In a significant judgment, the Chhattisgarh High Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of Somadu Vetti, who was found guilty of the murder of Sukko Vetti in the Bastar district. The appeal was dismissed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, who affirmed the trial court’s judgment based on a strong chain of circumstantial evidence.
Background of the Case:
The case stems from an incident on June 25, 2020, where a dispute over land escalated between the accused, Somadu Vetti, his absconding nephew Tularam Vetti, and the deceased Sukko Vetti. The altercation, which initially involved verbal abuse and minor physical assaults, escalated to a fatal attack later that night. According to the prosecution, both accused attacked Sukko, with Tularam strangling him while Somadu restrained his legs, leading to his death. They subsequently buried the body near the Mamadpal Pujari Para canal, in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Legal Issues and Arguments:
The defense, represented by Mr. Ashutosh Shukla, argued that the case was based solely on circumstantial evidence, with no direct evidence linking Somadu Vetti to the crime. Shukla contended that there were inconsistencies in witness testimonies and that the prosecution failed to establish a motive, questioning the validity of the trial court’s reliance on circumstantial evidence.
Conversely, the State, represented by Deputy Advocate General Mr. Shashank Thakur, argued that the prosecution’s evidence, including the confession, the recovery of the weapon (a spade), and the testimonies of the villagers, provided a consistent and unbroken chain of evidence leading to the conviction. The State maintained that the trial court’s findings were well-founded and did not warrant interference.
Court’s Observations:
The High Court meticulously examined the evidence, emphasizing the well-established legal principles for cases based on circumstantial evidence. The court cited precedents, including the Supreme Court’s rulings in C. Chenga Reddy v. State of A.P. and Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, affirming that for a conviction based on circumstantial evidence, the chain of events must be so complete that it leads only to the conclusion of the accused’s guilt.
The bench noted the following key points:
– The postmortem report by Dr. Mahendra Prasad (PW-14) confirmed that Sukko Vetti’s death was due to strangulation, establishing the homicidal nature of the death.
– The confessional panchnama (Ex.P-7) and the subsequent recovery of the spade used in the crime were crucial in linking the accused to the murder.
– The lack of any alternative explanation from the accused regarding the circumstances of the death further corroborated the prosecution’s case.
The court concluded that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, highlighting that “there must be a chain of evidence so complete as not to leave any reasonable ground for the conclusion consistent with the innocence of the accused.”
Decision:
The court dismissed the appeal and upheld the life sentence handed down by the First Additional Sessions Judge, Bastar, District Jagdalpur in Sessions Trial No. 25/2020. The court also ordered that the appellant, who is currently in jail, continue to serve his sentence as determined by the trial court.
Also Read
Case Details:
– Case Title: Somadu Vetti vs. State of Chhattisgarh
– Case Number: CRA No. 266 of 2024
– Bench: Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru
– Appellant’s Counsel: Mr. Ashutosh Shukla
– Respondent’s Counsel: Mr. Shashank Thakur, Deputy Advocate General
