DEVI SINGH v. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NOs. OF 2026 (arising out of SLP (Crl.) Nos.18190-18191/2025)

DEVI SINGH APPELLANT(S)

THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH & ORS. Etc… RESPONDENT(S)

1. The appellant challenges the judgment and order dated

12.08.2025 in IA No.716/2025 in CRA No.435/2025 and IA

No.8816/2025 in CRA No.850/2025 passed by the High Court

of Madhya Pradesh, Principal Seat at Jabalpur.

2. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we are

of the considered view that interference with the

impugned order is warranted. The Trial Court, based on

the testimonies of PW1 and PW2 as well as other

witnesses, convicted the accused (the private respondents

herein), inter alia, of having committed offences

punishable under Sections 450 and 302 read with 34 of the

Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).

3. In an appeal preferred by the respondents herein, the

High Court suspended the sentence by observing that “……

there are general and omnibus allegations against the

present applicants ………”.

4. We are of the view that the reasons assigned, to say

the least, are perverse. If the High Court was of the

view that inherent contradictions, if any, in the

prosecution evidence warranted suspension of sentence,

the Court could have proceeded to decide the main appeal ...