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SHANKAR DIWAL WADU versus STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Citation: [2007] 4 S.C.R. 253 · Decided: 21-03-2007 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: S.B. SINHA · Disposal: Disposed off

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Judgment (excerpt)

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SHANKAR DIWAL WADU 
A 
v. 
STATE OF MAHARASHTRA 
MARCH 21, 2007 
[S.B SINHA AND MARKANDEY KA TJU, JJ.] 
B 
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Penal Code, 1860-s. 304 Part If-Murder-In a fit of anger-
Prosecution case supported by evidence of eye-witnesses and other witnesses-
Corroborated by Medical evidence-Conviction by Courts below ulss 302 c 
and 506-0n appeal, held: Accused rightly held guilty-But since the incident 
occurred in a fit of anger, conviction altered to one under Section 304 Part 
IJ-Sentence reduced to already undergone i.e. 11 years. 
Appellant - accused caused death of his brother. According to 
prosecution case, accused wanted to keep PW-4 (widow of his another brother) D 
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as his mistress. PW-4 refused . On the day of incident when the accused 
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was forcibly trying to drag PW 4 in his house, the deceased objected to it. At 
the objection, accused got outraged and hit him with a wooden plank lying 
there. The assault resulted in death of the deceased. Complaint regarding 
the assault was lodged by PW-3 (an eye-witness). Trial Court convicted the 
accused under Sections 302/506 IPC. Conviction was confirmed by High Court E 
Hence the present appeal. 
Disposing of the appeal, the Court 
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HELD: 1. The courts below have rightly held the appellant guilty. There 
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are eye-witnesses of the incident and there is no reason to disbelieve their 
testimony. These eye-witnesses also include PW 4. The allegation of the F 
prosecution that it was because of PW 4 that the incident occurred is proved 
by PW 4 herself who is corroborated in all material particulars by PW-J and 
PW-2, PW-3 is also an eye-witness and th\!re is no reason to disbelieve her 
evidence. The medical evidence corroborates the prosecution case. 
(Para SJ (255-B-C\ G 
--t'. 
2. However, the case comes under section 304/ Part II and not under 
Section 302 IPC since the incident occurred in a sudden fit of anger. Hence, 
the conviction under Section 302 is converted to section 304/Part II IPC and 
the conviction under Section 506 is quashed. The appellant has since already 
253 
H 
254 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2007] 4 S.C.R. 
A undergone 11 years imprisonment, the sentence .is reduced to the period 
already undergone. tparas 6 and 711255-D-FJ 
Pappu v. State of M.P., 1200617SCC391 and Sukhbir Singh v. State of 
Haryana, 1200213 SCC 327, relied on. 
B 
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No. 402 of 
2007. 
From the Judgment and Order dated 24.9.2004 of the High Court of 
Judicature at Bombay in Crl. A. No. 631 of 2000. 
C 
Ranjan Mukherjee, and (A.C.) for the Appellant. 
Ravindra Keshavrao Adsure for the Respondent. 
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by 
D 
MARKANDEY KAT JU, J. 1. Leave granted. 
2. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 24.9.2004 
of the Bombay High Court in Criminal Appeal No. 631 of 2000: 
3. The prosecution version is that the accused Shankar Wadi.I• is the 
E brother of Mahu Wadu who was assaulted by him, which assault resulted in 
his death. The incident occurred around 8.P.M. on 22. 10.1995 at Kainad Wadu 
Pada, Laluka Wada, District Thane, where both the accused and the victim 
were residing along with other close relations. According to the prosecution 
case, the accused wanted to keep Kamlibai, the widow of his tirotlier'Vasant, 
as his mistress, but she refused to be his mistress. On the day of the incident 
F the appellant was forcibly trying to drag Kamlibai to his house. At that very 
time, he was told by his brother Mahu (the deceased) that he could not force 
and drag Kamlibai to his house. At this intervention, the accused got enraged· 
by such unwarranted advice and therefore lifted a wooden plank (pat) and hit 
Mahu with it on his head, and also kicked and punched him. Mahu died on 
G the spot. Complaint of this assault was lodged by one Yeshubai who is 
closely related to both the accused and the victim. On receipt of this report 
the investigation was conducted and the accused was arrested. The 
prosecution examined as many as eight witnesses to prove its charge of 
murder against the accused and the learned.tria!Judge on appreciation:ofthe 
evidence came to the conclusion of guilt and convicted ·the accused and· 
H sentenced him to life imprisonment under Sections 302/506 IPC and also 
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SHANKARDIWALWADU,..STATEOFMAHARASHTRA[MARKANDEYKATJU,J.) 255 
imposed a fine. 
4. Against the judgment of the trial court, the appellant filed an appeal 
before t

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