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Karnataka High Court

The State Through vs Mallikarjun S/O Sabayya Kantaganore ... on 8 March, 2022

Author: K. Somashekar

Bench: K. Somashekar

                               1




              IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
                     KALABURAGI BENCH
                                                              R
           DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF MARCH 2022

                           PRESENT

         THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. SOMASHEKAR

                             AND

     THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE


             CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.3585/2013
                         C/w
             CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.3607/2013


CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.3585/2013

Between:

Hanmanth S/o Lachmayya Balichakra
Age: 50 years, Occ: Agriculture
R/o: Varakanalli, Tq & Dist: Yadgiri
                                                ... Appellant

(By Sri Kedar M. Desai &
 Sri Mahantesh H. Desai, Advocates)


And:

1.     Mallikarjun S/o Sabayya Kantaganore
       Age: 27 years, Occ: Agriculture

2.     Madhu @ Madappa S/o Nagappa Balichakra
       Age: 19 years, Occ: Agriculture
       Both R/o. Warknalli, Tq & Dist: Yadgir
                                   2




3.   The State through Yadgir PS
     Represented by Addl. S.P.P
     High Court of Karnataka
     Circuit Bench at Gulbarga

                                                  ... Respondents

(By Sri V.S.Patil & Sri Ganesh Naik, Advocates for R1;
 Sri R.S.Lagali, Advocate for R2;
 Sri Prakash Yeli, Addl. SPP for R3)


     This Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 372 of Cr.P.C.,
praying to grant leave to appeal against the judgment & order of
acquittal passed by the learned Presiding officer Sessions Judge
Yadgir   in   S.C.    No.81/2012      dated:   22.04.2013,   the
respondent/accused of the offences punishable under Sections
366(A), 365, 376, 114 R/w 34 of IPC and to set aside the
aforesaid judgment and order of acquittal passed by the court
below by allowing this criminal appeal. Convict and sentence the
respondent/accused persons, with which they have been charged
in accordance with the law.

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.3607/2013

Between:

The State through
C.P.I, Yadgir
Represented by
Addl. State Public Prosecutor
Gulbarga                                       ... Appellant

(By Sri Prakash Yeli, Addl.SPP)
And:
                                  3




1.   Mallikarjun S/o Sabayya Kantaganore
     Age: 28 years, Occ: Agriculture

2.   Madhu @ Madappa S/o Nagappa Balichakra
     Age: 20 years, Occ: Agriculture

     Both R/o. Warknalli, Tq: Yadgir

                                                    ... Respondents

(By Sri V.S.Patil & Sri Ganesh Naik, Advocates for R1;
    Sri R.S.Lagali, Advocate for R2)



     This Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 378 (1) and (3)
of Cr.P.C., praying to grant leave to appeal against the judgment
dated: 22.04.2013 passed by the District & Sessions Judge
Yadgir in Sessions Case No.81/2012 thereby acquitting the
respondent/accused     of   offences   punishable   under   Section
366(A), 365, 376, 114 R/w 34 of IPC and to set aside the
judgment of acquittal dated: 22.04.2013 passed by the District &
Sessions Judge Yadgir in S.C. No.81/2012. Allow this appeal
thereby   convicting    the   respondent/accused      of    offences
punishable under Section 366(A), 365, 376, 114 R/w 34 of IPC.


     These appeals coming on for final hearing this day, K.
Somashekar J., delivered the following:
                                      4




                          COMMON JUDGMENT


        The    Criminal     Appeal   No.3585/2013           and   Criminal

Appeal       No.3607/2013      are       filed   against    the   acquittal

judgment rendered by the trial Court in S.C.No.81/2012

dated 22.04.2013, whereby the trial Court acquitted the

accused persons for the offences punishable under Sections

366A, 365, 376, 114 read with Section 34 of Indian Penal

Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as the 'IPC' for short).


        2.     Criminal Appeal No.3585/2013 is filed by the

complainant namely Hanmanth S/o Lachmayya Balichakra

seeking interference in the acquittal judgment rendered by

the trial Court.


        3.     Criminal Appeal No.3607/2013 is filed by the

State         challenging      the        acquittal        judgment      in

S.C.No.81/2012.        Both these appeals arise out of the same

judgment dated 22.04.2013 in S.C.No.81/2012 Therefore,
                               5




these appeals have been taken up together for common

judgment to be rendered.


     4.     Heard learned counsel Sri Kedar Desai for

appellant/complainant,    learned   Additional   State   Public

Prosecutor for respondent No.3/State and so also learned

counsel Sri Ganesh Naik for respondent No.1 respectively

and for respondent No.2. Perused the judgment of acquittal

in S.C.No.81/2012.


     5.     Factual matrix of the case of the prosecution are

as under:

     It is the case of the prosecution that PW-1 Hanumanth

who is the father of the victim girl Lakshmi aged about 12

years, has filed a complaint before the Yadgir Rural Police.

In the complaint, it is stated that on 25.03.2012 at about

10-00 a.m. Bhimaraya S/o Ashappa CW-11, a relative of

the complainant had taken Lakshmi to their house since she

had not gone there for a long time.       On 26.03.2012 at
                                  6




about     6.00   a.m.   the   said     Bhimaraya       informed    the

complainant over the phone that on the previous day at

about 10.30 p.m. the accused Mallikarjun had come to the

house on his motorcycle and knocked the door by calling

Lakshmi. He and Lakshmi went out of the house and said

Mallikarjun suddenly caught hold of the hand of Lakshmi,

forcibly got her seated on the motorcycle, and went away.

The complainant searched for his daughter, but could

not trace her.      On 30.03.2012 he came to the police

station    and complained Ex.P-1.           The PSI of Yadgir rural

Police Station, on receiving the complaint, registered a case

in Crime No.52/2012 for the offences punishable under

Sections    366A,   114   read       with    Section   149   of   IPC.

Accordingly, FIR has been recorded as Per Ex.P-16.                After

that, criminal law was set into motion.

     6.     Investigating Officer has taken the case for

investigation and laid the charge sheet against the accused

by securing the medical certificate and so also drew spot
                               7




mahazar at Ex.P-7, seizure mahazar Ex.P-8, cloth seizure

mahazar at Ex.P-9 and another spot mahazar at Ex.P-10,

FSL report at Ex.P-12 and potentiality certificate at Ex.P-15.

And laid charge is laid sheet against the accused before the

Court having jurisdiction.


     7.    After laying of charge sheet against the accused,

the case has been committed to the Court of Sessions by

passing a committal order by the committal Court as per

Section 209 of Cr.P.C. by following the provisions of Section

207 of Cr.P.C.


     8.    After committing the case to the Court of

Sessions, the case has been registered in S.C.No.81/2012.

After hearing the learned Public Prosecutor and the defence

counsel for accused, framed charges against the accused of

the offences punishable under Sections 366A, 365, 376,

114 read with Section 34 of IPC. The accused did not plead
                               8




guilty but claimed to be tried.   Accordingly, a plea of the

accused was recorded separately.


     9.     After framing of charges, the prosecution let in

evidence of PWs1 to 15 and produced Exs.P-1 to P-17 and

M.O.1.     After the closure of evidence on the part of the

prosecution, the accused were examined under Section 313

of Cr.P.C. for incriminating statements which appeared

against them in the evidence. But the accused denied the

truth of the evidence. No evidence was led under Section

233 of Cr.P.C. by the accused.


     10.    After hearing the arguments of both the sides,

on scrutiny of the evidence of PWs-1 to 15 and mainly the

evidence of PW-1 complainant which is at Ex.P-1 and also

the evidence of PW-3 Lakshmi, PW-4 Devamma, PW-6

Somawwa the material witnesses on the part of the

prosecution and so also the evidence of PW-7 Dr Neelamma

and PW-14 Dr Amarjeet Patil and the evidence of PW-15
                                   9




Yashwanth the trial Court concluded the prosecution has

failed to prove the guilt of the accused doubt and

consequently rendered the acquittal judgment.


        11.   It is contended by Sri Mahantesh H. Desai,

learned counsel appearing for the appellant that the trial

court rendered the acquittal judgment without appreciating

the evidence on record which are facilitated by the

prosecution. It is further contended that accused No.1

abducted the victim girl namely, Laxmi, aged about 12

years    on    25.03.2022    at   around    10.00    a.m.   on    his

motorcycle bearing Registration No.KA/02/HE-186.                 It is

further contended same is established in the evidence of

P.W.2-Bhimaraya,         however the trial court rendered the

acquittal     judgment    without     appreciating   the    material

evidence.


        12.   P.W.3 who has given evidence in consonance

with the averments made in the complaint at Ex.P.1. Merely
                              10




because there are no external injuries found on the body of

the victim-P.W.3, it cannot be said that there is no sexual

assault on her and seeks to set aside the acquittal

judgment rendered by the trial Court.


     13.   In continuation of the argument advanced by the

learned counsel for the appellant, in Crl.A.No.3607/2013,

the learned counsel has taken us through the grounds

urged in this appeal and would contend that the evidence of

P.Ws.1 to 3 would unerringly point to the guilt of the

accused.


     14.   In   his   argument    advanced   by   the   learned

Additional State Public Prosecutor by referring evidence of

P.W.14 the doctor who issued the medical certificate at

Ex.P.4, he would urge that certificate indicates that the

victim was subjected to assault. According to the theory of

the prosecution, the trial Court ought to have been gone

through the evidence of P.W.14 in a proper perspective.
                                11




     15.   Lastly, learned Additional State Public Prosecutor

contended that the trial Court has acquitted the accused on

the ground that the statement of the victim who is

examined as P.W.3 was aged about 16-17 years would

indicate that the accused No.1, has abducted the victim girl

from the custody of Bhimaraya. The trial court failed to

appreciate the evidence from a proper perspective.               On

these grounds, learned Additional State Public Prosecutor

seeks to allow the appeal and consequently convict the

accused of the offences for which charges are levelled

against the accused persons.


     16.   It is urged that the reasons assigned by the trial

Court while passing the judgment of acquittal are not

justifiable and sustainable, on all these premise, seeking

intervention.


     17.   Alleging   the   kidnap   of   the   victim   girl,   on

30.03.2012, the complaint was lodged. After tracing the
                                 12




victim/ P.W.3 spot mahazar at Ex.P.7 was drawn and the

motorcycle     bearing    KA.02.HE-186       was   seized   under

mahazar at Ex.P8. The aforesaid motorcycle allegedly used

by the accused was parked in front of the house of accused

No.1-Mallikarjun.        On   receipt   of   information,   police

apprehended accused No.1 - Mallikarjun, and the victim-girl

who were in Warknalli and they have been brought to the

Yadgiri Police Station at around 3.30 p.m.


     18.     Voluntary statement of the accused is said to

have been recorded. Subsequently, the victim-girl and also

the accused No.1 - Mallikarjun was subjected to the medical

examination.


     19.     The case of the prosecution is that accused No.1

- Mallikarjun accused 2 came to his house and forcibly got

her seated on the motorcycle and went away to Shivapur

Village. It is alleged that accused No.1 forcibly sexually

assaulted her in Shivapur village. The accused No.2 is
                               13




alleged to have instigated accused No.1 to commit an

offence as narrated in a theory of the prosecution.


     20.     PW.1 - Hanamanth who is none other than the

father of the victim-girl, has given evidence. He stated that

PW.4 - Devamma, is the sister of PW.3 - victim-girl. They

are the daughters of PW.1 - Hanamanth. Devamma is

studying Bengaluru. The second daughter - victim girl -

Lakshmi is illiterate. PW.2 - Bhimaraya took the victim-girl

to Muskoor village from her parents house. It is at around

10.00 p.m., PW.2 telephonically gives the information to

the father of the victim-girl relating to the abduction of the

victim-girl by the accused. Subsequently, victim-girl was

not traced out despite the search. Subsequently, her father

PW.1 who approached the Yadgir Police Station has filed the

complaint as per Ex.P.1. Based on the complaint, criminal

law was set into motion for the alleged offences, stated in

the F.I.R.
                             14




     21.   PW.15 - Yashwant being the Investigating Officer

in his evidence stated that on 07.04.2012, when PW.3 -

victim-girl had returned from the State protective home,

made an inquiry with her, and she revealed about sexual

assault on her. PW.15 - Yashwant stated in his evidence

that the accused No.1 had taken her to the land of his

relative situated in Shivapur village. However, in the

presence of PWs.11 and 12, Ex.P.10 - spot panchanama

has been drawn by PW.15 - Yashwant. PWs.11 and 12 who

are the panch witnesses have not supported Ex.P.10 -

fulcrum of the panchanama. Both the witnesses have

turned hostile and nothing has been elicited by the

prosecution, even though they have been subjected to

cross-examination.


     22.   PW.15-Yashwant who is the Investigating Officer

has stated that he drew the spot panchanama at Ex.P.10 in

the presence of PWs.11 and 12. Their evidence is of little
                                15




consequence in proving the guilt, but in consistence to each

other.


     23.   Ex.P.7 is also the spot panchanama drawn near

the house of PW.2 - Bhimaraya.      who is none-other-than

uncle of PW.3 - victim-girl. But PW.15-Yashwant specifically

stated in his evidence that PW.1- Hanamanth has shown

the scene of the offence. But he has stated in his evidence

that PW.2 - Bhimaraya is a resident of Mustoor village,

whereas, Basanagaouda and Hanamanth have been secured

to draw the spot panchanama at Ex.P.7. But PW.8 -

Basanagouda has given his evidence. He has specifically

stated that he does not know the contents of Ex.P.7 - spot

panchahama. If the evidence of PW.2 - Bhimaraya is

considered it is evident that the same runs contrary to the

evidence of PW.15 - Investigating Officer it can be seen in

the evidence of prosecution.
                              16




     24.   PW.4 - Devamma, who is none other than the

sister of PW.3 - victim-girl. She is the material witness on

the part o the prosecution, but her evidence is of no

consequence to prove the prosecution case for abduction

and sexual assault on her sister.


     25.   PW.7 - Dr Neelamma and PW.14 - Dr Amarjeet

Patil, are also material witnesses on the part of the

prosecution, but their evidence is contrary to the evidence

of PW.15 - Yashwant, who drew the Mahazar and also

record the statement of witnesses, that too PW.2 and

PW.4.

     26.   As per the medical report produced, PW.3 -

victim-girl is aged about 16 to 17 years. If the accused had

abducted or sexually assaulted her, she could have resisted

such act of the accused No.1 - Mallikarjun and there would

have been some injuries, but no such injuries are noticed,

therefore the theory of the prosecution are doubtful.
                               17




     27.   PW.7 - Dr Neelamma who has been subjected to

cross-examination, has specifically stated in her evidence

that she did not notice any injuries on the victim-girl. Even

PW.7 being the Doctor has specifically stated that there is

no sign of sexual assault on the victim-girl. Thus, the

theory of prosecution in respect of forcible abduction and

sexual assault on the victim girl is highly doubtful, it cannot

be believed.


     28.   Evidence of PW.3 - victim-girl itself creates some

doubt that accused No.1 - Mallikarjun took her forcibly to

his relative's house at Shivapura and sexually assaulted on

her at night in his relative's house. The allegation that PW.3

- victim-girl was taken by accused No.1 - Mallikarjun to

Shivapur village and therein committed sexual assault on

her, later taken her to his relative's land and committed

sexual assault is also highly doubtful and so also, it cannot

be acceptable.
                                18




     29.    PW.3- victim-girl neither she screamed in the

house of relatives of accused - Mallikarjun at Shivapur nor

in the land of his relative. She does not even say that she

protested when she was allegedly abducted in the presence

of her uncle PW.2. She is said to be aged between 16-17,

as per the evidence of the doctor, but their evidence would

not suffice to hold that the prosecution has proved the

offence against the accused.


     30.    It is the case of the prosecution that she was

abducted in the presence of her uncle by accused no. 1 and

2 and taken on a motorbike. This allegation of abducting a

person aged 16-17 by two persons in the presence of a

person i.e., PW.2 who is said to be the uncle of the victim,

that too on a motorbike appears to be unbelievable. If there

is a protest by the victim and the uncle of the victim, then it

is not possible for two persons to abduct on a bike as

narrated.
                                    19




     31.    The learned Sessions Judge has discussed the

Ex.P.3 - Hall Ticket of Devamma and has refused to accept

the contention that the victim was aged below 16 years at

the time of the alleged incident. The learned Sessions Judge

has also referred the evidence of the Doctor who examined

the victim and issued the medical certificate, which states

that the victim must be aged 16 to 17 years. The date of

issuance of the certificate is 30.03.2012. The alleged

incident   is   said   to   have    been   taken   place   between

25.03.2012 to 30.03.2012. The Doctor who issued the

certificate is examined as PW.14. In his evidence, he stated

that there is a possibility of plus or minus 2 years variation

in the age of the victim. This evidence of the Doctor is also

taken into consideration by the learned Sessions Judge for

recording acquittal Judgment.


     32.    The learned Sessions Judge has also noted the

lacuna on the part of the prosecution which has not made

an attempt to secure the birth certificate of the victim to
                                      20




prove their case. Except producing the Hall Ticket of the

sister    of   the   victim   i.e.    PW.4   Devamma,   no   other

documents are produced to establish that the victim was

below 16 years at the time of the alleged incident. In the

absence of specific evidence on record to determine the age

of the victim, the learned Sessions Judge has rightly

refused to accept the contention that the victim was below

16 years at the time of alleged incident.


         33.   On the other hand, in view of Ex.P.5 - the

doctor's certificate which reveals that the age of the victim

must be around 16 to 17 years, therefore the learned

Sessions Judge is of the opinion that the contention that

victim was aged below 16 years is not proved. Accordingly,

has given finding that the prosecution has failed to prove

that the victim was aged below 16 years. This finding of the

learned Sessions Judge is based on sound reasons and on

appreciation of the evidence, therefore does not call for any

interference as contended.
                               21




     34.   The Trial Court has placed reliance on the

judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court         in the case of

Ajay Kumar vs. State of Himachal Pradesh, reported in

Crimes II-1995 (1) Page 606, wherein at para No.38 it

is held as under:


     "Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 376 -
     Appellant convicted for committing rape on 15
     year old girl in the godown of his shop-Mother of
     the prosecutrix, as illiterate, not giving definite
     age of prosecutrix - Prosecutrix, also an illiterate
     failing to specify her date of birth - Parivar
     Register produced by prosecution showing figure
     tempered with - Medical evidence on basis of
     Ossification test showing age to be 141/2 & 15
     which leaves 2 years margin - Prosecution
     cannot be said to have proved that prosecutrix
     was    below    16    years    -   Evidence     and
     circumstances indicating that prosecutrix had
     passively submitted to wishes of accused - Public
     hair found not matted nor seminal stains present
     on external genitals and no injury found on her
                                     22




        person or on the person of accused - Conviction
        is unsustainable".


        35.   The trial Court has relied upon the judgment in

the case of Sarooti Devi & Ors. vs. State of H.P.97.,

reported in 1998 (3) Crimes 331, wherein it is observed

that:

        "Indian Penal Code, 1860--Sections 366/366A
        and   376--Appellants        convicted       for    offences
        under--To      establish      age     of      prosecutrix,
        prosecution   examined           evidence     comprising
        family register, opinion of Radiologist and oral
        evidence--Birth register being kept in office of
        CMO was not taken into possession--Adverse
        inference   has   to   be    drawn-Entry          in   family
        register did not prove actual date of birth of
        prosecutrix--Radiologist opined her age ranging
        between 14 and 16 year--Such opinion was not
        conclusive and would not be legally sufficient to
        fix age of prosecutrix--Oral evidence was not in
        a way specific to fix her age--Prosecution could
        not be said to have proved age of prosecutrix
        was below 16 years or even below 18 years and
                             23




    above 16 years--Evidence showing prosecutrix
    was consenting party as no mark of injury was
    observed    on    her    body--Conviction   was
    unsustainable".



        36.    The trial Court has also relied upon the

judgment in the case of Mishrilal vs. the State of M.P.,

reported in 2000(4) Crimes 85, wherein it is observed

that:

    "Indian Penal Code, 1860--Sections 366 and
    376--Appeal against conviction for offences--
    Prosecutrix was married woman more than 18
    years of age--She stayed with accused for 15
    days and had sexual intercourse but she did not
    complain to anyone that accused had abducted
    her and was having sexual intercourse with her--
    Accused took her to different places with her
    consent--Story of fraud committed by accused
    while taking her away from village appeared
    coined at a later stage--It appeared more
    probable that accused took prosecutrix with her
                              24




     consent and had sexual intercourse with her
     consent--Conviction was liable to be set aside".


    37.    In the aforesaid reliances the Hon'ble Supreme

Couirt has extensively addressed the issue relating to the

age factors of the victim and the same has been facilitated

for consideration and accordingly the trial Court has

elaborately discussed in the impugned judgment.


    38.    Applying the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble

Supreme Court, consequently the Trial Court has proceeded

to acquit the accused by assigning sound reasons.


    39.    It was also considered by the trial Court that in

the medical certificate Ex.P.4 relating to the victim P.W.3

states that she went willingly with him i.e. accused No.1

after he called and stayed in with him the fields at Shivapur

for 2 days, but her evidence does not supported with any

independent evidence.
                               25




    40.      In the matter of appreciation of evidence of

witnesses, it is not the number of witnesses but the quality

of their evidence that is important, as there is no

requirement in law of evidence that any particular number

of witnesses is to be examined to prove/disprove a fact. It

is a time-honoured principle, that evidence must be

weighed and not counted. The test is whether the evidence

has a ring of truth, is cogent, credible and trustworthy, or

otherwise. The legal system has emphasized value provided

by each witness, rather than the multiplicity or plurality of

witnesses. It is quality and not quantity.    The same has

been addressed extensively in the judgment of Laxmibai

(Dead) through LRs & Another vs. Bhagwantbuva

(Dead) through LRs & Others reported in AIR 2013 SC

1204.     It is also relevant to refer to the judgment of the

Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Lallu Manjhi & Anr.

v. the State of Jharkhand, reported in AIR 2003 SC

854, that the law of evidence does not require any
                                26




particular number of witnesses to be examined in proof of

the given fact.     However, faced with the testimony of a

single witness, the Court may classify the oral testimony of

a single witness, the Court may classify the oral testimony

into three categories, namely (i) wholly reliable, (ii) wholly

unreliable, and (iii) neither wholly reliable nor wholly

unreliable.   In the first two categories, there may be no

difficulty in accepting or discarding the testimony of the

single witness. The difficulty arises in the third category of

cases. The Court has to be circumspect and has to look for

corroboration in material particulars by reliable testimony,

direct or circumstantial, before acting upon the testimony of

a single witness. This is the concept of Section 134 of the

Indian   Evidence    Act,   1872.     The   same   has   been

appreciated by the trial Court and conclude that the

prosecution has miserably failed to establish the guilt of the

accused to convict them for the offences relating to the
                                 27




abduction of P.W.3 Laxmi and so also under instigation of

the co-accused to abduct her.


    41.    The offence relating to sexual assault has not

been proved by the prosecution. The evidence let in do not

inspire confidence regarding the ingredients of each of the

offences and the prosecution has not been able to prove the

guilt of the accused by facilitating worthwhile evidence.

Therefore, held that the prosecution has failed to prove

independently each one of the ingredients of the offence,

levelled against the accused.


    42.    At a cursory glance of the entire evidence of the

prosecution and mainly the evidence of P.W.3 and her

evidence does not inspire, but creates some doubt. When

doubt arise in the mind of the Court, the benefit of the

doubt is to be confined to the accused alone. It was

extensively addressed in the case of Sharad Birdhichand

Sarda vs. the State of Maharashtra reported in (1984)
                               28




4 SCC 116, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court has

extensively addressed the issue of circumstantial evidence

and also benefit of the doubt in detail.


     43.    In para 163, the Hon'ble Supreme Court held as

under:

           "We then pass on to another important point
  which seems to have been completely missed by the
  High Court. It is well settled that where on the
  evidence two possibilities are available or open, one
  which goes in favour of the prosecution and the other
  which benefits an accused, the accused is undoubtedly
  entitled to the benefit of the doubt. In Kali Ram v.
  State of Himachal Pradesh,(l) this Court made the
  following observations:


     Another golden thread that runs through the web of
  the administration of justice in criminal cases is that if
  two views are possible on the evidence adduced in the
  case one pointing to the guilt of the accused and the
  other to his innocence, the view which is favourable to
  the accused should be adopted This principle has
  special relevance in cases wherein the guilt of the
                                29




  accused is sought to be established by circumstantial
  evidence."


      44.    In the instant case, P.W.3 Laxmi who is a victim

girl is examined by the prosecution, and her evidence runs

contrary to the evidence of P.W.1 and P.W.4. Whereas in

the   instant   case,   the   prosecution    did    not    facilitate

worthwhile evidence to secure the conviction.             Therefore,

the trial Court has rightly rendered the acquittal judgment

by assigning justifiable reasons.      Therefore, it does not

arise to call for any interference in the acquittal judgment

rendered by the trial Court. Hence, we proceed to pass the

following:

                              ORDER

I. The appeal preferred by the appellant/complainant in Criminal Appeal No.3585/2013 and also the appeal preferred by the State in Criminal Appeal No.3607/2013 are hereby rejected. 30 II. Consequently, the judgment rendered by the District and Sessions Judge, Yadgir in S.C.No.81/2012 dated 22.04.2013 is hereby confirmed.

III. Bail bonds, if any, executed by the accused persons, shall stand cancelled.

SD/-

JUDGE SD/-

JUDGE swk/BL/KJJ/RSP