SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Shankar Diwal Wadu
Vs.
State of Maharashtra
Crl.A.No.402 of 2007
(S.B.Sinha and Markandeya Katju, JJ.,)
21.03.2007
JUDGMENT
Markandey Katju, J.
SLP (Crl)No.6240 of 2006)
1. Leave granted.
2. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 24.9.2004 of
the Bombay High Court in Criminal Appeal No. 631 of 2000.
3. The prosecution version is that the accused Shankar Wadu is the brother of
Mahu Wadu who was assaulted by him, which assault resulted in his death. The
incident occurred around 8.P.M. on 22.10.1995 at Kainad Wadu Pada, Laluka Wada,
District Thane, where both the accused and the victim were residing along with
other close relations. According to the prosecution case, the accused wanted to
keep Kamlibai, the widow of his brother Vasant, as his mistress, but she
refused to be his mistress. On the day of the incident the appellant was
forcibly trying to drag Kamlibai to his house. At that very time, he was told
by his brother Mahu (the deceased) that he could not force and drag Kamlibai to
his house. At this intervention, the accused got enraged by such unwarranted
advice and therefore lifted a wooden plank (pat) and hit Mahu with it on his
head, and also kicked and punched him. Mahu died on the spot. Complaint of this
assault was lodged by one Yeshubai who is closely related to both the accused
and the victim. On receipt of this report the investigation was conducted and
the accused was arrested. The prosecution examined as many as eight witnesses
to prove its charge of murder against the accused and the learned trial Judge
on appreciation of the evidence came to the conclusion of guilt and convicted
the accused and sentenced him to life imprisonment under Sections 302/506 Indian
Penal Code, 1860 and also imposed a fine.
4. Against the judgment of the trial court, the appellant filed an appeal
before the High Court which has been dismissed by the impugned judgment and
hence this appeal by way of special leave.
5. We have gone through the record and we agree with the view taken by the
courts below that the appellant is guilty. There are eye witnesses of the
incident and we see no reason to disbelieve their testimony. These eye
witnesses also include Kamlibai (PW4). The allegation of the prosecution that
it was because of Kamlibai that the incident occurred is proved by Kamlibai
herself who is corroborated in all material particulars by PW-1 and PW-2. PW-3
Yesubai is also an eye witness and we see no reason to disbelieve her evidence.
The medical evidence corroborates the prosecution case. The post mortem report
shows a fracture on the scalp of the deceased caused by a hard and blunt
object, and according to the doctor this was sufficient to cause death. Both
the courts below have carefully considered the evidence on record and we see no
reason to take a different view.
6. However, we are of the opinion that the case comes under Section 304/Part 2
and not under Section 302 Indian Penal Code, 1860 since the incident
occurred in a sudden fit of anger. The decisions cited by learned counsel for
the appellant vide Pappu vs. State of M.P1. and
Sukhbir Singh vs. State of Haryana2 are
apposite to this case.
7. Hence, we convert the conviction under Section 302 to Section 304//Part 2 Indian
Penal Code, 1860 and quash the conviction under Section 506. The appellant
has already undergone 11 years' imprisonment. Hence, we reduce the sentence to
the period already undergone and we quash the fine imposed. The appellant shall
be released from jail custody forthwith unless wanted in connection with some
other case.
The appeal stands disposed of accordingly.
Judgment Referred.
1(2006) 7 SCC 0391
2(2002) 3 SCC 0327