Conviction of Ejaj Urf Pintya Sagir Ahmed Ansari under Section 302 IPC confirmed; Dying declaration and eyewitness testimonies deemed credible.
In a significant judgment, the Bombay High Court has upheld the conviction and life imprisonment sentence of Ejaj Urf Pintya Sagir Ahmed Ansari for the murder of Mohammed Faiji Kamrul Khan Sayyad. The Division Bench comprising Justices Sarang V. Kotwal and Sandesh D. Patil delivered the verdict on March 30, 2026, affirming the decision of the Sessions Court, Thane.
The case dates back to February 7, 2019, when an altercation over a monetary demand led to the brutal stabbing of Mohammed Faiji. The prosecution's case relied heavily on the dying declaration of the deceased, corroborated by eyewitness accounts and medical evidence. The appellant, Ejaj Ansari, was found guilty of premeditated murder, having inflicted fatal knife wounds on the victim.
The court meticulously examined the evidence, including the written dying declaration recorded by the police in the presence of a medical officer, which was deemed reliable. The court noted that the deceased was conscious and in a fit state to make the declaration, which was consistent with the testimonies provided by eyewitnesses, including the victim's brother and mother.
Justice Kotwal, delivering the judgment, emphasized the credibility of the dying declaration and the corroborative nature of the eyewitness testimonies. The court dismissed the appellant's arguments for a lesser charge, highlighting the premeditated nature of the crime, evidenced by the sequence of events and the intent demonstrated by the appellant during the assault.
The court also addressed the appellant's contention regarding the recovery of the weapon, stating that while the recovery itself was not pivotal due to the weapon's accessibility and lack of chemical analysis, the overall evidence against the appellant was compelling enough to uphold the conviction.
This judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to ensuring justice through a thorough evaluation of evidence, affirming the conviction under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The appeal was subsequently dismissed, and the sentence of life imprisonment stands enforced.
Bottom Line:
Conviction under Section 302 IPC upheld - Prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt based on dying declaration, eye-witness testimony, and medical evidence.
Statutory provision(s): Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 302, 300; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 164, 428
