1980 Supreme(Raj) 234
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
K.D.Sharma, S.N.Deedwania, JJ.
Mithalal - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 222 of 1979.
Decided On : 7-03-1980
The omission of the accused's name in the FIR, coupled with the delay in interrogation of eyewitnesses and the lack of corroborating evidence, can create a reasonable doubt about the accused's identity and lead to acquittal.
Headnote:
CRIMINAL APPEAL - MURDER - SECTION 302 IPC - OMISSION OF ACCUSED'S NAME IN FIR - DELAY IN INTERROGATION OF EYEWITNESSES - DOUBTFUL EVIDENCE - ACQUITTAL.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for killing Mst. Lali. The prosecution alleged that the appellant struck Mst. Lali with an iron 'Kassi' in her field, causing her death. The appellant denied the charges and claimed that Chatra, the brother of the deceased, was the real culprit.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the omission of the appellant's name in the FIR raised a reasonable doubt about his identity as the assailant. The court also noted that the eyewitnesses were not interrogated by the police until two days after the incident, which created further doubt about the veracity of their testimony. The court further found that the recovery of a bloodstained Kassi at the instance of the appellant was not sufficient evidence to convict him, as there was no report from the Serologist confirming that the blood was human blood.
Issues: 1. Whether the omission of the appellant's name in the FIR created a reasonable doubt about his identity as the assailant? 2. Whether the delay in interrogation of the eyewitnesses affected the veracity of their testimony? 3. Whether the recovery of a bloodstained Kassi at the instance of the appellant was sufficient evidence to convict him?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the omission of the appellant's name in the FIR, coupled with the fact that the eyewitnesses did not come forward to identify him until two days after the incident, created a reasonable doubt about his identity as the assailant. 2. The court held that the delay in interrogation of the eyewitnesses raised doubts about the veracity of their testimony, as they had ample opportunity to fabricate their stories. 3. The court held that the recovery of a bloodstained Kassi at the instance of the appellant was not sufficient evidence to convict him, as there was no report from the Serologist confirming that the blood was human blood.
Final Decision: The court accepted the appeal, set aside the appellant's conviction and sentence under Section 302 IPC, and acquitted him of the charges.
"1. One oblique contused wound 5 cm. x 2 cm. x cavity deep over occipital bone, Rt. side with fracture of occipital bone.
2. One horizontal confused wound 5 cm. x 2 cm. x cavity deep over occipital bone with fracture of occipital bone.
3. Contusion of 3 cm. diameter over front of Rt. knee joint.
4. Three contusions .of 1 x 2 cm diameter over the Rt. foot medial side near Rt. great toe. 1 to 2 cm. apart."
Upon dissection of the body the doctor detected fracture of occipital bone as at two places at the side of external Injuries over skull. In his opinion the death of Mt. Lali occurred due to shock and hemorrhage as a consequence of ante mortem external injuries Nos. 1 and 2 According to the doctor the duration of death was 20 to 24 hours at the time of post mortem examination and the external injuries were caused by some hard blunt substance and Injuries Nos. 1 and 2 fatal and the rest of them were simple lo nature. After the post mortem examination was over Bansilal SHO took into possession Sari of the deceased which she was wearing on her body and sent the blood smeared soil, control soil, sari & iron rod which was recovered at the instance of the appellant and in consequence of his information to Forensic Science Laboratory Rajasthan Jaipur for analysis. The Director of the said Science Laboratory analysed the aforesaid articles and detected blood on them. H