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Supreme Court of India
Sagar Behara @ Banamali @ … vs The State Of West Bengal on 4 February, 2022Author: Hon’Ble Dr. Chandrachud
Bench: S Khanna, D D Chandrachud
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 137 OF 2022
SAGAR BEHERA @ BANAMALI
@ DAYANIDHI ….. APPELLANT
VERSUS
STATE OF WEST BENGAL ….. RESPONDENT
ORDER
The appellant Sagar Behera has been convicted for offences
punishable under Sections 302, 394, 323, read with Section 34, and
Section 411 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. For the offence under
Section 302, he has been sentenced to imprisonment for life with
fine and default stipulation; and for the offence under Section 394,
he has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten
years with fine and default stipulation. Separate sentences with fine
and default stipulation have been imposed for the other offences.
The sentences were directed to run concurrently.
Signature Not Verified
2. The Trial Court had convicted the appellant vide judgment dated
Digitally signed by
Sanjay Kumar
Date: 2022.02.04
15:55:10 IST
Reason:
31st March 2004. The appellant had thereupon preferred appeal
before the High Court, after considerable delay, in the year 2015.
Criminal Appeal No. 137 of 2022 Page 1 of 4
As the appellant was confined to jail and was sentenced to life
imprisonment, delay in filing the appeal was condoned. The appeal
stands dismissed, and hence the present appeal.
3. The incident in question and subject matter of conviction had
occurred on 17th April 2001. The appellant before this Court has
raised the plea of juvenility on the date of the offence by placing
reliance upon the certificate dated 19th February 2021 issued by the
Head Master of Gopinathjew Nodal U.P. School, P.O. Gopinathpur,
District Bhadrak. This plea was not raised before the Trial Court or
the High Court.
4. This Court vide order dated 6th August 2021 had directed the
Sessions Judge, Bhadrak, Odisha to examine the original school
records and to record statement of the Head Master of the school
who had issued the certificate. This order mentions that in the
certificate relied upon by the appellant, there is a difference in the
date of birth recorded in figures and words. The date of birth as
mentioned in figures is “20.05.1984”, while the date of birth in words
is “20th July Nineteen Hundred Eighty Four”.
5. Thereupon, the District and Sessions Judge, Bhadrak submitted his
report stating that the date of birth of the appellant as recorded in
the school records is 20th May 1984, and that inadvertently the date
of birth mentioned in the certificate in words was written as “20th
Criminal Appeal No. 137 of 2022 Page 2 of 4
July Nineteen Hundred Eighty Four”. The report enclosed
photocopy of the Admission Register as well as affidavit dated 10th
September 2013 of Hemanta Behera stating that Sagar Behera,
son of Abhiram Behera, is his brother and had studied in the said
school wherein his name was recorded/mentioned as Dayanidhi
Behera.
6. On receipt of the said report, vide order dated 20th September 2021,
this Court had issued notice in the Special Leave Petition.
7. Thereafter, vide order dated 22nd October 2021, this Court had
directed the District and Sessions Judge, Bhadrak to conduct
further inquiry as to the date of birth of the appellant and submit a
report after recording evidence. The respondent, i.e. the State of
West Bengal, was directed to ensure necessary cooperation by
deputing a competent representative on behalf of the State so that
the records can be duly scrutinised and verified.
8. Consequent to the said directions, the District and Sessions Judge,
Bhadrak has submitted his report dated 6th December 2021 which
refers to the statement made by Hemanta Behera, brother of the
appellant, and the statement of Shantanu Koar, Assistant
Commissioner of Police, North Zone, Bidhan Nagar, West Bengal.
On the basis of evidence adduced and relying upon the Transfer
Certificate and school records, the report states that the date of
Criminal Appeal No. 137 of 2022 Page 3 of 4
birth of the appellant is 20th May 1984. The State of West Bengal
has filed a reply raising objections to the report.
9. During the course of hearing, it is pointed out that the appellant has
already suffered incarceration of more than twenty years. The jail
authorities, after considering the conduct of the appellant, have
recommended premature release/remission of sentence. The issue
is now pending before the competent authorities.
10. Given the aforesaid factual background, we direct release of the
appellant from jail on suspension of sentence on appropriate terms
and conditions as may be fixed by the trial court.
11. In the meanwhile, we direct that the State of West Bengal shall
consider and decide the request for premature release/remission
within a period of two months from today.
12. List the appeal on 25th April 2022.
…………………………………….J.
(DR. D.Y. CHANDRACHUD)
…………………………………….J.
(SANJIV KHANNA)
NEW DELHI;
FEBRUARY 04, 2022.
Criminal Appeal No. 137 of 2022 Page 4 of 4
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