Court reaffirms life sentence for Man Singh, citing reliable eyewitness testimony and medical evidence.
In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has upheld the conviction of Man Singh in a decades-old murder case, dismissing his criminal appeal and affirming the life sentence imposed by the trial court. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Siddharth and Vinai Kumar Dwivedi, delivered the verdict on September 28, 2026, emphasizing the credibility of eyewitnesses and the corroboration provided by medical evidence.
The case dates back to September 1, 1984, when a dispute over the use of a public hand pump in Village Gilauri, Bareilly, led to the fatal shooting of Nem Chand and injuries to Ram Swaroop. The altercation escalated when Man Singh and his co-accused, Hari Ram, returned to the scene armed with guns and opened fire. The incident resulted in the immediate death of Nem Chand and serious injuries to Ram Swaroop.
The prosecution relied heavily on the testimonies of eyewitnesses, including the informant Chunni Lal, injured witness Ram Swaroop, and Mohan Lal, all of whom were related to the deceased. Despite arguments from the defense challenging the reliability of these witnesses due to familial ties and alleged contradictions, the court found their accounts consistent and supported by medical reports. The postmortem report and injury assessments confirmed the gunshot wounds as described by the witnesses.
In its judgment, the court highlighted the principle that the testimony of related and injured witnesses should not be discarded if it is credible and corroborated by other evidence. The bench also addressed the legal concept of common intention, affirming that Man Singh's actions demonstrated a premeditated plan to commit the crime alongside Hari Ram.
The trial court had previously acquitted two other accused, Chhadammi and Nanku, due to insufficient evidence linking them directly to the crime. However, the High Court clarified that such acquittals do not preclude the conviction of others when their involvement is clearly established.
The court's decision reaffirms the life sentence for Man Singh, instructing him to surrender within a month to serve the remainder of his sentence. In the event of non-compliance, the court has directed immediate issuance of non-bailable warrants to ensure his arrest.
This judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to uphold convictions based on robust evidence and serves as a reminder of the long arm of the law, even decades after the commission of a crime.
Bottom Line :
Evidence of related and injured eyewitnesses cannot be discarded merely because they are family members of the deceased or are inimical to the accused, if their testimony is reliable and corroborated by medical evidence. Acquittal of some co-accused on the same evidence does not by itself bar conviction of other accused whose specific role stands proved. Common intention under Section 34 IPC can be inferred where accused go to fetch firearms and return together to execute the assault.
Statutory provision(s): Penal Code, 1860 Sections 302, 307, and 34; Section 313 Cr.P.C.
Hari Ram v. State, (Allahabad)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2987537
