IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
Rajendra M. Sareen, J.
State Of Gujarat – Appellant
Versus
Koli Arjan Samat Vadher & others – Respondents
R/Criminal Appeal No. 506 of 2011
Decided On : 06-03-2023
Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 498(A), 306, 114, 304, 107 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 378(1)(3) – Appeal – Challenging judgment and order – Recording the acquittal – Abetment of a thing – Held, As observed by Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of Rajesh Singh & Others vs. State of Uttar Pradesh reported in (2011) 11 SCC 444 and in case Another vs. State of Madhya Pradesh reported in (2011) 6 SCC 394, while dealing with judgment of acquittal, unless reasoning by learned trial Court is found to be perverse, acquittal cannot be upset – It is further observed that High Court's interference in such appeal in somewhat circumscribed and if view taken by learned trial Court is possible on evidence, High Court should stay its hands and not interfere in matter in belief that if it had been the trial Court, it might have taken a different view – Appeal dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
1. This appeal is filed by the appellant – State under Section 378(1)(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 challenging the judgment and order dated 31.12.2010, passed in Sessions Case No. 2 of 2005 by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Veraval recording the acquittal.
2. Facts in brief are that on 29.10.2004, Anjuben – daughter of complainant – Bhaya Bhagwan Sevra committed suicide by jumping into the well with her minor daughter on account of physical and mental harassment from the respondents – accused, since it is alleged that accused No.1 – husband of deceased Anjuben was having illicit reationship with his sister in law and deceased has tried to stop him. The complainant lodged the FIR in question against the respondents for the offence punishable under Sections 498(A), 306 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (herein after referred to as “the IPC”).
2.1 Upon such FIR being filed, investigation started and the Investigating Officer recorded statements of the witnesses and produced certain documentary evidence and after completion of the investigation, Charge-sheet was filed against the accused for the offence in question. The case was committed to the Sessions Court and the learned trial Judge framed the Charge. Since the respondents - accused did not plead guilty, trial was proceeded against the respondents - accused. Vide impugned judgment and order dated 31.12.2010, the learned trial Judge acquitted the respondents - accused. Being aggrieved by the same, the State has preferred the present appeal.
3. Heard, learned Additional Public Prosecutor Ms. C. M. Shah for the appellant – State and learned advocate Mr. Pinank Raiyani for learned advocate Mr. Hriday Buch for the for respondents – accused. Since respondent No.3 expired pending appeal, the appeal stands abated against respondent No.3.
3.1 The learned APP has mainly contended that the learned trial Judge has erred in holding that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. She submitted that the impugned judgment of the trial Court is based on presumptions and inferences and thereby, it is against the facts and the evidence on record. The learned APP further submitted that the learned trial Judge has failed to appreciate the evidence on record in its true and proper perspective and thereby, has erred in recording the acquittal of the respondents – accused.
3.2 The learned APP further contended that the learned trial Judge has erred in holding that the prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons have harassed the deceased mentally and physically, which led her to commit suicide.
3.3 The learned APP for the appellant – State submitted that despite sufficient material was there on record in support of the case of the prosecution and though the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, the learned trial Judge has committed error in discarding the evidence on record and not believing the same.
3.4 It is submitted that the learned trial Judge has ignored the settled legal position on trial and thereby, has erred in coming to such a conclusion.
3.5 The learned APP, taking this Court through the oral as well as the documentary evidence on record, submitted that though the prosecution has proved the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt, the learned trial Judge has not properly appreciated the evidence on record and thereby, has committed an error in recording acquittal. It is submitted that though all the ingredients of the offence alleged had been proved beyond reasonable doubt, the learned trial Judge did not believe the same and therefore, the impugned judgment and order suffers from material illegality, perversity and contrary to the facts and evidence on record.
3.6 Thus, the learned APP has submitted that although cogent and material evidence had been produced by the prosecution and the case was proved beyond reasonable doubt, the trial Court has committed a g
Amlendu Pal @ Jhantu vs. State of West Bengal
Arnab Manoranjan Goswami versus State of Mahrashtra and others
Arulvelu and another versus State
Aruvelu v. State (2009) 10 SCC 206
Atley v. State of U.P. AIR 1955 SC 807
Balak Ram v. State of U.P (1975) 3 SCC 219
Balbir Singh v. State of Punjab AIR 1957 SC 216
Bhagwan Singh v. State of M.P(2002) 4 SCC 85
Bhaiyamiyan Alias Jardar Khan and Another vs. State of Madhya Pradesh
Budh Singh v. State of U.P (2006) 9 SCC 731
Chaman Lal v. The State of Himachal Pradesh
Chandrappa v. State of Karnataka (2007) 4 SCC 415
Dhanapal v. State (2009) 10 SCC 401
Excise and Taxation Officer-cum-Assessing Authority v. Gopi Nath & Sons 1992 Supp (2) SCC 312
Gamini Bala Koteswara Rao v. State of A.P (2009) 10 SCC 636)
Gaya Din v. Hanuman Prasad (2001) 1 SCC 501
Ghurey Lal v. State of U.P (2008) 10 SCC 450
Gurucharan Singh Versus State of Punjab
K. Gopal Reddy v. State of A.P. (1979) 1 SCC 355
K. Ramakrishnan Unnithan v. State of Kerala (1999) 3 SCC 309
Kali Ram V. State of Himachal Pradesh
Khedu Mohton v. State of Bihar (1970) 2 SCC 450
Kuldeep Singh v. Commissioner of Police (1999) 2 SCC 10
M Arjunan vs State (represented by its Inspector of Police) (2019) 3 SCC 315
M.G. Agarwal v. State of Maharashtra AIR 1963 SC 200
Madan Mohan Singh vs State of Gujarat
Narendra Singh v. State of M.P (2004) 10 SCC 699
Perla Somasekhara Reddy v. State of A.P (2009) 16 SCC 98
Rajesh Singh & Others vs. State of Uttar Pradesh
Rajinder Kumar Kindra v. Delhi Admn (1984) 4 SCC 635
Ram Singh v. State of H.P (2010) 2 SCC 445)
Ramesh Babulal Doshi v. State of Gujarat (1996) 9 SCC 225
S. Rama Krishna v. S. Rami Reddy (2008) 5 SCC 535
S.S. Chheena v. Vijay Kumar Muhajun
Sambasivan v. State of Kerala (1998) 5 SCC 412
Shailendra Pratap v. State of U.P (2003) 1 SCC 761
Shambhoo Missir v. State of Bihar (1990) 4 SCC 17
Sheo Swarup v. King Emperor AIR 1934 PC 227
State of Goa v. Sanjay Thakran (2007) 3 SCC 755
State of Rajasthan v. Naresh (2009) 9 SCC 368
State of U.P. v. Ram Veer Singh
Surajpal Singh v. State AIR 1952 SC 52
Tulsiram Kanu v. State AIR 1954 SC 1
Appeal against acquittal – When two views are possible, judgment and order of acquittal passed by trial Court should not be interfered with by Appellate Court unless for special reasons.
The judgment reaffirms the principle of presumption of innocence, the need for clear evidence in cases of abetment of suicide, and the reluctance to disturb a trial court's finding of acquittal unles....
Abetment of suicide – Merely on allegation of harassment without their being any positive action proximate to the time of occurrence on part of accused which led or compelled the person to commit sui....
The prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused's conduct amounted to 'cruelty' leading to the victim's suicide, which was not established in this case.
The appellate court upheld the trial court's acquittal due to insufficient evidence of abetment of suicide and cruelty, emphasizing the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof on the prosecu....
The court emphasized that mere allegations of harassment are insufficient to establish abetment of suicide; clear evidence of intent and coercion is required.
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