JUDGMENT

Madan B. Lokur, J.

1. This appeal questions the limits of interference by the High Court in an appeal against the acquittal of an accused by the Trial Court. In our opinion, the High Court ought not to have interfered in the appeal before it with the acquittal of the appellants by the Trial Court. Facts:

2. The sequence of events, as it has unfolded from the evidence of the witnesses, is that on 19th May, 1995 a thermal plant of the Calcutta Electric Supply Company had opened across the river Ganges in Mauza Bhabanipur Char, District Hooghly, West Bengal.

3. Paritosh Saha was with his mother Bidyutprava Saha (PW-5) at about 5.00/5.30 p.m. on 19th May, 1995. Thereafter, he and his nephew Animesh Saha (CW-1) aged about 10 years went for a walk on the banks of the river Ganges where they met Gopal Saha, with whom they struck a conversation. At that time, the appellants Shyamal Saha and Prosanta @ Kalu Kabiraj also came there and called Paritosh to go across the river to see the Char (island). Animesh also expressed his desire to go to the Char but Shyamal asked him to return home.

4. When the three of them (Paritosh, Shyamal and Prosanta) were about to board Asit Sarkar’s boat,