04.09.2012 on the basis of information received from one Bappi Ghosh regarding the murder of Tapan Ghosh. Sub-Inspector (SI) of Police Sri Tankeswar Das, who was the Investigating Officer in this case, had conducted inquest on the dead body and prepared Inquest Report dated 05.09.2012. Upon completion of the investigation, the Investigating Officer had submitted charge sheet against all the five accused persons for committing the murder of the deceased Tapan Ghosh acting in furtherance of their common intention. The accused persons had pleaded not guilty. Hence, the matter was sent up for trial.
Arguments before the Court
Mr. B. Prasad, learned Amicus Curiae, appeared for the appellant wherein Mr. R. Baruah, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Assam, appeared for Respondent No. 1. No one appeared for Respondent No.2 despite service of notice. By the impugned judgement and order dated 21.10.2017 passed by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge (FTC), Hojai, Sankardev Nagar, in connection with Sessions case No. 80(N) /2014, the sole appellant Amit Ghosh has been convicted under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for committing the murder.
Issues before the High Court
The learned trial court has convicted the appellant for committing an offence punishable under section 302 of the IPC while acquitting the remaining accused persons for want of evidence to show their involvement in commissioning the crime. The defense side did not adduce any evidence but the accused has denied his involvement in the incident.
Judgment
The bulk of evidence brought on record by the prosecution side clearly goes to show that the appellant Amit Ghosh had chased the victim Tapan Ghosh to the house of Trilochan and hacked him to death with a “dao” by inflicting multiple cut injuries. By relying upon the evidence adduced by the prosecution side, the learned Trial Court has held that the charge of murder brought against the appellant Amit Ghosh was established beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the learned Trial Court had convicted the appellant for committing the offence under Section 302 of the IPC and sentenced him to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 10,000/-, in default, rigorous imprisonment for another six months. However, the other accused persons were acquitted on the ground of want of evidence against them.
As noticed above, there is overwhelming evidence including the testimony of two independent eye-witnesses, available on record so as to establish the charge against the appellant and therefore motive for the crime, in our view, would not have any material bearing in this case. Having regard to the bulk of evidence brought on record more particularly, the testimony of the two eyewitnesses PWs 9 and 10, we are of the view that the learned Trial Court has rightly convicted the appellant for committing an offence under Section 302 of the IPC and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life besides imposing fine of Rs 10,000/-. We are, therefore, of the view that no interference is called for with the impugned judgement and order dated 21.10.17. As such, the conviction of the appellant and the sentences imposed upon him by the learned Trial Court stands affirmed.
This appeal is found to be devoid of any merit and is, accordingly, dismissed.
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