By Molla Jasimuddin
Diamond Harbour, West Bengal: In a significant judgment, the Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track, 4th Court), Aniruddha Saha, on Thursday sentenced a man to eight years of rigorous imprisonment in a culpable homicide case involving the death of his own father.
The sole Raghunath Malik, was convicted under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court ordered that the period he has already spent in custody—2 years, 9 months, and 6 days—will be set off against the total sentence.
According to court sources, the incident dates back to July 13, 2023, in Magurpukur village under Magrahat Police Station. Following a domestic dispute, the accused allegedly struck his father, Nidhir Malik, on the head with a sharp weapon in a fit of rage. The victim was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The court observed that the act was not premeditated, and therefore delivered the judgment within the ambit of Section 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).
The case was supported by 14 witnesses. Police filed the charge sheet on November 30, 2023, and charges were formally framed on August 4, 2025. The judgment was delivered within three years of the incident, reflecting a relatively swift trial process.
The court also stated that if the convict wishes to appeal the verdict, he may avail free legal assistance through the District Legal Services Authority and the State Legal Services Authority.
Legal observers noted that the judgment could have been delivered even earlier if not for procedural delays, including the SIR (Social Investigation Report) phase.
