The Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Kirpal Singh for murder and attempted murder. The court found the testimony of key witnesses, Sharan Kaur and Daljit Singh, to be inconsistent and unreliable. The prosecution failed to provide corroborative evidence, such as recovering the murder weapon or proving motive. Consequently, Kirpal Singh was acquitted on the grounds of reasonable doubt.

Case Background

• Kirpal Singh was convicted of the murder of Balwinder Singh and attempted murder of Sharan Kaur, based on an incident on the night of 12th/13th November 1997.
• The motive suggested by the prosecution was jealousy over the successful halwai business of the deceased.
• Kirpal Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC and five years under Section 307 IPC by the trial court, a decision upheld by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.

Incident Details

• Sharan Kaur, wife of the deceased, claimed that Kirpal Singh and another assailant attacked her and her husband during the night.
• Kirpal Singh allegedly inflicted a fatal head injury on Balwinder Singh with a spade, while Sharan Kaur was stabbed in the abdomen.

Investigation and Trial

• Initial police investigations found the allegations unsubstantiated, but a charge sheet was later filed against Kirpal Singh.
• During trial, Sharan Kaur accused the police of conducting a biased investigation. However, her testimony was riddled with contradictions, including allegations against another accused, Kulwinder Singh, who was acquitted.

Supreme Court's Observations

• The court noted that the motive of business rivalry was weak and unsupported by evidence.
• Witness testimony from Sharan Kaur and her son was unreliable, with contradictions and unexplained conduct during the incident.
• The lack of corroborative evidence, including the failure to recover the weapon and unexamined witnesses, undermined the prosecution’s case.

Acquittal

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kirpal Singh, stating that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The court acquitted him and discharged all charges.

Acts and Sections Discussed

• Section 302 IPC: Punishment for murder (life imprisonment).
• Section 307 IPC: Attempt to murder (5 years imprisonment).
• Section 319 CrPC: Summoning additional accused during the trial.

Ratio Decidendi

The conviction was overturned due to unreliable eyewitness testimony, lack of motive, absence of corroborative evidence, and procedural irregularities in the investigation. The court held that the prosecution's case failed to meet the burden of proof, leading to Kirpal Singh's acquittal based on reasonable doubt.

Subjects:

Murder Trial, Witness Credibility, Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Law, Acquittal