19 April 2024 Criminal Trial >> Criminal Law   |   Murder Homicide >> Criminal Law  

In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court of India overturned a bail granted by the High Court to two murder accused, Vivek Pal (alias Vikki Pal) and Punit Pal. The accused were allegedly involved in the daylight murder of Jitendra Singh.

The victim's family had appealed to the Supreme Court after the High Court granted bail to the accused. The Supreme Court judgement highlighted the seriousness of the crime, the accused's attempts to influence witnesses, and their hold over the area where the crime took place, as reasons for cancelling the bail.

Background:

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Jitendra Singh was murdered on January 2nd, 2022, while returning from a market with his nephew and driver. The accused allegedly stopped their vehicle, verbally abused the deceased, and then assaulted him with iron rods, hockey sticks, and bats. The injuries sustained by Singh led to his death on February 10th, 2022.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court emphasized that the gravity of the crime, coupled with the accused's attempts to intimidate witnesses, warranted keeping them in custody. The Court also considered the wider societal impact of the crime, noting that the accused's influence in the area led to the closure of a market for ten days following the murder.

The Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of bail bonds for both accused and directed the trial court to expedite the trial, aiming for completion within a year. The judgement clarifies that the Court's observations do not determine the guilt or innocence of the accused, and the trial will proceed accordingly.