S. Sudershan Reddy & Ors Vs. The State of Andhra Pradesh [2006] Insc 438 (20 July 2006)
Arijit
Pasayat & R.V. Raveendran Arijit Pasayat, J.
Challenge
in this appeal is to the judgment rendered by a Division Bench of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court upholding the conviction of the four appellants under
Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the 'IPC') and sentence of
imprisonment for life as awarded by learned Principal Sessions Judge, Kurnool.
Accusations
which led to trial of the appellants was that on 27.4.1999 at about 8.30 p.m.
they caused homicidal death of one Khaja Saheb (hereinafter referred to as the
'Deceased') by hacking and stabbing with sickles and knives.
Prosecution
version in a nutshell is as follows:
On
27.4.1999, sometime prior to the occurrence, Khaja Saheb (the deceased) S. Venkateswara
Reddy, G. Thirumalesh Gowd and T. Sreenivaslu (PWs. 1, 2 and 3) were at a place
called "Ramesh Hotel" near the Silver Jubilee College of Kurnool
Town. Thereafter they started on 2 two wheelers i.e. the deceased and PW1 on
the first vehicle, followed by PWs. 2 and 3 on another vehicle. The deceased
was driving the first of the above mentioned two wheelers. PW1 was the pillion
rider. When the deceased and PW1 reached near the railway gate located on their
way, an auto-rickshaw overtook them. In that process, the deceased lost the
control of the vehicle and they fell down. According to Ex.P1 complaint, lodged
by PW1 which was received by Sub-inspector (PW8) at about 10.30 AM on the very same night, all the four appellants
herein got down from the above mentioned auto rickshaw, attacked the deceased.
As a result of the said attack, the deceased breathed his last on the spot. In
fact, from the evidence of Dr. M.S. R.K. Prasad, the doctor (PW10) who conducted
the post- mortem over the dead body of the deceased, there were number of cut
and stab injuries on the body classified under ten heads. Immediately, after
the incident, PW1 went to the residence of the deceased, informed the kith and
kin of the deceased around 8.45 P.M.
Afterwards, PW1 went to the police station and lodged Ex.P1 complaint.
PW8
the Sub-Inspector of Police who received Ex.P1 at about 10.30 P.M., registered Crime No. 113 of 1999 under Section 302
IPC. He also informed the Inspector of Police, (PW9) Kurnool Town at that relevant point of time. On receipt of the
information, PW9 went to the scene of offence, posted guard at the scene of
offence and on the next morning i.e., 28.4.1999, PW9 secured the presence of
witnesses PWs.1, 2 Sayed Bade Bi (PW5) and B. Hussainappa (PW6) commenced the
inquest around 7.30 A.M. He seized MOs. 1 to 3 the apparels of the deceased
and after conclusion of the inquest, the dead body of the deceased was sent for
postmortem examination. On 8.5.1999 he arrested all the appellants at a place
called "Papaji Dabha". During the course of interrogation the accused
are said to have made a confessional statement, which led to the recovery of M.Os.
7 to 10 under the cover of Ex.P.14 Mahazir. The charge sheet was filed by the
successor in the office of PW 9.
In
order to establish the guilt of the appellants, the prosecution examined 10
witnesses, proved 15 documents and exhibited 10 M.Os. Of the 10 witnesses
examined, PWs.1, 2, 3 and 4 were cited as eye witnesses. PW1 did not support
the prosecution case in full. Therefore, the prosecution cross- examined him.
PW2 did not support the prosecution case at all. Mala Venkateswarulu the (PW4) auto
rickshaw driver though initially supported the prosecution case in full, made
a volte-face and totally resiled from his earlier version when he was recalled
for further cross-examination by the defence a month after his initial
examination. He was at that stage cross-examined by the prosecution.
Similarly,
T. Krishna (PW7) who was the panch witness for Ex.P 13 i.e., arrest Mahazir of
the appellant accused, did not support the prosecution case. The learned
Sessions Judge on elaborate consideration of the evidence brought on record,
came to the conclusion that the appellantsaccused were guilty for the offence
with which they stood charged and convicted and sentenced each to suffer life
imprisonment.
Questioning
correctness of the decision rendered by the trial court, an appeal was
preferred before the Andhra Pradesh High Court by the accused persons. Primary
stand of the appellants before the High Court was that PWs. 1, 2, 4 & 7 did
not support the prosecution version and departed from the statement purportedly
given during investigation; and that only on the basis of the evidence of PW 3,
the conviction should not have been recorded. Though PW 3 claimed to be an eye
witness to the occurrence, his conduct was very abnormal and unusual as he did
not inform the police and did not also tell about the incident to any other
person.
Though
he claimed to be present at the time of inquest, his statement was not even
recorded at the time of inquest.
Furthermore,
being closely related to the deceased his evidence should not have been acted
upon without corroboration.
On the
contrary, stand of the State was that in the Ex. P1, complaint which was lodged
immediately after the occurrence, name of PW3 as an eye witness was mentioned.
Though
PWs 1, 2 and 4 did not support the prosecution version, on a close reading of
their evidence it is clear that the version of PW 3 is established. Further PW4
who was examined on 1.11.2001 fully supported the prosecution version. He was
cross-examined by the defence. Strangely after about the month of the said
cross examination, an application was filed without indicating any reason to
recall him for further cross examination. The trial court without assigning any
reason permitted further cross examination in which he substantially departed
from what he had stated earlier.
The
High Court after analyzing the evidence in detail concurred with the findings
of the trial court and upheld with the conviction and sentence.
In
support of the appeal learned counsel for the appellants submitted that as the
so called eye witnesses PWs. 1,2 and 4 did not support the prosecution version,
the trial court and the High Court should have held that it would be extremely
hazardous to rely on the uncorroborated testimony of PW 3 who was closely
related to the deceased. The source of light for identification of the accused,
was not indicated in the FIR. For the first time the witness PW3 indicated the
source of light for identification. Therefore, the trial court and the High
Court should not have held the appellants guilty.
In
response, learned counsel for the respondent-State submitted that the trial
court and the High Court have analysed the evidence in great detail and also
considering the contention of the accused persons that PW 3 was related to the
deceased, made an elaborate analysis of the evidence and found PW3 to be a
truthful witness. Therefore, the conviction cannot be faulted. Additionally,
the plea relating to absence of the source of light in the FIR was not pleaded
before the Courts below. In any event FIR was not required to indicate the
minutest details. Therefore, it was submitted the appeal deserves to be
dismissed.
We
shall first deal with the contention regarding interestedness of the witnesses
for furthering prosecution version. Relationship is not a factor to affect
credibility of a witness. It is more often than not that a relation would not
conceal actual culprit and make allegations against an innocent person.
Foundation has to be laid if plea of false implication is made. In such cases,
the court has to adopt a careful approach and analyse evidence to find out
whether it is cogent and credible.
In Dalip
Singh and Ors. v. The State of Punjab (AIR
1953 SC 364) it has been laid down as under:- "A witness is normally to be
considered independent unless he or she springs from sources which are likely
to be tainted and that usually means unless the witness has cause, such as
enmity against the accused, to wish to implicate him falsely. Ordinarily a
close relation would be the last to screen the real culprit and falsely
implicate an innocent person. It is true, when feelings run high and there is
personal cause for enmity, that there is a tendency to drag in an innocent
person against whom a witness has a grudge along with the guilty, but
foundation must be laid for such a criticism and the mere fact of relationship
far from being a foundation is often a sure guarantee of truth. However, we are
not attempting any sweeping generalization. Each case must be judged on its own
facts. Our observations are only made to combat what is so often put forward in
cases before us as a general rule of prudence.
There
is no such general rule. Each case must be limited to and be governed by its
own facts." The above decision has since been followed in Guli Chand and
Ors. v. State of Rajasthan (1974 (3) SCC 698) in which Vadivelu
Thevar v. State of Madras (AIR 1957 SC 614) was also relied upon.
We may
also observe that the ground that the witness being a close relative and
consequently being a partisan witness, should not be relied upon, has no
substance. This theory was repelled by this Court as early as in Dalip Singh's
case (supra) in which surprise was expressed over the impression which
prevailed in the minds of the Members of the Bar that relatives were not
independent witnesses.
Speaking
through Vivian Bose, J. it was observed:
"We
are unable to agree with the learned Judges of the High Court that the
testimony of the two eyewitnesses requires corroboration.
If the
foundation for such an observation is based on the fact that the witnesses are
women and that the fate of seven men hangs on their testimony, we know of no
such rule.
If it
is grounded on the reason that they are closely related to the deceased we are
unable to concur. This is a fallacy common to many criminal cases and one which
another Bench of this Court endeavoured to dispel in 'Rameshwar v. State of Rajasthan' (AIR 1952 SC 54 at p.59). We find,
however, that it unfortunately still persists, if not in the judgments of the
Courts, at any rate in the arguments of counsel." Again in Masalti and
Ors. v. State of U.P. (AIR 1965 SC 202) this Court
observed: (p. 209-210 para 14):
"But
it would, we think, be unreasonable to contend that evidence given by witnesses
should be discarded only on the ground that it is evidence of partisan or
interested witnesses.......The mechanical rejection of such evidence on the
sole ground that it is partisan would invariably lead to failure of justice. No
hard and fast rule can be laid down as to how much evidence should be
appreciated. Judicial approach has to be cautious in dealing with such
evidence; but the plea that such evidence should be rejected because it is partisan
cannot be accepted as correct." To the same effect is the decision in
State of Punjab v. Jagir Singh (AIR 1973 SC 2407)
and Lehna v. State of Haryana (2002 (3) SCC 76). Stress was laid
by the accused-appellants on the non-acceptance of evidence tendered by PW3 to
contend about desirability to throw out entire prosecution case. In essence
prayer is to apply the principle of "falsus in uno falsus in omnibus"
(false in one thing, false in everything).
This
plea is clearly untenable. Even if major portion of evidence is found to be
deficient, in case residue is sufficient to prove guilt of an accused,
conviction can be maintained. It is the duty of Court to separate grain from
chaff. Where chaff can be separated from grain, it would be open to the Court
to convict an accused notwithstanding the fact that evidence of some of the
witnesses has been found to be deficient. Falsity of particular material
witness or material particular would not ruin it from the beginning to end. The
maxim "falsus in uno falsus in omnibus" has no application in India and the witnesses cannot be branded
as liar. The maxim "falsus in uno falsus in omnibus" has not received
general acceptance nor has this maxim come to occupy the status of rule of law.
It is merely a rule of caution. All that it amounts to, is that in such cases
testimony may be disregarded, and not that it must be disregarded. The doctrine
merely involves the question of weight of evidence which a Court may apply in a
given set of circumstances, but it is not what may be called 'a mandatory rule
of evidence'. (See Nisar Ali v. The State of Uttar Pradesh (AIR 1957 SC 366).(Also see: Sucha Singh and Anr. v. State
of Punjab (2003 (6) JT SC 348).
Learned
counsel for the appellants submitted that the non-mention about the source of
light in the FIR is clearly fatal to the prosecution case. Strong reliance is
placed on the decisions in Bollauaram Pedda Narsi Reddy and Ors. v. State of Andhra Pradesh (1991(3) SCC 434). As has rightly
pointed out by the learned counsel for the Respondent State such a plea was not taken before
either the trial court or the High Court. It is interesting that in the cross
examination of the witnesses, the defence has suggested that the light was dim
because the scooter had practically stopped moving and there was only idling of
the engine. PW 2's evidence is categorical that he saw the attack in the light
of the scooter head light.
This
was stated in the cross examination by the accused persons. Similarly PW 3 was
asked as to whether he could tell the number of blows each accused gave. He
answered in the affirmative. Indirect suggestion therefore was that though the
blows were there, he could not tell the number. To say the least this is
irresponsible cross examination. Though for that alone the prosecution case
does not get strengthened yet this is a factor which can be taken note of. Non
mention in the FIR about the source of light is really non consequential. It is
well settled that FIR is not an encyclopaedia of the facts concerning the crime
merely because of minutest details of occurrence were not mentioned in the FIR
the same cannot make the prosecution case doubtful. It is not necessary that
minutest details should be stated in the FIR. It is sufficient if a broad
picture is presented and the FIR contains the broad features.
For
lodging FIR, in a criminal case and more particularly in a murder case, the
stress must be on prompt lodging of the FIR.
Therefore
mere absence of indication about the source of light does not in any way affect
the prosecution version.
Additionally
the decision in Bollanaram's case (supra) is really of no assistance to the
appellant. It is apparent that the observation regarding the non-mention about
the source of light in that case was by way of description of the factual
scenario. It was noted by the court that victims were strangers to the accused.
In that background the source of light was found to be of some importance.
In Nathuni
Yadav and Others v. State of Bihar and
Another. (1998(9) SCC 238) this Court observed that under what circumstances
the lack of moon light or artificial light does not per se preclude
identification of the assailants. It was noted as follows :- "Even
assuming that there was no moonlight then, we have to gauge the situation
carefully.
The
proximity at which the assailants would have confronted with the injured, the
possibility of some light reaching there from the glow of stars, and the fact that
the murder was committed on a roofless terrace are germane factors to be borne
in mind while judging whether the victims could have had enough visibility to
correctly identify the assailants. Over and above those factors, we must bear
in mind the further fact that the assailants were no strangers to the inmates
of the tragedy-bound house, the eyewitnesses being well acquainted with the
physiognomy of each one of the killers. We are, therefore, not persuaded to
assume that it would not have been possible for the victims to see the
assailants or that there was possibility for making a wrong identification of
them. We are keeping in mind the fact that even the assailants had enough light
to identify the victims whom they targeted without any mistake from among those
who were sleeping on the terrace. If the light then available, though meager,
was enough for the assailants why should we think that the same light was not
enough for the assailants why should we think that the same light was not
enough for the assailants why should we think that the same light was not
enough for the injured who would certainly have pointedly focused their eyes on
the faces of the intruders standing in front of them.
What
is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander." In the instant case, the
time was about 7 P.M. in the evening in the month of
April. The position was again reiterated in Bharasi and others v. State of M.P. (2002(7) SCC 239). It was inter alia noted as follows
:
"In
relation to the identification of the accused in the darkness, the High Court
has clearly stated that in the month of April, the sun sets at about 7.00 p.m. in the evening, the accused were known to the
witnesses and could be identified even in faint darkness. Here again, the High
Court has relied upon the decision of this Court in the case of Nathuni Yadav
v. State of Bihar (1998 (9) SCC 238). The High Court
has also noticed that the enmity between the deceased and the appellants was
not disputed." In Krishnan and Another v. State of Kerala (1996(10) SCC 508 ) it was observed
as follows :
"After
giving our careful consideration to the facts and circumstances of the case and
the evidence adduced, we do not find any reason to interfere with the
well-reasoned judgment passed by the High Court in convicting appellant-2 Vijaykumar.
So far as the contention of insufficient light is concerned, we may indicate
that in an open field on a cloudless starry night, there was no difficulty in
identifying the victim by the assailants because of existence of some light
with which identification was possible. PW1 being a close relation of both the
accused, there was no difficulty for PW 1 to identify them. The accused were
also known to the other witness for which he could also identify them. So far
as appellant- Vijaykumar is concerned, PW1 had physically prevented him from
causing further injury on the deceased and there was a tussle between the two.
Hence there was no difficulty for PW1 to identify Accused 2- Vijaykumar. His
deposition gets corroboration from the deposition of PW3 who had seen Vijaykumar
at the place of occurrence. PW3 had not seen Vijaykumar causing any injury on
the deceased because by the time PW3 came near the place of the incident and
noticed the incident, Vijaykumar had been prevented by PW1 and his knife had
fallen on the ground." Appeal is dismissed. Looked at from any angle, the
judgment of the High Court does not suffer from any infirmity to warrant
interference.
Back