In Brief
Bhagwan Singh was convicted of murder by the trial court and high court for causing death by gun-shot injury at a wedding ceremony. The Supreme Court allowed his appeal, downgrading the conviction to culpable homicide under section 304 IPC rather than murder under section 302 IPC. The Court held that although the shooting was characterised as mis-firing, the appellant's act of carrying a loaded firearm in a crowded place demonstrated sufficient knowledge that such an act was likely to cause death, satisfying the mental element for culpable homicide. The Court also convicted him for attempt to commit culpable homicide for injuries to three other victims.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.