IMPORTANT POINT
The judgment establishes that circumstantial evidence must clearly connect an individual to the crime, and mere involvement in post-crime actions does not equate to participation in the crime itself without corroborating evidence.

JUDGMENT/ORDER

PRAKASH D.NAIK, J. - The applicant is prosecuted for an offence punishable under Ss. 120-B, 302 and 201 of Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) vide Sessions Case no. 4/2022 pending before the Court of Sessions at Panaji.

2. First Information Report was registered with Ponda Police Station on 31/10/2021 by one Naresh Prasad, who is the brother of the deceased Harinder Prasad. The prosecution case is that the deceased was having extramarital affair with the lady, namely Cabrina. On the day of incident, the deceased left the house and was subsequently found dead. There is no eye witness to the incident and the entire case is based on circumstantial evidence. Investigation revealed that the deceased was called by Cabrina at her house. Other accused also visited her house. He was made to drink liquor and assaulted by the accused. He succumbed to the injuries. His dead body was thrown under the bridge. Investigation proceeded. Accused were arrested. The applicant was allegedly occupying the premises where the alleged incident occurred along with the co-accused Cabrina. During the course of investigation, statement of the applicant was recorded under Sec. 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, (Cr.P.C.), wherein she has stated that the incident had occurred in her presence and that she has assisted the co-accused in taking the body near the bridge and thrown it by bringing a two wheeler. She has not admitted her participation in the sense that she was involved in assaulting the deceased. On completing investigation, chargesheet was filed. The applicant preferred application for discharge before the Court of Sessions. The said application was rejected vide order dtd. 2/3/2023.

3. Learned Senior Advocate Shri Lotlikar, appearing for the applicant, submitted that there is no evidence to show the involvement of the applicant in the crime. There is no eye witness to the incident. No role of assault is attributed to the applicant. Prosecution is relying upon the statement of the applicant recorded under Sec. 164 of Cr. P.C. Her statement is exculpatory. The applicant has not admitted her participation in the assault. Her statement at the most indicate that she had wiped out the blood stains from the floor at the place of incident and that she had assisted the co-accused in disposing the body of the deceased. The Investigating Agency, however, has not collected any evidence to show that the applicant was conspirator or has actually participated in assaulting the deceased.

4. Learned Public Prosecutor Mr. Bhobe, submitted that the applicant was occupying the premises along with the co-accused Cabrina. The statement of the applicant recorded under Sec. 164 of Cr. P.C. indicate her involvement in the crime. She has admitted that she was instrumental in wiping out the blood stains from the scene of offence and that she has assisted in destroying the evidence. He also relied upon the statements of the witnesses to whom the co-accused Sunil Madkaikar had made extra judicial confession. One of the witness has stated that confession made by said accused is that he assaulted deceased along with Cabrina and her cousin sister. Undisputedly, there is no evidence to show that applicant is cousin of accused Cabrina. The other witness has stated that accused Sunil Madkaikar has stated that he along with Cabrina and applicant are involved in crime.

5. Perused the chargesheet and the impugned Order passed by the Sessions Court. Undisputedly, the case is based on circumstantial evidence as there is no eye witness to the incident. Except the statement of the applicant under Sec. 164 of Cr. P.C., which is mostly exculpatory in nature, there is no evidence to connect applicant with murder. In the statement under Sec. 164 of Cr. P.C. recorded during investigation, the applicant has stated that she is not involved in assaulting deceased. She tried to intervene in the assault by other accused. There is no evidence to show involvement of applicant in assaulting