In Brief
The State of Rajasthan appealed against a High Court judgment that had reduced the conviction of four accused from murder (Section 302 IPC) to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304-II IPC), resulting in a sentence of only five years instead of life imprisonment. The deceased was beaten with lathis by all four accused in an unprovoked assault. The Supreme Court held that since there was no evidence of premeditation, lethal weapons, or expressed intent to kill, Section 304-I (culpable homicide with rashness) was the appropriate charge. The Court allowed the appeal, convicted the accused under Section 304-I, and imposed eight years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 25,000 each.
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