Basudev Mandal v. State of W.B. (SC)
BS116268
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Before:- K.T. Thomas and R.P. Sethi, JJ.
Criminal Appeal N o. 755 of 1996. D/d.
31.8.2000.
Basudev Mandal - Appellant
Versus
State of W.B. - Respondent
Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 302 - Murder - Circumstantial evidence - Appellant convicted for committing murder of his mother-in-law - Trial Court and High Court referred to various circumstances and concluded that the circumstances have formed themselves into a completed chain - Courts relied on testimony of witnesses as testifying to important circumstances - No reason to interfere with conviction and sentence.
[Paras 2 and 3]
ORDER
K.T. Thomas, J. - Appellant in this case was convicted under Section 302 and was sentenced to imprisonment for life on 26.9.1986. He is alleged to have murdered his mother-in-law around 7.30 a.m. on 13.7.1979. The High Court confirmed the conviction and sentence and dismissed the appeal.
2. The case rested on circumstantial evidence. The trial court and the High Court referred to various circumstances and concluded that the circumstances have formed themselves into a completed chain. The courts relied on the testimony of PWs 2, 3 and 5 as testifying to the important circumstances.
3. We do not find any reason to interfere with the conviction and sentence. We notice also that appellant would have been in jail for more than 14 years by now. If he was in jail for at least sometime during the pre- conviction period, it is for the authorities now to decide whether the time thus spent by the appellant in jail can be considered for his release.
4. With these observations the appeal is disposed of.
Appeal disposed.