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2020 Supreme(AP) 349

ANDHRA PRADESH HIGH COURT AT AMARAVATI
M. Satyanarayana Murthy, B. Krishna Mohan, JJ.
Afghan Sha Alikhan, Kadapa Anr - Appellant
Versus
State Of Andhra Pradesh - Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 573 of 2014
Decided On : 27-07-2020

Advocates Appeared:
D. Kodandarami Reddy, Advocate

Headnote:(A) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 374(2) - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 302, 201, 363, 392 - Conviction and sentencing of accused for kidnapping and murder of a minor - Appeals by accused against conviction dismissed. (Paras 1-47)

(B) The prosecution must prove constructive and direct evidence for convictions based on circumstantial evidence; a chain of evidence must point unequivocally to guilt. (Para 12)

(C) Extra-judicial confessions can be valid evidence if made voluntarily; corroboration enhances reliability. (Paras 40-41)

Facts of the case:
The five-year-old victim went missing after school on 09.12.2011, was later found deceased in a river; crucial testimony involved sightings of the accused with the boy.

Findings of Court:
The trial court found the accused guilty based on circumstantial evidence, including the evidence of last seen, confessions, and prosecution established motives.

Issues: Whether the death was homicidal; whether the accused kidnapped and robbed the boy; the validity of circumstantial evidence.

Ratio Decidendi: The evidence from witnesses and confessions, despite being circumstantial, established the accused's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, with the absence of fractures in hyoid bone not negating strangulation theory.

Result: Appeals dismissed; the trial court's conviction and sentence upheld.

JUDGMENT

B.Krishna Mohan, J. - This Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 374(2) of CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE , 1973 (for short 'Cr.P.C') by the Accused Nos.1 and 2 in Sessions Case No.226 of 2012 on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge, Kadapa, dated 01.05.2014, where under the accused were found guilty for the offences punishable under Sections 302 , 201, 363 and 392 of the INDIAN PENAL CODE , 1860 (for short 'IPC') and convicted under Section 235(2) of Cr.P.C and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and pay a fine of Rs.500/- each for the offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC, in default of payment of fine amount, A1 and A2 shall suffer simple imprisonment for a period of one year each, sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years each and pay fine of Rs.500/- each for the offence punishable under Section 201 of IPC, in default of payment of fine amount, A1 and A2 shall suffer simple imprisonment for a period of six months each, sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year each and pay fine of Rs.500/- each for the offence punishable under Section 363 of IPC, in default of payment of fine amount, A1 and A2 shall suffer simple imprisonment for a period of three months and further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years each and pay fine of Rs.500/- each for the offence punishable under Section 392 of IPC, in default of payment of fine amount, A1 and A2 shall suffer simple imprisonment for a period of six months each by ordering all the sentences shall run concurrently. Both the accused assailed the conviction and sentence passed in Sessions Case No.226 of 2012 on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge, Kadapa, dated 01.05.2014 on various grounds.

2. The facts of the case in nutshell are that, Syed Nadeem Basha (herein after referred as 'the deceased boy'), aged about 5 years, was studying LKG in Huda English Medium High School located at Rahamthullah street, Kadapa District. On 09.12.2011, as usual the deceased boy went to school and during interval at about 2.00 p.m., he came to the house for taking water and after taking water, he went back to school. After school hours at about 4.30 p.m., he did not return home. Then the parents of the deceased boy went to school, enquired school teacher (P.W.2) and she informed that the deceased boy went to the house during interval for taking water and did not return to the school. Then they searched for the deceased boy and as they could not trace the boy, they went to police station and presented a written complaint in Kadapa I town police station.

(ii) Basing on the written complaint of P.W.1, father of the deceased boy, P.W.15 Sub-Inspector of Police, Kadapa I town police station registered a case under the caption 'boy missing' and issued FIR under Ex.P10.

(iii) P.W.1 got photo of his deceased son and distributed pamphlets in the surrounding villages of Kadapa, Vontimitta, Sidhout, Chennur Mandals and requested the villagers to intimate about tracing of the boy by giving his address and phone number. On 14.12.2011, when P.W.1 was enquiring about his son at Saipet, P.W.4 Shaik Mohammad Azam informed that on 09.12.2011 at about 7.00 p.m., he saw the deceased boy near Saipet Katta and A1 and A2 were taking the deceased boy on Yamaha motor cycle by force, they forcibly snatched away the gold chain and the gold ring. He further informed that on seeing him, the accused fled away and they might have caused harm to the boy. Immediately, P.W.1 went to the house of A1 and A2, found their houses locked.

(iv) On 15.12.2011 at about 7.00 a.m., P.W.1 received phone call from fisherman of Narasannagaripalli, Vontimitta Mandal stating that near Narasannagaripalli, Penna river, the body of the deceased boy was found floating. Then P.W.1 and his relatives rushed to Penna river (isukametta) and found the body of the deceased boy. P.W.1 kept his persons there, came to police station and presented second written

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