Abu
Thakir & Ors. Vs. State Rep. by Inspector of Police, T.Nadu [2010] INSC 284
(19 April 2010)
Judgment
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 168
OF 2008 ABU THAKIR & ORS. ... APPELLANTS VERSUS STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF
B.
SUDERSHAN REDDY, J.
This
appeal by special leave arises out of judgment and order dated 18th December,
2006 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras, whereby the High Court
confirmed the conviction and sentence of the appellants herein under Section
302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) while setting aside conviction and sentence
under Sections 120B, 148, 341, 147, 302 read with Sections 149 and 109, IPC.
2. The
facts in brief, according to the prosecution story, are that on 28th March,
2002 one Murugesan (deceased) was murdered at about 7.30 a.m. on the way
leading to Badrakaliamman temple on Kovai Pudur Road in pursuance of a criminal
conspiracy hatched by the appellants herein and other accused forming
themselves into unlawful assembly so 2 as to wreck vengeance of the murder that
took place on 26th March, 2002 of one Sultan Meeran. Before the incident,
Kanakaraj (PW 1), brother of the deceased went to the barber shop situated near
the place of occurrence to have a shave, where his paternal uncle Subramani (PW
4) told him that the deceased and some other persons were quarrelling at East
of Badrakaliamman temple. Immediately, Kanakaraj (PW 1), rushed towards the
place of occurrence and found the deceased lying on the ground unconsciously
with bleeding injuries. Gopalakrishnan (PW5) and Rathinasamy (PW 28) who were
returning from Badrakaliamman temple, on hearing the distress noise ran towards
the place of occurrence and found Murugesan (deceased) lying in a pool of
blood. They told Kanakaraj (PW 1) that the assailants had fled away after they
had attacked the deceased in revenge of earlier murder that took place on 26th
March, 2002 of a member of assailants' community. Thereafter within ten minutes
Parvathy (PW 6), who owns a fruit vending shop near the temple, told Kanakaraj
(PW 1) that earlier in the morning at about 6.30 A.M. she noticed two or three
unknown persons near her shop in a car and on a scooter and then proceeding
towards temple. In the meanwhile, Ganesan (PW 15) reached at the spot.
Thereafter Subramani (PW 4), uncle of Kanakaraj (PW 1), along with Ganesan (PW
15) and others took the injured (deceased) in his car to the Government
Hospital, 3 Coimbatore. En route to the hospital, Ganesan (PW 15) gave
information about the incident to the concerned police station over his mobile
phone. The duty Doctor (PW-21), after examining Murugesan, declared him dead.
On the basis of the information given by Ganesan (PW 15), Akbar Khan, Sub-Inspector
of Police, Pothanur Police Station (PW 29) reached at the hospital at about
8.45 A.M where he came to know that Murugesan had already died. He examined
Kanakaraj (PW 1) and recorded his statement which was registered as Crime No.
271/02 (Ex.P.1). Thereafter the first information report came to be printed as
Ex. P.72. Consequent upon the registration of crime, Ramachandran, Inspector of
Police, Pothanur Police Station (PW 30) was appointed as Investigating Officer
who visited the scene of occurrence at about 10.00 A.M on the very same day and
prepared the observation mahazar (Ex. P.30), the rough sketch of the crime
scene (Ex.P.74) and also recovered material objects including a knife (MO-7) in
the presence of Marudhachalam (PW-20) and other witnesses. Thereafter he
proceeded to the Government Hospital where, in the presence of panchayatdars
and witnesses, prepared inquest report (Ex.P.73) and gave requisition (Ex.P.47)
to conduct post mortem. Sundarrajan, Professor, Forensic Science, Coimbatore
Medical College Hospital (PW 23) on receipt of Ex. P. 47 conducted post mortem
(Ex. P. 48) at 12.25 P.M. and opined that the death 4 was due to haemorrhage
and shock resulting from multiple stab injuries over chest and corresponding
internal injuries to heart and both lungs.
3. After
completion of the investigation, the police filed charge sheet against the
appellants and five other co- accused. The prosecution in all examined 30
witnesses (PWs 1 to 30) and got marked 77 documents in evidence. The
prosecution also produced material objects which were marked as M.O. 1 to 43.
4. The
trial court accepted the prosecution's case and believed the evidence of PWs 2
to 4 and based on their evidence, convicted the appellants herein under
Sections 302, 120B, 148, 341, 147, 302 read with Sections 149 and 109, of the
Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sentenced to life imprisonment and various other
terms of imprisonment to run concurrently.
The trial
Court also convicted the other accused under various Sections of the IPC. The
trial court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt
against the appellants and held them guilty of having entered into a criminal
conspiracy, unlawful assembly and committing murder of the deceased. The High
court, however, confirmed the conviction of the appellants only under Section
302, IPC and acquitted them of the rest of the charges and completely acquitted
rest of the accused.
5. We
have heard the learned counsel appearing for the appellants as well as for the
State and perused the material available on record.
6. Shri
N. Natarajan, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants
submitted that the presence of the so called eyewitnesses (PWs 2 to 4) at the
scene of offence is highly doubtful. The submission was, their evidence is
totally untrustworthy and suffers from material contradictions. It was further
submitted that the theory of conspiracy set up by the prosecution was
disbelieved by the High Court and on the same analogy, the High Court ought to
have totally disbelieved PWs 2, 3 and 4 and if their evidence is not taken into
consideration, there is no other evidence based on which the appellants could
be convicted for the charge under Section 302, IPC. It was also submitted that
there is enormous delay in submitting the statements recorded under Section
161, Cr.P.C. to the Court since they were received by the Court after eleven
days of recording the statements. The cumulative effect of these factors makes
the whole prosecution case doubtful and the appellants are at least entitled to
benefit of doubt.
7. The
learned counsel for the State submitted that the evidence of PWs 2 to 4, is
cogent and there is no material contradictions in their evidence even though
they were subjected to lengthy cross-examination. All of them have 6 identified
the appellants in the test identification parade.
Their
presence at the scene of occurrence is very well established by the evidence of
Savithri (PW 8), Thangaraj (PW 18) and Marudhachalam (PW 20) and there is no
reason to disbelieve their evidence. One of the important circumstances
highlighted by the learned counsel for the State was matching of blood group of
the deceased with the blood found on the M.O. 6 series i.e., weapons used in
the commission of the offence. Further, the same blood group was found on the
clothes recovered from the appellants. The delay in not sending the statements
immediately was due to the reason that, in quick succession two murders which
were very sensitive in nature, took place within the jurisdiction of the
Investigating Officer who was also entrusted with the duty to maintain law and
order in that area. The submission was that mere delay in sending the
statements per se would not vitiate the entire prosecution case. The counsel
further submitted that the Courts below did not commit any error or illegality
in appreciating the evidence. The conviction is based on proper appreciation of
the evidence and there is no reason or justification to interfere with the
concurrent finding of facts by this Court, so far as the appellants are
concerned, in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution of
India.
8. The
Courts below held that the death of Murugesan was homicidal in nature. As per
post-mortem report (Ex.P-48), the following ante mortem injuries were found on
the dead body:
1)
Vertically oblique stab injury over front of right side of chest measuring 5
cms x 2.5 cms x entering the right thoracic cavity. The upper outer end of the
wound is 6 cms above and medial to right nipple. On dissection the wound passes
backwards, medially and downwards in the right third inter costal space cutting
the inter costal muscles, vessels, nerves and cutting the fourth rib close to
sternum. Then it has caused a stab injury in the underlying anterior aspect of
lower part of upper lobe of right lung measuring 2.5 cms x 1 cm x 1.5 cms and
exited out in the inner aspect of lower part of right lung measuring 2.25 cms x
1 cm.
Then it
caused a cut in the right side of front of pericardium measuring 1.75 cms x 1
cm and then caused a stab in the anterior aspect of right ventricle measuring
1.5 cms x 1 cm x cavity deep. Pericardial sac contains 50 ml of blood with
clots. Right pleural cavity contains 750 ml of blood with clots. The depth of
the wound tract is about 10 cms. The margins of the wound are regular and both
ends are pointed.
2)
Transversely oblique stab injury over back of left side of upper chest
measuring 3 cms x 1 cm x entering the left thoracic cavity. The lower medial
end of the wound is 4 cms from the middle of T 3 vertebra. The wound passes
forward, downwards and medially through the left third inter costal space
causing a stab injury in the posterior aspect of upper lobe of left lung
measuring 2 cms x 1 cm x 2 cms. The deepest part ending as a point. Both ends
of the wound are pointed and the margins are regular. The length of the wound
tract is about 8 cms left pleural cavity contains 400 ml of blood with clots.
3)
Vertically oblique stab injury over back of right side of upper chest measuring
3 cms x 1 cm x entering the right thoracic cavity. The upper medial end of the
wound is 1.5 cms from the middle of T 4 vertebra. The wound passes downwards,
laterally and forwards in the fourth right inter costal space cutting the right
fourth rib in the posterior aspect and causing a stab injury in the middle lobe
of right lung measuring 2.5 8 cms x 1 cm x 2 cms and the deepest point ending
as a point. The length of the wound tract is about 8 cms.
Both ends
of the wound are pointed and the margins are regular.
4)
Transversely oblique stab injury over back of left side of upper chest close to
midline measuring 3 cms x 1 cm x 3.5 cms deep in the muscle plane. The lower
inner end of the wound is close to middle of T3 vertebra. The wound passes
downwards, laterally and forwards. Both ends of the wound are pointed and
margins are regular.
5)
Vertically oblique stab injury just below the right side of lower lip measuring
1 cm x 0.5 cms through and through and exiting through the buckle surface of
the lower lip on the right side, wound measuring 0.75 x 0.5 cm. The wound
passes upwards, backwards and laterally.
The
length of the wound tract is about 1 cm. The upper inner end of the wound is 1
cm right to midline of chin. The ends of the wound are pointed (both) and the
margins are regular.
6)
Vertically oblique stab injury over the middle third of back of left arm
measuring 4.5 cms x 2 cms x 6 cms deep in the muscle plane. The distal outer
end of the wound is 8 cms above left elbow. The wound passes upwards, forwards
and medially. Both the ends of the wound are pointed and margins are regular.
7)
Oblique stab injury over the posterior aspect of left hip measuring 3 cms x 1
cm x 5 cms deep in the muscle plane. Both ends of the wound are pointed and the
margins are regular. The lower outer end of the wound is 7 cms below and behind
the left anterior superior iliac spine. The wound passes forwards, upwards and
laterally.
8) An
oblique cut injury over left side of upper lip measuring 3 cms x 1 cm x 1 cm
muscle deep.
9) An
oblique cut injury over left side of lower lip measuring 4 cms x 1 cm x 1 cm muscle
deep.
10)
Transversely oblique incised wound over front of upper part of neck just above
thyroid cartilage measuring 3 cms x 1 cm x skin deep.
11)
Oblique incised wound in the middle of right infra clavicular region measuring
1 cm x 0.5 cm x skin deep.
9 The
upper inner end of the wound is 6 cms from the medial end of right clavicle.
12)
Transversely oblique skin deep incised wounds four in number in the left sub
scapular region measuring 5 cms x 1 cm, 3 cms x 1 cm, 2 cms x 0.5 cm and 1 cm x
0.5 cm.
13)
Transversely oblique skin deep incised wound over upper inter scapular region
on the right side measuring 2 cms x 1 cm.
14)
Transversely oblique skin deep incised wound over the back of right lower chest
measuring 2 cms x 0.5 cms.
15)
Vertically oblique skin deep incised wound over the upper inter scapular region
on the left side measuring 4 cms x 0.5 cm.
16)
Vertically oblique skin deep incised wound over the upper inter scapular region
on the right side measuring 2 cms x 0.5 cms.
17)
Transversely oblique skin deep incised wound over the back of left side of
upper abdomen measuring 2 cms x 1 cm.
18)
Transversely oblique skin deep incised wound over the dorsum of right wrist
measuring 5 cms x 0.5 cm.
19)
Oblique cut injury over the dorsum right hand measuring 5 cms x 1 cm x bone
deep.
20)
Another transversely oblique cut injury over the dorsum of right hand close to
right index finger measuring 3 cms x 1 cm x bone deep.
21)
Oblique cut injury over the radial aspect of right palm measuring 2 cms x 0.5
cm x 1 cm muscle deep.
22)
Oblique cut injury over the medial aspect of lower third of right thigh 5 cms
above right knee measuring 7 cms x 2 cms x 1 cm deep in the subcutaneous plane.
23)
Transversely oblique cut injury over the front of upper part of left arm 12 cms
below the top of left shoulder measuring 2 cms x 1 cm x 1 cm deep in the muscle
plane.
1 24)
Oblique incised wound over the front of upper part of left forearm 8 cms below
left elbow measuring 3 cms x 0.5 cm x skin deep.
25) Abrasions
seen in the following regions:
1 cm x 1
cm, 0.5 x 0.5 cm over right side of forehead.
3 cm x
0.25 cm over right lateral aspect of lower chest.
2 cm x 1
cm, 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm over dorsum of proximal part of right forearm.
2 cm x 1
cm over back of right elbow.
3 cm x 1
cm, 2 cm x 1 cm over lateral aspect of upper part of right leg.
4 cm x 3
cm over lateral aspect of middle third of right thigh.
2 cm x 1
cm over the lateral aspect of right hip.
7 cm x 4
cm over the lateral aspect of right gluteal region.
3 cm x 1
cm just below left mastoid.
4 cm x 1
cm and 3 cm x 1 cm over left lateral aspect of neck.
3 cm x 1
cm over left supra scapular region.
4 cm x
0.5 cm and 1 cm x 1 cm over lateral aspect of upper part of left arm.
1 cm x 1
cm over posterior aspect of lower part of left arm.
5 cm x 4
cm and 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm over posterior aspect of left elbow.
4 cm x 2
cm over lateral aspect of left hip.
Multiple
tiny scratch abrasions over left knee, lower part of left forearm, right hand,
right side of face, left side of forehead, dorsum of nose and over front of
neck.
Other
findings:
1
Peritoneal cavity empty.
Lungs cut
section pale.
Heart all
chambers empty. Coronaries patent.
Hyoid
bone intact.
Stomach
contains 150 ml of brown colour fluid without any specific smell. Mucosa pale.
Small
intestine contains 20 ml bile stained fluid without any specific smell. Mucosa
pale.
Liver,
spleen, kidneys and brain cut section pale.
Urinary
bladder empty.
External
genitalia nil injury. Right hydrocele present.
1.
According to the medical opinion, the death of Murugesan was caused due to
excessive haemorrhage and shock on account of multiple stab injuries over chest
and corresponding internal injuries to heart and both lungs.
2. The
short question that arises for our consideration in this appeal is as to
whether the courts below committed any manifest error in relying on the
evidence of eye witnesses, Natarajan (PW-2), Rajendran (PW-3) and Subramani
(PW-4) to convict the appellants for the charge under Section 302, IPC.
3. Before
analysing the evidence of PWs-2 to 4, let us have a look at the evidence of
Savithri (PW 8) whose version is important to appreciate the contention
regarding the very presence of PWs - 2 to 4 at the scene of offence.
4. PW
8-Savithiri, was residing nearby Badrakaliamman Koil at Kovai Pudur Pirivu and
her husband is a transport operator owning a lorry. It is in her evidence that
on 28th March, 2002 at about 7 a.m. Natarajan (PW 2) along with two other persons
came to her house when her husband was away, stating that they have come to
know that her husband desired to dispose of his lorry owned by him which they
wanted to purchase, and therefore, wanted to have a look at the lorry. The
lorry was stationed at a distance of about 30 feet from her house. The distance
between the lorry where it was stationed and the footpath was about 20 to 25
feet.
That,
after finishing her household work, she came out of the house at about 9 a.m.
and found that there was a heavy crowd near the footpath. Meanwhile, her
husband also reached the home. She was examined on the same evening and she
narrated the incident to the police.
She was
not subjected to any cross-examination by the appellants. Marudhachalam (PW 20)
is the husband of PW8-Savithiri. It is in his evidence that he was in deep
financial problems and proposed to dispose of his lorry and for that purpose
sought the assistance of some brokers including that of Natarajan-PW2. He
stated in his evidence that by the time he returned home at about 9 a.m., he
saw that there was a crowd at a 1 distance of 50 feet away from his house. He
went to the scene of occurrence at about 10 a.m. along with his brother
Paramasivam. The police were investigating the matter and the mahazar (Ext.
P30) was prepared in which his brother Paramasivam had signed. It is also in
his evidence that his wife Savithri (PW8) informed him about Natarajan (PW2)
and two others came to inspect the lorry stating that they were interested to
purchase the same.
5.
Natarajan (PW2), is an automobile broker dealing with the sale and purchase of
old trucks and cars. It is in his evidence that his friend Subramani (PW 4),
who at the relevant time was doing business in sale and purchase of tomato in
wholesale, intended to purchase a lorry and in that connection went to the
house of Marudhachalam (PW 20), at Kovai Pudur. At that time, they have heard
noise "ayyo amma" and he along with other two went running there and
found that three persons were stabbing the deceased repeatedly and the time was
7.00 or 7.30 a.m. It is also in his evidence that one among the accused
sustained a cut injury on his right wrist. On seeing the incident, they ran
away from the place and went to several places. They have reached their house at
about 5 p.m. and in the evening at about 8.30 p.m., the Inspector of Pothanur
police 1 inquired from him as to what he had seen in the morning of that
fateful day. His statement was recorded.
Thereafter,
he was required to attend the identification parade to be held on 23rd April,
2002 at Salem prison and on that day, he identified the appellants 1 and 2
before the Judicial Magistrate and later identified appellant No.3 in the
Court. He further deposed that he is assisted by Rajendran (PW- 3) in his business.
It is in his evidence that Subramani (PW-4) came to him to purchase a lorry
sometime before the incident of the fateful day. He further stated that he knew
that one lorry was available for sale with Marudhachalam (PW-20) and in that
connection, he along with PWs-2 and 4 visited the residence of PW-20 at about
6.00 A.M. on the day of occurrence for the inspection of the lorry. It is in
his evidence that at about 7.00 or 7.30 a.m. when they were verifying the
general condition of the lorry, three persons crossed them towards West and ten
minutes thereafter, they heard a cry in pain from that side, which made them to
run towards that place, where they saw the deceased being stabbed by the
accused with the knives in their hands. He specifically stated that one among
the three assailants got a cut injury on the right hand. It is worthwhile to
mention that he 1 asserted in his statement that he could identify the three
assailants which he did in the test identification parade.
6. The
evidence of Rajendran-PW3 and Subramani (PW 4) is more or less the same as that
of PW2-Natarajan.
7. It is
in the evidence of PWs 2 to 4 that after witnessing the ghastly incident of
attack, they fled away from the scene of offence due to fear. We are unable to
appreciate the criticism levelled by the learned senior counsel appearing for
the appellants that if PWs 2 to 4 were really present at the scene of
occurrence, nothing prevented them from informing the police. The response,
behavioural patterns of individuals in such a situation differs from person to
person and it cannot be said that response of every and any human being would
be similar on such occasions. May be PWs 2 to 4, were reeling under shock and
nervousness. They were roaming here and there and as is evident from their
evidence, they have reached their respective houses only in the evening after 5
p.m. The further criticism was that they were examined only in the evening of
28th March, 2002 and there is no reason offered by the I.O. for not examining
them immediately but only in the night of 28th March, 2002. Be it noted, there
was no question put in the cross-examination to 1 PW30-Investigating Officer,
as to why he did not chose to examine PWs 2, 3 and 4 immediately at the time of
inquest or thereafter. The mere fact that they were not examined during the
inquest is of no consequence. It is nobody's case that they were present at the
time of inquest and yet their statement was not recorded by the I.O. On these
grounds, the presence of PW2 at the scene of occurrence cannot be disbelieved.
That apart, the evidence of PWs 2 to 4 that the appellants are the assailants,
gets support from the evidence of PWs 5 and
28. While
PWs 5 and 28 were returning after worship at the temple, they heard a hue and
cry which made them to run towards the scene of offence, where they saw three
persons running away from the scene of offence. PW5, in the test identification
parade, identified appellant No.2. PW28 (Rathinasamy), whose evidence is more
or less same as that of PW5, had also identified appellant Nos. 1 and 2 in the
test identification parade held on 23rd April, 2002. It is in the evidence of
PWs 5 and 28, that they have seen Murugesan (since deceased) just crossing the
temple while they were going into the temple to offer prayers. There is no
reason to disbelieve the evidence of PWs 5 and 28 that they have seen all the
three assailants, namely, appellants herein escaping from the scene of offence.
They are all 1 independent witnesses, whose evidence cannot be rejected on any
ground whatsoever.
8. There
is no reason to reject or disbelieve the evidence of Gopalakrishnan (PW-5) and
Rathinasamy (PW-28) altogether as both of them gave similar version in their
evidence. Gopalakrishnan (PW-5) who is a resident of Palakadu-Coimbatore road
at Kovai Pudur Pirivu road, deposed in his testimony that at about 7.15 A.M. he
went to Badrakaliamman temple for worshipping on 28.3.2002 and at the same time
Rathinasamy, who is also a resident of the same locality came to the said
temple. He further stated that when both of them were returning after worship,
Murugesan (deceased) was found crossing the temple. It is in his evidence that
at the same time they heard the accused shouting "yesterday you closed one
Sultan Meeran, as a retaliation we are closing you now". On hearing the
said dialogue, they rushed towards the place of occurrence and found Murugesan
lying on the ground in a pool of blood while the assailants were running
towards South of the scene of occurrence. He further stated in his evidence
that on seeing the said Murugesan lying in a pool of blood, they were shocked
and stood there itself for a while.
He knew
that the deceased Murugesan belonged to RSS and therefore, he alongwith
Rathinasamy (PW28) were 1 proceeding to inform Ganesan (PW 15) who was in
charge of BJP party in the area and found that Ganesan (PW 15) was coming in
the opposite direction. Two or three persons came running along with Ganesan
and all of them took the injured Murugesan in a car to the hospital.
Subramani
(PW 4), uncle of Murugesan was one amongst them.
9. Now we
proceed to consider the submission of the learned senior counsel that the
statements of PWs 2 to 4 (eyewitnesses), though purported to have been recorded
on 29th March, 2002, had reached the Court only on 11.4.2002 which according to
him makes the whole prosecution story doubtful. In fact, PW30-the Investigating
Officer explained that in the case of murder of Sultan Meeran on 26th March,
2002, and the murder of Murugesan (deceased) on 28th March, 2002 in succession,
the entire city of Coimbatore and surrounding areas were in a highly disturbed
state and widespread bandobasth was arranged in surrounding areas. Adverting to
this aspect of the matter, the High Court in clear and categorical terms, upon
reappreciation of the evidence, held that in such a situation, no one could
find fault with the Investigating Officer in not sending the statements of PWs
2, 3 and 4 to the Court before 11th April, 2002.
1 Mere
delay in sending the statements of PWs 2 to 4 per se would not make their
evidence unacceptable unless something glaring is brought to our notice to
doubt their very presence at the scene of offence. As rightly pointed out by
the High Court, the evidence of PWs 2 to 4 is so clinching, wherein they have
stated in clear and categorical terms that three persons joining together stabbed
one individual. That portion of the evidence remains unshaken. It is true that
the assailants were not previously known to PWs 2 to 4. But they have later
identified the appellants as the persons who stabbed the deceased.
10.
Learned senior counsel relied upon the judgment of this his submission that the
delay in sending the statements recorded under Section 161, Cr.P.C. to the
Court is fatal to the prosecution's case. Thulia Kali deals with importance of
timely despatch of the first information report which is an extremely vital and
valuable piece of evidence for the purpose of corroborating oral evidence
adduced at the trial. In Marudanal Augusti, this Court on the facts held that
there was a delay of as many as 28 hours in submitting FIR to the Special 1
(1972) 3 SCC 393 2 (1980) 4 SCC 425 2 Magistrate which remained unexplained by
the Investigating Officer in spite of being questioned. The Court came to the
conclusion that there was no proper explanation as to why there was delay in
sending the FIR to the Court. We fail to appreciate as to how those judgments
would help the defence in this case since there is no delay in sending the FIR
in the present case. There is a delay in sending the statements of PWs 2 to 4
recorded under Section 161, Cr.P.C. There is a clear explanation available on
record that the Investigating Officer was also in charge of maintaining law and
order in the area that got vitiated after two murders in succession leading to
a lot of commotion and communal strife. There is no reason to reject the
explanation as to why the statements recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. could
not be promptly despatched to the Court. It was obviously for the reasons
beyond control of the Investigating Officer. Nothing is further suggested to
accept the theory propounded by the learned senior counsel. It is nobody's case
that such statements were not recorded by the Investigating Officer at all. The
suggestion made in this regard to PWs 2 to 4 was denied by them.
11. The
learned senior counsel placed heavy reliance on judgment of the Madras High
Court in Karunakaran 2 Jabamani Nadar In re.3 where the Madras High Court
underscored the importance of speedy despatch of the documents, such as the
original report, the printed form of FIR, inquest report and statement of
witnesses recorded during inquest and the statements of witnesses recorded
under Section 161(3) of Cr.P.C. There is no quarrel with that proposition and
the importance of requirement of sending the vital documents to the Court
without any delay. But the delay may occur due to variety of facts and
circumstances. Delay in despatch of the said documents by itself may not be
fatal to the prosecution in each and every case. The question as to what is the
effect of delay in sending the vital documents to the Court may have to be
assessed and appreciated on the facts and circumstances of each case. It is not
possible to lay down that delay in despatch of the vital documents in each and
every case defeats the prosecution's case.
12.We do
not find any material on record to accept the submissions made during the
course of hearing of this appeal that PW 20, did not own any lorry with him so
as to be sold and the said lorry was not stationed nearby the scene of
occurrence. We do not find any reason to disbelieve the statement of PWs 8 and
20 in this regard which is clear, categorical and forthcoming which we 3 1974
L.W.(Crl) 1190 2 have discussed in the preceding paragraphs. The submission is
accordingly rejected.
13. We
may have to deal with yet another submission made by the learned senior counsel
for the appellants that the investigation was not fair as there were many
missing links in the process of investigation. This submission was made by the
learned counsel contending that the investigation does not reveal as to how the
Investigating Officer came to know about the presence of PWs 2 to 4 at the
scene of occurrence and for recording their statements in that regard. This
Court "even if the investigation is illegal or even suspicious the rest of
the evidence must be scrutinized independently of the impact of it. Otherwise
the criminal trial will plummet to the level of the investigating officers
ruling the roost. ... Criminal justice should not be made a casualty for the
wrongs committed by the investigating officers in the case. In other words, if
the court is convinced that the testimony of a witness to the occurrence is
true, the Court is free to act on it albeit the investigating officer's
suspicious role in the case". The ratio of the judgment in that case is
the complete answer to the 4 (1999) 8 SCC 715 2 submission made by the learned
senior counsel for the appellants.
14.One
more submission of the learned senior counsel was that the prosecution failed
to establish the motive for committing the crime by the appellants. In the
light of the direct evidence of PWs 2 to 4, and 8 and 20, the motive part has
no significance. Even otherwise there is enough material available on record in
the present case that the motive for the present murder was in retaliation to
the murder of one Sultan Meeran allegedly by a group of persons belonging to an
outfit of which the deceased was stated to be a member.
15.We do
not find any reason whatsoever to interfere with the concurrent finding of fact
arrived at by the Courts below in order to convict the appellants for the
offence punishable under Section 302, IPC. We do not find any reason or
justification to disbelieve the evidence of PWs 2, 3 and 4 along with the
evidence of PWs 8 and 20 and the medical evidence. Once the evidence of these
witnesses is found acceptable, the inevitable consequence is to confirm the
conviction of the appellants under Section 302, IPC. The High Court in its
elaborate judgment critically assessed and analyzed every nuance of the
evidence and found a clear case against the appellants. The re appreciation of
the 2 evidence by the appellate Court did not result in any manifest injustice.
We have looked into the evidence to satisfy ourselves as to whether the Courts
below have committed any manifest error in appreciating the evidence available
on record and on such scrutiny, we find that the Courts below did not commit
any error whatsoever in accepting the evidence available on record. In the
circumstances, we hold that the appellants miserably failed to make out any
case requiring our interference under Article 136 of the Constitution.
16.We
accordingly find no merit in the appeal and the same is accordingly dismissed.
.........................J. (B. SUDERSHAN REDDY)
.........................J. (SURINDER SINGH NIJJAR)
New Delhi,
April 19, 2010.
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