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2003 Supreme(Kar) 241

Karnataka High Court
Deepak Kumar - Appellant
Versus
State of Karnataka - Respondent
Decided On : 03-07-03
CRIMINAL APPEAL : 566 of 1998

Advocates:
M.MARI GOWDA, R.S.Deshpande

Headnote:Appeal against conviction

       CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE, 1973 - Section 374(2), Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 448, 450, 326, 394 and 397 r/w 34 -Appreciation of evidence -Accused, apprehended at his voluntary instance -property recovered under seizure mahazar - information provided by accused - victim identifying the co-accused - grievous injuries causing unconsciousness -weapon -not mentioned by the victim - property identified by him -accused familiar to the victim and identified by the victim - sufficient corroboration for conviction -conclusion of Trial Court -accused causing the injuries - motive not explained -should have been convicted for theft and causing injuries -held, appreciation of evidence relating to incriminating circumstances is totally erroneous and smacks the lack of logic and scientific skills of appreciation.

       [K. Sreedhar Rao, J.] -Accused No.1 is familiar to PWs. 1 and 2 as he was a trainee under P.W.5 and visiting the house of P.W.2. After apprehension of Accused-1, at his voluntary instance, the jewelry is recovered. The same is identified by P.W.2. She has identified both the accused while in the hospital. Despite such pristine and clinching evidence of P.W.2, the Court comes to the conclusion that the evidence of identification of Accused-2 is not sufficient evidence for conviction and holds that there is no sufficient corroboration to convict Accused-2, further holds that there is no evidence to convict Accused -1 for an offence of robbery and causing grievous injuries during robbery. On the other hand comes to the conclusion that Accused-1 has caused the grievous injuries. For what purpose and motive the grievous injuries came to be caused, remains unexplained.

       Reversal or modification of sentence.

       INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860-

       Sections 394, 396 and 397 -Charge -commission of higher offence -acquittal -conviction for lessor offence -whether reversal or modification permissible? Without any specific appeal by the State on this behalf, Appellate Court cannot alter the nature and extent of sentence.

       [K. Sreedhar Rao, J.] - The contention of the S.P.P. that accused could be convicted u/s. 397 IPC in appeal by exercise of powers u/s. 396 IPC is untenable against the acquittal of Accused-2 and partial acquittal of Accused-1 from the charge u/s. 394 and 397 IPC. There is no appeal preferred by the State. Therefore the order of acquittal become conclusive and binding even though it is erroneous.

K. SREEDHAR RAO, J.

( 1 ) THE appeal arise out of the judgment of conviction and sentence passed in SC 127/92 on the file of Sessions Judge, mangalore. The appellant is Accused No. 1, along with another charge- sheeted for committing offences punishable u/ss. 450, 394 and 397. I. P. C. r/w. Sec. 34,i. P. C.

( 2 ) IT is unfortunate to note that in the charge framed, without invoking the provisions of Sec. 34 of I. P. C. joint trial is held, however in the final report, the provision of sec. 34, I. P. C. is invoked. The case of the prosecution discloses that appellant is accused No. 1. In the house belonging to complainant examined as P. W. 2, there was a garage which was used by P. W. 5 for parking his car and was also training few boys in Refrigerator mechanism. Accused 1 was one such trainee under P. W. 5 visiting the house P. W. 2. On 3-12-1991 around 4-15 p. m. P. W. 2 was in her house. The Accused no. 1 along with Accused No. 2 come to the house of P. W. 2; rang the calling bell, gained entry into the house of P. W. 2 saying that accused No. 2 is interested in purchasing the old refrigerator of P. W. 2 which was offered for sale. After gaining entry, the accused requests P. W. 2 to get some water and when she was going Inside the room for getting water, she was pushed down a pillow was pressed on her face, with a view to suffocate her. P. W. 2 fell unconscious. Sometime after P. W. 1 comes, he finds the accused open the door and run away. P. W. 5 finds P. W. 2 lying unconscious. She is taken to Venlock Hospital. P. W. 2 had sustained as many as five injuries and there was one tracheal cut injury which was grievous injury. The FIR was lodged by the complainant-P. W. 1. She has implicated Accused 1 and also names the participation of another accused. After the apprehension of Accused no. 1, at his voluntary instance, the valuable gold jewelleries robbed from the house of P. W. 2 is recovered under seizure mahazar and on the information of Accused 1, accused 2 is arrested. P. W. 2 identifies Accused 2 in the hospital.

( 3 ) IN the trial, prosecution has examined 11 witnesses and marked in evidence 18 documents and 20 Material Objects. The sessions Court has acquitted Accused 2 on the ground that there is no evidence to establish his involvement and holds that the offence of robbery is not proved, however, convicts the accused/appellant for committing offences punishable u/ss. 448 and 326. I. P. C. and sentenced him to undergo R. I. for a period of six months for offences u/s. 448, i. P. C. and R. I. for a period of 4 years for an offence u/s. 326, I. P. C. Both sentences are directed to run concurrently. The detention period from 4-12-1991 to 10-4-1992 and 15-6-1998 to 18-6-1998 is directed to be set off. Aggrieved by the said judgment of conviction and sentence, the present appeal is filed.

( 4 ) AFTER carefully going through the evidence and the judgment, I find that the quality of appreciation of evidence by the sessions Judge while acquitting Accused 2 is far from satisfactory so also acquitting the appellant/accused-1 for committing offences u/ss. 394, 397, I. P. C. is founded on improper reason. May be some discrepancy may be there in the evidence of P. W. 2 in not mentioning the user of a sharp edged weapon for causing cut grievous injuries on the trachea and on the other vital parts of the body. The fact remains that by the time p. W. 1 enters, the accused ran away from the seen. P. W. 2 was lying unconscious. She is an old lady aged around 70 years. She immediately admitted to Venlock Hospital. The grievous injuries sustained are noticed by the doctors and treated, later on P. W. 2 has explained the causation of injuries. After the attack P. W. 2 became unconscious; she does not know the details of the articles robbed. In the FIR Accused No. 1 is described by his features by P. W. 1. Accused no. 1 is familiar to P. Ws. 1 and 2 as he was a trainee under P. W. 5 and visiting the house of P. W. 2. After apprehension of A














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