Punjab & Haryana HC: Juvenile tried as adult—Murder conviction upheld despite contradictions in witness testimony and CCTV evidence doubts

Case Name: Ravi v. State of Haryana
Date of Judgment: January 9, 2020
Citation: CRA-S-3989-SB-2017
Bench: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sharma & Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu

Held: The Division Bench dismissed the appeal of a juvenile tried as an adult under Section 18(3) of the Juvenile Justice Act, upholding his conviction under Sections 148 and 302 read with Section 149 IPC. The Court held that discrepancies in the eyewitness account and doubts raised over CCTV footage did not dent the prosecution’s case, as the core testimony and corroborating circumstances clearly established guilt. Presence of multiple assailants with lethal intent showed a common object to commit murder.

Summary: The appellant, Ravi, aged below 18 at the time of offence, was found fit to be tried as an adult after preliminary assessment by the Juvenile Justice Board. He was convicted by the Children’s Court for participating in the murder of Ajay, who was shot dead on 22.04.2016 after being chased by a group of eight assailants on motorcycles. On appeal, Ravi’s counsel argued delay in FIR recording, inconsistencies in eyewitness (PW5 Mohit)’s version, inadmissibility of CCTV CD for lack of proper Section 65-B certificate, and absence of ballistic link between recovered pistol and fired cartridge. The Court held that the delay was explained, contradictions in PW5’s versions were natural for a young witness in shock, and objections to electronic evidence not raised at trial could not be entertained later (Sonu v. State of Haryana, 2017). Though FSL could not confirm weapon linkage, medical evidence established firearm injury as cause of death. The Court emphasized the collective conduct of assailants as proof of common object (Lalji v. State of U.P., 1989).

Decision: Appeal dismissed. Conviction and sentence of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment with fine upheld. Directions for reformative and rehabilitative care of the juvenile in place of safety until age 21 to continue.