Lokpal Singh vs State of M.P.

Fazal Ali, J.—The Appellant, Lokpal Singh, has been convicted by the High Court u/s by the 302/34, Indian Penal Code for murder of six persons which took place on 25th September, 1981 at about 2.00 a m. The facts of the case have been narrated in the judgment of the High Court and Sessions Court and it is not necessary for us to repeat the same.

It appears that according to the prosecution case, the accused inspired by unholy spirit of revenge and retaliation entered the house of the deceased persons at 2.00 a. m. on 25-9-1981 and killed as many as six persons in the house and one in the field. This was a most cruel and heinous murder and once the offence is proved then there can be no other sentence except the death sentence that can be imposed.

The Sessions Judge acquitted all the accused except Lokpal Singh and Charli Raja but the High Court while maintaining the conviction and sentence of Lokpal Singh, set aside the conviction and sentence of Charli Raja. The High Court was not satisfied about the complicity of Charli Raja in the occurrence but there is overwhelming evidence so far as Lokpal Singh is concerned, in asmuch as he has been identified by PWs. 2, 3 and 6 by voice and as an eyewitness by PW (sic), who fully knew the accused-appellant, Lokpal Singh. It was not a case where it could be said that the witnesses, PWs 2. 3 and 6, saw the Appellant Lokpal Singh for a split of a second but these witnesses could easily recognise the accused. It appears that the offence took a pretty long time inasmuch as a number of acts were committed and as many as six persons were killed in the house in the course of which the assailants went from room to room in order to make a detailed search for all their victims. Moreover, there was evidence that a torch-light was used by the Appellant. Apart from this, PW 5, who as indicated before as the most competent witness and a full-fledged eye-witness narrated the entire story as seen by her. She has specifically named Appellant Lokpal Singh as one of the culprits. There is clear evidence that the Appellant Lokpal Singh and Ors. were armed with guns and they participated in the murder of the deceased either by presence or by committing overt acts of shooting. The evidence of PW 5 further proves that Lokpal Singh took a leading part in entering the house and aided and assisted the others in murdering the six persons in the house. The High Court has upheld the finding of the Sessions Court in respect of Lokpal Singh. We do not find any reason to interfere with the conviction of the Appellant, Lokpal Singh.

As regards the State appeal against acquittal of Charli Raja, the High Court felt that there was some doubt about his complicity in the affair. The High Court has given cogent reasons for entertaining the doubt which is apparent from the finding of the High Court The High Court observed:

........If it was a fact that out of fear the witnesses were not prepared to give out the name of Charli Raja then they would not have also given out the name of Lokpal Singh whose name did appear in the case diary statements of eye witnesses........

So benefit of doubt has to be given to Charli Raja, since it is not possible to say that the case has been proved beyond doubt against him.

It was, however, submitted by Mr. U.R. Lalit that he must have participated in the offence along with others and was wrongly acquitted by the High Court. It is true that the language of the FIR may lead to this impression but read as a whole it does not establish the presence of the accused with absolute certainty. On the other hand, the description of Charli Raja given by PW 5 does not tally with his features and stature. The High Court has further relied on some vital discrepancies regarding the evidence of PW 5 in respect of Charli Raja in her earlier statement given before the police. Thus, after going through the evidence, however, although there may be a possibility of Charli Raja being there, yet the possibility of his not being a participant in the murders cannot be reasonably excluded. For these reasons, we are not in a position to accept the appeal of the State and hereby maintain the acquittal Charli Raja.

Coming now to the question of sentence, so far as Lokpal Singh is concerned, it was urged by Counsel for the Appellant that as the accused Lokpal Singh is young man between 18 to 20 years, he should not be given the maximum penalty of death sentence. We are, however, unable to accept this contention because participation of Lokpal Singh along with others have been clearly proved. In a murder of six persons in the field in which Lokpal Singh participated, along with others known or unknown, is immaterial as Lokpal Singh actually took a leading role in the murders committed and therefore, clearly shared the common intention of the murder. There does not seem to be any reason why any leniency should be shown to the Appellant. This is a most cruel, heinous and dastardly murder and there is no extenuating circumstance for reducing the sentence of death to imprisonment for life. We, therefore, uphold the conviction and sentence imposed by the High Court and Sessions Court so far as Lokpal Singh is concerned. We further confirm, for the reasons given above, the acquittal of Charli Raja.

In view of the above findings, both the appeals are dismissed.