2017 Supreme(Raj) 473
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
MOHAMMAD RAFIQ, KAILASH CHANDRA SHARMA, JJ.
Hariom @ Arvind son of Sheoji - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 661, 839 of 2012
Decided On : 21-07-2017
For the Appellants : Mr. Anshuman Saxena, Mr. Nirmal Kumar Gurjar on behalf of Mr. Rajesh Goswami
For the Respondents: Mr. R.S. Raghav
Headnote:
Criminal Procedure Code,1973 - Sections 302/34 - Indian Panel Code,1860 - Section 302 – Appeal against conviction - Recovery of weapon - Offence Murder - Appeal is directed against judgment whereby accused-appellants have been convicted for offence and sentenced to life imprisonment with fine of in default whereof he was to further undergo three months imprisonment police was informed on telephone - Police on basis of aforesaid written registered a regular FIR Indian Panel Code and commenced investigation - Upon completion of investigation charge sheet was filed IPC against accused-appellants in Court of concerned Magistrate - Case was committed to Court of Sessions from where it was transferred to Court of Additional Sessions Judge - Trial court framed charges against accused-appellants for offence IPC which they denied and claimed to be tried - Held, This witness also stated that when police prepared the inquest at that time police recovered empty bottles of quarter of liquor and empty packets of cell phone tablet near and then police went to Hostel and at that time police found blood stained and blood stained lying there which were seized and memos were prepared. Statement of thus clearly show that was recovered in morning of October - In cross examination has also admitted that when the police prepared panchnama on at that time he inspected adjoining open land surrounding the plot of the deceased, apart from recovery of empty quarter of liquor and empty packet of cellphone police also seized one kulhadi and one blood stained at that very time and prepared memos. recoveries memos are shown to have been made by police on but vide memo these two recoveries thus becomes highly doubtful - If were found lying in open land their recovery could not be attributed to accused-appellants only because they were lastly seen with deceased in previous night of incident – appeal allowed
Mohammad Rafiq, J.
1. This appeal is directed against judgment dated 15.06.2012 passed by Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bandikui, District Dausa (for short ‘the trial court’) whereby accused-appellants have been convicted for offence under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment with fine of Rs. 5,000/-, in default whereof, he was to further undergo three months imprisonment.
2. Facts of the case are that Babulal (P.W.4) son of Chhuttan submitted a written report (Exhibit P-8) to SHO, Police Station Bandikui on 10.10.2010 at 8.30 A.M. stating therein that he was resident of Ward No. 1, Bandikui, Tehsil Baswa District Dausa. He and his deceased brother Tulsiram son of Chhuttan Lal were residing in Ram Chandra Ki Dhani in two rooms. The informant went to sleep at 10.00 P.M. on 09.10.2010. At that time, Ram Phool Meena, their neighbourer Hari Om and Mukesh Meena resident of Ram Chandra Ki Dhani were sitting with his brother Tulsiram. When the informant woke up in the following morning at 6.00 A.M., he found that his brother has been murdered by someone after slitting his neck. Blood was speared all over the floor. His dead body was lying on the cot outside the room. Pieces of meat and roti were spread in the room. The police was informed on telephone. The police on the basis of the aforesaid written report, registered a regular FIR No. 750/2010 (Exhibit P-35) under Section 302 IPC and commenced investigation. Upon completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed under Section 302/34 IPC against the accused-appellants in the Court of concerned Magistrate. The case was committed to the Court of Sessions, Dausa from where it was transferred to the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Bandikui, District Dausa. The trial court framed charges against the accused-appellants for offence under Section 302 IPC, which they denied and claimed to be tried. The prosecution in support of its case examined as many as 15 witnesses and exhibited 39 documents. Thereafter, accused-appellants were examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C., who pleaded innocence and stated that they have been falsely implicated in the case. In defence, no witness was produced and only one document was got exhibited. The trial court, on conclusion of the trial, vide judgment and order dated 15.06.2012 convicted and sentenced the accused-appellants in the manner indicated hereinabove. Hence, these appeals.
3. Mr. Anshuman Saxena, learned counsel for the accused-appellant Hariom @ Arvind argued that learned trail court has committed serious illegality in convicting the accused-appellant for the alleged offences inasmuch as there is absolutely no evidence against the appellant to connect him with the crime. The prosecution has relied on two circumstances against the accused appellant. First circumstance was of last seen and second circumstance was of recovery of weapon and one shirt. The trial court has failed to appreciate that the evidence of last seen was not only against Mukesh and Hari Om, but it was also against Ram Phool (P.W.6) to the effect that he was also with the deceased at the time when he went to sleep. It is also amply proved by evidence that Ram Phool was having money dealings with the deceased. The prosecution could not have therefore excluded accused Ram Phool of the charge sheet. The trial court has recorded wholly perverse finding on the basis of last seen evidence against the accused-appellants as per the statement of Babulal (P.W.4), who stated that when he went to sleep at 10’ O’ Clock, the deceased was in the company of Ram Phool, Mukesh and Hariom. As per the post mortem report (Exhibit P-1), which was conducted at 10.30 A.M., duration of death was 6 to 12 hours before the post mortem was conducted. It indicates that murder of the deceased took place early in the morning. But the prosecution failed to prove that the accused-appellant Hari Om continued to be in company of the deceased in close proximity of time of death of t