IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
Arvind Singh Chandel, J.
KAPIL DAS MAHANT, SON OF ROOPDAS MAHANT - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF CHHATTISGAR - Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 1353 of 2016, 1752 of 2017, 807 of 2019
Decided On : 13-02-2020
Indian Penal Code,1860 – Sections 392, 397 and 398/34 - Arms Act – Section 25(1B) - Conducting of test identification - Recovery and seizure of the knife - When he reached near Canal unknown persons came there on a motorcycle overtook and prevented him- Out of said 3 unknown persons one showed a country-made pistol (katta) and other showed a knife to him and they demanded his purse and mobile phone - Due to fear he gave his purse in which cash was kept - Thereafter they also looted his motorcycle and mobile phone made of Micromax in which a sim of Vodafone was installed - Thereafter they fled from there- He immediately lodged First Information Report (Ex-P15) at about - During course of investigation police recorded memorandum statements of Appellant vide Ex-P5 Appellant vide Ex-P6 Appellant vide Ex-P7 and Appellant vide Ex-P8- On basis of their memorandum statements looted motorcycle and cash of were recovered and seized from Appellant Kamal vide Ex-P4 one Micromax mobile phone cash - Appellants at time of loot was recovered and seized from Appellant vide Ex-P1 - Test identification parade was conducted by Executive Magistrate - Held, It is also clear that seized country-made pistol and cartridges were in alive and running condition is not established - On a minute examination of evidence available on record it is clear that initially FIR (Ex-P15) was lodged against unknown persons - According to Court statement of Complainant memorandum statements of 4 persons and charge-sheet was filed against 4 persons - Though in test identification parade (Ex-P12) except Appellant Complainant (PW7) has identified all remaining 3 Appellants - From statement of (PW7) it is clear that he was already shown these 3 Appellants in police station before conducting of test identification parade - Therefore prosecution does not get any help from test identification parade also - There is nothing on record to establish that seized mobile phone was looted mobile phone of Complainant (PW7) and there is also nothing on record that looted motorcycle was seized from Appellant - Virtually said motorcycle was already found in lonely condition near the canal flowing - Appeals are allowed
JUDGMENT
Arvind Singh Chandel, J. - Since all the three appeals arise out of a common judgment, they are decided together.
2. The instant appeals have been preferred against the judgment dated 29.8.2016 passed by the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Janjgir-Champa in Sessions Trial No.52 of 2016, whereby the present Appellants have been convicted and sentenced as under:
| Appellant | Conviction | Sentence |
| All the Appellants | Under Section 392/34 of the Indian Penal Code | Rigorous Imprisonment for 7 years and fine of Rs.1,000/- with default stipulation |
| Under Section 397/34 of the Indian Penal Code | Rigorous Imprisonment for 7 years | |
| Under Section 398/34 of the Indian Penal Code | Rigorous Imprisonment for 7 years | |
| Appellant Sharad Goutam (In Addition to his above conviction under the Indian Penal Code) | Under Section 25(1A) of the Arms Act | Rigorous Imprisonment for 3 years and fine of Rs.500/- with default stipulation |
| Appellant Radheshyam Kashyap (In addition to his above conviction under the Indian Penal Code) | Under Section 25(1B) of the Arms Act | Rigorous Imprisonment for 1 year and fine of Rs.500/- with default stipulation |
3. Prosecution case, in brief, is that on 5.1.2016 at about 9:00 a.m., Complainant Devvrat (PW7) was returning on his motorcycle bearing registration number CG 12 AJ 5105. When he reached near Beltukri Canal, 3 unknown persons came there on a motorcycle, overtook and prevented him. Out of the said 3 unknown persons, one showed a country-made pistol (katta) and other showed a knife to him and they demanded his purse and mobile phone. Due to fear, he gave his purse in which cash of Rs.500/- was kept. Thereafter, they also looted his motorcycle and mobile phone made of Micromax in which a sim of Vodafone was installed. Thereafter, they fled from there. He immediately lodged First Information Report (Ex.P15) at about 11:00 a.m. During the course of investigation, police recorded memorandum statements of Appellant Kapil vide Ex.P5, Appellant Radheshyam vide Ex.P6, Appellant Kamal vide Ex.P7 and Appellant Sharad vide Ex.P8. On the basis of their memorandum statements, looted motorcycle and cash of Rs.200/- were recovered and seized from Appellant Kamal vide Ex.P4, one Micromax mobile phone, cash of Rs.300/- and a knife of total length of 9.2 inches (consisting of its sharp flat metal piece having 5 inches length and the handle having 4.5 inches length) were recovered and seized from Appellant Radheshyam vide Ex.P3. One country-made pistol (katta) and 7 alive cartridges of 315 bore were recovered and seized from Appellant Sharad vide Ex.P2. One Hero Passion Pro motorcycle bearing registration number CG 13 5A 0732, which was used by the Appellants at the time of loot, was recovered and seized from Appellant Kapil vide Ex.P1. Test identification parade was conducted by Executive Magistrate Shabab Khan (PW3) vide Ex.P12 in which Complainant Devvrat (PW7) identified accused persons/Appellants Kapil, Kamal and Sharad. However, he did not identify accused/Appellant Radheshyam in the said parade. On completion of the investigation, a charge-sheet was filed. Charges were framed against the accused persons.
4. In support of its case, the prosecution examined as many as 9 witnesses. In examination under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the accused persons/Appellants denied the guilt and pleaded innocence. No witness has been examined in defence.
5. On completion of the trial, vide the impugned judgment, the Trial Court convicted and sentenced the Appellants as mentioned in the second paragraph of this judgment. Hence, the present appeals.
6. Learned Counsel appearing for the respective Appellants submitted that without there being any sufficient evidence on record against the Appellants, the
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