Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 14: 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Jammu Virender Singh Bhou today acquitted four in murder case and also directed SSP to conduct inquiry into the conduct of investigation officer (IO).
According to court order four persons namely Gurcharan Singh, Ghara Singh, Rakesh Kumar and Bodh Raj have been acquitted. While acquitting accused from charges of murder, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Jammu after hearing Advocates Prince Khanna, Sumit Khajuria and Manohar Anthal for the accused said I have no hesitation to hold that prosecution has failed to fulfill the standard of proof on the basis of evidence to bring home guilt against the accused persons and all the relevant facts leading to the occurrence have not been proved beyond reasonable shadow of doubt.
So, benefit of doubt goes to the accused. Challan, as such, fails and is dismissed against the accused persons, who faced trial herein are acquitted of the charges leveled against them. Their bail and personal bonds shall stand discharged. It is apt to point out that one of the accused Harvinder Singh has absconded and prosecution seeks to lay supplementary charge sheet against him on his arrest or surrender. I am constrained to observed that evasive and lackadaisical approach adopted by the I.O, namely, Inspector Satish Kumar No. 4401/NGO, the then posted as SHO PS Arnia, in the case is un-becoming of a police officer, who in order to benefit the accused, namely, Harvinder Singh, who is serving in 71 Engineers C/O 56 Apo, has not taken any effective steps to procure his attendance till date. I.O/SHO concerned, therefore, is directed to take immediate steps for procuring attendance of the absconding accused and lay charge sheet accordingly against him so that he shall be brought to justice. SSP, Jammu shall also conduct an inquiry regarding conduct of the I.O in this case so as to fix his responsibility. Prosecution shall be within its right to lay supplementary charge sheet accordingly and for that purpose prosecution may rely upon this charge sheet as well. The prosecution story is that on 12.05.2016, the informant, namely, Manjit Kour had given an application in writing in Police Station Arnia for lodging FIR, stating therein that the husband of the informant namely Bikram Singh S/O Lal Singh R/o Blaser had gone to Blaser in his bus on 1.05.2016. At about 08:30 pm, the accused namely Gurcharan Singh, Ghara Singh Both Sons of Lal Singh, Pumma and Bodh Raj other, because of some enmity and common object, wrongfully restrained the deceased and attacked the deceased with Kirch and injured him who was shifted to GMC, Jammu. (JNF) |
