Dumka: A Pakur sessions court on Thursday handed life imprisonment to a 31-year-old man for murdering a man and attempting to kill his wife in 2023 and directed senior officials of the state govt to initiate action against the investigating officer (IO) of the case for serious lapses in the probe.In its order passed on Thursday, the court of Additional Sessions Judge-I Kumar Kranti Prasad directed that a copy of the judgement be sent to the chief secretary, DGP of Jhakhand Police and Pakur SP for action against Kaila Oraon, who was the IO.Sobon Marandi wanted to marry Sonoti Tudu, a resident of Nagri Tola under Maheshpur police station limits. When her parents refused, Sobon forcibly brought Sonoti to his house, but she escaped. Enraged, Sobon went to Sonoti’s house and attacked her parents with a gupti (dagger). Sonoti’s father Madan died of injuries while her mother Roshni Murmu sustained grave injuries. The incident took place on Nov 18, 2023. A case was registered with Maheshpur police station days later based on Sonoti’s complaint.Five witnesses were examined by the prosecution. Most turned hostile, and Sonoti, who was the informant, did not appear for deposition. The court noted that several seized exhibits were not produced during the trial. The murder weapon and blood-stained clothes were neither placed before the court nor sent for forensic examination. The injury report was also not brought on record.Despite these lapses, the court held that defective investigation alone could not erase credible direct evidence or cause failure of justice. To ascertain the truth, the court put material questions to Roshni, the sole eyewitness and an injured witness. She described the attack and her head injury. The court found her testimony reliable and sufficient, observing that investigative shortcomings do not automatically render trustworthy eyewitness evidence unreliable.Sobon was convicted under Sections 302, 307, 326 and 452 of the IPC. All sentences will run concurrently. A fine of Rs 2 lakh will be paid to the deceased’s wife as compensation.pandeyrajeshkumar19@gmail.com
