A special court in Kanpur Nagar has sentenced a 70-year-old priest to five years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 20,000, for the unintentional murder of a man in 2006. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday by the Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) court.
Court Criticizes Investigation
The judge, in his order, observed that the investigating officer had committed gross negligence during the investigation of the case. Consequently, the court directed that a copy of the judgment be sent to the state government, the Inspector General of Police, and the District Magistrate for appropriate action against the officer.
Defense and Prosecution Arguments
During the sentencing hearing, the defense counsel argued for leniency, stating that the accused, Amar Singh, is a poor, elderly man of 70 years who works as a priest in a temple. They emphasized that there is no one else to care for his family, and therefore, a minimum sentence should be imposed.
On the other hand, the additional government counsel, Shiv Bhagwan Goswami, argued that the accused had struck the deceased, Sitaram, on the head unintentionally. However, he maintained that a maximum sentence was warranted given the severity of the act.
Details of the Incident
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on October 3, 2006. The complainant, Pawan Kumar Soni, stated in his First Information Report that a milkman named Daddu had demanded Rs 180 from Sitaram as payment for milk. Sitaram’s father requested a couple of days to pay, which led to an argument and abusive language from Daddu.
During the heated exchange, another individual, Amar Singh, intervened and struck Sitaram multiple times with a thick wooden stick. Sitaram fell to the ground, and both Amar Singh and Daddu fled the scene. Sitaram later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at LLR Hospital.
The court also noted that the prosecution successfully established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction and sentence.
