Conviction Under Sections 302, 326A, and 504 of IPC Confirmed; Court Highlights Reliability of Injured Witnesses’ Testimonies
In a landmark judgment delivered on 6th July 2026, the Uttarakhand High Court upheld the conviction and sentencing of Raghunath Singh in a heinous acid attack case that resulted in the death of Jaya Devi and grievous injuries to several others. The Division Bench comprising Justices Ravindra Maithani and Siddhartha Sah affirmed the trial court's decision, emphasizing the consistent and reliable testimonies of injured witnesses, which were corroborated by medical evidence.
The incident, which occurred on 10th September 2018 in Almora, Uttarakhand, involved Raghunath Singh throwing acid on the family members of Sher Singh following a dispute. The acid attack resulted in severe burn injuries to Sher Singh's family, including his daughters-in-law, Neema Devi and Jaya Devi, the latter of whom succumbed to her injuries after prolonged treatment in Delhi. The court confirmed the conviction of Raghunath Singh under Section 302 IPC for murder, Section 326A IPC for causing grievous harm through acid attack, and Section 504 IPC for intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.
The judgment meticulously analyzed the testimonies of the injured witnesses, citing their special evidentiary value. Witnesses, including Sher Singh, Mohini Devi, Neema Devi, and others, provided detailed accounts of the attack, describing how Raghunath Singh, in a drunken state, fetched acid from his home and deliberately poured it over the victims. The court noted that the minor inconsistencies in their statements did not affect the core prosecution case and praised the witnesses for their courage and consistency in recounting the traumatic events.
The court further addressed the delay in lodging the FIR, explaining that it was due to the victims undergoing medical treatment and thus was not detrimental to the prosecution's case. The judgment also tackled the defense's argument regarding the injuries sustained by the accused, concluding that these injuries were adequately explained by the prosecution witnesses, thereby negating any self-defense claim.
Medical evidence played a crucial role in corroborating the witnesses' accounts, with doctors from Almora, Haldwani, and Delhi confirming the corrosive burn injuries sustained by the victims. The court highlighted the medical reports and post-mortem findings that indicated Jaya Devi's death was due to septicemia resulting from the acid burns.
In rejecting the appeal, the court emphasized the gravity of the crime and the premeditated nature of the attack, underscoring the accused's intent to cause fatal injuries. The judgment serves as a stern reminder of the legal consequences for such brutal acts and reinforces the judicial system's commitment to upholding justice for victims of acid attacks.
Bottom line:-
Acid attack - Conviction under Sections 326A, 302, and 504 IPC upheld - Injured witnesses' consistent testimonies corroborated by medical evidence - Delay in lodging FIR explained - Injuries sustained by accused duly explained by prosecution evidence.
Statutory provision(s): Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 326A, 302, 504; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 313; Evidence Act, 1872
Raghunath Singh v. State of Uttarakhand, (Uttarakhand)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2937615
