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Supreme Court of India 2024-07-03 dismissed

SURENDER SINGH vs STATE (NCT OF DELHI)

Bench: 2 — Sudhanshu Dhulia, Rajesh Bindal

In Brief

A police constable posted as a guard at a Delhi police station shot and killed a man inside the station with his official carbine. The appellant admitted firing the shots but claimed self-defence, alternatively grave and sudden provocation. The victim was unarmed and the appellant armed. Four eyewitness police personnel testified the appellant fired 8-9 shots, pursuing the dying man who tried to escape. Post-mortem confirmed 17 bullet injuries. The Court rejected both pleas, finding the self-defence claim illogical (unarmed man attacking armed guard) and unsupported by evidence. Multiple shots demonstrating intent to kill negated any provocation claim. The murder conviction and life sentence were upheld.

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Criminal Law Murder and Culpable Homicide Self-Defence Provocation Eyewitness Evidence Forensic Evidence Criminal Procedure Police Conduct

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