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2024 Supreme(Pat) 1090

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Arvind Singh Chandel, J.
Ranbir Yadav @ Ranvir Kumar Son of Rajdeo Yadav @ Rajdeo Prasad Singh - Petitioner
Vs.
The State of Bihar - Respondent
Criminal Revision No.143 of 2023
Decided On : 02-12-2024

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Vijay Kumar, Mr. Kuber Pathak, Mr. Devendra Kumar, Advocate
For the Respondent: Mr. Syed Mojibur Rahman, APP

The conviction based solely on the complainant's testimony, without corroborating evidence, is insufficient to uphold a guilty verdict.

Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 323, 325, and 504 - Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Sections 360 and 361 - Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 - Revision against conviction - The Sessions Judge reversed the acquittal of the applicant and convicted him based on the testimony of the complainant, despite lack of corroborating evidence from other witnesses - The court found the appellate court's conclusion to be perverse as it disregarded the absence of supporting evidence and inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony. (Paras 2, 5, 9, 13)

(B) Burden of proof - The prosecution must establish its case beyond reasonable doubt, and reliance on a single witness's testimony without corroboration is insufficient for conviction. (Paras 9, 12)

Facts of the case:
The applicant was accused of assaulting the complainant, resulting in grievous injuries. The trial court acquitted the applicant due to lack of evidence, but the appellate court reversed this decision based on the complainant's testimony.

Findings of Court:
The appellate court's finding was deemed perverse due to the lack of supporting evidence and inconsistencies in the complainant's statements.

Issues: The main issues included the reliability of the complainant's testimony and the sufficiency of evidence for conviction.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the appellate court's reliance on the complainant's testimony, without corroboration from other witnesses, was unjustified and led to a perverse conclusion.

Result: Revision allowed; applicant acquitted.

ORDER :

With the consent of the both the counsel heard finally.

2. This revision has been preferred by the applicant/accused being aggrieved with the judgment dated 17.12.2022 passed by District and Sessions Judge, Jehanabad in Criminal Appeal No. 10 of 2020 whereby and whereunder the learned Sessions Judge allowed the appeal preferred by Munna Kumar (Victim of the case) and reversed the order of acquittal dated 29.01.2018 passed by S.D.J.M. Jehanabad in Trial No. 767 of 2017 arising out of Madkhdumpur P.S. Case No. 139 of 2013, G.R. No. 1061 of 2013 and convicted the applicant for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 325 and 504 of the I.P.C. and given benefit under Sections 360 and 361 of Cr.P.C. as well as Section 3/4of the Probation Of Offenders Act, 1958 released him on probation for a period of two years.

3. According to the case of prosecution, the complainant-Munna Kumar (P.W.-7) submitted his written application before the concerned S.H.O. alleging therein that on 10.05.2013, about 07:15 AM, he was returning from the School of his children on motorcycle and reached near Bajrangbali More, there P.W.-2, Sarpanch Manjhi met him. There he was talking with him. It is alleged that at that time, present applicant along with the co-accused persons, namely, Babloo and Rajdeo Yadav came there and due to some previous dispute all of them started abusing the complainant grabbed his left hand due to which he sustained grievous injuries on his left hand. On the basis said written report, offence has been register against all the accused persons and after completion of investigation charge-sheet has been filed. The Trial Court take cognizance against all the accused persons and framed the charges under Sections 341/34, 323/34 325/34 and 504/34 of the I.P.C. The prosecution to established its case examined eight witnesses before the learned Trial Court.

4. The applicant as well as the other accused persons in their statement, recorded under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. taken the plea of their innocence. However, no defence witness were examined by them.

5. After hearing both the parties, the learned Trial Court vide its judgment dated 29.01.2018 acquitted all the accused persons from the charges as mentioned hereinabove. Against the said acquittal, the complainant/victim Munna Kumar preferred the appeal before the Learned District and Sessions Judge, Jehanabad. The Learned District Judge, Jehanabad vide impugned order dated 17.12.2022 allowed the appeal and reversed the judgment of acquittal of present applicant and convicted him for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 325 and 504 of the I.P.C.

6. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the learned Appellate Court without appreciating the evidence available on record wrongly reversed the judgment of acquittal passed by the learned Trial Court. He submits that before the learned Trial Court, except the complainant, none of the witnesses supported the case of prosecution and on this ground only the learned Trial Court has acquitted all the accused persons from all the charges. However, the learned Appellate Court without considering this aspect wrongly arrived on the conclusion that the alleged offence has been committed by the present applicant. According to the counsel, on the same fact of evidence, other accused persons Rajdeo Yadav and Babloo were acquitted by the learned Trial Court and the learned Appellate Court also affirmed their acquittal but relying on the same evidence, the learned Appellate Court convicted the present applicant which is not permissible. Therefore, it is prayed that the impugned order passed by the learned Appellate Court may be set aside and the applicant may be acquitted for all the charges as mentioned hereinabove.

7. Learned State counsel opposes the arguments made by the counsel for the applicant and submitted that since there is sufficient evidence available on record against the applicant, therefore, the learned Appellate Court rig

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