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2024 Supreme(AP) 286

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
V.Srinivas, J.
Kuruba E.Adevappa & Anr. - Appellants
Versus
The State of Andhra Pradesh - Respondent
Criminal Revision Case No.1050 of 2010
Decided On : 04-01-2024

Advocates appeared:
Kata Sambasiva Rao, Advocate, for the Appellant; Public Prosecutor, Advocate, for the Respondent.

Inconsistencies in the evidence and failure to properly appreciate the material on record can lead to a manifest error of law, resulting in the acquittal of the accused.

Headnote:

IPC - Criminal Revision - Section 324 - Summary: The court discussed the evidence presented by the prosecution and found inconsistencies in the testimony of the witnesses and the medical evidence. The court concluded that there was a manifest error in appreciating the material on record by the lower courts, leading to the acquittal of the accused under Section 324 of IPC.

Fact of the Case:

The accused were convicted under Section 324 of IPC for causing hurt to the complainant. The lower courts upheld the conviction, which was challenged in the present criminal revision case.

Finding of the Court:

The court found inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence and concluded that there was a manifest error in appreciating the material on record by the lower courts, leading to the acquittal of the accused.

Issues: The main issue was whether there was a manifest error of law or flagrant miscarriage of justice in the findings recorded by the Trial Court and the first Appellate Court.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the inconsistencies in the testimony of the witnesses and the medical evidence, leading to the conclusion that there was a manifest error in appreciating the material on record by the lower courts.

Final Decision: The Criminal Revision Case is allowed, setting aside the conviction and sentence imposed against the accused under Section 324 of IPC. The accused are acquitted of the charge, and any fine amount paid by the accused shall be refunded to them.

ORDER

1. Assailing the judgment dated 04.03.2010 in Crl.A.No.127 of 2009 on the file of the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Hindupur, confirming the conviction and sentence imposed by the judgment dated 21.10.2009 in C.C.No.229 of 2006 on the file of the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Hindupur, for the offence under section 324 of Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as 'IPC'), the petitioners/accused filed the present criminal revision case under Section 397 r/w.401 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as 'Cr.P.C.').

2. The revision case was admitted on 14.06.2010.

3. The petitioners were arrayed as accused in Cr.No.70 of 2006 of Parigi Police Station and after completion of investigation, S.I of Police, Parigi Police Station laid charge sheet against the accused and the same was numbered as C.C.No.229 of 2006 on the file of the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Hindupur. After full pledged trial, the trial Court found the accused Nos.1 and 2 guilty of the charge under Section 324 of IPC and sentenced them to pay fine of Rs.5,000/-, in default to suffer simple imprisonment for a period of three (3) months and half of the fine amount i.e., Rs.2,500/- shall be given to the complainant/injured as compensation under Section 257 of Cr.P.C.

4. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioners/accused Nos.1 and 2 preferred an appeal, vide Crl.A.No.127 of 2009, before the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Hindupur and the same was dismissed by confirming the judgment of the trial Court.

5. Against the said judgment of the first Appellate Court, the present criminal revision case was preferred by the petitioners/accused Nos.1 and 2.

6. Heard Sri K.Sambasiva Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners/accused Nos.1 and 2 and Sri Soora Venkata Sainath, learned Special Assistant Public Prosecutor for the respondent.

7. Now the point that arises for determination in this revision is 'whether there is any manifest error of law or flagrant miscarriage of justice in the findings recorded by the Trial Court as well first Appellate Court?'

8. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that P.W.1 lodged the complaint after lapse of two days from the date of alleged incident; that there is no evidence to show that petitioners voluntarily caused hurt to P.W.1; that there is no medical evidence to support the prosecution version; that without appreciating the evidence on record, the Court below erroneously convicted the petitioners and the same was upheld by the Court of Sessions; that there is no evidence to corroborate the testimony of P.W.1 and that both the Courts below failed to consider the above said aspects.

9. Per contra, Sri Soora Venkata Sainath, learned Special Assistant Public Prosecutor for the respondent, submits that the prosecution is able to establish the charge leveled against the petitioners by adducing evidence of P.Ws.1 to 5 and relying on Exs.P.1 to P.6; that the testimony of prosecution witnesses corroborating with each other; that the contents of the complaint is corroborated with the testimony of P.W.1 and thereby this Court cannot interfere with the judgments of both the Courts below.

10. In view of the rival contentions, as could be seen from Ex.P.1 and evidence of P.W.6/A.Srinivasulu, A.S.I., said to be investigating officer, one Police Constable of Hindupur I Town Police Station recorded the statement of P.W.1 Sivaiah. But, for the reasons best known to the prosecution, the said Police Constable No.83 of Hindupur I Police Station neither cited as witness nor examined before the trial Court to prove that he recorded the statement of P.W.1 covered under Ex.P.1.

11. In-order to find the guilt of the accused, according to P.W.1, as per Ex.P.1, accused beat him with stick. Admittedly, there is a delay of two (2) days in registering the F.I.R. from the date of alleged incident. For such delay, the prosecution canvassed an answer that after recording the s

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