Citation : 2022 Latest Caselaw 1348 AP
Judgement Date : 16 March, 2022
HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE K.SURESH REDDY
CRL.R.C.425 OF 2007
ORDER:-
Questioning the Judgment, dated 23-03-2007, passed by
the Sessions Judge, Vizianagaram in Criminal Appeal No.88 of
2004, the petitioners/ Accused Nos.1 and 2 filed the present
Criminal Revision Case.
2. The petitioners along with others were Accused in Sessions
Case No.38 of 2000 on the file of the Court of Assistant Sessions
Judge, Vizianagaram. They were tried by the learned Assistant
Sessions Judge for the offences punishable under Sections. 147,
307, 332, 333 r/w 149 IPC.
3. After completion of trial, the learned Assistant Sessions
Judge convicted the petitioners/ Accused Nos.1 and 2 for the
offence under Section.333 IPC and sentenced them to undergo
rigorous imprisonment for a period of four (4) years each
besides to pay a fine of Rs.1000/-, in default to suffer simple
imprisonment for two months each.
4. Aggrieved by the said conviction and sentence, the
petitioners filed Criminal Appeal No.88 of 2004 before the Court
of Sessions Judge, Vizianagaram. The learned Sessions Judge,
Vizianagaram while allowing the Criminal Appeal in part, set
aside the conviction and sentence imposed by the trial court
against the revisions petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 for the
offence punishable under Section 333 IPC, but convicted A-1 and
A-2 for the offence punishable under Section 326 IPC and
2
sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period
of three(3) years each and also to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- each,
in default to undergo simple imprisonment for two months each.
5. The case of the prosecution is that on 23-03-1999 at about
10 A.M A-1 visited L.Kota Police Station and sought permission
to organize ram fights in Goljam Village from 24-03-1999 to
26-03-1999
stating that it was a convention in connection with
Srirama Navami festival, for that the Sub-Inspector of Police
refused to accord permission and in turn Sub-Inspector of Police
reprimanded A-1 that in case they are going to conduct the ram
fights, they are liable for punishment as per law. A-1 had
indulged argument with Sub-Inspector of Police and stated that
one cannot deter him for proceeding with the ram fight and if
any body interfered, he will kill them. Later, all the accused
under the active connivance of A-1 along with others in the
gathering of 200 persons protested for stopping the ram fight
and at the instigation of A-1, all the accused beat the Sub
Inspector of Police, A.S.I of Police, two Head Constables and
three Constables. Later, Sub Inspector of Police, S.Kota
intervened and rescued the police personnel and took all the
injured to the S.Kota Government Hospital and on the intimation
of Medical Officer, police visited the hospital and recorded the
statements of injured police personnel and registered a case for
the offence punishable under Sections 147, 307, 333 and 332
r/w.149 IPC. After investigation, police filed charge sheet against
the accused.
6. The case was taken on file as SC No.38 of 2000 on the file
of the Court of Assistant Sessions Judge, Vizianagaram.
7. In support of its case, the prosecution examined Pws.1 to
23 and EXs.P-1 to P-23 besides Mos.1 to 11 got marked. On
behalf of the defence, none were examined, but Exs.D-1 to D-8
were marked.
8. After closure of prosecution evidence, the accused were
examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C. and they denied the version
of the prosecution witnesses. After completion of trial, the
learned Assistant Sessions Judge, Vizianagaram convicted the
accused as aforesaid.
9. Heard both sides.
10. This court perused the entire evidence on record.
11. As seen from the evidence of Pws.1 to 8, it is crystal clear
that on the date of incident, they were on bandobust duty; that
Accused No.1 and other accused beat Pws.1,4,5,6, 7 and 18 with
a stone on their right ears; that the evidence of Medical Officer,
who was examined as Pw.19, would also clearly goes to show
that the police personnel received injuries and, therefore, the
evidence of prosecution witnesses is quite trustworthy inspite of
the fact that there are some discrepancies therein and it must be
accepted to be true and correct. Therefore, having considered
the entire evidence on record, this court did not find any reason
to interfere with the conviction recorded by the appellate court.
However, taking into consideration that the incident took place
on 23-03-1999 i.e., nearly 23 years back, this court is inclined to
take a lenient view with regard to sentence of imprisonment.
12. In that view of the matter, the Criminal Revision Case is
dismissed confirming the conviction recorded by the appellate
court. However, the sentence of imprisonment has been reduced
from three (3) years to period already undergone by the
petitioners/accused Nos.1 and 2. So far as fine is concerned, the
same is unaltered.
Miscellaneous Petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed
in consequence.
________________ K.SURESH REDDY,J 16-03-2022.
TSNR
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