Acquittal of offender on flimsy grounds wrong: SC

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) The Supreme Court has held that the acquittal of an offender on flimsy grounds will shake the confidence of the public in the judiciary.

A bench comprising Justices S B Sinha and Markandey Katju handed down the ruling while setting aside the judgement of Bombay High Court, acquitting five accused in a triple murder case.

The court restored the judgement of trial court sentencing the five appellants to life imprisonment for the offence of murder. The convicts are Ramchandra Bhanudas Kamble, Ganesh Kisan Shirsat alias Paparkar, Ashok Sahebrao Waghmare, Anil Dhondiram Mane and Sunil Dhondiram Mane.

The apex court in its judgement noted, "These facts lead us to the inevitable conclusion that the appellants had come with arms and deadly weapons to the house of the complainant party and with the common intention to kill the complainant party.

This is a case of great injustice, which has been caused by the judgement of the High Court, which acquitted the accused of the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code on flimsy grounds. Such a judgement, if upheld, will shake the confidence of the public in the judiciary." The apex court allowed the appeal of State of Maharashtra against the High Court judgement. Three persons namely Bhaskar Bhinge, Dattatraya Kamble and Laxman were killed on February 19, 1995 in district Sholapur. In all 15 persons, who had come in a jeep armed with weapons like axe, sword and sattor forcibly entered the courtyard of Laxman and inflicted injuries on the person of the victims.

UNI