State appeal against acquittal of four accused of rioting, trespass and murder after an inter-se beating near adjoining houses left Gopal dead. The High Court found evidence failed to establish common intent or attribution of the fatal injury and dismissed the appeal, affirming the acquittal.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
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HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 1073/2001
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cuke
1. iIiwjke iq= gjthjke xqtZj]
2. Jherh deyk iRuh iIiwjke xqtZj]
3. dqekjh fugkyh iq=h gjthjke xqtZj]
4. dqekjh /kksyh iq=h gjthjke xqtZj] fuoklh;ku lkjaxiqjk] Fkkuk ekyk[ksMk] ftyk vyojA
&&&izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k
For Appellant(s) : Jh vfer dqekj iwfu;k] yksd vfHk;kstd For Respondent(s) : Jh lat; tks'kh] vf/koDrk Jh cuokjh yky lSuh] vf/koDrk
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BHUWAN GOYAL
Judgment
09/04/2026
(PER HON'BLE BHUWAN GOYAL, J.)
1. vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk gLrxr vihy varxZr /kkjk 378 ¼i½ ¼iii½ n-iaz-la- ds rgr fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky;& vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh’k] uEcj 1] vyoj ¼jktLFkku½ }kjk ls'ku izdj.k l a [;k 19@1997 ¼96@1997½] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku jkT; cuke gjth oxSjkg esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 12&04&2001] ftlds }kjk izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k iIiwjke] Jherh deyk] dqekjh fugkyh ,oa /kksyh dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 147] 447 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr iIiwjke dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 302 ,oa izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k Jherh deyk] dqekjh fugkyh o dqekjh /kksyh dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 302 lifBr /kkjk 149 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 la{ksi esa rF; bl izdkj gSa fd ifjoknh jkes'oj ¼ih-M-&1½ us iqfyl Fkkuk eky[ksMk ij mifLFkr gksdj rgjhjh fjiksVZ ¼izn'kZ ih&1½ bl vk'k; dh is'k dh fd fnukad 26&11&1996 dks lqcg djhc 8-00 cts og] mlds firk xksiky] mldh vkSjr cjQwy] ekW dkS'kY;k] cgu Qwyorh o HkkbZ dk yM+dk jktw muds ?kj ij Fks] rHkh gjth] iIiw] ewyh] /kksyh] fugkyh ,oa deyk] fuoklh xzke lkjaxiqj ,d lkFk xkyh&xykSp djrs gq, ykfB;ka ysdj muds ?kj ij vk;s vkSj vkrs gh mlds firk] ekrk] vkSjr] cgu o Hkrhts ij VwV iMsA xksiky ds gjth] iIiw o ewyh us flj ij ykfB;ka ekjh o Nkrh ij ykBh ekjh ,oa cjQwy ds deyk] /kksyh] fugkyh us flj esa o ikaoksa ij ykfB;ka ekjh ,oa Nkrh esa ykBh ekjh rFkk mldh ekrk dkS'kY;k ds fugkyh o /kksyh us flj o nkuksa gkFkksa ij ykBh ekjh ,oa Qwyorh ds ewyh us gkFk&iSj o dej ij ykBh ekjh] ftuls pksVsa vkbZA jkew o mlds ?kj okys fpYyk;s rks mudh vkokt lqudj ukjk;.k iq= eqa'kh] fuoklh lkjaxiqj cpkus yxk rks gjth us ukjk;.k ds gkFk ij ykBh ekjh] ftlls pksVsa vkbZA ukjk;.k fpYyk;k ,oa mlds lc ?kjokys fpYyk;s rks og [kqn ,oa /kksyw iq= jktiky] jktiky iq= eksB~;k] fuoklh xzke lkjaxiqj Hkkx dj x;s vkSj mlds firk] ekrk] cgu] vkSjr o HkkbZ ds yMds dks cpk;k ojuk os yksx mlds firk] ekrk] cgu] vkSjr o HkkbZ ds yMds dks tku ls ekj nsrs-------------bR;kfnA
3. mDr fjiksVZ ¼izn'kZ ih-&1½ ds vk/kkj ij iqfyl Fkkuk ekyk[ksMk] ftyk vyoj esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ la[;k&337@1996] vUrxZr /kkjk 147] 323] 451 Hkk-na-la- esa ntZ dj vuqla/kku izkjEHk fd;k x;kA ckn vuqla/kku izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 147] 148] 149] 447] 323] 302 Hkk-na-la- esa vkjksi i= vfrfjDr flfoy U;k;k/kh'k ¼ofj"B [k.M½ ,oa vfrfjDr eq[; U;kf;d eftLVsªV] la[;k&2] vyoj ds le{k izLrqr fd;k x;k] ftl ij fo}ku U;k;ky; }kjk izlaKku fy;k tkdj ekeyk ls'ku U;k;ky; }kjk fopkj.kh; gksus ls mls ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] vyoj dks dfeV
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fd;k x;k] tgka ls gLrxr izdj.k fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] uEcj&1] vyoj ¼jktLFkku½ dks varfjr gksdj izkIr gqvkA
4. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us cgl pktZ lqudj] vfHk;qDr gjth dh eR;q gksus ls 'ks"k izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k iIiwjke o ewyh dks vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 147] 302] 323] 447 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k Jherh deyk] dqekjh fugkyh o dqekjh /kksyh dks vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 147] 302 lifBr /kkjk 149] 323] 447 Hkk-na-la- esa n.Muh; vijk/kksa dk vkjksi iFkd&i`Fkd fojfpr dj lquk;k o le>k;k rks vfHk;qDrx.k us vkjksi ls vLohdkj dj vUoh{kk pkgh] ftl ij vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ekSf[kd lk{; esa xokgku ih-MCY;w-&1 yxk;r ih-MCY;w-&20 ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s ,oa ekSf[kd lk{; ds leFkZu esa nLrkostkr izn'kZ ih&1 yxk;r izn'kZ ih&33 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA
5. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk nkSjkus vUoh{kk vfHk;qDrk ewyh dh e`R;q gks tkus ls 'ks"k vfHk;qDrx.k iIiwjke] Jherh deyk] dqekjh fugkyh] dqekjh /kksyh dks /kkjk 313 na-iz-la- ds rgr ijhf{kr fd;k x;k] ftlesa mUgksaus xokgku }kjk muds fo:) jaft'ko'k dFku djuk crkrs gq, muds ikVksj ds lkeus dUgS;k] dkS'kY;k] cjQk] ukjk;.k o xksiky esa vkil esa ekjihV gksuk ,oa cpkus tkus ij muds lkFk Hkh ekjihV fd;k tkuk dFku djrs gq,] izfrj{kk lk{; esa xokg Mh-M-&1 gfjjke dh lk{; ys[kc) djok;h tkdj nLrkosth lk{; esa nLrkostkr izn'kZ Mh-&1 yxk;r izn'kZ Mh-&10 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA
6. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr mHk;i{kksa dks lquk tkdj vkykSP; fu.kZ; fnukad 12&04&2001 }kjk izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k iIiwjke] Jherh deyk] dqekjh fugkyh ,oa /kksyh dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 147] 447 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr iIiwjke dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 302 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k Jherh deyk] dqekjh fugkyh o dqekjh /kksyh dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 302 lifBr /kkjk 149 Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k x;k] ftlls O;fFkr
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gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ&jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk mUgsa mDr vkjksfir vijk/kkas esa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 7. fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd dk dFku gS fd izLrqr ekeys esa vkgrx.k ds dFkuksa ,oa iksLVekVZe fjiksVZ ls ?kVuk ds fnu izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk ifjoknh i{k ds lkFk ekjihV djus ds mÌs'; ls fof/k fo:) teko cukdj ifjoknh jkes'oj fd LokfeRo'kqnk ikVksj ¼pcwrjs½ esa vukf/kdr :i ls izos'k dj xksiky ds lkFk ekjihV dj] mldh eR;q dkfjr djuk iw.kZr;k izekf.kr gqvk gS] fdUrq fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr lk{; dk lq{erk ,oa xgurk ls foospu fd, fcuk] mUgsa mDr vkjksfir vijk/kksa ls nks"keqDr djus esa xEHkhj ,oa fof/kd =qfV dkfjr dh gS] ftlls vkykSP; vkns'k fnukad 12&04&2001 fof/k lEer ugha gksus ls vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj Lohdkj djrs gq, izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k dks mDr vkjksfir vijk/kksa es a Hkh nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr fd;k tkosA
8. fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k dk ;g dFku gS fd ifjoknh i{k ,oa vfHk;qDrx.k vkil esa HkkbZca/k gksdj ?kVukLFky ds ikl cus gq,] muds edkuksa esa fjgk;'k djrs gSa] muds e/; fookfnr LFkku ds LokfeRo dks ysdj fookn py jgk gSA fnukad 26&11&1996 dks gjth o iIiwjke }kjk] e`rd xksiky dks] mudh tehu ij ydMh Mkyus ckcr~ mykguk nsus ij mDr >xMk gqvk Fkk] ml oDr ?kVukLFky ij vU; vfHk;qDrx.k mifLFkr ugha FksA mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd fookfnr Hkwfe ds laca/k esa i{kdkjksa ds e/; ln~Hkkoh fookn gS ,oa lHkh vfHk;qDrx.k dk ?kVukLFky ij ,d lkFk lkekU; mÌs'; ls bDdBk gksuk izekf.kr ugha gqvk gS] ftlls mUgsa vkijkf/kd vfrpkj ,oa fof/k fo:) teko cukus ds vkjksiksa ds fy, nkf;Rok/khu ugha ekuk tk ldrk gSA mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd xksiky ds gjth] iIiwjke o ewyh }kjk ykBh ls flj esa pksV ekjuk crk;k gS] fdUrq fpfdRld vej flag us xksiky ds flj ij ek= ,d pksV gksuk ,oa mDr pksV dk nks ykfB;ksa ds ekjus ls vkuk laHko ugha gksuk dFku
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fd;k gSA izdj.k esa mDr pksV fdl vfHk;qDr }kjk dkfjr dh xbZ gS] ;g vfHk;kstu lk{; ls Li"V ugha gqvk gSA mudk dFku gS fd tgka fdlh ekeys esa nks ;k vf/kd vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk erd ds pksV dkfjr djuk crk;k x;k gks] fdUrq erd ds 'kjhj ij ek= ,d gh pksV vkbZ gks ,oa mDr pksV fdl vfHk;qDr }kjk dkfjr dh xbZ gS] ;g Li"V uk gks rks ml fLFkfr esa fdlh Hkh vfHk;qDr dks mldh e`R;q ds fy, nks"kfl) ugha fd;k tk ldrk gSA mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk vkykSP; vkns'k fnukad 12&04&2001 i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; dk xgurk o lw{erk ls fo'ys"k.k dj ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] og iw.kZr;k fof/k lEer gksdj mlesa fdlh izdkj dh fof/kd ,oa rF;kRed =qfV ugha gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkosA
9. cgl lquh tkdj vihyh; i=koyh dk e; vfHkys[k lEekuiwoZd voyksdu dj mHk;i{k ds rdksZa ij xaHkhjrkiwoZd euu fd;kA
10. gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k dk ;g dsl jgk gS fd fnukad 26&11&1996 dks izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k us ifjoknh i{k ds lkFk ekjihV djus ds lkekU; mÌs'; ls fof/k fo:) teko cuk;k ,oa mDr mÌs'; dh iwfrZ esa ifjoknh jkes'oj ds ikVksj ¼pcwrjs½ ij vukf/kdr izos'k dj] xksiky ds lkFk ekjihV dh] ftlls flj ij vkbZ pksV ds ifj.kkeLo:i mldh eR;q gqbZ!
11. gLrxr izdj.k esa mDr vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds lanHkZ esa i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; dk voyksdu djsa rks xokg ih-M-&1 jkes'oj] ih-M-&3 jkew] ih-M-&6 dkS'kY;k] ih-M-&7 Qwyorh] ih-M-&10 cjQwy] ih-M-&11 ukjk;.k] ih-M-&12 jktiky] ih-M-&15 /kksywjke ds dFkuksa ls e`rd xksiky ,oa vfHk;qDr gjth dk lxk HkkbZ gksdj mudk ?kVukLFky ij ikl&ikl cus edkuksa esa fjgk;'k djuk izdV gksrk gSA uD'kk ekSdk izn'kZ ih-&3 ds voyksdu ls Hkh ?kVukLFky ds ikl esa nksuksa i{kksa ds edku cus gksuk izdV gksrk gS] blh izdkj xokg ih-M-&6 dkS'kY;k ds izfrijh{kk esa fd;s dFkuksa ls Hkh mudh cSBd ds ikl esa gjth dk edku o ,d gh cSBd gksuk izdV gksrk gSA xokg ih-M-&14 le;nhu
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[kku tks fd izdj.k esa vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh gS] mlds dFkuksa ls Hkh rFkkdfFkr ?kVuk] izn'kZ Mh-&9 esa mYysf[kr gjth dh ikVksy ds ikl ^^,Dl** LFkku ij gksuk izdV gksrk gSA gLrxr izdj.k esa ?kVuk ds fnu fookfnr LFky ds ifjoknh i{k ds LokfeRo esa gksus ds laca/k esa uk rks dksbZ jktLo fjdkWMZ izLrqr gqvk gS] uk gh bl lanHkZ esa fdlh jktLo vf/kdkjh ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s x;s gS] ftlls fookfnr LFky ds ?kVuk ds fnu ifjoknh i{k ds ,dy LokfeRo'kqnk dCts esa gksus dh ckr gLrxr izdj.k esa ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikrh gSA
12. gLrxr izdj.k esa blh izdkj xokg ih-M-&3 jkew] ih-M-&10 cjQwy ds dFkuksa ls ?kVuk ds fnu gjth o iIiw }kjk xksiky ds ikl tkdj mls mudh tehu esa ydMh Mkyus ckcr~ mykguk nsus ij] xksiky }kjk mUgsa ydMh mldh tehu esa Mkyus dh ckr dgus ij muesa >xMk gksuk izdV gksrk gS] ftlls lHkh eqyfteku ds lkekU; mÌs'; ls ?kVukLFky ij vijk/k dkfjr djus ds vk'k; ls vkus dh ckr Hkh ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikrh gSA
13. gLrxr izdj.k esa xokg ih-M-&3 jkew] ih-M-&6 dkS'kY;k] ih-M-&7 Qwyorh] ih-M-&10 cjQwy] ih-M-&11 ukjk;.k] ih-M-&12 jktiky] ih-M-&15 /kksywjke }kjk vius&vius c;kuksa esa gjth o iIiw }kjk xksiky ds flj esa ykBh ls pksVsa dkfjr djuk ;|fi dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq muds mDr dFku dh iqf"V xokg ih-M-&8 MkWDVj vej flag jkBkSM ftlds }kjk xksiky ds 'ko dk ijh{k.k fd;k x;k gS] mlds dFkuksa ls ugha gqbZ gS] D;ksafd mlus vius c;kuksa esa xksiky ds flj ij ek= ,d pksV gksdj] mDr pksV dk] nks ykfB;ksa ls vkuk laHko ugha gksuk dFku fd;k x;k gSA xksiky ds flj ij vkbZ mDr pksV fdl vfHk;qDr }kjk dkfjr dh xbZ Fkh] bl laca/k esa vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk dksbZ Li"V lk{; i=koyh ij izLrqr ugha dh xbZ gS] ftlls mDr pksV izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr iIiw }kjk gh xksiky dks dkfjr djus dh ckr Hkh gLrxr izdj.k esa ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikrh gSA
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14. ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; us Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar
“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 appeal against acquittal under Section 378 Cr.PC as follows:
“8. xxx xxx xxx
8.1. The acquittal of the accused further strengthens the presumption of innocence; 8.2. The appellate court, while hearing an appeal against acquittal, is entitled to reappreciate the oral and documentary evidence;
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;
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
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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(b) That the same is based on a misreading/omission to consider material evidence on record; and
15. ,sls esa 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 12&04&2001 esa dksbZ fof/kd o rF;kRed =qfV ugha gS ,oa og iqf"V fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS ,oa vihy] vihykFkhZ&jktLFkku ljdkj [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA
16. ifj.kker% vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj ds }kjk izLrqr ;g vihy ,rn~}kjk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] uEcj&1] vyoj ¼jktLFkku½ }kjk ls'ku izdj.k l a [;k 19@1997 ¼96@1997½] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku jkT; cuke gjth oxSjkg esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 12&04&2001 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA
17. 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
(BHUWAN GOYAL),J
(MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL),J
AKSHAY KUMAR PAREEK /35
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the state government's appeal against acquittal of the accused in the murder and related offences could be sustained.
Whether the trial court's view that no accused could be fixed with culpability for Gopal's single head injury was a possible view on the evidence.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar v. State of KarnatakaRelied on¶14
(2024) 8 SCC 149 · Who else cites this
6 provisions across 2 enactments
State of Rajasthan
Hartharam s/o Harjiram Gujar
Kamla w/o Hartharam
Kumari Nihali d/o Harjiram Gujar
Kumari Dholyi d/o Harjiram Gujar
Mahendar Kumar Goyal
Bhuwan Goyal
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
