Summary
The evidence supported restoration of Gurpreet Singh’s murder conviction, but the acquittals of the other accused rested on a plausible view and were left undisturbed. The Court separately dismissed the State’s appeal concerning Harpreet Singh.
Issues
- Whether the High Court was justified in acquitting Gurpreet Singh of murder.
- Whether the acquittals of the alleged co-accused should be disturbed.
Provisions considered
- Sections 302 and 34, Indian Penal Code, 1860The Court restored Gurpreet Singh’s trial-court conviction for murder; it upheld the co-accused acquittals because identification and conspiracy evidence were insufficient. (¶ 30-37)
Held
- The High Court’s acquittal of Gurpreet Singh could not stand on the evidence and was set aside; the trial court’s conviction and life sentence were restored. (¶¶ 30-33, 36)
- The High Court’s acquittals of Kashmira Singh and Jagdeep Singh were plausible given delayed identification and the absence of convincing evidence connecting them to the crime or a conspiracy. (¶ 34-36)
- The State’s appeal against Harpreet Singh’s acquittal was dismissed. (¶ 37)
Result
The State’s appeal was partly allowed as to Gurpreet Singh, whose conviction and life sentence were restored; the appeals concerning the other accused were dismissed.