2025 Supreme(Megh) 13
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA AT SHILLONG
B. BHATTACHARJEE, J.
Jewing Mynthliang – Appellant
Versus
State of Meghalaya – Respondent
Crl. Rev. Pet. No. 7 of 2024
Decided On : 04-03-2025
Important Points
Subject
Criminal Law - Evidence and Procedure
Act Referred
Headnote
Facts of the case:
The petitioner challenges the trial court's order dated 05-06-2024 for framing charges under IPC based on circumstantial evidence, particularly call details linking him to the crime involving the disappearance and murder of a victim. (Para 3)
Findings of Court:
The court reiterated that the trial court correctly assessed the circumstantial evidence presented in the charge-sheet, including call details connecting the petitioner to the crime. (Para 8)
Issues: The primary issue was whether sufficient evidence existed in the charge-sheet to warrant framing charges against the petitioner. (Para 4)
Ratio Decidendi: The court found that the trial court's reliance on circumstantial evidence, especially from call records, was appropriate and did not warrant discharge as a prima facie case was established. (Para 7)
Result: The revision petition is dismissed.
For the Appellant : A.R. Passah
For the Respondent: R. Gurung
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. background of the case and charges (Para 3) |
| 2. defense arguments regarding evidence (Para 4) |
| 3. prosecution's rebuttal and supporting evidence (Para 5) |
| 4. court's analysis of evidence and decisions (Para 6 , 7) |
| 5. dismissal of the petition due to lack of merit (Para 8) |
| 6. clarification on trial merits not discussed (Para 9) |
JUDGMENT :
B. BHATTACHARJEE, J.
1. Heard Mr. A.R. Passah, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. R. Gurung, learned GA appearing for the State-respondent No.1.
2. None appeared for the respondent No.2 despite service of due notice.
3. By this revision petition, the petitioner has challenged the order dated 05-06-2024 passed in Sessions Case No.1 (T) of 2024 by which the learned Trial Court had directed for framing of charge against the petitioner under Section 120-B/302/201/34 IPC. The fact of the case is that an FIR dated 19-07-2023 was lodged by the respondent No.2 before the Officer-In-Charge, Sohryngkham Police Outpost, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya informing about the disappearance of one (L) Pyndaplang Suiting on 16-07-2022 and discovery of the dead body of said person on 18-07-2022 from a drain at Shillong Jowai Road Sohryngkham Mawkhlir. On the basis of the FIR, the Mawrynkneng PS Case No. 21 (7) of 2022 under Section 302 /201/34 IPC was registered and investigated into. Upon completion of the investigation, a charge-sheet was prepared and forwarded to the Trial Court by naming the petitioner as one of the accused persons in the case. At the trial, the petitioner had argued for his discharge on the ground that no case has been made out against him in the charge-sheet. However, the Trial Court vide impugned order dated 05-06-2024 rejected the prayer of discharge made by the petitioner and directed for framing of charge against him. Assailing the order dated 05-06-2024, the petitioner has preferred this revision application before this Court.
4. The learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the entire prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence mainly on the Call Details Record (CDR) which is not a substantive piece of evidence. He submitted that there is no statement by any independent witness to corroborate the CDR and hence, no case is made out requiring the petitioner to face the trial. The learned Counsel contended that the investigation has failed to link the petitioner to the commission of the offence by any admissible evidence and the mobile phone of the main accused from which CDR has been retrieved was never seized. He further submitted that though he was accused of using mobile phone of his wife in making contact with the prime accused in the matter, the statement of his wife was never recorded by the Investigating Officer and she is not named as a witness in the case. The learned Counsel, therefore, argued that there exists no sufficient material for proceeding against the petitioner and the petitioner may be discharge from the liability of the case.
5. Mr. R. Gurung, learned GA for the respondent No.1, on the other hand, has refuted the submission made by the learned Counsel for the petitioner and submitted that enough materials are provided in the charge- sheet to make a prima-facie case against the petitioner. He submitted that the learned Trial Court has taken into consideration all the relevant details of the allegations appearing against the petitioner in the charge-sheet and has correctly passed the impugned order, which requires no interference by this Court.
6. Upon hearing the learned Counsels for the parties and perusal of the materials on record reveal that the charge-sheet in the Session Case No. 1(T) of 2024 has indeed been filed against the petitioner basing on the circumstantial evidence collected from the CDR of different mobile numbers. From the analysis of the CDR details indicated in the charge- sheet, it appears that Smti Mercy Muruh, the wife of the petitioner, was using a mobile phone, service of which was also utilized by the p