In Brief
The Supreme Court heard appeals by Rajasthan State against the High Court's acquittal of ten accused charged with assaulting a man with deadly weapons at night, causing serious injuries including one fatal wound. The High Court had acquitted them because no specific injury could be attributed to any particular accused. The Court held that while murder charges cannot stand without proving a specific accused caused the fatal injury, all ten accused who participated in the assault could be held liable under s. 326 (grievous hurt) read with s. 149 (common intention). The Court allowed the appeals, sentencing each accused to seven years imprisonment and Rs. 2000 fine.
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