Court Holds Prosecution Proved Murder Charge Against Ramesh Kumar Beyond Reasonable Doubt; Sentencing on July 11
Jammu, July 10: Nearly eleven years after the sensational murder of a man in Jammu’s Domana area, a Jammu court on Friday convicted the prime accused, Ramesh Kumar alias Mahesha, for the brutal killing of his neighbour Kartar Chand, while acquitting his brother Kuldeep Raj alias Kalu and wife Suman Devi alias Veena after finding insufficient evidence to establish their involvement.
The judgment was delivered by the Court of the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, presided over by Judge Anoop Kumar Sharma, who held that the prosecution had successfully established the guilt of Ramesh Kumar beyond reasonable doubt under Section 302 RPC and Section 4/25 of the Arms Act.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on January 21, 2015, when Ramesh Kumar allegedly called Kartar Chand to his residence on the pretext of some work. The prosecution stated that the accused attacked the victim with a sharp-edged weapon inside the house. Before the body could be disposed of, the deceased’s wife and son reached the house in search of him and allegedly found Kartar Chand lying in a pool of blood with multiple fatal injuries.
The Court observed that the evidence presented during the trial conclusively established Ramesh Kumar’s role in the murder and held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
However, the Court acquitted co-accused Kuldeep Raj and Suman Devi, observing that the prosecution failed to produce reliable evidence linking them to the crime. It ruled that mere presence at the scene of occurrence could not be treated as proof of participation in the offence.
While examining the case against Kuldeep Raj, the Court found deficiencies in the prosecution’s reliance on the alleged disclosure statement and recovery of the weapon, noting that these crucial aspects had not been satisfactorily proved. Consequently, the Court extended the benefit of doubt to him.
In the case of Suman Devi, the Court held that there was no evidence indicating any active or indirect role in the commission of the offence. It observed that her presence in the house, being a resident and homemaker, could not by itself establish criminal liability.
The case stemmed from FIR No. 19/2015 registered at Police Station Domana on the complaint of the deceased’s wife, Soma Devi. The investigation included the seizure of blood-stained articles, forensic examination, recovery of weapons, post-mortem, crime scene documentation and recording of witness statements.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 28 witnesses, including family members of the deceased, investigating officers, forensic experts and medical professionals. The post-mortem report concluded that Kartar Chand died due to severe craniocerebral injuries accompanied by haemorrhage and shock caused by multiple blows from a heavy sharp-edged weapon.
Following the conviction, the Court fixed July 11, 2026, for hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to Ramesh Kumar. It also ordered the immediate release of Kuldeep Raj and Suman Devi from custody following their acquittal and discharge from their bail bonds. (KNC)
