{"id":133102,"date":"2006-11-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-11-05T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/venkategowda-ors-vs-state-of-karnataka-on-6-november-2006"},"modified":"2015-06-18T09:42:52","modified_gmt":"2015-06-18T04:12:52","slug":"venkategowda-ors-vs-state-of-karnataka-on-6-november-2006","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/venkategowda-ors-vs-state-of-karnataka-on-6-november-2006","title":{"rendered":"Venkategowda &amp; Ors vs State Of Karnataka on 6 November, 2006"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Venkategowda &amp; Ors vs State Of Karnataka on 6 November, 2006<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_author\">Author: L S Panta<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: A. K. Mathur, Lokeshwar Singh Panta<\/div>\n<pre>           CASE NO.:\nAppeal (crl.)  851 of 2006\n\nPETITIONER:\nVenkategowda &amp; Ors.\n\nRESPONDENT:\nState of Karnataka\n\nDATE OF JUDGMENT: 06\/11\/2006\n\nBENCH:\nA. K. Mathur &amp; Lokeshwar Singh Panta\n\nJUDGMENT:\n<\/pre>\n<p>J U D G M E N T<\/p>\n<p>Lokeshwar Singh Panta, J.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThis appeal is preferred by Venkategowda (A-1),<br \/>\nMuddegowda (A-2), Shivanna (A-3), Govindappa (A-4)<br \/>\nGovindaiah (A-5), Venkataramanaiah (A-6), Rajashekaraiah (A-\n<\/p>\n<p>7), Lakkegowda (A-8), Rama (A-9), Shivanna (A-10), Mahadeva<br \/>\n(A-11), Ganghahanumaiah (A-12), Singraiah (A-13), Annaiah<br \/>\n(A-14), Bettegowda (A-15), Chikkanna (A-16), Govindaiah (A-\n<\/p>\n<p>17), Rama (A-18), appellants herein, questioning the<br \/>\ncorrectness of the final judgment and order dated 7.3.2006<br \/>\nmade in Criminal Appeal No. 161\/2000 on the file of the High<br \/>\nCourt of Karnataka at Bangalore.  The appellants took their<br \/>\ntrial before the Additional District and Sessions Judge,<br \/>\nBangalore Rural District, Bangalore, in S.C. No. 97 of 1989 for<br \/>\noffences under Sections 143, 147, 148, 324, 302 read with<br \/>\nSection 149 of the Indian Penal Code (for short &#8220;the IPC&#8221;) on<br \/>\nthe allegations that all of them formed themselves into an<br \/>\nunlawful assembly to cause the death of Venkatesh, the<br \/>\ndeceased herein, and in prosecution of the same, they<br \/>\nmurdered the deceased and caused injuries to Rajanna (P.W.1)<br \/>\nand Kenchaiah (P.W.3).\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe trial court, after examining the prosecution evidence,<br \/>\nobserved that there was delay in lodging the FIR and noticing<br \/>\nthe contradictions and improvements between the ocular<br \/>\nevidence of Rajanna (P.W.1), Moodalagiri (P.W.2), Kenchaiah<br \/>\n(P.W.-3) and Lakshmana (P.W. 10) came to the conclusion that<br \/>\nthe prosecution had not established its case against the<br \/>\naccused and consequently acquitted all the accused persons<br \/>\nvide judgment and order dated 15.04.1999.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tIn an appeal filed against the said judgment of acquittal<br \/>\nby the State before the High Court of Karnataka, the High<br \/>\nCourt, accepting the evidence of one injured witness and two<br \/>\neye-witnesses coupled with the medical evidence of the<br \/>\ndoctors, found all the appellants guilty of the offences under<br \/>\nSections 143, 148 and 326 IPC read with Section 149 IPC and<br \/>\nsentenced each one of the appellants to undergo imprisonment<br \/>\nfor a period of five years and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000\/- each<br \/>\nand in default of payment of fine to undergo further rigorous<br \/>\nimprisonment for one year.  Out of the amount of fine, if<br \/>\nrealized, a sum of Rs.20,000\/- each was ordered to be paid to<br \/>\nthe injured witnesses P.W.1 and P.W.3 and the balance<br \/>\namount of fine to Venkatappa (P.W.7), the father or the legal<br \/>\nheirs of the deceased Venkatesh as compensation.   No<br \/>\nseparate sentence, however, was awarded for the offences<br \/>\nunder Sections 143 and 148 of IPC.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tFeeling aggrieved and dissatisfied against the judgment<br \/>\nand order of the High Court, the appellants have filed the<br \/>\npresent appeal by way of special leave challenging their<br \/>\nconviction and sentence imposed on them by the High Court.<br \/>\n\tBriefly stated the facts of the case are that the appellants<br \/>\nare residents of Village Gangonahalli.  The deceased<br \/>\nVenkatesh, Rajanna (P.W.1), Kenchaiah (P.W. 3), Venkatappa<br \/>\n(P.W.7) and Lakshmana (P.W.10) are residents of Village<br \/>\nBasvanapalya.  The distance between the said two villages is<br \/>\nabout 1.5 to 2 kilometres.  Venketagowda (A-1) is the father-<br \/>\nin-law of complainant Rajanna (P.W.1) and Venkatappa<br \/>\n(P.W.7) is the father of the deceased.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe occurrence, in question, took place on 04.11.1986 at<br \/>\nabout 6.30 p.m. when Rajanna (P.W.1), Kenchaiah (P.W.3),<br \/>\nLakshmana (P.W. 10) and the deceased Venkatesh went to the<br \/>\nCo-operative Society at Chowdanapalya and collected food<br \/>\ngrains from the ration shop.  When they were returning to<br \/>\ntheir village, they found Venkategowda (A-1) standing in front<br \/>\nof his house armed with a chopper.  A-1 had picked up a<br \/>\nquarrel with the deceased Venkatesh, Rajanna (P.W.1),<br \/>\nKenchaiah (P.W. 3) and Lakshmana (P.W. 10) on the pretext as<br \/>\nto why they had worked in the garden of Thimmappa Gowda<br \/>\ninspite of they being asked not to do any job of Thimmappa<br \/>\nGowda. Govindappa (A-4) assaulted Rajanna (P.W.1) on his<br \/>\nright hand with a spear whereas Govindaiah (A-5) assaulted<br \/>\nhim with a club on his back.  Shivanna (A-3) assaulted the<br \/>\ndeceased Venkatesh with a club on his shoulder and<br \/>\nVenkategowda (A-1) assaulted the deceased with a chopper on<br \/>\nthe left thigh whereas Muddegowda(A-2) assaulted the<br \/>\ndeceased with a chopper on the left arm and left ear.  As a<br \/>\nresult of injuries, the deceased Venkatesh fell down on the<br \/>\nground.  After commission of the offences, the appellants tried<br \/>\nto assault Lakshmana (P.W.10) who escaped from their<br \/>\nclutches and took shelter in the house of P.W. 12 and P.W. 14.<br \/>\nRajanna (P.W.1) and Kenchaiah (P.W. 3) were persuaded by<br \/>\nMoodalagiri (P.W. 2) to go to their village leaving the deceased<br \/>\nVenkatesh at the scene of occurrence in an injured condition.<br \/>\n\tOn the following day, i.e. 5.11.1986, at about 10.00 a.m.<br \/>\nRajanna (P.W.1) went to Kudur Police Station and got the<br \/>\ncomplaint (Exhibit P-1) written by a scribe near the Kudur<br \/>\nPolice Station.  K.B. Jayaramappa (P.W. 20) who, at the<br \/>\nrelevant time, was the Station House Officer of the Police<br \/>\nStation, registered a case Crime No. 177\/1986 vide FIR<br \/>\n(Exhibit P-30) against the appellants under  Sections 143,<br \/>\n147, 148, 149 and 324 of the IPC.  P.W.20 K.B. Jayaramappa<br \/>\nwent to the scene of occurrence at about 12.00 noon.  He<br \/>\nfound Venkatesh lying with injuries on the footpath between<br \/>\nthe houses of Venkategowda (A-1) and Ganghahanumaiah (A-\n<\/p>\n<p>12).  The Investigating Officer prepared the spot mahazar and<br \/>\nsearched the houses of the appellants to recover the weapons<br \/>\nof offences but no recovery was effected therefrom.<br \/>\n\tRajanna (P.W.1) and Kenchaiah (P.W.3) were medically<br \/>\nexamined by Dr. D. Rajanna (P.W.9) on 05.11.1986 at about<br \/>\n11.00 a.m. and he found simple injuries on their persons.  On<br \/>\nthe same day, injured Venkatesh was examined by the Medical<br \/>\nOfficer of Nagavalli, who referred him to Tumkar Hospital<br \/>\nwhere Dr. C.R. Rangaraju (P.W. 4), the Assistant Surgeon,<br \/>\nmedically examined him.  Dr. C.R. Rangaraju (P.W. 4) found<br \/>\nthree injuries on the person of Venkatesh out of which<br \/>\ncompound fracture of the left femur lower end was grievous in<br \/>\nnature while other injuries were simple in nature.  The victim<br \/>\nwas shifted after two days to Victoria Hospital, Bangalore.  Dr.<br \/>\nRangarajan (P.W.18) medically examined the victim at Victoria<br \/>\nHospital.  Venkatesh died at Victoria Hospital on 04.02.1987<br \/>\nat 6.00 a.m.  Dr. S.B. Patil (P.W.13) conducted post-mortem<br \/>\non the dead-body of the deceased Venkatesh on 05.02.1987.<br \/>\nAccording to the opinion of Dr. S.B. Patil (P.W.13), the cause of<br \/>\ndeath of Venkatesh was due to respiratory failure as a result of<br \/>\nconsolidation of lungs secondary to fracture of thigh bone.<br \/>\nThe factum of death was intimated to the Police Station.  On<br \/>\n04.02.1987, K.N. Mariyappa, who at the relevant time was<br \/>\nworking as Head Constable in Kudur Police Station, prepared<br \/>\na supplementary F.I.R. at 9.00 p.m. and converted the offence<br \/>\nfrom Section 324, IPC, to Section 302, IPC, and thereafter FIR<br \/>\nwas sent to the Judicial Magistrate and other higher officials.<br \/>\nOn completion of the investigation, charge sheet was laid by<br \/>\nthe Police against the appellants.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe prosecution, in support of its case, examined as<br \/>\nmany as 20 witnesses and marked 32 exhibits.  The<br \/>\nappellants in their statements recorded under Section 313 of<br \/>\nthe Code of Criminal Procedure pleaded not guilty to the<br \/>\ncharges and claimed that they have been falsely implicated in<br \/>\nthe case because of political rivalry and animosity between the<br \/>\ncomplainant party and the accused party.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe trial court acquitted the accused of all the charges.<br \/>\nOn appeal by the State of Karnataka, the appellants were<br \/>\nconvicted and sentenced as aforesaid.  Hence, this appeal.<br \/>\n\tOn behalf of the appellants, Shri Dinesh Dwivedi, learned<br \/>\nsenior counsel, contended that the trial court, on a proper<br \/>\nappreciation of the evidence of injured witnesses, namely,<br \/>\nRajanna (P.W.1), Kenchaiah (P.W. 3) and the eyewitness<br \/>\nMoodalagiri (P.W.2) has rightly come to the conclusion that<br \/>\nbecause of prior enmity the appellants were falsely implicated<br \/>\nin the case after due deliberation.  Learned counsel contended<br \/>\nthat the FIR in this case had come into existence after due<br \/>\ndeliberation and there were discrepancies and improvements<br \/>\nin the versions of Rajanna (P.W.1), Moodalagiri (P.W.2), and<br \/>\nKenchaiah (P.W.3),  which were noticed by the trial court  and<br \/>\nthese were found to be sufficient to doubt the correctness of<br \/>\nthe prosecution case.  Therefore, according to the learned<br \/>\ncounsel, the trial court was justified in acquitting the<br \/>\nappellants.  He also contended that the High Court, on the<br \/>\nsame set of facts and on re-appreciation of the evidence<br \/>\nwithout properly noticing the contradictions in the ocular<br \/>\nevidence of the injured witnesses and one eyewitness, has<br \/>\nerroneously convicted the appellants on flimsy grounds.<br \/>\n\tShri Sanjay R. Hegde, the learned counsel for the<br \/>\nrespondent-State, however, supported the judgment of the<br \/>\nHigh Court concerning the conviction of Venkategowda (A-1),<br \/>\nMuddegowda (A-2), Shivanna (A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and<br \/>\nGovindaiah (A-5) by contending that there was no reason why<br \/>\nthe evidence of the injured witnesses and the eyewitness<br \/>\ncorroborated by the medical evidence should be rejected.  It<br \/>\nwas his argument that the High Court, as a first Court of<br \/>\nAppeal, has a duty to reconsider the evidence and correct the<br \/>\nerror committed by the trial court.  He, however, fairly and in<br \/>\nour view, rightly stated that the conviction of<br \/>\nVenkataramanaiah (A-6), Rajashekaraiah (A-7), Lakkegowda<br \/>\n(A-8), Rama (A-9), Shivanna (A-10), Mahadeva (A-11),<br \/>\nGanghahanumaiah (A-12), Singraiah (A-13), Annaiah (A-14),<br \/>\nBettegowda (A-15), Chikkanna (A-16), Govindaiah (A-17) and<br \/>\nRama (A-18) by the High Court cannot be justified for the lack<br \/>\nof satisfactory and cogent evidence connecting them with the<br \/>\ncommission of the offences.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tWe have independently scrutinized the evidence of the<br \/>\nmaterial witnesses in the teeth of the rival contentions of the<br \/>\nparties.  On reprisal of the evidence of the injured witnesses<br \/>\nRajanna (P.W.1) and Kenchaiah (P.W.3) as also the evidence of<br \/>\neyewitness Moodalagiri (P.W.2), it is clear that the evidence on<br \/>\nrecord fully establishes the case of the prosecution against<br \/>\nVenkategowda (A-1), Muddegowda (A-2), Shivanna (A-3),<br \/>\nGovindappa (A-4) and Govindaiah (A-5) although, there were<br \/>\ncertain discrepancies in the testimony of the injured witnesses<br \/>\nand eyewitness in regard to the weapons of offence<br \/>\nindividually used by (A-1), (A-2), (A-3), (A-4) and (A-5) for<br \/>\ninflicting  injuries on the person of each of the injured<br \/>\nwitnesses (P.W.1) and (P.W.3) as also on the person of the<br \/>\ndeceased Venkatesh.  The discrepancies, as pointed out by the<br \/>\nlearned counsel for the appellants, are minor and<br \/>\ninsignificant.   The witnesses were examined in the court after<br \/>\na gap of almost ten years.  The injured witnesses were cross-<br \/>\nexamined not on the very same day when their examinations-<br \/>\nin-chief was conducted, but their evidence was recorded after<br \/>\na long gap of time.  On examination of the evidence of Rajanna<br \/>\n(P.W.1), we find that he was examined-in-chief on 26.11.1996,<br \/>\nbut his cross-examination continued and he was cross-<br \/>\nexamined again on 27.11.1997.  Likewise, Kenchaiah (P.W.3)<br \/>\nwas examined-in-chief on 28.11.1996, but his cross-<br \/>\nexamination took place on 28.4.1997.  Further evidence on<br \/>\nrecord would show that the injured witnesses had been<br \/>\nsubjected to searching lengthy cross-examination and<br \/>\nquestions numbering more than hundred were being put to<br \/>\neach witness.  In such type of cross-examination by the<br \/>\ndefence, some improvements, contradictions, and omissions<br \/>\nare bound to occur in their evidence, but they are not of<br \/>\nserious nature and they cannot be treated as vital and<br \/>\nsignificant contradictions so as to disbelieve and discard the<br \/>\nsubstratum of the prosecution case.  The evidence of the<br \/>\ninjured witnesses Rajanna (P.W.1), Kenchaiah (P.W.3) and<br \/>\neyewitness Moodalagiri (P.W.2) has been rightly appreciated<br \/>\nand accepted by the High Court and we find no cogent and<br \/>\nsound reason to differ from the reasoning and finding recorded<br \/>\nby the High Court against Venkategowda (A-1), Muddegowda<br \/>\n(A-2), Shivanna (A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and Govindaiah (A-5)<br \/>\nholding them guilty of the offences.  There is no substance in<br \/>\nthe argument of the learned senior counsel for the appellants<br \/>\nthat the evidence of Rajanna (P.W.1), Moodalagiri (P.W.2) and<br \/>\nKenchaiah (P.W.3) should be levelled as the evidence of the<br \/>\ninterested witnesses. There was no basis for Rajanna (P.W.1),<br \/>\nMoodalagiri (P.W.2) and Kenchaiah (P.W.3) to falsely implicate<br \/>\nthe appellants Venkategowda (A-1), Muddegowda (A-2),<br \/>\nShivanna (A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and Govindaiah (A-5) in the<br \/>\npresent case.  On the other hand, we find that the evidence of<br \/>\nthe injured and eyewitnesses is quite natural, convincing and<br \/>\ntrust-worthy.  The learned senior counsel for the appellants<br \/>\nthen contended that there is an inordinate delay in lodging the<br \/>\ncomplaint by Rajanna (P.W. 1) and registering the FIR in the<br \/>\nPolice Station.  In support of this submission, reliance is<br \/>\nplaced on <a href=\"\/doc\/409021\/\">Peddireddy Subbareddi And Others v.  State of<br \/>\nAndhra Pradesh<\/a> [AIR 1991 SC 1356] and <a href=\"\/doc\/1820883\/\">Amar Singh v.<br \/>\nBalwinder Singh And Others<\/a>   [(2003) 2 SCC 518].  We have<br \/>\nexamined the ratio of the said decisions.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tIn Peddireddy&#8217;s case (Supra), this Court, on the scrutiny<br \/>\nof the evidence, found that the testimony of sole witness was<br \/>\nclouded with strong suspicion and as the FIR was lodged by a<br \/>\ndelay of 15 hours, and in such circumstances, the false<br \/>\nimplication of the accused in the said case could not be<br \/>\ncompletely ruled out.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tIn Amar Singh&#8217;s case (supra), it is held that there is no<br \/>\nhard and fast rule that any delay in lodging the FIR would<br \/>\nautomatically render the prosecution case doubtful.  Further,<br \/>\nit is observed that it necessarily depends upon facts and<br \/>\ncircumstances of each case whether there has been any such<br \/>\ndelay in lodging the FIR which may cast doubt about the<br \/>\nveracity of the prosecution case and  for this, a host of<br \/>\ncircumstances like the condition of the first informant, the<br \/>\nnature of injuries sustained, the number of victims, the efforts<br \/>\nmade  to provide medical aid to them, the distance of the<br \/>\nhospital and  the police station etc. have to be taken into<br \/>\nconsideration and that there is no mathematical formula by<br \/>\nwhich an inference may be drawn either way merely on<br \/>\naccount of delay in lodging of the FIR.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tAfter perusing the entire evidence on record in the<br \/>\npresent case, as noticed above, the incident took place on<br \/>\n04.11.1986 at about 6.30 p.m. in front of the house of<br \/>\nVenkategowda (A-1) and the manner in which Venkategowda<br \/>\n(A-1), Muddegowda (A-2), Shivanna (A-3), Govindappa (A-4)<br \/>\nand Govindaiah (A-5) had assaulted the injured witnesses and<br \/>\nthe deceased, the witnesses were frightened and they fled<br \/>\naway from the scene of occurrence to save their lives,<br \/>\ntherefore, they did not lodge the complaint with the police on<br \/>\nthe same day.  The injured witnesses have explained the delay<br \/>\nin lodging the FIR and it was on the following day of the<br \/>\noccurrence that Rajanna (P.W.1) along with Venkatappa<br \/>\n(P.W.7) went to the Kudur Police Station, which is about 15<br \/>\nkms. from the place of occurrence and made the complaint to<br \/>\nthe police official.  Having regard to the injuries inflicted on<br \/>\nthe body of the deceased as also on the person of the injured<br \/>\nwitnesses, it was but natural for Rajanna (P.W.1) and other<br \/>\nwitnesses not to venture to go straight to the Police Station<br \/>\nand lodge the complaint with the police on the day of the<br \/>\noccurrence and the fact that the witnesses left the deceased<br \/>\nVenkatesh on the scene of occurrence itself would indicate the<br \/>\ngravity of the situation.  It is settled law that the delay in<br \/>\nlodging the FIR will not be fatal in every case if the ocular<br \/>\nversion of the eyewitnesses is reliable and trustworthy.  The<br \/>\nprosecution has explained the reason of the delay and as the<br \/>\ntestimony of the injured witnesses was found credible by the<br \/>\nHigh Court, the delay in lodging of the complaint and FIR will<br \/>\nnot be fatal to the prosecution case.  The sequence of the<br \/>\nevents and the manner in which FIR has been lodged have<br \/>\nbeen rightly taken into consideration by the High Court and<br \/>\nwe do not find any infirmity and perversity in the findings of<br \/>\nthe High Court accepting the explanation of the prosecution<br \/>\nfor lodging of F.I.R. on the next day of the incident.  The<br \/>\nsubmission of the learned senior counsel for the appellants<br \/>\nthat the prosecution case should be discarded and disbelieved<br \/>\non the ground of delay in lodging the FIR, does not merit<br \/>\nacceptance.  There is no material on record from which an<br \/>\ninference can be drawn that the material witnesses have<br \/>\nimplicated appellants Venkategowda (A-1), Muddegowda (A-2),<br \/>\nShivanna (A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and Govindaiah (A-5) in a<br \/>\nfalse case.  However, the evidence proved does not permit any<br \/>\ninference to be drawn regarding participation of other<br \/>\nappellants in the commission of the offences, therefore, the<br \/>\nconviction of Venkataramanaiah (A-6), Rajashekaraiah (A-7),<br \/>\nLakkegowda (A-8), Rama (A-9), Shivanna (A-10), Mahadeva (A-\n<\/p>\n<p>11), Ganghahanumaiah (A-12), Singraiah (A-13), Annaiah (A-\n<\/p>\n<p>14), Bettegowda (A-15), Chikkanna (A-16), Govindaiah (A-17)<br \/>\nand Rama (A-18), as recorded by the High Court, is simply<br \/>\nbased on the inference drawn regarding their participation and<br \/>\nexistence of common intention on the basis of conjectures and<br \/>\nsurmises cannot be sustained.  The established facts,<br \/>\nhowever, conclusively prove the complicity of Venkategowda<br \/>\n(A-1), Muddegowda (A-2), Shivanna(A-3), Govindappa (A-4)<br \/>\nand Govindaiah (A-5) in commission of the aforesaid offences.<br \/>\n\tHaving given our careful consideration to the<br \/>\nsubmissions made by the learned counsel for the parties, we<br \/>\nare of the opinion that the judgment and order of the High<br \/>\nCourt suffers from no perversity and illegality to warrant our<br \/>\ninterference to the extent of convicting Venkategowda (A-1),<br \/>\nMuddegowda (A-2), Shivanna(A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and<br \/>\nGovindaiah (A-5) for offences under Section 326 read with<br \/>\nSection 149 IPC and Sections 143 and 148 of the IPC.<br \/>\nHowever, the conviction and sentences imposed upon<br \/>\nVenkataramanaiah (A-6), Rajashekaraiah (A-7), Lakkegowda<br \/>\n(A-8), Rama (A-9), Shivanna (A-10), Mahadeva (A-11),<br \/>\nGanghahanumaiah (A-12), Singraiah (A-13), Annaiah (A-14),<br \/>\nBettegowda (A-15), Chikkanna (A-16), Govindaiah (A-17),<br \/>\nRama (A-18) are set aside and they are acquitted of the<br \/>\ncharges levelled against them.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe residuary question is whether the sentence as<br \/>\nimposed by the High Court upon Venkategowda (A-1),<br \/>\nMuddegowda (A-2), Shivanna (A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and<br \/>\nGovindaiah (A-5) is harsh.  Considering the background facts,<br \/>\nnamely, the incident took place on 4.11.1986, the nature of<br \/>\nthe injuries sustained by the deceased and the witnesses, the<br \/>\nfact that Venkategowda (A-1), Muddegowda (A-2), Shivanna(A-\n<\/p>\n<p>3), Govindappa (A-4) and Govindaiah (A-5) have suffered<br \/>\nphysically, mentally and financially in prosecuting the legal<br \/>\nbattle in different courts for the past about 20 years, while<br \/>\nmaintaining their conviction under Section 326, IPC, read with<br \/>\nSection 149, IPC, it might be appropriate to reduce the<br \/>\nsentence of Venkategowda (A-1), Muddegowda (A-2), Shivanna<br \/>\n(A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and Govindaiah (A-5) from five years<br \/>\nrigorous imprisonment to one year rigorous imprisonment<br \/>\neach and also to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000\/- each instead of Rs.<br \/>\n10,000\/- each as imposed by the High Court.  In default of<br \/>\npayment of fine, Venkategowda (A-1), Muddegowda (A-2),<br \/>\nShivanna(A-3), Govindappa (A-4) and Govindaiah (A-5) each<br \/>\nshall further undergo 3 months rigorous imprisonment.  Out<br \/>\nof the amount of fine, if realized, a sum of Rs. 5,000\/- each<br \/>\nshall be paid to Rajanna (P.W.1) and Kenchaiah (P.W.3)<br \/>\ninjured witnesses and a sum of Rs.10,000\/- shall be paid as<br \/>\ncompensation to Venkatappa (P.W.7) &#8211; the father or the legal<br \/>\nheirs of the deceased Venkatesh.\n<\/p>\n<p>\tThe appeal is partly allowed to the extent indicated<br \/>\nabove. Venkataramanaiah (A-6), Rajashekaraiah (A-7),<br \/>\nLakkegowda (A-8), Rama (A-9), Shivanna (A-10), Mahadeva (A-\n<\/p>\n<p>11), Ganghahanumaiah (A-12), Singraiah (A-13), Annaiah (A-\n<\/p>\n<p>14), Bettegowda (A-15), Chikkanna (A-16), Govindaiah (A-17),<br \/>\nRama (A-18) are stated to be in jail undergoing imprisonment<br \/>\nin this case.  They shall be released forthwith by the jail<br \/>\nauthorities, if not required in any other case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court of India Venkategowda &amp; Ors vs State Of Karnataka on 6 November, 2006 Author: L S Panta Bench: A. K. Mathur, Lokeshwar Singh Panta CASE NO.: Appeal (crl.) 851 of 2006 PETITIONER: Venkategowda &amp; Ors. RESPONDENT: State of Karnataka DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06\/11\/2006 BENCH: A. K. Mathur &amp; Lokeshwar Singh Panta JUDGMENT: J [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Venkategowda &amp; Ors vs State Of Karnataka on 6 November, 2006 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/venkategowda-ors-vs-state-of-karnataka-on-6-november-2006\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Venkategowda &amp; 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