Bhawani Singh vs State of Rajasthan

This third application seeking suspension of sentence is filed by the applicant-Bhawani Singh, who has been convicted for offences under Sections

307/149, 148, 323/149, 326/149, 353/149 & 333/149 IPC and sentenced to suffer life imprisonment vide judgment dated 20.9.19 passed by the

Additional Sessions Judge No.4, Jodhpur Metropolitan in Session Case No.222/12 (75/05).

First application seeking suspension of sentence filed by the applicant was dismissed by this Court vide order dated 20.1.20, as not pressed. On

second application seeking suspension of sentence filed by the applicant, the suspension of sentence as prayed for was declined by this Court vide

order dated 19.10.20, however, the sentence was temporarily suspended for a period of three months.

After availing the temporary release on medical ground, the applicant surrendered before the Superintending Jail, Jodhpur. Now, as per the medical

report submitted by the learned Public Prosecutor, the applicant is presently undergoing the treatment of COVID Management Committee in

Mahatama Gandhi Hospital, Jodhpur. Confronted with medical report, the learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the applicant is not

pressing for release on medical ground. It is submitted that applications earlier preferred by the applicant were not decided on merits and therefore,

present application seeking suspension of sentence deserves to be considered by this Court on merits. Accordingly, the application preferred by the

applicant is being considered by the Court on merits and not on medical ground.

Learned counsel appearing for the applicant contended that co-accused Raju Singh, Jabbar Singh, Prema Ram, Rupa Ram and Lala Ram have

already been enlarged on bail by this Court and the case of the present applicant is not distinguishable from the co- accused Raju Singh. Learned

counsel submitted that the prosecution story rest upon the testimony of eye witnesses PW 1- Narendra Singh, PW2- Ganga Singh, PW3- Mool Singh,

PW4-Karan Singh & PW5-Akhey Singh. Drawing the attention of the Court to the statements of eye witnesses, learned counsel submitted that the

trial court has completely misread and misconstrued the testimony of these witnesses on the count of identification of inter alia the applicant. It is

submitted that though in examination-in- chief, the eye witnesses have indicated the involvement of the applicant in the commission of crime but in the

cross examination, they have categorically stated that they had no occasion to meet the accused persons prior to the incident and they were not aware

about their names and physical appearance and thus, the witnesses having failed to identify the applicant, the case of the prosecution cannot be said to

be proved beyond reasonable doubt against the applicant. Learned counsel submitted that as per the injury report (Ex.P/56) and the X-ray report

(Ex.P/55), the injury suffered by the victims except injury no.2 & 3, are simple in nature and thus, on the basis of the evidence on record, in no manner

it can be inferred that the accused persons had intention to cause death or to cause the injuries of the nature dangerous to life. Learned counsel

submitted that the offence against the applicant on the basis of the evidence on record cannot travel beyond Sections 324 or 325 IPC and thus, the

substantive sentence awarded to the applicant by the trial court deserves to be suspended.

On the other hand, the learned Public Prosecutor submits that as many as 17 criminal cases were pending against the applicant out of which in one

case he has been convicted and 2 cases were settled in terms of compromise arrived at between the parties; and 14 cases are still pending trial.

Learned Public Prosecutor submitted that the injured eye witnesses have duly identified the applicant. That apart, the injuries caused are specifically

attributed to the applicant and the co-accused Shrawan Singh. Learned PP submitted that the applicant alongwith other co-accused have assaulted the

Excise Team and their intention to cause death, stands established on the basis of the evidence on record beyond reasonable doubt. Learned PP

submitted that so far the applicant has undergone the sentence only for a period of 10 months 22 days upto 4.2.2020 and thus, taking into consideration

the gravity of the offence and criminal antecedents of the applicant, the application seeking suspension of sentence deserves to be rejected.

In reply to the arguments of learned Public Prosecutor, learned counsel for the applicant submits that the criminal cases pending against the

applicant are of petty nature and therefore, the pendency of number of criminal cases against the applicant cannot be a ground for rejection of the

application seeking suspension of sentence.

We have considered the submissions of the counsel for the applicant and the learned Public Prosecutor and perused the record.

A bare perusal of the statements of eye witnesses reveal that the gunshot injuries suffered by Mool Singh and Ganga Singh attributed to the

applicant herein. The eye witnesses have identified the applicant Bhawani Singh and other co-accused. PW1-Narendra Singh has categorically

deposed that on seeing the Excise Team, accused Shrawan Singh and Bhawani Singh ran away from the spot and after completing all formalities,

when they were returning back, a vehicle in which Bhawani Singh and others were sited, hit their vehicle from the back. Mool Singh and Ganga Singh

received gunshot injuries on shoulder and waist fired by Bhawani Singh and Mool Singh. He has stated that the accused persons were known to him

prior to the date of incident. In the cross-examination also he has stated in unequivocal terms that the accused Bhawani Singh is present in the Court,

who is known to him and he had fired on Ganga Singh and Mool Singh on that day.

It is true that PW2-Ganga Singh, who is an injured eye witness, in his cross examination has deposed that Bhawani Singh was not known to him by

name and face prior to the incident but he has categorically deposed that he is in position to identify the persons, who attacked with the firearms and

he actually identified Bhawani Singh present in the Court.

The contention sought to be raised by the applicant that his case is similar to the case alleged against Raju Singh, who has already been enlarged

on bail, is factually incorrect inasmuch as, no gunshot injuries are attributed to him by any of the witnesses.

Having regard to the evidence on record and the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case noticed above, we are not inclined to grant the

application seeking suspension of sentence preferred by the applicant.

Accordingly, the application is rejected.