Ajay Yadav v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna High Court CR. APP (SJ) No. 25 of 2010, decided 16-01-2026 (Alok Kumar Pandey, J.). Attempt to murder (S.307 IPC), extortion/putting in fear (S.387 IPC) and S.27 Arms Act conviction upheld: appellant fired pistol at informant-victim over unpaid rangdari demand of Rs. 1,50,000/-, causing firearm injury to left thigh near scrotum (Gogri P.S. Case No. 110 of 2006, Khagaria; Sessions Case No. 464 of 2006; trial by Addl. Sessions Judge-I, Khagaria, conviction 19.11.2009, sentence 20.11.2009). Key themes: sole testimony of injured eyewitness sufficient; injured witness credibility (built-in guarantee); hostile witnesses PW-2/PW-3 and hearsay PW-1 do not discredit consistent PW-4; defective/faulty investigation no ground for acquittal; S.307 intent inferred from weapon, body part and injury. Precedents engaged: Dhanaj Singh (2004) 3 SCC 654; Takdir Samsuddin Sheikh AIR 2012 SC 37; Brahm Swaroop AIR 2011 SC 280; Ranjit Singh AIR 2011 SC 255; Mano Dutt (2012) 4 SCC 79; State of U.P. v. Kishan Chand (2004) 7 SCC 629; State of M.P. v. Imrat (2009) 2 SCC (Cri) 558; Lachman Singh (2006) 10 SCC 524; Sadakat Kotwar Crl.A. No. 1316 of 2021; (Ram Bihari Yadav v. State of Bihar and Amar Singh v. Balwinder Singh referred within quoted passage). Outcome: appeal dismissed, sentence reduced to period already undergone (5 years 13 days); fines Rs. 5,000 / Rs. 1,000 / Rs. 500 as imposed by trial court.