GOKUL PARASHRAM PATIL vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

The Supreme Court held that the appellant's conviction under Section 302 IPC for murder was not sustainable as the injury inflicted was on a non-vital part and was not intended to cause death. The Court distinguished the case from precedents such as Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab, emphasizing that the injury leading to death was accidental and not intentional. Consequently, the Court reduced the conviction to a lesser offense under Section 304 Part II IPC, reflecting the principle that intent is crucial in determining culpability in homicide cases.