Karnataka High Court
Ganapati Ramachandra Bhat, vs The State Of Karnataka on 4 August, 2011
UN' THE? HIGH COURT Ci)?' KARNATA}V{A
CIRCUIT BENCH AT DHARWAD
DATED THESE THE DAY <3? AUGUST...24'C3 }"fg
PRESENT
THE HONBLE1 NIR.JL?STI%:E
AND
THE HCJNBLEZ MR. ARA L;.%_ "N;%;<i;}xRALJ
CRIMINAL A1iEE_A_.?£;_1¥;§g;L20 15
BETVVEEN:
Cxanapati
(cz Ganesh (tr C}2m9.__p'e1.1:E*:x_j ' '
Age: 28 Years, .§)c:_:§:;Dréx'<V:':3_ _
R/ O.I\v'I€3dEif'1'k€i'.1ii;'fE\/I z,1i*§:;;;':3ci"<i¥.i;'--.E§i1"ssi',"~"-- "
Tq:Sirsi [31ist:_K_a%'$ix*VV'e:}"'*, "
Appeliam
{B51 Sl"§. ::'ASh{)kV R» KéiIjfar§'.as}1€t:j»', Adv.)
' Szaié"?£§}§'JKama£a}~;eL by £18 Smte Pubw:
{. Em; :*xrm,f,Bainakar;
_ Pr<3"s€C--i,:t0'r , /~\.dv<>Cat€ (}€nera§ {fiffica
High"Co'i-art Circuit Bench Premises,
" V' "DI§*:.5_z rwé':£i .
Rmponden:
L/.
This Criminai Appeal is f%Z<;%<§ U/S 374%{])(V)f Cr.--RC.
seeking to set aside the Judgemem <2? Coh\:iCt1'on a11c1"'§.):'r"«<iéE2j
Of SEHEEUCTE' dated 2E.07.2OEO and 22.032010
the District And E3es:+;i<>ns Judge, Uttara Ix/Ie'1111_1¢.a.,«:;_i_.*:"r..V.VK2iI'\ya:",""
k1S£LNo38/2009.
This Criminal appeai CO1'?"»1'V1'1'-lg r;>h7fVc)'f fLn'iih'e';°hhearfihg
this day, HBILLAPPA, J delix/erecfthhe f()11()§i'§I1§?;'i»
This appeaI«--.b§>--._thiC d";:*1'écI€C1 against
the Judgment ahdWCHfi€f,XfifiCd'21/22/7/2010,
passed by"the.Afixisifiéit ':¢.rj"d Sé"S';<i>,;*£cm$ Judge, KE.'zT\V€11",
n:scJwu38}2ogQf}h~:"
By_§'thA€ im'p;,;VgVn€cf Judgmsht and QI"d€I', the
€r_ia1".Cou_fE.. convicted the accussed for the
0f'fe"r:.é'§..__pLi':{i"s}:g;.bJ1<5 under Secéiam 302 {PC and has
ss":Vnten<:\i-?d' hfhc accmzsed 1:5: Lmdergo hf€
i'm'p?'is<é._mm<>:3: and is pa}; fine of ?.:'3,{}OGT,/-- and in
L///
d6faui1 of }3é<i"\'R'1{'E'§{ of fine. :6 UE3dC'I'§_{{} R1, for a
p6r'iod of Six m<>nihss.
3. A§;'gE'iC\'C'{"§ by that, W16 E{i}f)p(,'§12}I'1"§.:'&1,<;7:(f'~LEvS5%Ci.1'
has M661 {his app622L
4. Briefly statced, the <::i:;-:.>__ of fh_<:9' pF0§6'C:},:.t1jV()nf is
as follows:»
1) T h a E th 6 C 0 '<3, n G a U 6 S h
H egd 6 i . 6 a PWE: 1 j I H a 1' E a m 22 n 6,
K 1' b b a1 11' V 1' 1 1 V H 6 i r6 8 i ci 1' n g
W i 1: h h i S C1" ':§ 6'}w 6 n V' V ti 'H 6 1' d 6 of h 1' 8
house, his~;7.6Id6r--bf'V:§':}16--sj1"Mg?mjLmath Hfjgdfi i,€. {F16
d€C€2:S€d.WE1S!"'I'€SiC§ifi"i7 "with his vvif6 two sons'
A. . by 9 ,
ai: gh :9', : Cf': a L1:"{§}'i'{,V€""'§'"m--i :1 ~1a\\* a :1 CE ggra 1": d 0 n. O n
5/"T»fi2'Q.OV9._:C1._a'1:3;6pVa~t6hé H6g>;d6, {E16 son of Man}L1na%:h
A""H6gd6 '~h_ad_v~gQfi:6 {<2 his irvlaws hou:36 at Ganag6:*3'
~é;E<::f2"gA wiEh..."h£s wife and son. 6:': :'3f2;'2009, :h6
°!:é':::1"ip i'a;--i::'az1t6 {PER/E} had *;a1<:6n the m<iw:c>r<:}rci6 of his
7€.i'€f'GvF"'bFO{h€E" Marzjunath H6gd6 fin' his privezééé vqorik
Q//,6
'.1...
and returned at 2=tb<>Ltt E()t3C) pm. pa;-irked the
motor cycle hear the house of his elder f3r<3th§%r"a_h~:i
handed over the keys to Balakrishneet
returned to his house. _
ii) On 5/2/2009, at,abottt"'.§.3o'g,;;m,'~
servant of E\/'Ie1njtmatth He:gd'e~,:"CW'32V"S}'1A:a.é-Zttherwéma
Nara}/'aha Gowda eame'~~t_<> thefet>mf;»..T«aé11a:"iAt"(PW~1)
and told him that in spite the door
there is no ;e':;; So, the
complaineimt §"'1V'{')§LVIV'SC? of his elder
brother As there was no
response, 'A'PeW'1 the window and
found Ptxretrtik in sleeping
freht room. in spite of eaihng
E0uCi'§V"'-T'there'..;a*a."§;~"r10 response from him, As there
wings mii*-- r::5s.po"h:3e from inside, sttspectirsg some
fheiderst, P13/--} Sent Shantharam to the
.V'y_v£1{_3 ft'1E.:'\;?'b'{)"f; his brether Cifiajethztrz Hegde {€2W33) and
l/
informed SeaEysmar2;1}'a3112 H<*§;d<:*, the st>r':~m--~1a\V of
f\"iéiFEjE.II'1&11Eh Hegcie {hm} uggh phone. AI _p~a~>g"E,2..g§ut
10.00am, CW--28 Sat;'2111e1:"21}'e:m%1 Hegde ee;me>
spot an d knocked the dC)() _ Thef"e"" A31
respon Therefore, Sat}1§f.21zei;éJ*~::}e'em :51' _
climbed the roof and by 'got
into the house and Q-Pen6§3.----..€£,'1fi:.ed"'d.O<).f.""When Ehe
complainant and the house
they found they murdered.
A H of I h em \\}.«:;'"re' :9'-SEE/1'} "<5 13 h i 11 'h e 3-: d 8.
iii} ;vWheh"7§j_..p_Q1¥€.ee--_v"(fame to the spot, the
complaingmp ffle. ':2:v'v-.1V;_o~d,gc'd the <3/ompiaint as per
EX.P«1 3;u--d_a Cu&1é?€Vi'fl efime E\?c>.37/2009 <25 Siddapur
pQ1i<':eV :§"i21:"'ic:'>n"21_ja2s registered axiggjamssz {he Ll£'ikI?{}E\'§'i
accu-sed_ &é"o':5'§.he."j~<3ffe%nc%e pLmis~;ha'b§e Lmder Seezéon
T' 02 Of we '
L/
{>
:3, AfE'fi'¥' §)}'1\'C?Sti:§%2':1iLi{3§7. :;%'n2-M"§;;::% shecm. has been
flied aggjainst the aee:,:sed for the Mien ee p um
under Semion 302 EPC.
6. Al: the trail, the pr<)s<--;*e:;iEi<j'h«has-;'e.>s;'2m1.ivfiedV7
in ad] 25 vvitnesses PW:-3, 1 to V
64 and J\/1.03.1 to 57 have &;ee;::rg":narmsi,'-Tr
7, The tried (:()vLi"f:f:".'O"{1k. eiajion of the
evidence on r€C0'*}";//1.__ has' for
the offence 302 {PC and
has senLe_r1_:fe'd.Vf:"{fie under go life
imprison mj of ?'.5,OO()/M and in
default of EL: L£1fldC'i'gG R} for a
period e'iT:6umo11th'sV..eV_ """
by that, the appeflanisaecused
fiied tlje»
learned eeunsei for {he appefismi
that the impugned Judgment: and Order
V,
Cammi be SLEf~';[a,2'§I'Ei'f{§ in law'. Hi" e;iEs;{> sgubrrriuréd {has
the Trig) Cqmrr has fgiilcgii to ccmsidcr {be @\~fi..d'€.IuTC_€
on record in proper perspc':Cti\>c3. FL_I.i;._{hé£7.,:"""«..h:C'..._'~.
submitt<-Ed that the material wit_n.c:5ses_-'Ei'%{:'c.b'_"QfVv's"28;-V AV
32 and 33 have not been examé:;x.ed1'_Vc~}iiCh
th S p ro :36 C LIEIYB13 , H e 211 S 0 S 1 tr rh 1 'c:-51.5: 1' 8
based on CITCLITYIS'[§1.nti81',....uV:éAv\;rii'C§»§'1] arr? {hrs
Ci r C u m s I a n C 6' s Ci 0 11 ot éxb r-2 1;: .3 e d xxx' 1; h {h 6
31116 8'6 (1 C ri m G :51 xirfl € 1a E'; L11'! W a S n 0 I
j u t i fi 6' d i n ::'L""':V}.':;i:!"X:' CE . F U rt b 6 r h 6
S L! b m 1' t t <3 <3} " 'tr rz ' 6 n C 6 0 n r 6 C 0 r Ci I 0
ShOW the"'-_pr»::s€13C€i°=Of"_1;'Ir:.¢"_.a<tCuS@d an_\»'\>x'h€r€ near
the Place <>f°~:>c's3s.,!r'E?€r:<:€~~--." He a1,<s:i> s;ubmiU'ed ma:
:_vth'é?f_ Ci£%A§;Li}ff1VASE%Eif1C€$ i"C"Ei<3C? upbr: by {ha pr<)s€cL2t:i<>r1
ar"e_ a; {rr;Q't"i.y?3».b}_ 'zattbsence of accused at Bangamre C)
L'-vibe a'C'_CVLzsr:€i'L';:"as last seen at Kibbalii Cross and
«j«3.j'jV.E<._i_b-.ba1Ii "i;> ?;:s szop by F'We;.'i L12 and 22 and
2%} '1"=:;~::<:)_x«fA%.;r}; of goid and silver artibées IV£r>ss.23 '£9 60,
gzid i\/I.C).€3E? Pickaxe atnd 'mesa: Circumstarzces
1/
do not <;,'(T}RE'";(,'i,'I the a:;{:::s;<:<E axizh {he ;=zEEegg;<?d crime,
He also submittcéd tkxzrat {he i'{i'(.7€)\'{?1"}' ix ms}: ;f3r<1.>j\7":fid
and thcire is nothmg iI"lCTifl'U1'1EElT;i1'1g in
60,62 an d M . (3.6 E . Th <:?:"cf<>rc fie sL:'1'j'mfii=. 1"}: at
the the Iriai C<>ur1 xxas not jL2é;tVif'i'€+d" 1'i';._C~~:}i*1vi¢'"c--.§fi'g_'
the accused, Further h €'. "'S.LIb1"1;i"ifv'EC.d is
practically imposSib}€__ for _<".).I1_A €._"p_v€1"S()§'£--__T(i)_f§RH} 5
persons vvithout a11j;> 'Vresi_s:'i.;é.13é'eV:}, Hc therefore
submitted that x.,§ja.;_dgrz»;.é'VntV and Order
cannot be SL}.'S§V1 5di.U:"t'v'C:§'_Vifl'-._§'£§W~,V
IO. Wlearned Addl. SPP
sL1bnn'tted"ih21tVw.._ V Court cm pmp€r
c«:msid€;1*aI;Aion :3.f E'}Vz € material an :'€c<>r<:i has rightlxi
<:Vo:'év1 cied"jéhégac<:tm;€d and :heref<>:r€3, impugned
JL:dg1*:i__€.n'tv .'ém_c3.T'_'€3+'"r:1e1' Cioes not @212? for inzerference.
He aI":;()s'u."bmi:{ed that the pmsc3<:ut§<m has
_ 'AéSVI;Va"b.ii__shéd {he ma:i*v€, absence of 3-1C?CLiS€:'(i at
Bléirxi-'?é§E'{$ré> {rem 452/2e0<; mg 752/2009, me
: . I I
E
L//,,
accused vvas Easstfi seen 'by Pws, "§'1,E2 zamd near
Kibbali Cross; and Kibbalii bus s;r,.E<)p and §()1vCi'~§>1'3_VCi
silver articles §\!I.Os,2'2 to 60, 62
M.O.61 have been recovered at the ins:;t'é1'1'n=<§'_e.bfthee.
accused and therefere, trial C0L1r£;"'\;r«2:sj_u':~;_tifled---..Am(_'
convicting the accused arkdd"'*~..jt dA'<v:es.:1'<p>.vte' '{ea--.Tfi.. for
interference. Further he s;:.bfi1i_tteCi t'h"a?_"tV_h§e FSL
report E:><.P36 and indicate
that M.O'61 piC.1{a2_<e :§'i'VLh 'O' group
blood which;CV<;31._1f{ev::'I'gsV "~aVc'eL1s'eg:_1' with {he alleged
crime and"EheVfd;efdi%:.eg 'the. im"pu--gdned Judgment and
Order doe'-3' 1":_<')t CaE.I,"fo'I*..ii':..;exferenee.
1 " _.Weu eareiklliy considered the
'Su¥dmi_é:§d':§:;_ iiizade E3}? the Eearned cozsrasel for the
ap§§je1'§-E3:2At"'vdi'z,,d the Eearned Add}. SPF'
12.~."1"'f':_e point that arises fer our Cerzsideiraiéen
W'he~:1h<i=:' {he t:'%a.E {l(>u:': was E}'L,ES'[ifi(':'.d in
c<mvictmg H16 aczmxsssd for the <)f'féh,C€
' 1
pLm£shab}e under SECUCJTI 302
L
sentencing the accused to L1nc}. é:5rg:) '< ii~2"é*e
imprisonment and to pay fins of %'..5';'<:~:1:>/1-.w--;m_
default pL.:ms;hmc=nt'?
13. The Case is, based "gm the C7§rcVL_1fb§sraHn.tia1
evidence. The circ/ums:ances____éi:?<:;=,
i) E\/Ioiive H
ii} A.{*~,'gg_-ncé; cj~f_ ,'a.(;é*::j3¢daj'21t Bangalore
Lira /, 2.009, tgm if/2 / 2 009.
iii} ac'CL1S"Cfd. 'Was'; last Seen by PWS
""" é?:1"rd .1 2 at""'i*{i"bba1ii Cross in the
is§*:>--n_iVng'~_ "<m-- f 5/2,/2009' and on
_ 6/2*;' 2O'G9TV;*-.,423.1: 6.03am, the accused
L =wa":';* PW22 at P<Iibba11:° bus
;»_§.rf; RexéC>a:'----c«i'Vy of 23 to 60} 62 and
A 61 at tbs instance of ihs
'WaC¢us€d.
?z3~%s_r>Tar mauve is COfiC€'1'Y1€d, the
"r,.prqsecu:"iQf: reiies upon the ev%d€m:e of PW13.
«§"{Ea.-" 'i3_»19i'A;3S deposed {hem hr? fesidmg with big wife
"*3: §'_~§o.9,./2, "£1"? Crass, Maiéghwaram, Barzgaioms
L//4
u
and the ac:7us:<**ci W618 :*essidéns.; in his house in the
gr0Lmd f}o<>r an d he \\';':1S :1 pa§'in §.§ues;:. an ci '}}_'e,1'}_"%>I"3_g
?.2,500/« per month. The accused was
spice mobile companjv and had_lefi The
accused had not; paid the re'nt:fs"A.;)u1'cd._'hea1f<fie-é..n"gc_'
charges. When PWI3 asRe'c11~~._the*~ac:?L1és.§?d{z"Ev:)Vflpay
amount the accueed told hi.m:"'.:_h*aVt he"'.§.nte;hds to
start businesses with "::~;o:n'e__ftistvhefi: Ape-r_so1"1 and he
would pay the axfncunft. had gone to
his native 'V egnd returned On
6/2/2009' «the e'vV»1'de11c'eVVV<)'f; PW13 it cannot be inferred th_a"Lf;}'2<:#_ V:;4:.ccLic~s;4e'cd_had mmive to commit the alleged Offence. "
'A 7.:)ElCf"§*Ec'.€X{, circumstance rehed upon by the pr<i<'3e'c'}.::i'<3n'a.§_sV.e&;§':eez":ce of the ;3iCCL1S€?C3 at Bangzflere 'Vf'§fGm Iii} ?;'2/2009 and the accused W33 .:Vv'i3"'€v€?¥13'.§T}r\,' P'wsM and 3:2 on 552,/'gem; at Kibbaiéi 1/ Cross and €f>I'"k 6;"2;'2iZ}C29, at :::1b<:>ut: 63:00am by PW 22 at Kibbalii bus stop'
16. PWEB has Stated that the H gone to his native place on zxngi. _:*'e%_L2r1::ed"*V mfié/2/2009.
17. P\r\/H has stateci _gr1 at about 7.30 or tempo from Sfisito Gonnunga_anawfiéeQa§_§fififig°behnuithe driver. One and yellow colour to him and was looking him. The said person got cV§1'o._fv{'n fforfz. tempe at Kibbaili <1'/FOSS at _aVb_0utV_~EL.15pm afi"d._\_§f__exr1t Eovvards Haflamane and he Wgis,e'a:irvi_fi*<?'b}"a.ck and reen coiour be: . PWH has _ _iden€éfi"e«d the:'j_a.eeeL:Sed.
AAiVTL8...i7.@'12 is the driver of the Tempe. He has {iep'dS'e:i"« that {he ae<:usede gm down fram the temps 1//V «rm 5/2/200$? at 2-{1i',}€f,>L,E'£ 8.03 :32" pm at §{é':3baHi Cross zemci went t<>x\'ardsa H21rEame¥m<*, 1 I9. PW22 has depezsed ma': on u about 6.00am he saw the aeeL;'§eVci «:;1:'.4&Ki_bb'a1_}i stop.
20. The eviderlee of PW/a""l £;VV12a11.Vei'";22V}sho\.\fs that the accused was s"e.<:%'r1._b_\7 ii? e":'*z3V'vai*eKibbafli cross and Kibballi bus .::tOP.e.AP'v'v'-1:'H53'-_Esta'_f¢.§iifi'n his cross-- examination .7';~h'»'/;'14[3:A:K'§_'.b1?'e{Ui"_CTI'{}S;:;i. isawt a distance of Bkms fr0me___Héi::1'a1:.:;:ane., e.rO€sI:;____ T.E1ere is no evidence on 1"ee<>2*d um.s§h¥§n,f »,IEai--a.?i"---- €h<:> aceused was sseen anywhere '{he'. 'pela;ee> of Oeeurrenee or at _.§~3aaria:ré~3anve'. N0'f'r€____Q_f.vEhe xvitnesses have depesed t'£:._atV..t"h.e 'aVe«::Ls.S 'e.;:i Seen 21% Hariamane or near fihe f3'E*aee ""e:'j_(}f Occurrence. Thereferefi the =.__eireums5.ar;«:_ee that the accused 'mas; seen at Kébbaiié <3": Eiibbaihl bus»: step 52:' the accused bad game it/,, :0 his n2i:?;i've p}€:'iCC c2mm;): in é.EI"1}"\\'&'ify' eormec: the accused xxith Ihes1He§.{ed crime.
21. The prosecuti<,m has placed re3..§_'21neeeVL' «:h)r1. e recoxfery of M.<:ss.23 :0 60, e1 airaéies:
60 and 62 have been reco\»'Vered?.1t"--:he ir1'_:;t'a1ice=--'cvfV the accused. PW«5 has de15e.;§e.d théir__'1"v'Ej{)sa',v;4 23 to 60 and 62 were recc>\re}'e.gi "€;h€3r'EtA()(i)TT1 fiihhere the accused was residing in"M:51I<§sh«x,x"e:~:f'22,'m. He has stated that thrii4'5;C:"*L1S:€di p"%o'cir,{c'ec£.....?i/I.03.23 to 60 and Fx/1.0.62 dvfiaxivh per EZ><:.P12 and he has si_Ag'n7Ie..d_«VtVhVe -I\ /I'5«:.ha_zar. There is no reason to disbeliehx:/'e ':}3e' PW5. PWE3 also has supported_ TherefVo'f'e, recox/'ery of M03 23 to 60 «6_'.2V" a%E'L:'ihe=.'.'mStance of the accused has been profedfe 22; has been recovered at the instance
5._'_"'O_f'~.ffi'E2eVézecueed through Mahazar E.:><:.P.5. PW2 has
-V1'*€i_'e'jees:ed {hat the accused Eoek them 'Le gimgie area 1/ Thet*€to1"€, CW1/28 has Ciimbcd the 1'<><:>f" and t'Q'm()\»/'€Ci the ttiles and got into the h(}Li8€:'. amt': <);*:)en€;:Vd~-_t7E}_€ door. CW32 Shz4mth:1retrn24:t §\¥E,7i}"2:1"\'é'1f?.€,'i (L3<t>Lt.<3__a1'"iSf'--..t}'r-f?_.
erson who has first visited the h_<>us<:> 5<)"ti'£{}s'vT2V}'VI2OVO9 P V , . g and notticed th at EH63 main d(.)(t)f'~. 'ClE:sé3'~ri has n gt been examined. S'im"i~13aI'h"'- C Q"x?.\f_ was mformtid by PW} alga') _-1""tv('_) beam' ~.._<fiX;3fmi13<%c1. CW28 Satyzim ar:«1_\v'ana fa/,\j}r:dV.fi>%.;1i~:"n€ct the 1"OOf and removed th4z;%'t.i1esf a1id; g0"t{fi;t1t0gtthe hOL1S€ and 0p€n ed the <:ib«:j5 :4', .8:-~i';*:1'_§) Vim; * "~:1<;>"~t ?:s_£--~cj": €XE1TY1tflti?d. Non G X a m i n a t: 0 1": -. {fig t h \;=.:j 'tun " :1 a m Ijv , C W 3 2 8 t 3 2 and 33 1'S*_fat_e1}V tovt'}<:.«:>'*pft<>.»s§:;e:tt:Lion case. Apart from this, the Ct1'C:t:m._st:mVt:€s relied upon E3}; the ;' ;3 r--QseC__ti'ti;@.n ».\.x*;'it ri'<:;'t:""connectt the eiwcuséd with the' 22:. "£7hr~r3é- mcflsiie ph<m€s; i.<?., Mxa:11>s.@4t 65 and t':2wj€ been seized' The: eviciencte of PWI4 $h<m's ih3'tT'V"17'"C€*tHS héifi/'€ been r€cc)rc1<.>d amd 6:» of them heme V Commzlmcate the <)p<:>ra£év€ porticm of tha Judgggmem to the Ccmcerneci Jaii Auth<V>r1'tv\'.
Vmb