Dismissed

Raju Devi Bunkar Wife of Late Shri Uttam Kumar, v. State of Rajasthan

Rajasthan HC8 Dec 2025CRLAD/302/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Widow's appeal against the judgment convicting Govind under Sections 323, 342 and 302 IPC for the death of her husband. The High Court found the eyewitness testimony unreliable: the wife's claim of seeing the beating was contradicted by the site plan and medical evidence showing only two injuries with no ligature marks, the post-mortem did not fix a clear cause of death, and the complainant-police constable delayed reporting for twelve days without informing fellow officers. Following Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar v. State of Karnataka, (2024) 8 SCC 149, no perversity or misreading was found and interference with the possible view taken below was not warranted. Appeal dismissed.

What the court decided

Raju Devi Bunkar Wife of Late Shri Uttam… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Rajasthan HC (2025)

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

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HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

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D.B. Criminal Appeal (Db) No. 302/2025

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Raju Devi Bunkar Wife of Late Shri Uttam Kumar, Aged About 36 Years, Resident of Bharatiya New Colony, Manohapura, Tehsil Shahpura, District Jaipur (Rajasthan)

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----Appellant

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Versus

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State of Rajasthan, Through Public Prosecutor.

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Govind Son Mahadev, Resident Balai Ki Dhani Naradpura, Police Station Amer, District Jaipur

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----Respondents

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For Appellant(s) : Mr. Amrit Prasad Sharma, Adv. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Rajesh Choudhary, GA-cum-AAG with Mr. Sudesh Saini, Addl.G.A. Mr. Aman Agarwal, AAAG

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BHUWAN GOYAL

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Judgment

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1. Date of conclusion of arguments : 04/12/2025

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2. Date on which the judgment was reserved : 04/12/2025 3. Whether the full judgment or only the Full judgment

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operative part is pronounced :

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4. Date of pronouncement : 08/12/2025

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(PER HON'BLE BHUWAN GOYAL, J.)

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1. vihykFkhZ;k ¼ifjokfn;k½ jktw nsoh cqudj }kjk gLrxr vihy varxZr /kkjk 413 ch,u,l,l ds rgr fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky;& fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] t;iqj ce CykLV dSlst] t;iqj egkuxj f}rh; }kjk lS'ku izdj.k la[;k 03@2021 ¼19@2019½] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku ljdkj cuke iIiw oxSjg esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 24-04-2025 ftlds }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr xksfoUn dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 323]

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(2 of 8)

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

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[CRLAD-302/2025]

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342] 302 Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k x;k gS] ds fo:) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

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2. çdj.k ds rF; la{ksi esa bl çdkj gSa fd fnukad 03-11-2012 dks yfyr dqekj ds }kjk ,d fjiksVZ izn'kZ ih-&11 iqfyl Fkkuk vkesj esa bl vk'k; dh izLrqr dh fd vkt fnukad 03-11-2012 dks le; djhc 9-00 cts 'kke dks mÙke dqekj dh vf/kd 'kjkc ihus ls rfc;r [kjkc gksus ij mls ukjniqjk ls 'kekZ gkWLihVy 'kkgiqjk esa bZykt gsrq ysdj le; 9-30 cts 'kke dks x;s Fks] ogka MkWDVj us pSd djds mldh eR;q gksuk crkus ij mldh yk'k dks vLirky ls ysdj lh-,p-lh- vLirky vkesj ysdj vk;s gSa] mÙke dqekj mlds cMs HkkbZ dk nkekn gS] bl laca/k esa dkuwuh dk;Zokgh djsaA mDr fjiksVZ ij ex fjiksVZ la[;k 46@2012 vUrxZr /kkjk 174 na-iz-la- esa ntZ dj ex dk;Zokgh izkjEHk dh xbZA rRi'pkr~ ifjokfn;k jktw nsoh dh vksj ls fnukad 15-11-2012 dks mDr dk;Zokgh ds yfEcr jgus ds nkSjku ,d fjiksVZ izn'kZ ih-&1 Fkkukf/kdkjh iqfyl Fkkuk vkesj dks bl vk'k; dh izLrqr dh xbZ fd mlds ifr 'kke 7-00 cts mlds ?kj vk;s Fks] rc xksfoUn ,oa mlds ihgj i{k ds yksxksa us muds lkFk ckal dh ykBh ls ekjihV dh] fQj mls xkMh esa Mkydj ys x;s-------] ftls mDr ex dk;Zokgh uEcj 46@2012 esa 'kkfey i=koyh djus ds funsZ'k fn;s x;s] mlds i'pkr~ vihykfFkZ;k ¼ifjokfn;k½ }kjk iqu% ,d ifjokn izn'kZ ih-&2 vij eq[; U;kf;d eftLVsªV] Øe la-&1] t;iqj egkuxj esa izLrqr fd;k] tks /kkjk 156¼3½ na-iz-la- ds rgr iqfyl Fkkuk vkesj dks izsf"kr fd;s tkus ij iqfyl Fkkuk vkesj }kjk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ la[;k 490 fnukad 03-12-2012 vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 147] 148] 149] 302] 342] 384 o 120ch Hkk-na-la- esa ntZ fd;k tkdj vuqla/kku izkjEHk fd;k x;k ,oa ckn vuqla/kku vafre izfrosnu U;k;ky; esa izLrqr fd;k x;k] ftl ij fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk fnukad 02-02-2019 dks iIiw] /kesZUnz] jkelgk;] euHkj] yfyr o xksfoUn ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 147] 148] 342] 302@149 Hkk-na-la- esa

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(3 of 8)

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

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[CRLAD-302/2025]

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izlaKku fy;k x;k ,oa izdj.k ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k }kjk fopkj.kh; gksus ls mls mikarfjr fd;s tkus ds vkns'k fn;s x;s] rRi'pkr~ fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] t;iqj CykLV dSlst] t;iqj egkuxj f}rh; }kjk fnukad 01-09-2021 dks cgl pktZ lquh tkdj iIiw] /kesZUnz] jkelgk;] euHkj nsoh] yfyr dks vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 147] 148] 342] 302] 149 Hkk-na-la- ls mUeksfpr fd;k x;k ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr xksfoUn ds fo:) /kkjk 323] 302] 342 Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksi fojfpr djus ds vkns'k fn;s tkdj vkjksi fojfpr fd;s x;sA vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ekSf[kd lk{; esa xokgku ih-MCY;w-&1 yxk;r ih-MCY;w-&27 ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s ,oa ekSf[kd lk{; ds leFkZu esa nLrkostkr izn'kZ ih&1 yxk;r izn'kZ ih&19 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA

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3. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr~ izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dks /kkjk 313 na-iz-la- ds rgr ijhf{kr fd;k x;k] ftlesa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr us Lo;a dks funksZ"k gksuk vkSj >waBk Qalk, tkus dk dFku fd;k rFkk dFku fd;k fd mRre dqekj 'kjkc ihrk Fkk] vR;f/kd 'kjkc lsou ls mldh e`R;q gks xbZ rFkk lk{; lQkbZ esa dksbZ ekSf[kd lk{; is'k ugha dj nLrkosth lk{; esa izn'kZ Mh-&1 yxk;r Mh-&17 dks is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;k x;kA

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4. rRi'pkr~ fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk mHk;i{kksa dks lquk tkdj vkykSP; fu.kZ; fnukad 24-04-2025 }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr xksfoUn dks /kkjk 323] 342] 302 Hkk-na-l-a ds vkjksiksa esa nks"keqDr fd;k x;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj vihykFkhZ;k ¼ifjokfn;k½ ds }kjk gLrxr vihy izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr xksfoUn dks nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

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5. cgl xzg.kkFkZ lquh tkdj i=koyh dk e; vfHkys[k lEekuiwoZd voyksdu fd;k x;kA

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6. fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykfFkZ;k ¼ifjokfn;k½ dk dFku gS fd izLrqr ekeys esa ifjokfn;k ,oa vU; izLrqr xokgku ds dFkuksa ls

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(4 of 8)

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

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[CRLAD-302/2025]

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izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr }kjk mÙke dqekj ds lkFk ekjihV djus ,oa mDr ekjihV esa vk;h pksVksa ds ifj.kkeLo:i mldh e`R;q gksus dh iw.kZ :i ls iqf"V gqbZ gS] fdUrq fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; dk lq{erk ,oa xgurk ls foospu fd, fcuk vkykSP; vkns'k fnukad 24-04-2025 ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] tks fof/k lEer ugha gS] vr% vihy x z g.kkFkZ Lohdkj djrs gq, izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr xksfoUn dks vkjksfir vijk/k es a nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr fd;k tkosA

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7. fo}ku vfrfjDr jktdh; vf/koDrk us nkSjkus cgl mfpr vkns'k ikfjr fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA

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8. gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k dk ;g dsl jgk gS fd fnukad 03-11-2012 dks lk;a 7-00 cts <k.kh ukjniqjk esa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr us mÙke dqekj dk lnks"k vojks/k dj] mlds lkFk ykBh ls ekjihV dh] ftlls mldh e`R;q gks xbZ\

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9. gLrxr izdj.k esa mijksDr vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds lanHkZ esa i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; ij ;fn fopkj djsa rks izdj.k esa ?kVuk fnukad 03-11-2012 dks jkf= 10-40 ih-,e- ij yfyr dqekj 'kekZ }kjk izn'kZ ih-&11 fjiksVZ ntZ djok;h xbZ gS] ftlesa mlus erd }kjk vf/kd 'kjkc ihus ls] mldh rfc;r [kjkc gksus ls mls vLirky ysdj vkuk vafdr fd;k gS] mlesa erd ds lkFk ekjihV gksus laca/kh dksbZ rF; vafdr ugha fd;k x;k gS] ;|fi xokg ih-M-&1 jktw nsoh tks fd e`rd dh iRuh gS] mlus U;k;ky; ds le{k vius c;kuksa esa fnukad 03-11-2012 dks 'kke 7-00&7-30 cts mlds ifr dk ihgj esa vkuk ,oa ckgj dh cSBd ds dejs esa cSBk gksuk ,oa ml le; mldk mldh cqvk dh yMdh o cgu ds lkFk Nr ij gksuk] fQj mlds pkpk xksfoUn }kjk mlds ifr ds lkFk ckal dh ydMh ls ekjihV djuk] mlds uhps vkus ij mlds ifr ds pksV yxh ns[kuk] fQj mlds ifr dks ?klhV dj ckgj cSBd ds dejs esa ys tkuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] ftlls mlds Lo;a mDr dFkuksa ls mldk ?kVuk ds le; cqvk dh yMdh ,oa cgu ds lkFk Nr ij gksdj uhps vkus ij pksV yxh

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

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[CRLAD-302/2025]

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(5 of 8)

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ns[kuk izdV gksus ls] mldk ?kVuk dk p'enhn lk{kh uk gksuk izdV gksrk gS] izdj.k esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd xokg ds mDr lHkh dFkuksa dh iqf"V mldh cqvk dh yMdh ,oa cgu ds U;k;ky; esa ijhf{kr ugha gksus ls Hkh ugha gks ik;h gSA izdj.k esa uD'kk izn'kZ Mh-&5 esa Hkh mDr xokg }kjk ftl LFkku ij [kMs gksdj ?kVuk ns[kh xbZ Fkh] mls nf'kZr ugha fd;k x;k gS] bl lanHkZ esa xokg us viuh izfrijh{kk esa ;g Lohdkj Hkh fd;k gS fd uD'kk izn'kZ Mh-&5 mldh mifLFkfr esa cuk;k Fkk] og >xMs ds le; edku esa fdl LFkku ij [kMh Fkh mldk mYys[k uD'ks esa ugha gS] ftlls uD'kk izn'kZ Mh-&5 ls Hkh mlds ?kVuk ns[kus ckcr~ dFkuksa dh iqf"V ugha gks ik;h gSA

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10. xokg ih-M-&1 jktw nsoh }kjk ;|fi vius c;kuksa esa 30&35 ckj ykfB;ksa ls ekjus ls mlds ifr ds 'kjhj ij uhyxw ds fu'kku iMuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq izdj.k esa mlds mDr dFku dh iqf"V Hkh xokg ih-M-&5 MkWDVj fnus'k pUn eh.kk ds c;kuksa ls ugha gks ik;h gS] D;ksafd mlus vius c;kuksa esa erd ds 'kjhj ij ek= nks pksVs gksuk ,oa muesa ls pksV la[;k&1 uhyxw 3X3 lsUVhehVj ck;ha duiVh ds fgLls ij ,oa nwljh pksV [kjksap 1X1 lsUVhehVj ck;ha dksguh ij gksuk dFku fd;k gS] iapk;rukek izn'kZ ih-&4 esa Hkh erd ds 'kjhj ij uhyxw ds fu'kku gksuk] vafdr ugha gS] mlesa ek= jxMd o [kjksap ds fu'kku gksuk vafdr gS] izdj.k esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd xokg ih-M-&9 vkj-lh- 'kekZ us vius c;ku esa erd ds 'kjhj esa bFkkbZy ,Ydksgy dh mifLFkfr gksuk ,oa ,Ydksgy ls eR;q lEHkkfor gksuk dFku fd;k gS ,oa xokg ih-M-&11 MkW- vkj-ds- oekZ us viuh izfrijh{kk esa] izn'kZ Mh-&8 esa MkW- Mh-lh- eh.kk }kjk viuh jk; esa eR;q dk dksbZ Li"V dkj.k ugha fn;k tkuk ,oa eR;q dkfMZ;ks iYeksujh vjsLV ¼Cardio pulmonary arrest½ ls Hkh gks lduk fy[kuk Lohdkj fd;k gS] ftlls Hkh erd dh eR;q ekjihV ls vk;h pksVksa ls gksus dh ckr gLrxr izdj.k esa ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gksus ls] ifjokfn;k jktw nsoh ds dFkuksa dh lEiqf"V ugha gks ikbZ gSA

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(6 of 8)

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

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[CRLAD-302/2025]

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11. izdj.k esa xokg ih-M-&7 eukst dqekj caxkyh] ih-M-&8 nhid dqekj caxkyh] ih-M-&14 lksuw ikjklj ,oa ih-M-&15 iw.kkZuUn 'kekZ us ;|fi vius&vius c;kuksa esa erd dh yk'k dks ugykrs oDr mlds xqIrkaxksa ij lwtu@pksVsa ns[kuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq bl lanHkZ esa ;fn iapk;rukek izn'kZ ih-&4 dk voyksdu djsa rks mDr iapk;rukek vU; xokgksa ds lkFk&lkFk xokg ih-M-&7 eukst caxkyh dh mifLFkfr esa cuk;k x;k gS] mlesa erd ds xqIrkax ij dksbZ pksV vkus ckcr~ mYys[k ugha gS] xokg ih-M-&1 jktw nsoh us vius c;kuksa esa muds xkao esa er O;fDr ds diMs ugha mrkjs tkuk Lohdkj fd;k gS] ftlls erd dks ugykrs oDr mlds xqIrkax ij lwtu gksus ckcr~ vfHk;kstu dgkuh Hkh ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikbZ gSA

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12. izdj.k esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd xokg ih-M-&16 fdju dqekjh] ih-M-&17 eukst nsoh] ih-M-&18 lqfurk] ih-M-&21 fdj.k tks fd ifjokfn;k ds lkFk iqfyl lgdehZ gS] mUgksaus vius&vius c;kuksa esa mudk rh;s dh cSBd esa tkus ij cSBd ds nkSjku] vihykfFkZ;k jktw nsoh }kjk mUgsa ?kVuk ckcr~ dqN Hkh ugha crkuk ,oa muds }kjk mldh ekW ls iwNus ij mUgsa Hkh mÙke dqekj dh e`R;q dSls gqbZ irk ugha gksuk dFku fd;k x;k gSA gekjh fouez jk; esa ifjokfn;k tks fd Lo;a ,d iqfyldehZ gS] ;fn mlds ifr ds lkFk okLro esa ekjihV dh dksbZ ?kVuk ?kfVr gqbZ gksrh rks mlds }kjk uk dsoy bl lanHkZ esa rqjar izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ djok;h xbZ gksrh] cfYd iqfyl lgdfeZ;ksa ds rh;s dh cSBd esa vkus ij] mUgsa Hkh ?kVuk ds lanHkZ esa lwfpr fd;k x;k gksrk ,oa mlds }kjk ?kVuk ds 12 fnu ckn fjiksVZ ntZ ugha djok;h tkrhA

¶49

13. ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; us Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar Vs. State of Karnataka reported in [(2024) 8 SCC 149] esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS fd :-

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“38. Further, in H.D. Sundara v. State of Karnataka, (2023) 9 SCC 581 this Court summarised the principles governing the exercise of appellate jurisdiction while dealing with an

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(7 of 8)

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

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[CRLAD-302/2025]

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appeal against acquittal under Section 378 Cr.PC as follows:

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“8. xxx xxx xxx

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8.1. The acquittal of the accused further strengthens the presumption of innocence;

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8.2. The appellate court, while hearing an appeal against acquittal, is entitled to reappreciate the oral and documentary evidence;

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8.3. The appellate court, while deciding an appeal against acquittal, after re-appreciating the evidence, is required to consider whether the view taken by the trial court is a possible view which could have been taken on the basis of the evidence on record;

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8.4. If the view taken is a possible view, the appellate court cannot overturn the order of acquittal on the ground that another view was also possible; and

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8.5. The appellate court can interfere with the order of acquittal only if it comes to a finding that the only conclusion which can be recorded on the basis of the evidence on record was that the guilt of the accused was proved beyond a reasonable doubt and no other conclusion was possible.”

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Thus, it is beyond the pale of doubt that the scope of interference by an appellate court for reversing the judgment of acquittal recorded by the trial court in favour of the accused has to be exercised within the four corners of the following principles:

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(a) That the judgment of acquittal suffers from patent perversity;

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(b) That the same is based on a misreading/omission to consider material evidence on record; and

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(c) That no two reasonable views are possible and only the view consistent with the guilt of the accused is possible from the evidence available on record.”

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(8 of 8)

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[2025:RJ-JP:49311-DB]

¶67

[CRLAD-302/2025]

¶68

14. vr% i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; rFkk mHk;i{kksa ds rdksZa ij euu ds i’pkr~ ge bl fu"d"kZ ij igqaps gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 24-04-2025 esa dksbZ fof/kd o rF;kRed =qfV ugha gS ,oa og iqf"V fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS ,oa vihy] vihykFkhZ;k ¼ifjokfn;k½ [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA

¶69

15. ifj.kker% vihykFkhZ;k ¼ifjokfn;k½ ds }kjk izLrqr ;g vihy ,rn~}kjk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] t;iqj ce CykLV dSlst] t;iqj egkuxj f}rh; }kjk ls'ku izdj.k la[;k 03@2021¼19@2019½] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku ljdkj cuke iIiw oxSjg esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 24-04-2025 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA

¶70

16. bl fu.kZ; dh ,d izfr fopkj.k U;k;ky; dh i=koyh ds lkFk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks fHktokbZ tkosA

¶71

(BHUWAN GOYAL),J

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(MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL),J

¶73

AKSHAY KUMAR PAREEK/228

Raju Devi Bunkar Wife of Late Shri Uttam Kumar, v. State of Rajasthan

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

Raju Devi Bunkar Wife of Late Shri Uttam Kumar, v. State of Rajasthan

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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