CALCUTTA HIGH COURT
Mukerji, J., Cuming, J.
Khijiruddin & Ors. - Appellant
Versus
Emperor - Respondent
Decided On : 26-08-1925
Evidence - Criminal Law - Sections 364, 344, 120-B - The judgment discussed the admissibility of evidence, including witness depositions and statements, and the procedure for comparing handwriting. The court found serious omissions and prejudicial actions in the trial, leading to the quashing of the verdict and convictions. A retrial was ordered in a different location.
Fact of the Case:
The appellants were convicted of abduction and conspiracy charges based on the prosecution's case that a girl was abducted multiple times by the appellants acting in conspiracy with each other.
Finding of the Court:
The court found serious omissions and prejudicial actions in the trial, leading to the quashing of the verdict and convictions. A retrial was ordered in a different location.
Issues: Admissibility of evidence, fairness of trial, need for retrial in a different location.
Ratio Decidendi: The court found that the trial had serious omissions and prejudicial actions, leading to the quashing of the verdict and convictions. A retrial was ordered in a different location due to the atmosphere of prejudice created locally.
Final Decision: The verdict of the jury was set aside, and the convictions and sentences were quashed. A retrial was ordered in a different location.
JUDGMENT
Mukerji, J. - The three appellants, that is to say, No. 1 Khijiruddin Sonar, No. 2, Nawabali Sheikh and No. 3, Qamruzzaman (alias Quamarulzaman.) were tried by the Sessions Judge of Rungpur with the aid of a jury. The jury were divided in the proportion of four to one. The majority convicted the appellants in respect of the charges on which they were tried, viz., Nos. 1 and 2 under Sections 364, 344 and 120-B and No. 3 under Sections 364 342 and 120-B. The learned Judge, accepting the verdict, convicted the appellants of the said offences and sentenced the Appellant No. 1 to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years u/s 366, Indian Penal Code, and to rigorous imprisonment for three years u/s 344, Indian Penal Code, the sentences to run consecutively: the Appellant No. 2 to rigorous imprisonment for three years u/s 366, Indian Penal Code, and to rigorous-imprisonment for one year u/s 345, Indian Penal Code, the sentences to run concurrently; and the Appellant No. 3 to rigorous imprisonment for 5 years u/s 366, Indian Penal Code and, to rigorous imprisonment for one year tinder Section 342, Indian Penal Code, the sentences to run concurrently. No separate sentence was passed for the offence u/s 120-B, Indian Penal Code.
2. It is not necessary to set out in detail the case for the prosecution upon which the trial was held; for it is to be found narrated in sufficient detail in the learned Judge's charge to the jury. Shortly stated, the prosecution case was that a girl Suhasini was abducted by the first two appellants some time in February 1923 from Gaibandha, where she used to reside with her parents; that thereafter she managed to escape from the custody of the Appellant No. 1 some time in March 1923, when she was again abducted by the Appellant No. 1 from a railway station called Trimohini. After the second abduction, the case for the prosecution is the girl remained with the Appellant No. 1 for about a year, roughly 'speaking from March 1923 till March 1924. The prosecution case further is that after she had succeeded in escaping from the custody of the Appellant No. 1 in March 1924 she was again abducted at Gaibandha by the three appellants acting in conspiracy with each other. She was thereafter detained, according to the case for the prosecution, in the house of the Appellant No. 3 for about a day where-from she was removed to the house of the Appellant No. 1. where she was detained for a period over ten days' According to the prosecution case she was recovered from the house of Appellant No. 1 in execution of a warrant issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer of Gaibandha who "had in the meantime received an anonymous letter informing him about the abduction. She is said to have been recovered as aforesaid on the 6th of April, 1924.
3. The defences of the three appellants are not exactly the same. But it is unnecessary to set out the defences here, because the learned Judge in his charge-to the jury has given a substantially correct synopsis of the different defences of the three appellants.
4. Various points have been argued before us on behalf of the appellants by Mr. Sen who has appeared on behalf of the Appellant No. 3 and by Mr. Wahed Hossain who has appeared on behalf of the first two appellants. Mr. Basu has appeared on behalf of the Crown. It will not be possible within the short space of this judgment to deal with all the points that 'have been urged in this appeal. These points vary in the degree of their strength, some being, points of very great importance and substance, others apparently appear to be well founded but have been successfully met by Mr. Basu and others again rest upon very slender, basis or upon materials which when examined do not afford any real support. It would only be possible to refer to some of the salient features of the case and a few only of the grounds which to us appear to be of importance.
5. Before dealing with the points 1 desire to make a few observations as to the general character of t
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