A murder is a murder whether it arises out of matrimonial dispute or otherwise, remarked Supreme Court while rejecting the bail plea of a man who is in custody for about 13 years.
Pankaj alias Bobby was convicted in a murder case. He has been in custody since 22nd March, 2006. His appeal challenging the order of conviction is pending before the Allahabad High Court since 2009. All his bail pleas (four of them) were rejected by the High Court.
Before the Apex Court, it was contended that the offence is related to matrimonial dispute. Unimpressed with this contention, the bench comprising Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Sanjiv Khanna said:
"Maybe offence is related to matrimonial dispute as contended by the petitioner but that is inconsequential. A murder is a murder whether it arises out of matrimonial dispute or otherwise."
However, taking note of long pendency of the appeal, the bench requested the High Court to hear and dispose of the appeal within three months. In the event, the appeal cannot be disposed of within three months, the High Court shall grant bail to the petitioner on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, it said.
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![A Murder Is A Murder Even If It Arises Out Of Matrimonial Dispute: SC Denies Bail To Murder Convict [Read Order]](https://www.livelaw.in/h-upload/2019/05/13/750x450_360821-justices-indira-banerjee-and-justice-sanjiv-khanna.jpg "A Murder Is A Murder Even If It Arises Out Of Matrimonial Dispute: SC Denies Bail To Murder Convict [Read Order]")
