Case Note & Summary
The appellant, Vikas Hari Jadhav, was convicted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Solapur in Sessions Case No. 215 of 2000 for the murder of Dattatraya, a teacher, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The incident occurred on 2 August 2000 at about 11:00 a.m. in the Zilla Parishad school premises at village Shingoli. The accused and the deceased were residents of village Dadpur and had adjoining agricultural lands with a boundary dispute. On the day of the incident, the accused entered the classroom where the Head Mistress Leelawatibai and the deceased were working. When questioned, the accused brandished two knives and rushed to assault the deceased. The victims closed the door, but the accused broke it open, causing injury to the Head Mistress's hand. He then overpowered the deceased and inflicted multiple stab wounds. The deceased ran out but was chased and fell to the ground, where the accused continued assaulting him. A witness, Bhimrao, arrived and saw the accused sitting on the deceased's chest and stabbing him. The accused fled upon seeing the witness. The post-mortem report revealed 25 injuries. The police arrested the accused. The prosecution examined 10 witnesses. The trial court convicted the accused and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The accused appealed. The High Court, after reappreciating the evidence, found the prosecution case proved beyond reasonable doubt and dismissed the appeal.
Headnote
A) Criminal Law - Murder - Section 302 Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Conviction and Sentence - Appeal against conviction for murder - The appellant accused was convicted for murdering the deceased by stabbing him multiple times with a knife in a school premises over a land dispute - The High Court, after reappreciating the evidence, found the prosecution witnesses credible and the medical evidence corroborating the injuries - Held that the trial court's judgment was correct and the appeal was dismissed (Paras 3-4).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder is sustainable based on the evidence on record.
Final Decision
Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence of life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC upheld
Law Points
- Murder
- Section 302 IPC
- Life imprisonment
- Conviction upheld
- Evidence appreciation
- Witness credibility
- Motive
- Land dispute
