2008 Supreme(Del) 185
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Honble Judges: B.N. Chaturvedi and G.S. Sistani, JJ.
Shekhar and Anr. - Appellants
Vs.
The State of Nct of Delhi - Respondent
Crl. Appeal No. 734/2004
[Along with Crl. Appeal No. 374/2005]
Decided On: 15.02.2008
For Appellant/Petitioner/Plaintiff:Anil Soni, amices Curiae For Respondents/Defendant: Fizani Hussain, Addl. P.P.
The sufficiency of circumstantial evidence to establish guilt beyond doubt.
Headnote:
Conviction - Robbery and Murder - Sections 392/394/302/34 IPC and Section 411 IPC - [Apprehension, Recovery of Incriminating Articles, Chance Fingerprints] - The court discussed the circumstances of the case, including the apprehension of the appellants, recovery of incriminating articles, and chance fingerprints, and found them insufficient to establish guilt beyond doubt.
Fact of the Case:
The appellants were convicted for robbery and murder based on circumstantial evidence, including their apprehension, recovery of incriminating articles, and chance fingerprints.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the evidence insufficient to establish guilt beyond doubt and set aside the conviction and sentence against the appellants, acquitting them of the charges.
Issues: The main issue was the sufficiency of the circumstantial evidence to establish the guilt of the appellants.
Ratio Decidendi: The court found that the circumstances brought out by the prosecution did not unerringly point towards the guilt of the appellants, leading to the setting aside of the conviction and sentence.
Final Decision: Both the appeals were allowed, the judgment of conviction and order of sentence against the appellants were set aside, and the appellants were acquitted of the charges.
B.N. Chaturvedi, J.
.1. These appeals arise out of a judgment of conviction dated 20th July, 2004 under Sections 392/394/302/34 IPC and Section 411 IPC in FIR No. 390/2001 PS Mangol Puri, Delhi and sentence of imprisonment and fine to respective respondents by an order dated 24th July, 2004 as under:
.(1) three years RI and a fine of Rs. 1000/- each and in default of payment of fine SI for one month under Section 392/34 IPC;
.(2) RI for four years and a fine of Rs. 1,000/- each and in default of payment of fine SI for one month under Section 394/34 IPC;
.(3) imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs. 1,000/- each and in default of payment of fine SI for one month under Section 302/34 IPC; and
.(4) RI for three years and a fine of Rs. 1,000/- and in default SI for one month under Section 411 IPC.
2. The substantive sentences of imprisonment under different heads are to run concurrently.
3. The appellants together with three others were prosecuted on the allegations of committing dacoity and murder of one Raju at House No. G-394 Mangol Puri, Delhi on the intervening night of 11/12th of May, 2001. Appellant Sanjay @ Moni was apprehended by Constable Bodh Raj Singh and Constable Parvinder Singh at D Block, Mangolpuri, Delhi immediately after commission of said dacoity and murder. At the relevant time both the said Constables were on patrolling duty. They noticed 6-7 boys coming from the side of E Block, who on being asked to stop started running away. On a chase, Constables Bodh Raj Singh and Parvinder Singh succeeded in overpowering appellant Sanjay @ Moni. On his personal search two gold bangles and a cash amount of Rs. 1507/- were recovered from right pocket of his trouser. Possession thereof he could not explain satisfactorily. After sometime Inspector S.K. Saxena, SHO PS Mangol Puri, Delhi accompanied by other police officials including Head Constable Ajay Pal and Constable Shokinder Singh also reached there around 3.15 am in the course of their night patrolling duty. Appellant Sanjay @ Moni was produced before Inspector S.K. Saxena with recovered gold bangles and the cash amount. On being subjected to interrogation, Sanjay @ Moni allegedly disclosed that a short while ago he and his associates had committed a dacoity in a house near G Block latrines and that the gold bangles as also the cash were part of looted property. He allegedly further disclosed that in the course of dacoity, he and his associates had committed a murder also. Inspector S.K. Saxena was in the meantime joined by SI Vikram Singh who also happened to reach there. Appellant Sanjay @ Moni led the police officials to house No. G-394, Mangolpuri, Delhi, which was found bolted from outside. On entering the house a dead body was found lying there. The house belonged to one Rohtas. At some distance there was residence of his brother Jagdish. Jagdish was called from his house. He confirmed that the house in question belonged to his elder brother Rohtas. Raju, deceased as told by him was brother-in-law of both the brothers as their respective wives were sisters. Rohtas was not at his house, as according to Jagdish, he had gone to a nursing home to take care of his nephew who was admitted there. The wife and children of Rohtas were sleeping in the house of Jagdish. The deceased Raju was alone there in the house when the incident took place. The dead body of Raju was found lying on the floor. There were multiple stab wounds on his person and a lot of blood was splattered on the floor. The almirah was found open and articles therein ransacked. The statement of Jagdish was reduced into writing on the basis of which a FIR was got registered. A disclosure by appellant Sanjay @ Moni led to recovery of a blood stained razor from a park nereby which was taken into possession by the police. This apart, the T-shirt, bearing blood stains, which appellant Sanjay @ Moni was wearing at the time of his apprehension, was also seized and taken into possession by the police. On