Pandurang
Chandrakant Mhatre & Ors. Vs. State of Maharashtra [2009] INSC 1638 (8
October 2009)
Judgment
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 986
OF 2007 Pandurang Chandrakant Mhatre & Ors. ...Appellants Versus State of
Maharashtra ...Respondent JUDGEMENT R.M. Lodha, J.
1.
This criminal appeal by special leave is directed against the
judgment of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay whereby the Division Bench
of that Court upturned the judgment of acquittal passed by the IInd Additional
Sessions Judge, Raigad in respect of the present appellants and convicted them
for the offences punishable under Section 302 read with Section 149, section
326 read with 149 and Section 148, IPC and sentenced them to suffer
imprisonment for life and different period of sentence under other counts along
with fine and default stipulation.
2.
Nineteen persons were arraigned before the Trial Court for the
offences under Sections 147, 148, 302 read with Section 149, section 302 read
with section 34, section 307 read with section 149 and section 326 read with
section 149, IPC. Trial Court acquitted all of them. The prosecution challenged
the judgment of acquittal before the High Court of Judicature at Bombay. The
High Court granted leave to appeal against fourteen accused persons only. As
against remaining five accused, leave was refused. During the pendency of
appeal, one of the accused, against whom leave was granted, died. Of the
remaining thirteen accused, the Division Bench affirmed acquittal of five. The
Division Bench convicted eight accused as indicated above.
3.
Before dealing with the points raised in the appeal, it is
appropriate to set out very briefly the prosecution case.
Phunde, a
small village in Taluka Uran, District Raigad, Maharashtra has two groups; one
group is politically associated 2 with the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP)
while the other group has alliance with the Congress (I) Party. The party of
the assailants belong to PWP and the prosecution witnesses belong to Congress-I
party. The deceased was also a Congress-I party worker. The relations between
the two groups due to party politics seem to have been strained for quite some
time. Several criminal cases have been lodged by these two groups against each
other. On the outskirts of the village Phunde, there is a temple popularly
known as Gurbadevi Temple. The said temple celebrates every year an annual fair
with pomp and show; a Jagran is held in the night on the said occasion. On
April 2, 1988, the annual fair at Gurbadevi Temple was being celebrated; the
idol was adorned with ornaments and the entire temple complex was illuminated
with electric lights. In the night, the villagers gathered in the temple for
Jagran. The group belonging to Congress (I) party took active part in the
management of the said fair. The celebrations continued until midnight.
Thereafter, most of the villagers left the temple. However, 15-20 persons who
were in management of the said festival stayed back to keep watch over the 3
ornaments adorned by the idol. Few of those who stayed back were chit-chatting
in Sabhamandap, while some of them were simply resting and others kept
themselves awake by playing cards. In the intervening night of April 2, 1988
and April 3, 1988 at about 3 - 3.15 A.M., Ramesh Mhatre (A-3) came to the
temple, had a look around and then left. A-3 did not speak to anybody. About
15-20 minutes thereafter, A-3 returned to the temple with a group of about 20
persons. All of them were allegedly armed with weapons like iron bar, swords,
pharashi, sticks etc. As soon as they reached, they are said to have started
attacking the people assembled there. Pandurang Chandrakant Mhatre (A-2) and
Ramesh Mhatre (A-3) gave iron-bar blows on the back of Nandkumar Mhatre (PW-2)
but he escaped and ran towards the village. The accused persons started
shouting `dhara-dhara' `mara-mara'. Then, they assaulted Suresh Atmaram Gharat
(deceased), Sudin Mhatre (PW-4), Namdeo Mhatre (PW-5), Laxman Mhatre (PW-6),
Gopal Thakur (PW-7), Mahindra Mhatre (PW-8) and Mahesh Bhoir (PW-10). Suresh
Atmaram Mhatre, ran towards Uran- Panvel Road but the accused persons chased
him. Maninath 4 Shanker (A-12) assaulted him with sword. The other accused
persons assaulted him with sticks and iron bars. As a result of that assault,
Suresh Atmaram Gharat sustained serious injuries. PW-2 rushed towards village
and shouted for help by saying that PWP workers were assaulting their
(Congress-I) Party members. Hearing this, the villagers rushed towards Gurabadevi
Temple. PW-2 then went to Nhava Sheva Police Station where he reached at about
4.15 A.M. (April 3, 1988).
On
reaching at Nava Sheva Police Station, PW-2 found that Namdeo Mhatre (PW-5) was
already sitting in the police station who had conveyed to the police that
persons from rival party (PWP) have assaulted the persons from their party and,
that arrangements be made in sending the Police Party. PSI Anil Tamaichekar
(PW-18) alongwith two police constables and PW-2 immediately left for the
temple in a police jeep. On his way to village Phunde, PW-18 made enquiries
from the persons who were crying and he came to know that the injured persons
have been taken to Uran Dispensary. When he reached Uran Dispensary, he was
informed that seriously injured persons have been sent to Sion Hospital,
Bombay. PW-18 then went to 5 the place of occurrence and from there he
proceeded for Nhava Sheva Police Station. On his way, PW-18 came across one
ambulance carrying injured persons. PW-18 was informed that one of the injured
persons viz., Suresh Atmaram Gharat was dead. PW-18 and PW-2 then immediately
went to Nhava Sheva Police Station. PW-2 lodged the complaint (Exh. 31) based
on which a criminal case (C.R. No. 17/88) was registered at 6.00 A.M. on April
3, 1988 for the offences under Sections 302, 147, 148, 149, 323, 114, 307 and
326, IPC. The investigation into the crime was commenced by PW-18; he prepared
inquest Panchnama (Exh.67); spot Panchnama (Exh. 32); and recorded the
statements of some witnesses in the vicinity of scene of offence. The
investigation was then taken over by Shantaram Waghmare, Assistant Commissioner
of Police (PW- 17) and changed hands as PW-17 was transferred. As the accused
persons were not traceable, the Investigating Officer searched them vigorously.
Six accused persons were arrested on May 26, 1988; nine were arrested on May
28, 1988 and the remaining four were arrested on August 16, 1988. For the
period from May 28, 1988 to August 18, 1988, on different 6 dates at the
instance of different accused persons, weapons of assault were recovered. The
investigation took long time of about 4-5 months.
4.
The postmortem of dead body of Suresh Atmaram Gharat was conducted
on April 3, 1988 by Dr. Bhujang Bawa (PW-11), Medical Officer, Uran Dispensary.
PW-11 also medically examined injured witnesses on the same day; six of them
were sent to the Sion Hospital, Bombay for treatment as they received serious
injuries. Upon completion of all necessary formalities in the investigation,
the Challan was submitted by the Investigating Officer before the Judicial
Magistrate, First Class, Uran against Kamlakar Shrawan Thakur (A-1), Pandurang
Chandrakant Mhatre (A-2), Ramesh @ Raman Chandrakant Mhatre (A-3), Parshuram
Chandrakant Mhatre (A-4), Ashok Yadav Mhatre (A-5), Damodar Vasant Gharat (A-
6), Vinod Trimbak Mhatre (A-7), Prakash Pandurang Thakur (A- 8), Mahesh
Pandurang Gharat (A-9), Ramchandra Raghunath Mhatre (A-10), Mahesh Shankar
Gharat (A-11), Maninath Shankar Gharat (A-12), Mukund Moreshwar Mhatre (A-13),
Ganpat Raghunath Mhatre (A-14), Bhushan Balchandra Mhatre 7 (A-15), Dayanand
Mahadeo Mhatre (A-16), Rupendra Shripat Mhatre (A-17), Nitin Kamalakar Thakur
(A-18) and Prakash Madhukar Mhatre (A-19). As offences like 302 and 307 were
exclusively triable by the Court of Sessions, the Judicial Magistrate, First
Class, committed the aforesaid accused persons to the Court of Sessions Judge,
Raigad-Alibagh. The case was transferred to the Court of IInd Additional
Sessions Judge, Raigad-Alibag for trial.
5.
PW-11 found following injuries on the body of the deceased :
"(1)
Incised wound over the left Iliac fossa, vertical skin deep, 8 X = cm.
(2)
Incised wound over the head 4 cm above the Occipital. Vertical 3 x = cm. Bone
deep (3) C.L.W. over the right upper arm in the middle on lateral side (4 x 4
cm.) with fracture of the right humerus m/3.
(4)
C.L.W. just below the right Tibial Tuberosity 3 x 3 cm.
Irregular
with fracture of Tribia and fibula U/3.
(5)
C.L.W. over the right shin over lower/3 on anterior side 2 x 2 cm. with a
fracture of tibia and fibula L/3.
(6)
Fracture of left Radius and Ulna L/3."
The
aforesaid injuries on the body of deceased were found ante-mortem by PW-11.
6.
Laxman Mhatre (PW-6) was initially taken to the Uran Dispensary
and from there he was taken to Sion Hospital, 8 Bombay on April 3, 1988 itself.
He was found to have sustained following injuries (vide Exh. 87) :
"i)
CLW (R) FO Region 2" x 1" BD ii) S/7/D (L) UIna m/3 no. DWD CLW
1" x =" SCD L/3rd ulna PW m/3 Ulna clinically # m/3 Ulna
Contamination + iii) open injury (R) elbow CLW 2" x 1" BD vertically
splitting olecranon with impression # (R) trochlea No DWD iv) S/7/D (R) Ankle
no DWD v) tenderness (R) gluteal region.
vi) No.#
spine/pelvis/ribs/clinically x-ray # (L) Ulna m/3; # (R) Olecranon compo
vertical;
soft
tissue (R) ankle injury."
7.
Vithal Pandurang Mhatre (PW-3) was also taken to Sion Hospital,
Bombay on April 3, 1988. He was discharged on May 14, 1988. At the time of
admission in the hospital, the following injuries were found on his person
(Vide Exh. 88) :
"(1)
Amputation (R) thumb with thumb held by skin tag.
(2) I/W
(R) thigh subcutaneous deep 1" x ="
8.
Sudin Mhatre (PW-4) was admitted in Sion Hospital on April 3,
1980. He remained there as indoor patient for three days and was discharged on
April 6, 1988. At the time of his admission in the Sion Hospital, he was found
to have sustained the following injuries (Vide Exh. 89) :
"(1)
CLW vertex 10 cm (2) Outer table # skull "
9.
Mahindra Lalji Mhatre (PW-8) was admitted at Sion Hospital on
April 3, 1988 and was discharged on April 5, 1988.
At the
time of his admission in Sion hospital, he was found suffering from the
following injuries (Vide Exh. 90) :
"(1)
CLW sintered forehead 1 ="
(2) CLW
occipital 1 ="
(3) CLW
mucosal aspect lower lip area (4) Multiple inj on back"
10.
Namdeo Yadav Mhatre (PW-5) sustained the following injuries :
"1.
Abrasion over the back at lumbar region 2 x 2 cm with irregular margin.
2.
Abrasion over Rt.intra-axillary area 3 x 3 cm with irregular margin.
3.
Abrasion over the Left elbow jt. 1 x 1 cm irregular in margin."
11.
Mahesh Kashinath Bhoir (PW-10) was also injured in the incident
and he suffered the following simple injuries :
"Wheelmark
over the Epigastric region 6 x 2 cm vertical with irregular margin."
12.
The prosecution sought to establish its case by tendering nine
eye-witnesses in evidence, viz., PW-2, PW-3, PW-4, PW-5, PW-6, PW-7, PW-8, PW-9
and PW-10. Many of them were injured. The accused persons denied that they had
10 anything to do with the offences charged. Their defence was that a false
case has been made against them by the aforesaid prosecution witnesses. A-2
pleaded alibi in his defence.
13.
The trial court rejected the evidence of eye- witnesses holding
that because of a sudden attack, all the prosecution witnesses ran
helter-skelter and everybody tried to run away from the accused to save their
life and in a situation like this they must not have been in a position to see
actually who assaulted them. The trial court held that the evidence regarding
assault on Suresh Atmaram Gharat was not specific and as he (deceased) ran from
the temple, the attack on him took place at some distance from the temple and
being a night time, none of the witnesses could see the attack on the deceased
from the short distance, say about 5' to 10'. The trial court observed that
although PW-5 reached the Nhava Sheva Police Station at about 4 to 4.15 a.m.
and gave information about the incident, but the FIR was registered at 6.00
a.m. at the instance of PW-2. From this, the trial court drew the inference
that PW-18 and PW-2 must have pondered over the 11 matter for false implication
of the accused in the offence. The trial court, thus, acquitted all the accused
persons.
14.
The High Court, however, reversed the conclusion of the trial
court in respect of eight accused persons. The High Court held that in the
intervening night of April 2, 1988 and April 3, 1988 at about 3 to 3.30 a.m.,
there was an unlawful assembly of which A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-10, A-11 and
A-12 were the members. The High Court also held that all the accused were armed
with deadly weapons like sword, iron bars, pharshi, sticks and their common
object was to make a murderous attack on Suresh Atmaram Gharat. The High Court,
after setting aside the order of acquittal against A-2 to A-6, A-10, A-11 and
A-12, convicted them for the offence punishable under Section 302 read with
149, I.P.C. and sentenced them to suffer imprisonment for life. The High Court
also convicted these accused persons for other offences and punished them for
lesser sentence with fine and default stipulations.
15.
Mr. R. Sundaravardan, learned Senior Counsel addressed the
principal arguments before us on behalf of appellant nos. 1 to 3. Mr. A.K.
Srivastava, learned Senior 12 Counsel made submissions for appellant nos. 4 to
6 and Mr. Shekhar Naphade, learned Senior Counsel argued for appellant no. 8.
16.
Mr. R. Sundaravardan, learned Senior Counsel submitted that FIR
(A-31) is no FIR in law as it is hit by the prohibition contained in Section
162 of Cr.P.C. He would submit that FIR (A-31) is of doubtful authenticity as
it lacks spontaneity and delay in its registration. According to him, FIR ought
to have been registered in the first instance on the information of PW-5 or in
any case on the information given by PW-2 at 4.30 a.m. Instead, PW-18 (IO)
takes PW-1 to the scene of occurrence, meets the villagers and ambulance on the
way, dispatches the dead body to the hospital for the post-mortem, goes to the
village and thereafter proceeds to the police station along with PW-2 and
registers the purported FIR (A-31) with coloured version, exaggerated accounts
and concocted story against whom the prosecution party has a grudge. Learned
Senior Counsel also submitted that there was gross violation of Section 157,
Cr.P.C. inasmuch as FIR in the Court was received on April 12, 1988, although
the occurrence took place 13 on April 3, 1988. He relied upon the decisions of
this Court in Meharaj Singh (L/Nk.) v. State of U.P.1; T.T. Antony v. State of
Kerala & Ors.2 and Ramesh Baburao Devaskar & Ors. v. State of
Maharashtra3. The learned Senior Counsel, thus, submitted that there is genuine
doubt as to the time, date and manner in which purported FIR (A-31) was
recorded and police is guilty of having not disclosed the whole correct story
to the court.
17.
Learned Senior Counsel would contend that the evidence of
witnesses, who professed themselves as eye- witnesses deserved to be rejected
as they belong to rival political parties in a faction ridden village.
Moreover, they are related to each other as well as the deceased. These
witnesses have been examined at much belated stage by police; some of them
after nine days. Learned counsel would urge that one or other of these
prosecution witnesses are themselves accused in sessions case; in some cases
accused were witness/complainant against them and some of the prosecution
witnesses' parents were convicted for life. Their testimony is also not
corroborated by any doctor from Sion Hospital as no 1 (1994) 5 SCC 188 2 (2001)
6 SCC 181 3 (2007)13 SCC 501 14 doctor from that hospital was examined and that
their evidence suffers from vital contradictions, omissions, exaggerations and
improvements. In this regard, the learned Senior Counsel took us through the
evidence of PW-2, PW-3, PW-4, PW-5, PW-6, PW-7, PW-8 and PW-9. He also
submitted that evidence of PW-3, PW-4 and PW-8 is hearsay evidence and,
therefore, no evidence in the eye of law.
18.
Learned Senior Counsel vehemently contended that investigation in
the present case is an example of one of the most unfair investigation inasmuch
as the certificate regarding A-2, as to his absence from scene though procured
by PW-17, yet, was kept away from the Court. He also cited late recording of
the FIR after having taken several steps of investigation as yet another
glaring example of unfair investigation. On top of it, he would submit that FIR
reached the concerned court after nine days of incident.
19.
Mr. R. Sundaravardan, learned Senior Counsel also contended that
plea of alibi set up by A-2 is established by the evidence of DW-1 who is an
officer of NAD.
Learned
Senior Counsel also submitted that from the 15 prosecution evidence, the doubt about
the place of occurrence has not been cleared and that prosecution has failed to
establish the availability of adequate light at the site which could have
enabled the witnesses in fact see the incident.
20.
Learned Senior Counsel strenuously urged that the trial court has
given cogent and convincing reasons for acquitting the appellants but the High
Court without justifiable reasons and, rather, on flimsy grounds interfered
with the judgment of the acquittal.
21.
Lastly, learned Senior Counsel, without prejudice to the
afore-noticed submissions, urged that there was no evidence to show that there
was common object of the unlawful assembly to commit murder of Suresh Atmaram
Gharat. He invited our attention to the finding recorded by the High Court at page
39 of the SLP paper book wherein the High Court recorded that common object of
the unlawful assembly was to cause grievous hurt. Learned Senior Counsel would
urge that there was no specific evidence to show that Suresh Atmaram Gharat
died because of any particular blow. According to him, the High Court although
held that for six injuries on the person 16 of deceased, as per post-mortem
report, nine accused cannot be held guilty yet the High Court came to the
conclusion that common object of the unlawful assembly was to commit murder.
The learned Senior Counsel submitted that when there was doubt as to who
inflicted the fatal blow, as in the present case, safe course is to convict the
accused under Sections 326 or 304 Part-II, IPC. In this regard, the learned
Senior Counsel relied upon large number of decisions, viz., State of Haryana v.
Prabhu
& Ors4; Sarwan Singh & Ors.etc. v. State of Punjab5;
Ram
Anjore and Others. v. State of U.P.6; Gokul & Others v. State of
Rajasthan7; Md. Isak Md. & Others v. State of Maharashtra8; Ninaji Raoji
Baudha & Another v. State of Maharashtra9; Nattan v. State of Tamil Nadu10;
Mariadasan & Others v. State of Tamil Nadu11; Bharwad Bhikha Natha & Others
v. State of Gujarat12; Harshadsingh Pahelvansingh Thakore v. State of
Gujarat13; Bhajan Singh and Others v. State 4 AIR 1979 SC 1019 5 AIR 1978 SC
1525 6 AIR 1975 SC 185 7 AIR 1972 SC 209 8 AIR 1979 SC 1434 9 AIR 1976 SC 1537
10 AIR 1976 SC 2197 11 AIR 1980 SC 573 12 AIR 1977 SC 1768 13 AIR 1977 SC 710
17 of Punjab14; Bansropan Singh and Others v. State of Bihar15;
Sarman
& Others v. State of M.P.16
22.
On behalf of appellant No. 8 (A-12), separate written submissions
have been filed. While adopting the arguments advanced by Mr. R. Sundaravardan,
it is contended on behalf of appellant No. 8 that the unexplained delay in
dispatch of FIR would create suspicion about the contents of the FIR and the
evidence of the eye-witnesses. In this regard, reliance has been placed on :
Ishwar Singh v. State of U.P17; Radhakrishnan Nair v. State of Kerala18; Chotu
v. State of Haryana19; Palia v. State of Punjab20; Bathula Nagamalleswara Rao
And Ors. v. State rep. by Public Prosecutor21; Mahmood and Anr. v. State of
U.P.22; State of Punjab v. Avtar Singh23;
State of
Punjab v. Gurdip Kaur24 and Ramesh Baburao Devaskar And Others v. State of
Maharashtra25. It is also contended that although the trial court recorded the
finding to 14 AIR 1978 SC 1759 15 AIR 1983 SC 166 16 AIR 1993 SC 400.
17 AIR
1976 SC 2423 18 1995 Suppl (1) SCC 217 19 1996 SCC (Crl.) 1161 20 1997 SCC
(Crl.) 383 21 (2008) 11 SCC 722 22 (2008) Crl. Law Journal 696 23 (2008) 14
SCALE 368 24 (2009) 1 SCC 120 25 2007 (13) SCC 501 18 the effect that there was
violation of mandatory provisions contained in Section 157 of Cr.P.C. which is
fatal for prosecution case, the High Court has not considered this aspect at
all which is a serious infirmity. In this regard, reliance has been placed on
Chandu v. State of Maharashtra26;
Kashiram
& Ors. v. State of M.P.27 and Harijana Thirupala & Ors. v. Public
Prosecutor A.P., Hyderabad28. A contention has also been raised on behalf of
the appellant No. 8 about the inadmissibility of site plan (Exh. 29). Reliance
has been placed in this regard on the decision of this Court in the case of Ram
Ratan & Others v. State of Rajasthan29.
23.
On the other hand, Ms. Madhavi Divan, State Counsel, supported the
judgment of the High court.
24.
In Meharaj Singh, this court explained the consequences that may
ensue due to delay in dispatching FIR to the Magistrate in the following words
:
"..........One
of the checks is the receipt of the copy of the FIR, called a special report in
a murder case, by the local Magistrate. If this report is received by the
Magistrate late it can give rise to an inference that the FIR was not lodged at
the time it is alleged to have been recorded, unless, of course 26 2002 (9) SCC
408 27 2002 (1) SCC 71 28 2002 (6) SCC 470 29 1962 (3) SCR 590;
19 the prosecution
can offer a satisfactory explanation for the delay in despatching or receipt of
the copy of the FIR by the local Magistrate. Prosecution has led no evidence at
all in this behalf......"
25.
In the case of T.T. Antony, it has been held by this Court that
there can be no second FIR. While dealing with Section 154 and other relevant
provisions, this Court said:
"18.
An information given under sub-section (1) of Section 154 Cr.P.C is commonly
known as first information report (FIR) though this term is not used in the
Code. It is a very important document. And as its nickname suggests it is the
earliest and the first information of a cognizable offence recorded by an
officer in charge of a police station. It sets the criminal law in motion and
marks the commencement of the investigation which ends up with the formation of
opinion under Section 169 or 170 Cr.P.C, as the case may be, and forwarding of
a police report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. It is quite possible and it happens
not infrequently that more informations than one are given to a police officer
in charge of a police station in respect of the same incident involving one or
more than one cognizable offences. In such a case he need not enter every one
of them in the station house diary and this is implied in Section 154 Cr.P.C.
Apart from a vague information by a phone call or a cryptic telegram, the
information first entered in the station house diary, kept for this purpose, by
a police officer in charge of a police station is the First Information Report
-- FIR postulated by Section 154 Cr.P.C. All other informations made orally or
in writing after the commencement of the investigation into the cognizable
offence disclosed from the facts mentioned in the first information report and
entered in the station house diary by the police officer or such other
cognizable offences as may come to his notice during the investigation, will be
statements falling under Section 162 Cr.P.C. No such information/statement can
properly be treated as an FIR and entered in the station house diary again, as
it would in effect be a second FIR and the same cannot be in conformity with
the scheme of Cr.P.C...............
19. The
scheme of Cr.P.C is that an officer in charge of a police station has to
commence investigation as provided in Section 156 or 157 Cr.P.C on the basis of
entry of the first information report, on coming to know of the commission of a
cognizable offence. On completion of investigation and on the basis of the
evidence collected, he has to form an opinion under Section 169 or 170 Cr.P.C,
as the case may be, and forward his report to the Magistrate concerned under
Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. However, even after filing such a report, if he comes
into possession of further information or material, he need not register a
fresh FIR; he is empowered to make further investigation, normally with the
leave of the court, and where during further investigation he collects further
evidence, oral or documentary, he is obliged to forward the same with one or
more further reports; this is the import of sub-section (8) of Section 173
Cr.P.C.
20. From
the above discussion it follows that under the scheme of the provisions of
Sections 154, 155, 156, 157, 162, 169, 170 and 173 Cr.P.C only the earliest or
the first information in regard to the commission of a cognizable offence
satisfies the requirements of Section 154 Cr.P.C.
Thus
there can be no second FIR and consequently there can be no fresh investigation
on receipt of every subsequent information in respect of the same cognizable
offence or the same occurrence or incident giving rise to one or more
cognizable offences. On receipt of information about a cognizable offence or an
incident giving rise to a cognizable offence or offences and on entering the
FIR in the station house diary, the officer in charge of a police station has
to investigate not merely the cognizable offence reported in the FIR but also
other connected offences found to have been committed in the course of the same
transaction or the same occurrence and file one or more reports as provided in
Section 173 Cr.P.C."
26.
In the case of Ramesh Baburao Devaskar, this Court observed :
"18.
A First Information Report cannot be lodged in a murder case after the inquest
has been held. The first information report has been lodged on the basis of the
statements made by PW 11 to the informant himself at the spot. If the said
prosecution witness who claimed himself to be the 21 eyewitness was the person
who could lodge a first information report, there was absolutely no reason as
to why he himself did not become the first informant. The first information
report was recorded on the basis of his information given to the first
informant at the spot. All information given by him to PW 13 was made before
the investigating officer himself. What prevented him from lodging the First
Information Report is beyond our comprehension. PW 11, we may place on record,
categorically stated that he had disclosed the details of information to all
concerned. Therefore, it is expected that the first informant was informed
thereabout. We have noticed hereinbefore that the information given by PW 13
had at least been recorded by the police in the crime register and he
categorically stated a few facts viz. the main accused Accused 9 committed murder
of his brother Shivaji Patil and one Baburao Patil. Even the place where the
murder took place was known to him. If we are to believe the investigating
officer, he recorded the statement after holding inquest. The detailed report
in regard to the nature of injuries as also the place where the injuries were
inflicted was known to him as inquest report had already been prepared. Such an
attempt on the part of the investigating officer has been deprecated by this
Court in a large number of decisions. All other witnesses including the panch
witnesses must have been present there. If despite the same, according to panch
witnesses, at least in respect of Baburao, unknown persons are said to be his
assailants, it is evident that PW 11 did not disclose the names of the
assailants; at least all of them before PW 9 as also the investigating
officer."
27.
In Dharma Rama Bhagare v. State of Maharashtra30, this Court held
that FIR is never treated as a substantive piece of evidence; it can only be
used for corroborating or contradicting its maker when he appears in Court as a
witness.
30 (1973)
1 SCC 537 22
28.
In the case of Vikram and Ors. v. State of Maharashtra31, this
Court noticed :
"It
may be true that P.W. 2 had informed the officer in charge of the Police
Station on telephone, but the circumstances in which the said call had to be
made has been noticed by us heretobefore. The Head Constable states that he had
written down the same but then it must have been a cryptic report and only for
the purpose of visiting the scene of occurrence.He as well as the Investigating
Officer did not say that it was a detailed report. If, in the aforementioned
premise, another First Information Report which was a detailed one came to be
recorded, no exception can be taken to the same being treated as a First
Information Report."
29.
It is fairly well settled that First Information Report is not a
substantive piece of evidence and it can be used only to discredit the
testimony of the maker thereof and it cannot be utilized for contradicting or
discrediting the testimony of other witnesses. In other words, the First
Information Report cannot be used with regard to the testimony of other
witnesses who depose in respect of incident. It is equally well settled that
the earliest information in regard to commission of a cognizable offence is to
be treated as First Information Report. It sets the criminal law in motion and
the investigation commences on that basis. Although First Information Report is
not expected to 31 JT2007(7) SC 215 23 be encyclopedia of events but an
information to the police to be `first information report' under Section
154(1), must contain some essential and relevant details of the incident. A
cryptic information about commission of a cognizable offence irrespective of
the nature and details of such information may not be treated as First
Information Report. The question is: whether the information regarding the
incident (Ex.61) entered in the General Diary of Nhava Sheva Police Station
given by PW-5 is the First Information Report within the meaning of Section
154, Cr.P.C. If the answer is in affirmative, obviously First Information
Report (A-31) is hit by section 162 Cr.P.C.
30.
It is true that PW-5 reached the police station at about 4.00 -
4.15 a.m. He gave information that several persons were assaulting members of
their party; that the accused were armed with deadly weapons and that police
should immediately leave for the place of occurrence. This information (Ex.61)
was entered in General Diary of the police station. Based on this information,
PW-18 left for the place of occurrence alongwith PW-2 who had also reached the
police station by that time. The circumstances in which PW-18 had to 24 leave
before recording a formal first information are obvious as the first priority
before him was to control the incident since by that time none had died. In a
situation such as the present one, it cannot be said that the moment PW-18 left
the police station, the investigation had commenced. The object and purpose of giving
information (Ex.61) by PW-2 was to request the officer in charge of the police
station to reach the place of occurrence. No doubt PW-18 (IO) had left for
scene of occurrence on the basis of entry in the General Diary (Ex.61) recorded
at the instance of PW-5 and he visited the scene of occurrence and dispensary
but effectively neither the inquest was carried out before registration of FIR
nor any step towards investigation was taken before the lodging of First
Information Report (A-31). In an incident where large number of accused are
involved in assaulting rival village folk, obviously the first task of the
Police Officer (PW-18) is to ensure visit to the scene of occurrence and
provide police help, if necessary.
Rather,
it would have been unnatural on the part of PW-18 to have insisted on taking
down the entire incident by way of First Information Report when PW-5 reached
the Police Station at 25 about 4.00 to 4.15 A.M. for getting help for the
victims. The immediate task for PW-18 was to focus on providing help to the
victims who, as per the version of PW-5, were still being attacked. In the
circumstances, FIR (A-31) is not affected by any legal infirmity.
31.
As regards delayed receipt of the copy of FIR by the Court of
Magistrate on April 12, 1988, in the first place Exhibit 84 - FIR register
indicates that copy of FIR was sent to the concerned Magistrate on April 3,
1988 itself.
Secondly,
and more importantly, if the evidence of eye- witnesses is found cogent,
convincing and credible, the delay in receipt of the copy of FIR by the
concerned court would not be of much significance.
32.
It is, therefore, important to examine whether High Court
committed any error in accepting the evidence of PW-2, PW-3, PW-4, PW-5, PW-6,
PW-7, PW-8, PW-9 and PW-10.
The
learned Senior Counsel criticised the testimony of these eye-witnesses for
various reasons viz., that they belong to rival political parties in a faction
ridden village; that they are related to each other as well as deceased and
that most of these 26 witnesses themselves have been accused in sessions case
and that their evidence suffers from vital contradictions, omissions,
exaggerations and improvements. Before we deal with the evidence of PW-2, PW-4,
PW-5, PW-7, PW-8 and PW-9, we deem it proper to consider the evidence of PW-3
and PW-6 first.
33.
Both, PW-3 and PW-6, sustained injuries. PW-6 at the relevant time
was a watchman in construction company.
His hut
was at a distance of 10' to 15' from the temple. In the intervening night of
2nd and 3rd April, 1988, at about 3.30 A.M.
while he
was on duty, he saw 20-25 people, armed with sticks and iron bars entering the
Sabhamandap. He also saw the people who were doing Jagran running from the
Sabhamandap.
Suresh Atmaram
Gharat (Deceased) came running to the place near him and he saw that the
deceased was being chased by A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-12. A-12 was armed with
sword while others were armed with iron bars and sticks. All of them started
attacking the deceased with the respective weapons in their hands. The deceased
fell on the ground. PW-6 deposed that when he went ahead, A-3 gave iron bar
blow on his head, 27 A-9 gave iron bar blow on his waist and A-12 gave sword
blow on his head but he held both his hands on his head and received the sword
blow on his left hand while resisting the blows. PW-6 deposed that after some
time, villagers came and took injured persons including him to Uran Medical
Dispensary and from there they were taken to Sion Hospital in an ambulance. He
remained in Sion Hospital until April 11, 1988.
His
statement was recorded by the Police on April 16, 1988.
The
deceased was son-in-law of his eldest brother. The witness has been
cross-examined at quite some length and except minor contradictions or
omissions, his deposition has not at all been shaken.
34.
PW-3, a watchman, was on night duty in one private company at a
distance of about 15'. On April 2, 1988 he had gone for his duty at 7.00 P.M.
He saw that there was Jagran at Gurbadevi temple. The singing and dancing in
the temple continued upto 1.00 A.M. and, thereafter, except 18-20 villagers,
who stayed back at the temple, all others left. At about 3.30 A.M., A-3 holding
iron bar in his hand started giving blows to him on his left leg. According to
him, he resisted the 28 attack but at that time A-12 came there with the sword
and to resist the attack from A-12, he held his right hand on his head but A-12
gave sword blow on his head and his thumb got cut. A-2 and A-3 gave blows by
iron bar on his back. He has not given details of attack on others,
particularly, the deceased.
35.
The trial court commented on the evidence of PW-3 and PW-6 thus :
"I
want to make some comment that what was the business for P.W.6 Laxman Mhatre
and P.W. 3 Vithal Mhatre to leave their place of duty and witness the incident
and get themselves involved and injured during the course of incident? When
they were doing the job of watchman which is a responsible job, it was not
desirable for them to leave the place of their employment. In such
circumstances there was a risk on their part to loss their job also. It is
quite obvious that during the course of the incident both of them had left
their place and had also got injured. The first reaction of their employer
would be that they would have dismissed them from their job. The watchman would
not have risked their job at the cost of the villagers with whom they had no
concern. So one part of the matter is that these witnesses must not have left
their place and if they had left their place, they are deposing falsely."
36.
We are afraid, the consideration of the evidence of PW-6 and PW-3
by the trial court, particularly in the light of the observations noticed
above, was not proper.
37.
We shall now examine the evidence of other eye- witnesses. PW-2 is
the person at whose instance FIR was 29 registered. In his deposition he stated
that in the intervening night of April 2 and April 3, 1988, he along with few
other persons were waiting in the temple for Jagran. A-3 came to the temple at
about 3 to 3.15 A.M. and after having a look at the place, he left immediately.
After about 10-15 minutes, A-3 returned alongwith 15-20 other persons. Those
persons were known to him as they belonged to the same village. A-3 and the
other persons accompanying him were holding weapons like iron bars, sticks,
rods, swords and they started assaulting those who were present in the
Sabhamandap. A-2 and A-3 were holding iron bars and they assaulted him on his
back. He managed to escape from the said place and went towards village and
while going he saw that A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-12, A-13 and A-18 were armed with
weapons.
38.
PW-4 has also narrated the incident in a similar way. According to
him, in the intervening night of April 2 and April 3, 1988, while he was
sitting in the Sabhamandap, he was assaulted on his head from the back side. He
fell down and immediately went away. He stated that while going, he saw 30 that
A-12 was having the sword with him while A-3 was having an iron bar. A-8 and
A-9 were holding sticks.
39.
PW-5 is another injured eye-witness. He stated that he saw A-12
giving sword blow to PW-8 and A-10 giving Pharshi blow to Gopal Thakur. He
stated that A-2 gave iron bar blow to him near his waist. He deposed that he
immediately rushed to Nhava Sheva Police Station and asked the police to visit
the place of incident. The fact that he reached Nhava Sheva Police Station at
4.15 A.M. is corroborated by the station diary entry (Exh. 57).
40.
PW-7 deposed that A-2, A-3 and A-12 assaulted Suresh Atmaram
Gharat. He also deposed that A-12 was having sword with him and he saw deceased
Suresh Atmaram Gharat being assaulted by these accused persons. According to
him, A-10 and A-13 gave pharashi blow from reverse side on his right thigh and
ran away from the place.
41.
Yet another eye-witness is PW-8. According to him A-2 gave
iron-bar blow while A-12 gave a blow with sword on his head. When he tried to
run away, A-2 held him and A-1 and A-3 gave blow on his back with iron bar. He
deposed that A-3 31 caught hold of Suresh Atmaram Gharat and A-12 assaulted him
with sword. That he sustained multiple injuries is seen from Ex-
19. He
remained indoor patient at Sion Hospital from April 3, 1988 to April 5, 1988.
42.
PW-9 has deposed that A-12 was holding sword and he saw A-2, A-3,
A-11 and A-12 assaulting Suresh Atmaram Gharat. Although his name is not
mentioned in the FIR, but his statement under Section 161, Cr.P.C. was recorded
at the first available opportunity on April 3, 1988.
43.
PW-10 deposed that he saw A-1, A-2 and A-3 giving iron-bar blow to
PW-2. He also deposed that A-1, A-2, A-10, A-11, A-12, A-13 and A-17 assaulted
the deceased. His evidence is silent about the details of the incident.
However, he also seems to have suffered a couple of simple injuries as is seen
from Medical Certificate (Exh. 51).
44.
As a matter of fact, the evidence of these eye- witnesses is
broadly corroborated by the medical evidence in respect of the deceased as well
as the injuries sustained by them. PW-11, Medical Officer at Uran Dispensary
examined PW-2, PW-7 and PW-10 and the injuries sustained by these 32 witnesses
is, accordingly, proved by the evidence of PW-11.
Insofar
as injuries sustained by PW-6, PW-3, PW-4 and PW-8 are concerned, the injury
reports, namely, Exhibit-87, Exhibit- 88, Exhibit-89 and Exhibit-90 support
their version. It does not appear from the record that the accused persons
questioned the correctness of Exhibit-87, Exhibit-88, Exhibit-89 and
Exhibit-90.
45.
In Muthu Naicker and Others vs. State of Tamil Nadu 32, this Court
held that where an occurrence takes place involving rival factions, it is but
inevitable that the evidence would be of a partisan nature and rejection of
such evidence on that ground may not be proper. This Court put a word of
caution that such evidence needs to be examined with utmost care and caution.
This is what this Court said :
"6.
Where there is a melee and a large number of assailants and number of witnesses
claim to have witnessed the occurrence from different places and at different
stages of the occurrence and where the evidence as in this case is undoubtedly
partisan evidence, the distinct possibility of innocent being falsely included
with guilty cannot be easily ruled out. In a faction-ridden society where an occurrence
takes place involving rival factions it is but inevitable that the evidence
would be of a partisan nature. In such a situation to reject the entire
evidence on the sole ground that it is partisan is to shut one's eyes to the
realities of the rural life in our country. Large number of accused would go
unpunished if such an easy course is charted.
32 (1978)
4 SCC 385 33 Simultaneously, it is to be borne in mind that in a situation as
it unfolds in the case before us, the easy tendency to involve as many persons
of the opposite faction as possible by merely naming them as having been seen
in the melee is a tendency which is more often discernible and is to be
eschewed and, therefore, the evidence has to be examined with utmost care and
caution. It is in such a situation that this Court in Masalti v. State of
U.P.(AIR 1965 SC 202) adopted the course of adopting a workable test for being
assured about the role attributed to every accused. To some extent it is
inevitable that we should adopt that course."
46.
In the case of State of U.P. v. Ballabh Das and Others33 , this
Court held that evidence of interested witnesses may be relied upon if such
evidence is otherwise trustworthy.
This
Court said :
"3...........What
the law requires is that where the witnesses are interested, the court should
approach their evidence with care and caution in order to exclude the
possibility of false implication. We might also mention that the evidence of
interested witnesses is not like that of an approver which is presumed to be
tainted and requires corroboration but the said evidence is as good as any
other evidence. It may also be mentioned that in a faction-ridden village, as
in the instant case as mentioned by us earlier, it will really be impossible to
find independent persons to come forward and give evidence and in a large
number of such cases only partisan witnesses would be natural and probable
witnesses. This Court in Badri v. State of U.P.(AIR 1975 SC 1985) made the
following observations: [AIR Headnote] (SCC p. 616, para 6) In case where a
murder takes place in a village where there are two factions bitterly opposed
to each other, it would be idle to expect independent persons to come forward
to give evidence and only partisan witnesses would be natural and probable
witnesses to the incident.
In such a
case, it would not be right to reject their testimony out of hand merely on the
ground that they 33 (1985) 3 SCC 703 34 belonged to one faction or another. Their
evidence has to be assessed on its own merits 4. .......
5. The
dominant question to be considered in the instant case is whether the
witnesses, despite being interested, have spoken the truth and are
creditworthy. Once it is found by the court, on an analysis of the evidence of
an interested witness that there is no reason to disbelieve him then the mere
fact that the witness is interested cannot persuade the court to reject the
prosecution case on that ground alone."
47.
A similar view has been echoed by this Court in State of U.P. v.
Ram Swarup and Others34 wherein this Court held :
"...........There
is no rule of law to the effect that the evidence of partisan witnesses cannot
be accepted. The fact that the witnesses are associated with the faction
opposed to that of the accused by itself does not render their evidence false.
Partisanship by itself is no ground for discarding sworn testimony. Interested
evidence is not necessarily false evidence. In a small village like the one
under consideration where people are divided on caste basis, the prosecution
may not be able to get any neutral witness. Even if there is any such neutral
witness, he will be reluctant to come forward to give testimony to support one
or the other side.
Therefore,
merely because the eyewitnesses are associated with one faction or the other,
their evidence should not be discarded. It should, no doubt, be subjected to
careful scrutiny and accepted with caution."
48.
From the prosecution case, it is clear that the incident took place
between the two rival political factions and that all eye-witnesses (except
PW-3 and PW-6) belong to victim 34 1988 (Supp) SCC 262 35 party. In a way,
therefore, PW-2, PW-4, PW-5, PW-7, PW-8, PW-9 and PW-10 can be stamped as
interested witnesses.
PW-6 has
deposed that the deceased was son-in-law of his eldest brother and to that
extent he is also an interested witness. In the light of legal position noticed
above before relying upon testimony of these witnesses, adequate assurance from
other circumstances or materials is required to be seen.
The
evidence of such witnesses has to be examined with great care and caution to
obviate possibility of false implication or over-implication.
49.
In cases involving rival political factions or group enmities, it
is not unusual to rope in persons other than who were actually involved. In
such a case, court should guard against the danger of convicting innocent
persons and scrutinise evidence carefully and, if doubt arises, benefit should
be given to the accused.
50.
A critical examination of the evidence of PW-2, PW-3, PW-4, PW-5,
PW-6, PW-7, PW-8 and PW-10 would show that their presence at the time of
incident cannot be doubted. Most of them got injured in the incident. PW-2 has
36 named A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-12, A-13 and A-18 being armed with the weapons.
He has not spoken of any assault by them on the person of the deceased. PW-3
has spoken of the presence of A-2, A-3 and A-12. According to him, A-12 gave
sword blow on his head and A-2 and A-3 gave blows by iron- bar on his back.
PW-3 has also not deposed of any actual assault by these accused persons on the
deceased. Insofar as PW-4 is concerned, he has spoken about the presence of A-
3, A-8, A-9, A-12 and A-19. He has also not stated about the attack by these persons
on the deceased. PW-5 has stated about the presence of A-2, A-10 and A-12. He
did state about the injury caused by A-2 on his waist. According to him, A-12
attacked PW-8 and A-10 caused pharshi blow on Gopal Thakur. PW-6 deposed that
A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-12 chased the deceased; A-12 was armed with sword
while others were armed with iron bars and all of them started attacking the
deceased with their respective weapons in their hands. He also deposed about
the injury caused to him by A-3, A-9 and A-12.
PW-7 has
stated about the assault by A-2, A-3 and A-12 on the deceased and by A-10 and
A-13 on him. PW-8 has stated that 37 A-3 caught hold of the deceased and A-12
assaulted him (deceased) with sword. He has also stated that A-1, A-2 caught
hold of him (witness) and A-1 and A-3 gave blow on his back with iron bar.
PW-10 deposed that A-1, A-2, A-10, A-11, A-12, A-13 and A-17 assaulted the
deceased and A-1, A-2 and A-3 gave blow by iron bar to PW-2. The testimony of
these witnesses is corroborated from the medical evidence.
51.
Section 149 IPC creates a specific and distinct offence. Its two
essential ingredients are :
(i)
commission of an offence by any member of an unlawful assembly and;
(ii) such
offence must have been committed in prosecution of the common object of that
assembly or must be such as the members of that assembly knew it be likely to
be committed.
52.
In Masalti vs. State of U.P.35, this Court exposited:
".......What
has to be proved against a person who is alleged to be a member of an unlawful
assembly is that he was one of the persons constituting the assembly and he
entertained along with the other members of the assembly the common object as
defined by Section 141 IPC Section 142 provides that whoever, being aware of
facts which render any assembly an unlawful assembly, intentionally joins that
assembly, or continues in it, is said to be a member of an 35 (1964) 8 SCR 133
38 unlawful assembly. In other words, an assembly of five or more persons
actuated by, and entertaining one or more of the common object specified by the
five clauses of Section 141, is an unlawful assembly. The crucial question to
determine in such a case is whether the assembly consisted of five or more
persons and whether the said persons entertained one or more of the common
objects as specified by Section 141. While determining this question, it
becomes relevant to consider whether the assembly consisted of some persons who
were merely passive witnesses and had joined the assembly as a matter of idle
curiosity without intending to entertain the common object of the assembly.....
"
53.
The legal position laid down in Masalti admits of no doubt and has
been followed time and again. However, where a large number of persons are
alleged to have participated in the crime and they are sought to be brought to
book with the aid of Section 149 IPC, this Court has applied rule of caution
taking into consideration particular fact-situation and convicted those accused
whose presence was clearly established and overt acts were proved.
54.
In Shere And Ors. vs. State of U.P36, this Court held:
".........But
when there is a general allegation against a large number of persons the Court
naturally hesitates to convict all of them on such vague evidence. Therefore we
have to find some reasonable circumstance which lends assurance.
From that
point of view it is safe only to convict the abovementioned nine accused whose
presence is not only 36 1991 Supp.(2) SCC 437 39 consistently mentioned from
the stage of FIR but also to whom overt acts are attributed....."
55.
In Musa Khan & Ors. vs. State of Maharashtra37, this Court
observed:
"........Thus
a court is not entitled to presume that any and every person who is proved to
have been present near a riotous mob at any time or to have joined or left it
at any stage during its activities is in law guilty of every act committed by
it from the beginning to the end, or that each member of such a crowd must from
the beginning have anticipated and contemplated the nature of the illegal activities
in which the assembly would subsequently indulge. In other words, it must be
proved in each case that the person concerned was not only a member of the
unlawful assembly at some stage, but at all the crucial stages and shared the
common object of the assembly at all these stages................."
56.
In Nagarjit Ahir vs. State of Bihar38, this Court applied rule of
caution and in the facts and circumstances of the case held that it may be safe
to convict only those persons against whom overt act is alleged with the aid of
Section 149, IPC lest some innocent spectators may get involved.
57.
In Maranadu And Anr. vs. State by Inspector of Police, Tamil
Nadu39, this Court for determination of `common object' of unlawful assembly
stated the legal position thus:
37 (1977)
1 SCC 733 38 (2005) 10 SCC 369 39 (2008) 16 SCC 529 40 "........For
determination of the common object of the unlawful assembly , the conduct of
each of the members of the unlawful assembly, before and at the time of attack
and thereafter, the motive for the crime, are some of the relevant
considerations. What the common object of the unlawful assembly is at a
particular stage of the incident is essentially a question of fact to be
determined, keeping in view the nature of the assembly, the arms carried by the
members, and the behaviour of the members at or near the scene of the incident.
It is not necessary under law that in all cases of unlawful assembly, with an
unlawful common object, the same must be translated into action or be
successful. Under the Explanation to Section 141, an assembly which was not
unlawful when it was assembled, may subsequently become unlawful. It is not
necessary that the intention or the purpose, which is necessary to render an
assembly an unlawful one comes into existence at the outset. The time of
forming an unlawful intent is not material. An assembly which, at its
commencement or even for some time thereafter, is lawful, may subsequently
become unlawful. In other words it can develop during the course of incident at
the spot eo instanti."
58.
Having carefully examined the testimony of eye- witnesses, we find
that prosecution has been able to establish that party of assailants comprised
of more than five persons and that they formed unlawful assembly. It is also
seen from the evidence that at least five persons chased the deceased and then
attacked him. These members of the unlawful assembly who chased and attacked
the deceased definitely shared common object of causing murder of Suresh
Atmaram 41 Gharat. A-1 had died during pendency of the appeal before High Court
and, therefore, nothing further needs to be said about his role.
59.
The High Court in para 36 of its judgment observed that common
object of the said unlawful assembly was to cause grievous hurt. A little later
in para 37, the High Court held that common object of the unlawful assembly was
to make murderous attack on the deceased. At first blush, there seems to be
some inconsistency in the judgment but on a deeper scrutiny, we find that it is
not so. It is well-known that for determination of common object of the
unlawful assembly, the conduct of each of the members of the unlawful assembly
before and at the time of attack is of relevant consideration.
At a
particular stage of the incident, what is object of the unlawful assembly is a
question of fact and that has to be determined keeping in view the nature of
the assembly, the arms carried by the members and the behaviour of the members
at or near the scene of incident. The accused persons (nineteen in number)
armed with deadly weapons came to the scene of occurrence sharing the common
object of 42 causing grievous hurt to the victim party. A closer scrutiny of
evidence shows that A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-10, A-11 and A-12 assaulted the
prosecution witnesses - some of them sustained grievous injuries - and the
deceased.
However,
when the deceased and prosecution witnesses ran helter and skelter, at least
five members of the unlawful assembly chased the deceased and they attacked him
with the weapons in their hand. The purpose and design of these members of
unlawful assembly in chasing Suresh Atmaram Gharat and a murderous assault by
them on him may not have been shared by other members of unlawful assembly. In
a case such as the present one, although having regard to facts, the number of
participants could not be less than five, it is better to apply rule of caution
and act on the side of safety and convict only A-2, A-3, and A-12 under Section
302 read with Section 149 I.P.C whose presence as members of party of
assailants is consistently mentioned and their overt acts in chasing and
assaulting the deceased are clearly proved. A-4, A-5, A-6, A-10 and A-11 get
the benefit of doubt with regard to offence under Section 302 read with Section
149 I.P.C. since 43 evidence against them in chasing and assaulting the
deceased is not consistent. However, all the eight appellants are guilty of the
offences punishable under Section 148 and Section 326 read with Section 149,
I.P.C. This is proved beyond doubt and the High Court cannot be said to have
erred in holding so.
60.
In what we have already discussed above, we see no merit in the
plea of alibi set up by A-2. The plea of alibi set up by A-2 was not even
accepted by the trial court. The presence of A-2 in the incident is
established. He has been identified holding the iron bar. The prosecution
witnesses have given specific involvement of A-2 in the incident. On the basis
of the deposition of some of the eye-witnesses, the evidence of DW-1 cannot be
said to have been wrongly rejected by trial court as well as by High Court. In
cross-examination, DW- 1 admitted that there was no supervisor at night on that
date.
Insofar
as, document Article-8 is concerned, suffice it to observe that original
document was not produced and name and designation of the officer who is said
to have signed the said certificate was not disclosed nor the person who issued
the 44 certificate was produced. As a matter of fact, plea of alibi has not at
all been probabilised by A-2 much less proved.
61.
Although, on behalf of the appellants it was sought to be argued
that there was lack of light on the day of occurrence and, therefore, it was
not possible for the witnesses to see the incident. However, from the
prosecution evidence it is clearly established that the temple was illuminated
due to annual fair and there were other lights at the temple. It was full moon
night. We find it difficult to accept the submission of the appellants that
there was not enough light at the place of incident and, therefore, the
incident could not have been seen.
62.
On behalf of appellant no. 8 (A-12), it was contended that site
plan of the scene of offence could not have been accepted as PW-1 deposed that
he prepared the sight map as per the information supplied by the police. The
contention is devoid of any substance. As a matter of fact, no objection was
raised when the said document was being exhibited. Moreover, the investigating
officer has not at all been cross-examined in this regard. The decisions namely
45 Ramratan and others v. State of Rajasthan40, Chhotu vs. State of Haryana41
have no application in the facts of the present case.
63.
It was contended that the High Court was not justified in
interfering with the judgment of acquittal as the view taken by the trial court
was the possible view. Reliance, in this connection, was placed on a recent
decision of this Court in Mahtab Singh & Anr. v. State of U.P.42. The
argument is only noted to be rejected. The view which the trial court took on
the basis of the evidence on record is neither possible nor plausible. There
could not be more perversity in the consideration of the evidence of
eye-witnesses by the trial court when it observed :
".........All
the witnesses deposed that they were lying or chit-chatting or just resting or
playing cards in the temple at the time of the incident. It has also come on
record that after the function was over at about 1.00 a.m. the prosecution
witnesses remained in the temple for the purpose of `Jagran'. All this shows
that the prosecution witnesses must not be in a position to see who actually
assaulted them. This is a broad picture that is projected by the evidence of
all the eye witnesses. In such state of physical and mental 40 (1962) 3 SCR 590
41 (1996) SCC Crl. 1161 42 JT 2009 (5) SC 431 46 tiredness, no witness will be
able to tell specifically who actually assaulted him unless he sees from a very
short or negligible distance, the attacking persons. Same thin can be said
about the attack on Suresh Atmaram Gharat who is reported dead because of the
incident. The evidence regarding assault on him is not at all specific. It is
in short the evidence of all the prosecution witnesses that Suresh Atmaram
Gharat ran from the temple with the fear of his life and he was chased by the
accused and was attacked at some distance near Uran Panvel road from the
temple. It is an admitted position that it was night time. It is also proved
fact that Suresh was caught by the accused at a considerable distance from the
temple. None of the witnesses saw the attack on Suresh, by the accused from a
short distance say of about 5' to 10'. This is natural because every
prosecution witness was engaged and worried about his own life. So it is but
natural that every witness should be running to safeguard his own life first
and when he is in such state of mind, it is not at all possible to specify
which accused gave blows to Suresh Atmaram Gharat on what part of his body and
with what weapons."
64.
With regard to evidence of PW-3 and PW-6, we have already noticed
the reasoning of trial court in the earlier part of our judgment and, in our
judgment, consideration of their evidence by the trial court was not proper.
65.
The least that can be said is that the whole approach of the trial
court in consideration of the evidence of eye-witnesses was faulty and flawed.
We have independently examined the evidence for our satisfaction and we find
that the judgment of the trial court acquitting all the accused persons 47
suffered from factual and legal errors justifying interference by the High
Court in appeal within permissible limits.
66.
In the result and for the reasons stated, the appeal is allowed in
part. The conviction of Pandurang Chandrakant Mhatre (A-2), Ramesh alias Raman
Chandrakant Mhatre (A-3) and Maninath Shankar Gharat (A-12) for the offence
punishable under Section 302 read with Section 149, IPC and the sentence
awarded to them by the High Court to suffer imprisonment for life is
maintained. The conviction of Parshuram Chandrakant Mhatre (A-4), Ashok Yadav
Mhatre (A-5), Damodar Vasant Gharat (A-6), Ramchandra Raghunath Mhatre (A-10)
and Mahesh Shankar Mhatre (A-11) for the offence punishable under Section 302
read with 149, IPC is set aside. The conviction of the appellants under Section
148 and Section 326 read with Section 149 IPC is upheld. The sentence awarded
to them under Section 148 IPC is maintained. However, substantive sentence for
the offence punishable under Section 326 read with Section 149 IPC is modified
and each one of them is sentenced to suffer RI for three years. The substantive
sentences shall run concurrently. The bail bonds 48 of A-4, A-5, A-6, A-10 and
A-11 are cancelled. They will now surrender within one month and undergo
remaining part of the sentence, if any.
........................J (D.K. Jain)
........................J (R. M. Lodha)
New Delhi
October 8, 2009.
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