IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Mukta Gupta, Poonam A. Bamba, JJ.
Dev Sharan – Appellant
Versus
State – Respondent
Cr.A. 91 of 2019
Decided On : 16-05-2023
IPC - Kidnapping and Murder - Sections 363/302 - The Indian Penal Code, 1860
Fact of the Case:
The appellant was convicted for kidnapping and murdering a child. The prosecution's case was based on the testimony of the victim's mother and other witnesses, supported by medical evidence.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the appellant guilty based on the consistent testimony of the victim's mother and other witnesses, as well as medical evidence. The court rejected the appellant's defense and upheld the conviction.
Issues: The main issues were the credibility of the witnesses and the presence of motive for the crime.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the consistent testimony of the witnesses and the medical evidence to establish the guilt of the appellant. The absence of a proven motive was not fatal to the prosecution's case.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the appellant's conviction was upheld.
JUDGMENT
Poonam A. Bamba, J.
1. Vide this appeal, the appellant is assailing the judgment dated 30.10.2018 (`impugned judgment' in short) passed by Ld. ASJ (Pilot Court), West District, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, whereby the appellant was convicted under Sections 363/302 of The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (`IPC' in short) for kidnapping and murder of Radhika in FIR no. 793/2016, Police Station Rannhola; and order on sentence dated 30.10.2018, whereby the appellant was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life under Section 302 IPC with fine of Rs. 10,000/-, in default to undergo simple imprisonment for six months; and further to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years for the offence under Section 363 IPC with fine of Rs. 5,000/-, in default of payment of fine to undergo simple imprisonment for six months.
2. Briefly stating, case of the prosecution is that, on 24.10.2016, ASI Manraj (PW-13) through telephone informed PS Ranhola that caller vide phone 7011548300 informed that at Mohan Garden-5, Gandhi Chowk, one person is beating a two year old girl who has got injured and has become unconscious. Said information was reduced into writing vide DD no. 26A (Ex. PX1), which was handed over to SI Praveen Kumar (PW-19) for necessary action, who along with HC Parminder (PW-17) and Ct. Rajiv (PW-15) left for the spot. On reaching the spot i.e., Santoshi Mata Mandir, Plot no. 181, Gali no. 5, Sector-2, Sainik Enclave, Mohan Garden, broken pieces of bangles and one Topaz blade were found lying near the staircase of the temple and one blood stain was noticed on the cement lid of the gutter. At the spot, one Ashok Kumar (PW-1) produced the appellant/accused before SI Praveen Kumar (PW-19) stating that "isi shaksh ne ladki ko mandir ki podiyo par patak-patak ke mara tha, jise uski maa hospital le gyi hai". SI Praveen Kumar (PW-19) called Mobile crime team. In the meanwhile, another information was received by duty officer PS Ranhola that one girl Radhika D/o Pappu, aged about 11/2 has been declared brought dead vide MLC no. 10628/16 at DDU Hospital. On receipt of the said information, SI Praveen Kumar left for the hospital and collected the MLC of the deceased (Ex. P7), vide which the patient had been declared brought dead at 1 pm. The body had already been shifted to mortuary and in the mortuary, parents of the deceased i.e. Pappu Kumar (PW-3), Rama Devi (PW-2, who claimed to be the eye witness) and other relatives met. Thereafter, SI Praveen Kumar (PW-19) along with parents of the deceased returned to the spot, got the same inspected and photographed through crime team officials SI Devender Singh (PW-9) and Ct. Satish (PW-8) and photographs (Ex. PW-2/D1 to Ex. PW-2/D6 and Ex. PW-8/A1 to Ex. PW- 8/A6) were taken and crime team report (Ex. PW-9/A) was furnished. Thereafter, PW-19 recorded the statement of PW-2 Smt. Rama Devi (Ex. PW-2/A) in the presence of her husband (PW-3). On the basis of the said statement, PW-19 SI Parveen Kumar prepared rukka (Ex. PW-19/A) and got the FIR (Ex. PX-3) registered. Thereafter, further investigation was taken up by Ins. Subhash Malik, SHO PS Ranhola, (PW-18) who also reached there. Site plan of the place of occurrence (Ex. PW-18/A) was got prepared and exhibits i.e. pieces of broken bangles [Ex. P-1 (colly)], one topaz blade (Ex. P-2) and blood stained concrete (Ex. P-3), were lifted, sealed and seized vide seizure memos Ex. PW-17/A to Ex. PW-17/C, respectively. Statements of the witnesses were recorded. The appellant/accused was arrested in the matter vide arrest memo Ex. PW-2/B and his disclosure statement Ex. PW- 17/E was recorded. The appellant/accused was got medically examined. On 25.10.2016, post-mortem of the body of the deceased was got conducted vide postmortem report (Ex. PW-14/A) and thereafter, the body was handed over to the relatives.
3. Dr. V K Ranga PW-14 who conducted post mortem of the deceased vide his report Ex. PW14/A observed and opined as under:
"P. M. No:1772/2016
Dated: 25.10.2
The consistent testimony of witnesses and medical evidence can establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, even in the absence of a proven motive.
Direct eyewitness testimony sufficient for murder conviction under Section 302 IPC despite no motive; absence of motive not fatal if evidence reliable and conclusive.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the reliance on witness testimonies and medical evidence to establish guilt in a murder case, and the requirement of evidence for kidnapping or abd....
The conviction for murder was upheld based on substantial eyewitness testimony and evidence of motive, affirming the principle that direct evidence substantiates a guilty verdict beyond reasonable do....
The court established that intent in inflicting fatal injuries was insufficient for murder under Section 302, leading to classification as culpable homicide under Section 304 IPC.
Evidence inconsistency and lack of direct causation led to partial acquittal of the appellants, emphasizing rigorous scrutiny in criminal convictions.
A conviction under Section 302 IPC can be based on a single eyewitness's credible testimony, provided it is substantiated by medical evidence, reflecting intentional infliction of fatal injuries.
The conviction upheld on the basis of reliable eyewitness testimonies, including that of a child witness, despite challenges about potential inconsistencies.
The conviction under IPC Sections 302 and 201 was overturned due to insufficient evidence and material discrepancies in witness testimonies.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the reliance on ocular evidence, admission of presence, and post-mortem report to establish the appellant's involvement in the assault, leading to ....
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