IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 26/09/2005
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N.DHINAKAR
and
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.CHOCKALINGAM
Crl. Appeal No. 483 of 2001
1. Sekar
2. Ammasi
3. Manickam
4. Morur Periannan @ Sundar ... Appellant.
-Vs-
State rep. by
Inspector of Police,
Deevattipatti Police Station. ... Respondent
Prayer: Appeal against the judgment passed by the learned I
Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Salem, in S.C.No. 27
of 2000 dated : 30.03.2001.
!For Appellants : Mr. K.V.Sridharan
^For Respondent : Mr.M.K.Subramanian
Government Advocate (Crl.Side).
:JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by M.CHOCKALINGAM,J.)
This appeal has been brought forth by the appellants, who were arrayed
as A-1, A-3, A-4 and A-6 before the learned I Additional Sessions
Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Salem, in S.C.No.27 of 2000, where, they
along with three others, who were arrayed as A-2, A-5 and A-7, stood charged,
found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment as follows:-
Charge Nos.1 and 2 were framed against A-1 to A-7 under Sections 148
and 449 IPC. respectively. Charge No.3 was framed against A-1 to A-3
under Section 302 IPC. Charge No.4 was framed against A-4 to A-7 under
Section 302 read with 149 IPC. Charge No.5 was framed against A-4 and A-6
under Section 506 (ii) IPC. Charge No.6 was framed against A-1 to A-3, A-5
and A-7 under Section 506(ii) read with 149 IPC. Charge No.7 was framed
against A-5 under Section 324 IPC. Charge No.8 was framed against A-1 to A-4,
A-6 and A-7 under Section 324 read with 149 IPC. Charge No.9 was framed under
Section 325 IPC. against A-7. Charge No.10 was framed against A-1 to A-6
under Section 325 read with 149 IPC.
2. The trial Judge, on finding A-1 and A-3 guilty under Section 148
IPC. sentenced each one of them to undergo three months rigorous
imprisonment. Similarly, on being convicted under Section 449 IPC., they were
each sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and they were also directed
to pay a fine of Rs.200/- each with a default sentence of three months
rigorous imprisonment. On being convicted under Section 302 IPC., A-1 and A-3
were each sentenced to imprisonment for life and they were also directed to
pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- each with a default sentence of one year rigorous
imprisonment. A-4 and A-6, on being found guilty under Section 449 IPC., were
each sentenced to the period of imprisonment, which they had already undergone
during trial, and they were also directed to pay a fine of Rs.200/- each with
a default sentence of one month rigorous imprisonment. Similarly, on being
found guilty under Section 506(ii) IPC., A-4 and A-6 were each sentenced to
the period of imprisonment, which they had already undergone during trial, and
they were also further directed to pay a fine of Rs.500/- each with a default
sentence of one month rigorous imprisonment. Aggrieved over the same, A-1,
A-3, A-4 and A-6 have brought forth the above appeal.
3. The short facts necessary for the disposal of the case can be
stated thus:-
i.P.W.1 is the elder brother of the deceased, Mathaiyan. P.W.2 is the mother
of P.W.1 and the deceased. They were residing at Elathur Kadamppakkadu. All
the accused were neighbours. A-1 to A-3 and A-7 are the neighbouring land
owners. There was a land dispute between one Narayanan, father of A-1, and
the family of P.W.1 one year back, due to which, there was a quarrel and a
case was also registered at Omalur Police Station against the prosecution
witnesses and a criminal case was also pending at that time.
iii.On 20th December, 1994, P.Ws.1, 2 and other family members including
Madhaiyan, the deceased in the case, were sleeping outside the house. At that
time, the electric light was burning inside the house. At about 1.00 a.m. on
21st December, 1994, all the accused, arming with deadly weapons, came to the
house of P.W.1. On seeing them, P.Ws.1 and 2 tried to get up. At that time,
A-1 attacked Mathaiyan with a knife, M.O.1, on his head, A-2 attacked him with
a knife on his left ear, A-3 attacked the deceased on the stomach and his
back, and A-4 caused criminal intimidation. When P.W.1 intervened, he was
attacked with a stone by A-5. A-6 threatened P.W.1 by showing a spade. A-7
attacked P.W.2 with a wooden log. A-3 also attacked P.W.2 with a wooden log.
When the prosecution witnesses raised alarm, other villagers gathered and the
accused fled away from the place of occurrence. P.Ws.1, 3 and 4 took
Mathaiyan to Government Hospital, Omalur, where P.W.14, doctor, who was on
duty at about 1.45 a.m., examined Mathaiyan and referred him to Government
Hospital, Salem, for better management. Ex.P-25 is the copy of the accident
register issued by him. Accordingly, Mathaiyan was taken to Government
Hospital, Salem, at about 2.30 a.m., where he was declared dead by P.W.8, the
Medical Officer, who was on duty at that time. Ex.P-8 is the copy of the
accident register issued by him. The death intimation, Ex.P-9, was sent to
Out-post Police Station.
v.At about 3.15 a.m., P.W.8 examined P.W.1, who informed the doctor that he
was attacked by 6 known persons and 15 unknown persons. XRays were also
taken. Ex.P-10 is the copy of the accident register issued in respect of the
injuries found on P.W.1.
vi.In the meantime, P.W.13, Sub Inspector of Police, Deevattipatti Police
Station, received the death intimation from the hospital authorities. At
10.30 a.m., P.W.1 came to the said police station and gave a complaint under
Ex.P-1, on the strength of which, a case in Crime No.206 of 1994 was
registered under Sections 147, 148, 448, 323, 506(2 ) and 302 IPC. Ex.P-24 is
the printed first information report. The express reports were sent to Court.
viii.Investigation in the case was taken up by one Syed Gulam Thasthagir,
Inspector of Police, Omalur Police Station. Since he was admitted in the
hospital, he was not examined and the investigation conducted by him was
spoken to by P.W.15, the Inspector of Police, Omalur Police Station. The
investigating officer, on taking up investigation in the case, proceeded to
Government Hospital, Salem, where, at the mortuary, he conducted inquest over
the dead body of Madhaiyan in the presence of Panchayatdars and witnesses and
prepared the inquest report under Ex.P-27. Following the same, he issued a
requisition under Ex.P-12 to the doctor for conducting autopsy on the dead
body of Mathaiyan.
ix.P.W.9, the Assistant Professor and District Police Surgeon attached to
Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, conducted autopsy on
the dead body of Mathaiayn and found the following injuries:-
I.A lacerated wound on the left parietal region 3.5 cm x 1 cm x bone deep 2 cm
outer to the midline.
III.An incised wound on the sagittal plane 2.5 cm x 0.5 cm x skin deep, 2 cm
outer to the injury No.1 on the left parietal region.
V.An incised wound in the coroneal plane 1.5 cm x 0.5 cm x skin deep on the
left parietal region out to injury No.II.
VII.A lacerated wound 7 cm x 1 cm x bone deep on the left fronto parietal
region, 1.5 cm anterior to injury No.1.
IX.A lacerated wound on the left forehead 4 cm x 2.5 cm x bone deep.
XI.A lacerated wound on the left forehead 1 cm x 0.5 cm x bone deep 1 cm outer
to the above mentioned wound No.V. Both V and VI these two wounds are 2.5 cm
above the left eye brow.
XIII.A transverse cut wound on the upper of nose, 4 cm x 1 cm exposing the
underlying structures with mariginal brusing – reddish. On dissection, the
underlying nasal bones and blood vessels nerves are found cut completely in a
communicated manner.
XV.A lacerated wound on the right side lower lip 1 cm x 0.2 cm x muscle deep.
XVII.A transverse cut wound involving the lower part of pinna or the left ear
and left mastoid region, 5 cm x 3 cm x bone deep.
XVIII.A cut wound on the web space of right thumb and index finger 3 cm x 1 cm
x bone deep with marginal bruising reddish.
XX.A transverse stab wound 3 cm x 0.5 cm entering the left thorasic cavity on
the back of left chest in the 9th intercostal space, 5 cm outer to the
midline. Edges are clean cut, outer end is acute, inner end is abtuse. On
dissection the underlying intercostal muscles, blood vessels, nerves are found
cut. Left thoracic cavity contain 50 ml of fluid blood, right side empty. On
further examination a stab wound 1 cm x 0.5 cm x through and through on the
lower lobe of left lung. Left lung is found collapsed. Right lung-cut
section pale.
XXII.A vertical incised wound on the back of right chest, 6 cm x 0.5 cm x skin
deep.
XXIV.Abrasions are present on the following areas:-
a)Right forehead 1 x 0.5 cm.
b)Front of upper part of right chest 2 x 1.5 cm.
c)Back of left shoulder 3 x 1 cm.
d)Back of upper part of left chest 3 x 0.5 cm. (All are dark brown in
colour).
XXV.Sub Scalpular bruising of the left parietal and frontal region 10 cm x 7
cm (Reddish in colour).
The doctor has given the post-mortem certificate under Ex.P-13, wherein he has
stated that the deceased would appear to have died of multiple injuries
sustained by him.
x.During the course of investigation, the investigating officer examined
witnesses and recorded their statements. At 5.30 p.m. on 21.12.1 994, he
proceeded to the scene of occurrence, made an inspection and prepared an
observation mahazar under Ex.P-28 and also drew a rough sketch under Ex.P-29.
Thereafter, he recovered M.Os.2 to 4, 11 and 12 under Ex.P-30 mahazar from the
place of occu rrence. On 24.12.1994 , he arrested A-5 and A-6 and questioned
them. They gave confessional statements, which were recorded in the presence
of witnesses. Thereafter, they were sent to Court for remand. On 28.12.1994
at 11.30 a.m, the investigating officer arrested A-3, who was questioned, and
after recording his statement, he was sent to Court for remand.
xii.Further investigation in the case was taken up by P.W.15, the Inspector of
Police, Omalur Police Station. He examined the doctors and recorded their
statements. On 30.1.1995, he sent all the material objects, which were
recovered from the place of occurrence and from the dead body of the deceased,
to the Court to subject them for chemical analysis and obtained Exs.P-13 and
P-14, the reports of the Chemical Analyst and the Serologist respectively.
xiv.Further investigation was taken up by P.W.16, Inspector of Police,
Deevattipatti Police Station. On 19.4.1995, he arrested A-4, who volunteered
to give a confessional statement, which was recorded in the presence of
witnesses. On 10.5.1995, he examined the doctors and recorded their
statements. On 25.5.1985, after completion of investigation, he filed the
final report against the accused.
4. The case was committed to the Court of Sessions. Necessary
charges were framed. In order to substantiate the charges levelled against
the accused, the prosecution examined 16 witnesses and relied on 3 0 exhibits
and 12 material objects. On completion of the evidence on the side of the
prosecution, the accused were questioned under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. as
to the incriminating circumstances found in the evidence of the prosecution
witnesses. They flatly denied them as false. Though D.W.1 was examined, no
document was marked on the side of the defence. The trial Court, after
hearing both sides and on scrutiny of the materials available, while finding
A-1, A-3, A-4 and A-6 guilty as per the charges framed against them and
sentencing them as referred to above, acquitted A-2, A-5 and A-7 of all the
charges framed against them. Hence, the above appeal by A-1, A-3, A-4 and
A-6. Pending appeal, it is reported that A-1 died. Hence, the appeal,
insofar as A-1 is concerned, abates.
5. The learned Counsel appearing for the appellants/A-1, A-3, A-4 and
A-6, inter alia, made the following submissions:-
(a) In the instant case, the occurrence took place at about 1.00 a.m.
on 21.12.1994. But the case came to be registered after a delay of 10 hours.
Though the prosecution attempted to give some explanation, it is neither
acceptable nor convincing.
(b) In this case, though P.Ws.1 to 5 were examined as eye witnesses,
P.Ws.3 to 5 turned hostile. From the very evidence of P.W.2, it would be
quite clear that P.W.2 could not have seen the occurrence at all. Even in the
cross-examination, P.W.1 has categorically admitted that on suspicion that the
accused could have murdered the deceased, he has mentioned their names in the
first information report. Hence, the above said evidence destroys the entire
prosecution case.
(c) In the instant case, though the lower Court was not ready to
believe the evidence of P.Ws.1 and 2 in respect of the injuries sustained by
them and acquitted the other accused in that regard, it has accepted their
evidence for convicting the other accused, viz., the appellants herein.
(d) In the instant case, the earliest document, which came into
existence, was Ex.P-25, the copy of the accident register issued by P.W.14,
the doctor attached to Government Hospital, Omalur, with regard to the
injuries found on the deceased, wherein it has been found mentioned that the
deceased was attacked by 20 known persons. Later, Ex.P-10, the copy of the
accident register, was issued with regard to the injuries found on P.W.1 by
P.W.8, the doctor attached to Government Hospital, Salem, wherein 6 known
persons and 15 unknown persons were shown as accused. Thus, the contents
found in Ex.P-1, which came into existence after a delay of 10 hours, are
contrary to what were found in the earlier two documents, viz., Exs.P-10 and
P-25, and there is no proper explanation tendered by the prosecution, which
would go to show that with all embellishments and developments, the first
information report has come into existence.
(e) Added further, the learned Counsel, that under such circumstances,
when three witnesses out of five, who were examiend as eye witnesses, turned
hostile, and the evidence of P.Ws.1 and 2 was not believed by the lower Court
in respect of the injuries sustained by P.Ws.1 and 2 and hence, acquitted the
other accused in that regard, the lower Court ought to have rejected the
prosecution case in its entirety and acquitted the appellants also. Hence,
the counsel wound submit that the appellants are entitled for acquittal in the
hands of this Court.
6. The Court heard the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side)
appearing for the State on the above contentions.
7. It is not in controversy that one Mathaiyan died out of homicidal
violence. From the evidence, it would be quite clear that on the night of
20.12.1994, the occurrence took place in front of the house of P.W.1, where
the deceased was attacked and he was first taken to Government Hospital,
Omalur, from where, he was taken to Government Hospital, Salem, for further
management, where he was declared dead by the doctor, P.W.8, who issued
Ex.P-13, the post-mortem certificate, wherein he has opined that the deceased
died due to multiple injuries sustained by him. The said fact was also never
disputed by the appellants either before the trial Court or before this Court.
Hence, there is no impediment in recording that Mathaiyan died out of
homicidal violence.
8. In the instant case, in order to establish the charges levelled
against all the accused, P.Ws.1 to 5 were examined as eye witnesses by the
prosecution. But the prosecution could not claim any benefit over the
evidence of P.Ws.3 to 5, since they turned hostile. Insofar as P.Ws.1 and 2,
who are the elder brother and the mother of the deceased, are concerned, they
have given contradictory evidence about the occurrence. Insofar as P.W.1 is
concerned, there was a clear admission in his cross-examination that only on
suspicion, he has mentioned the names of the accused in the first information
report, which would clearly show that he could not have seen the occurrence at
all.
9. In the instant case, the Court made a careful scrutiny of the
evidence of P.W.1 and it could be seen from the said evidence that in Ex.P-25,
the copy of the accident register issued by P.W.14, the doctor attached to
Government Hospital, Omalur, in respect of the injuries found on the deceased,
it was found mentioned that about 20 persons have attacked the deceased and in
the other document, Ex.P-10, the copy of the accident register issued by P.W.8
in respect of the injuries found on P.W.1, it has been mentioned that 6 known
persons and 15 unknown persons have participated in the occurrence.
Thereafter, the present first information report, Ex.P-1, came into existence
after a delay of 10 hours. P.W.1, in cross-examination, has admitted that he
took the deceased to Government Hospital, Omalur, immediately after the
occurrence, and on the way, the Police Station at Omalur is there, but no
complaint was given at that time and the complaint was given only after a
delay of 10 hours and the lower Court was not prepared to accept the
explanation tendered by the prosecution. In a case like this, though there
was 10 hours delay in laying the complaint, the said delay can be excused, if
the other circumstances have been proved in favour of the prosecution. But,
in the instant case, it was noticed that P.W.1 has given different versions
before two doctors at Government Hospital, Omalur and Salem and thereafter, he
has given Ex.P-1 after a delay of 10 hours implicating the names of all the
accused before the Court. Apart from that, he has further stated in the said
complaint that since he entertained suspicion, he gave the names of the
accused. In the above circumstances, it is quite clear that he could not be
an eye witness in this case and the prosecution has miserably failed to
establish the same.
10. It is also pertinent to point out that the lower Court was not
even prepared to accept the evidence of P.Ws.1 and 2 for the injuries
sustained by them and acquitted the rest of the accused in that regard. If it
be so, then there can be no reason for accepting the said evidence to sustain
the conviction of the appellants.
11. Hence, the Court is of the considered opinion that all the
circumstances narrated above would clearly suffice to reject the prosecution
case out right, as pointed out by the learned counsel for the appellants and
accordingly, the contentions raised by the Counsel are accepted in view of the
merits they carry and hence, the judgment of the lower Court has got to be set
aside and the appellants are got to be entitled for acquittal.
12. In the result, the appeal is allowed and the appellants are
acquitted. It is reported that the appellants are on bail. Their bail bonds
shall stand cancelled. The fine amount, if paid, will be refunded to the
appellants.
Index:Yes
Internet:Yes
bs/
To
1.The I Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Salem.
2.-do- through the Principal Sessions Judge, Salem.
3.The District Collector, Salem.
4.The Director General of Police, Madras.
5.The Inspector of Police, Theevattipatti Police Station, Salem.
6.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Coimbatore.
7.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.