Rajesh Kumar v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Nitish Kumar @ Nimiya v. State of Bihar; Rajesh Kumar v. State of Bihar | Patna High Court | CRIMINAL APPEAL (DB) No.339 of 2023 with No. 376 of 2023 | decided 17-02-2026 | murder of Mahesh Mistri (09.03.2020), Deepnagar P.S. Case No. 77 of 2020, District Nalanda | motive: informant's purchase of 3½ decimals of land (November 2019) | star witness: informant-father P.W.3 Mathur Mistri; wife of deceased not examined — no adverse inference drawn | plea of suppression of first version / delay in FIR rejected | S.H.O. P.W.8 Dharmendra Kumar's lapses: next-day spot inspection, empty shell and pellet not sent to FSL — held no benefit to accused | charges altered under Section 216 CrPC to Sections 302/34, 448/34, 504/34, 506/34 IPC and Section 27 Arms Act | Section 134 Evidence Act (wholly reliable solitary witness) | life imprisonment with fines affirmed | both appeals dismissed | precedents engaged: Takhaji Hiraji (2001) 6 SCC 145; Kanhai Mishra AIR 2001 SC 1113; Mohan Lal 2000 Criminal Law Journal 2982 SC; Nallabothu Ramulu (2014) 12 SCC 261; Deny Bora (2014) 14 SCC 42.