1984 Supreme(Bom) 203
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
R.A. Jahagirdar H.H. Kantharia, JJ.
Ismail Amir Shaikh.... Appellant.
Versus
State of Maharashtra.... Respondent.
Criminal Appeal No. 746 of 1982, decided on 16/17-7-1984.
Advocates appeared :
S.M. Paranjpe, for appellant-accused No. 1.
K.H. Chopda, P.P., for respondent-State.
Headnote:
CRIMINAL APPEAL - ROBBERY - IDENTIFICATION PARADE - DISCOVERY OF WEAPON - DELAY IN FILING FIR - NON-EXAMINATION OF IMPORTANT WITNESSES - IMPROBABILITY OF PROSECUTION CASE - ACQUITTAL.
Fact of the Case:
Three persons were charged with robbery and causing hurt during the course of robbery. The prosecution alleged that the accused, along with an unknown person, robbed a truck carrying coke and injured one of the occupants. The accused were identified in an identification parade and a knife was discovered pursuant to a statement made by one of the accused under section 27 of the Evidence Act.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the prosecution case was improbable and full of loopholes. The delay in filing the FIR, the non-examination of important witnesses, and the irregularities in the identification parade weakened the prosecution case. The court also found that the discovery of the knife was irrelevant as it was not connected to the involvement of the accused in the crime.
Issues: 1. Whether the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt? 2. Whether the identification parade was conducted properly? 3. Whether the discovery of the knife was relevant to the case?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution witnesses' testimonies were full of contradictions and improbabilities, and the delay in filing the FIR and the non-examination of important witnesses further weakened the prosecution case. 2. The court held that the identification parade was not conducted properly. The Special Executive Magistrate who conducted the parade did not follow the instructions given by the court, and there were several irregularities in the procedure. 3. The court held that the discovery of the knife was irrelevant to the case. The knife was not connected to the involvement of the accused in the crime, and the prosecution did not provide any evidence to show how the discovery could be used against the accused.
Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal and acquitted all the accused. The court also set aside the orders of conviction and sentences in respect of the non-appealing accused, exercising its revisional jurisdiction.
2. Returning to the charge, we notice that accused Nos. 1 to 3 were charged with the offence punishable under section 392 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code on the ground that they along with one person known as Taklya committed robbery in respect of coke valued at Rs. 2,500 from a truck bearing No. MTT 3080 which was in charge of one Prabhakar Reghoba Ombale. The second charge against the accused was that they along with the unknown person Taklya caused hurt to one Shrirang alias Shripa Sayappa Sable during the course of committing the aforesaid robbery and therefore, committed the offence punishable under section 394 of the Indian Penal Code. It is interesting to note that the learned Sessions Judge did not apply section 34 of the Indian Penal Code in the second charge though he specifically mentioned that accused Nos. 1 to 3 had caused the injury to Shrirang. Fortunately, the learned Sessions Judge has held that the second charges has been proved against the accused concerned.
3. The third charge was only against accused No. 1 and it was that he at the time of committing the aforesaid robbery used deadly weapon, namely a knife, and therefore, he committed an offence punishable under section 397 read with section 392 of the Indian Penal Code. The fourth charge was in similar terms but against accused No. 2 alone. The fifth charge again was in similar terms but against accused No. 3 alone. Thus there were five charges. The first charge was against all the accused together and was under section 392 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code; the second charge again was against all the accused but for the offence punishable under section 394 of the Indian Penal Code simpliciter without the application of section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Charges Nos. 3, 4 and 5 were against each of the three accused for the offence punishable under section 397 read with section 392 of the Indian Penal Code, again without the application of section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. We do not understand why the learned Sessions Judge framed a charge against all the three accused for the offence punishable under section 394 of the Indian Penal Code, without the application of section 34 of the Indian Penal Code when in charges Nos. 3 to 5 he has framed individual charges against each of the accused when there was no application of section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. This, together with several instances to be found in the conduct of this case, shows a non-application of mind or an inadequate application of id to the facts as well as the procedure of this particular case.
4. Normally it would be expected that a Court of first instance such as the Sessions Court would begin its judgment by mentioning that the prosecution case is, what the defence of the accused is, which evidence the prosecution has led and thereafter proceed to give reasons for the findings which the Court would arrive at. In the instant case, we are bereft of this assistan