Criminal appeal no. 722 of 2005
Supreme Court of India
BENCH: Hon’ble K.G. Balakrishnan J., Hon’ble G.P. Mathur J.
DATE OF JUDGEMENT: 31 August 2006
RELEVANT SECTIONS:
- Section 302 of IPC (Punishment for murder)
- Section 120B of IPC (Punishment for criminal conspiracy)
- Section 364 of IPC (Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder)
- Section 323 of IPC (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt)
BACK HISTORY
The two sisters Renuka and Seema and their mother Anjanabai (dead) made a living out by committing a crime such as pocket-picking and chain snatching. After some time they entered into a conspiracy to kidnap small children below five years and used them whenever necessary and dispose of them when they were no longer useful.
The offences kidnapping 13 children and caused the death of 9 children were allegedly committed by both the sisters, their mother (dead) and Kiran Shinde (husband of Renuka). But, the high court could convict them only for 5 murders of children named Santosh, Anjali, Gauri, Shraddha, Pankaj.
POSTMORTEM REPORT
Dr. C. Chanokar conducted the postmortem examination of child victim Santosh. He opined the cause of death of the boy was shock due to the fracture of the base of his skull with intracerebral haemorrhage.
Dr. L. Bade conducted the postmortem examination of child victim Anjali and he noticed the series of injuries and abrasions over the body of girl victim which might have caused due to falling or being thrown from the staircase. He also reported the contusion of upper and lower lips which indicated that the mouth of the victim was pressed and opined the cause of death was asphyxia due to smothering.
Dr. A. Sadolikar conducted the postmortem of deceased child Gauri and she opined the cause of death was pulmonary oedema which could be the result of obstruction to the respiratory tract.
Dr. Milind Kamble conducted the postmortem of child victim Pankaj. He noticed many injuries which included contusions, multiple lacerations, incised wounds, hematoma and haemorrhage and opined the cause of death of the boy was asphyxia due to smothering.
JUDGEMENT
Court framed the charges against the sisters Renuka Bai and Seema for committing offences punishable under sections 302, 120B, 364, 323 of IPC which included a horrifying crime of kidnapping and murder of children victims.
Supreme court confirmed the conviction and awarded the capital punishment i.e death sentence to both accused Renuka Bai and Seema.