RANCHI, India, Sept. 2 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on July 1:
1. Heard the learned counsel for the respective sides.
2. The appellant Bhairav Nath Dasoundhi in Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 1137 of 2019 has died during the pendency of this appeal as informed to us in terms of the communication dated 06.05.2025 by the Superintendent, Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan Central Jail, Hazaribag and consequently Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 1137 of 2019 stands abated. The Death Reference is accordingly disposed of. 2. These appeals are directed against the judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated 10.05.2019 (sentence passed on 24.05.2019) passed by Smt. Sanjeeta Srivastava, learned Additional Sessions Judge-XVI, Dhanbad in Sessions Trial No. 183 of 2018, whereby and whereunder, the appellants have been convicted for the offence punishable u/s 302/120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and while the appellant Bhairav Nath Dasoundhi has been sentenced to death u/s 302 IPC along with a fine of Rs. 30,000/-, rest of the appellants barring Rupa Devi have been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs. 30,000/- each for the offence u/s 302 IPC and in case of default of payment of fine to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year. No separate sentence has been passed u/s 120B IPC. So far as Rupa Devi is concerned, she has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life along with a fine of Rs. 30,000/- for the offence u/s 302/120B IPC and in case of default in payment of fine to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year.
3. The prosecution case arises out of the written report of Rajendra Rai in which it has been stated on 03.01.2017 in the night Bhairav Nath Dasoundhi, Rajendra Prasad Dasoundhi and Gayatri Devi by hatching a conspiracy had committed the murder of the daughter of the informant Anupama Devi and grandchildren Akshay Kumar and Aabha Kumari. It has been alleged that the son-in-law of the informant along with his parents always used to demand cash and jewellery and the daughter of the informant was regularly subjected to torture. It has also been alleged that the son-in-law of the informant had an illicit relationship with another girl which was the reason for the son-in-law of the informant of committing torture upon his daughter. Under a conspiracy, the accused persons had eliminated the daughter and grandchildren of the informant. The informant on receiving an information from Rajendra Prasad Dasoundhi had rushed to his house and came to know about the murders.
Based on the aforesaid allegations, Barwadih P.S. Case No. 154/2017 was instituted. On completion of the investigation, charge-sheet was submitted and after cognizance was taken, the case was committed to the Court of Sessions, where it was registered as Sessions Trial No. 183 of 2018. Charge was framed against the accused for the offence punishable u/s 302/ 120B of the I.P.C. which was read over and explained to them in Hindi to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=%2FE3WiyNUWFIaR1oBGE62WgmaUa1UUYSMSpYYzP8BRwb%2BUNnb2NFVvkBsBwjHE08D&caseno=Cr.A(DB)/623/2019&cCode=1&cino=JHHC010208482019&state_code=7&appFlag=)
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
