2019 Supreme(MP) 414

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
G.S. Ahluwalia, J.
Ramjilal @ Munna & Others v. State of M. P.
Criminal Appeal No. 1014 of 2015 (Gwalior): against the judgment and sentence dated 8.10.2015 passed by the II Additional Sessions Judge, Sabalgarh, District Morena in Sessions Trial No. 170/2008; Decided on 14.8.2019

Headnote:

(1) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 315 -- accused decides to appear as defence witness -- loses all immunities available to accused -- accused can maintain silence on a particular issue but once he appears as defence witness, he has to explain each and every circumstance. Cr. A. No. 6426 of 2017 decided 10.5.2019 (Gwalior) relied on. [Para 34]

(2) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- medical evidence not contrary to ocular evidence -- ocular evidence not improbable. (2018) 3 SCC 66 and (2017) 11 SCC 195 referred to. [Para 39]

(3) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 11 -- plea of alibi -- has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. (2015) 4 SCC 749, (2010) 8 SCC 430 and (1997) 1 SCC 283 followed. [Para 46]

(4) Practice (Criminal) -- non-explanation of injuries on body of accused -- defence itself proved case of prosecution that accused started quarrel -- even otherwise, accused sustained minor injuries -- non-explanation of minor injuries on body of accused not fatal to prosecution case. (2012) 4 SCC 79, (2017) 13 SCC 98, (2018) 16 SCC 525 and (2018) 7 SCC 536 followed. [Paras 52 & 59]

(5) Penal Code, 1860 -- S. 149 -- common object can develop even on spot -- presence of all other appellants not innocent -- specific allegations that they too assaulted injured persons -- ocular evidence corroborated by medical evidence -- they were not mere silent spectators -- played active role in assault. (2016) 10 SCC 537, (2018) 7 SCC 743 and. (2019) 5 SCC 67 followed. [Para 63]

(6) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- interested witness -- defence itself proved initiation of quarrel by accused -- injuries sustained by injured persons fully corroborate ocular evidence -- witnesses also sustained injuries therefore their presence on spot is not in doubt -- evidence of prosecution witnesses cannot be discarded merely on ground that they are related witnesses. (2016) 10 SCC 537 and (2016) 16 SCC 426 followed. [Para 70]

(7) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 27 -- non-recovery of weapon of offence -- would not make ocular evidence unreliable -- direct ocular evidence of injured witnesses -- prosecution case cannot be disbelieved merely on ground of non-recovery of weapon of offence. (2016) 3 SCC 317 and (2013) 12 SCC 796 followed. [Paras 72 & 75]

¼1½ naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 & èkkjk 315 & vfHk;qDr çfrj{kk lk{kh ds :i esa mifLFkr gksus dk fofu'p; djrk gS & vfHk;qDr dks miyCèk leLr mUeqfDr;ksa ls oafpr gks tkrk gS & vfHk;qDr fdlh fof'k"V fcUnq ekSu jg ldrk gS ijarq çfrj{kk lk{kh ds :i esa mifLFkr gksus ij mls çR;sd ifjfLFkfr Li"V djuk gksrh gSA nkafMd vihy Øekad 6426 lu~ 2017 fu.kÊr fnukad 10-5-2019 ¼Xokfy;j½ voyafcrA ¼iSjk 34½
¼2½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & fpfdRlh; lk{; pk{kq"k lk{; ds çfrdwy ugha & pk{kq"k lk{; vlaHkkO; ughaA ¼2018½ 3 ,l lh lh 66 rFkk ¼2017½ 11 ,l lh lh 195 fuÆn"VA ¼iSjk 39½
¼3½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 11 & vU;= gksus dk vfHkokd~ & ;qfDr;qDr lansg ds ijs lkfcr fd;k tkuk gksrk gSA ¼2015½ 4 ,l lh lh 749] ¼2010½ 8 ,l lh lh 430 rFkk ¼1997½ 1 ,l lh lh 283 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 46½
¼4½ çFkk ¼nkafMd½ & vfHk;qDr ds 'kjhj ij {kfr;ksa dk Li"VhÑr ugha gksuk & Lo;a çfrj{kki{k us vfHk;kstu dk i{kdFku lkfcr fd;k fd vfHk;qDr us >xM+k vkjaHk fd;k & vU;Fkk Hkh vfHk;qDr dks xkS.k {kfr;ka igqaph & vfHk;qDr ds 'kjhj ij xkS.k {kfr;ksa dk Li"Vhdj.k ugha gksuk vfHk;kstu ekeys ds fy, ?kkrd ugÈA ¼2012½ 4 ,l lh lh 79] ¼2017½ 13 ,l lh lh 98] ¼2018½ 16 ,l lh lh 525 rFkk ¼2018½ 7 ,l lh lh 536 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 52 ,oa 59½
¼5½ naM lafgrk] 1860 & èkkjk 149 & lkekU; mn~ns'; LFky ij Hkh fodflr gks ldrk gS & vU; lc vihykFkÊx.k dh mifLFkfr fujhg ugha & fofuÆn"V vfHkdFku fd mUgksaus Hkh {kfrxzLr O;fDr;ksa ij geyk fd;k & pk{kq"k lk{; fpfdRlh; lk{; ls laiq"V & og dsoy ekSu n`"Vk ugÈ Fks & geys esa lfØ; Hkwfedk fuHkkÃA ¼2016½ 10 ,l lh lh 537] ¼2018½ 7 ,l lh lh 743 rFkk ¼2019½ 5 ,l lh lh 67 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 63½
¼6½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & fgrc) lk{kh & Lo;a çfrj{kki{k us vfHk;qDr }kjk >xM+k vkjaHk fd;k tkuk lkfcr fd;k & {kfrxzLr O;fä;ksa dks igqapha {kfr;ksa ls pk{kq"k lk{; iw.kZr% laiq"V & lk{khx.k dks Hkh {kfr;ka igqaph blfy, LFky ij mudh mifLFkfr lansgkLin ugÈ & vfHk;kstu lk{khx.k dk lk{; ek= bl vkèkkj ij R;Dr ugha fd;k tk ldrk fd og ukrsnkj lk{kh gSaA ¼2016½ 10 ,l lh lh 537 rFkk ¼2016½ 16 ,l lh lh 426 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 70½
¼7½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 27 & vijkèk dk vk;qèk cjken ugha gksuk & pk{kq"k lk{; vuoyacuh; ugha gks tkrk & {kfrxzLr lk{khx.k dk çR;{k pk{kq"k lk{; & vijkèk dk vk;qèk cjken ugha gksus ds vkèkkj ek= ij vfHk;kstu ekeys ij vfo'okl ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¼2016½ 3 ,l lh lh 317 rFkk ¼2013½ 12 ,l lh lh 796 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 72 ,oa 75½