In Brief
A woman, who had filed a rape complaint against Purnendu Kumar Patra, was attacked with acid by him and another person, Rabin Jana, in October 1998, sustaining severe burns. She died 26 days later from shock and sepsis. The trial court convicted both under Section 302 IPC, sentencing Patra to death and Jana to life imprisonment. The High Court acquitted both on grounds of delayed FIR and absence of recorded dying declaration. This Court allowed the appeals partly: setting aside the acquittal of Patra (whose motive was evident and evidence corroborated) and affirming his conviction with life imprisonment and fine instead of death; dismissing the appeal as to Jana (who had no motive). The judgment emphasises that minor investigative lapses should not trump credible evidence, that delay can be explained, and that the victim's authenticated written complaint serves as dying declaration.",
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.