Madhya Pradesh High Court
Khet Singh & Ors. vs The State Of M.P. on 3 July, 2015
HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH JABALPUR
Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998
Khet Singh and others
Vs.
State of Madhya Pradesh
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Present : Hon'ble Shri Justice N.K. Gupta.
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Shri A. Usmani, counsel for the appellants.
Shri G.S. Thakur, P.L. Panel Lawyer the
respondent/State.
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JUDGMENT
(Delivered on 3rd day of July, 2015) The appellants have preferred the present appeal being aggrieved with the judgment dated 22.9.1998 passed by the Sessions Judge, Raisen in S.T. No.284/92, whereby the appellants have been convicted of offence under Sections 304-B & 498-A of the IPC and sentenced to seven years' R.I. and one year's R.I. respectively.
2. Facts of the case in short are that the deceased Sheela Bai was married to the appellant no.4 Daulat Singh. The appellant nos.1 & 2 are parents of Daulat Singh, whereas the appellant no.3 Mohan is elder brother of the appellant no.4. After approximately six years of marriage of 2 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 Sheela Bai, on 13.6.1992 Pooran Singh (PW-1) father of the deceased was informed that Sheela Bai was injured with burns therefore, he sent his sons to village Jamuniya, who took the deceased Sheela Bai to the Government Hospital, Gairatganj. In the night of 13.6.1992, the deceased Sheela Bai had expired. On 14.6.1992, the complainant Pooran Singh (PW-1) lodged a written report Ex.P/1 with the allegations that the deceased was being harassed for demand of Rs.40,000/- and for other reasons because she was not blessed with any child in those six years. It was also claimed that when the deceased Sheela Bai was taken to the Hospital, she told her brothers that the appellant no.2 poured some kerosene upon her and set her on fire and at that time, she was held by the appellant no.4 husband of the deceased, whereas the remaining appellants have threatened her that if she would state anything against them, her brothers and father would be killed. The dead body of the deceased Sheela Bai was sent for the postmortem. Dr. S.B. Kulkarni (PW-8) gave a report Ex.P./14. He found that the deceased was 95% burnt and she sustained 2 nd-3rd degree burns therefore, she had died. After due investigation, the charge sheet was filed before the JMFC Gairatganj, who committed the case to the Court of Sessions.
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3. The appellants abjured their guilt. They took a plea that they were falsely implicated in the matter. Marriage of the deceased took place seven years prior to the incident and she sustained the burn injuries due to an accident. The deceased Sheela Bai gave a dying declaration Ex.D/1 before the Executive Magistrate that she sustained the burn injuries due to an accident. In defence, the Executive Magistrate C.L. Ahirwar (DW-1) was examined.
4. After considering the evidence adduced by the parties, the Sessions Judge, Raisen convicted and sentenced the appellants as mentioned above.
5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties.
6. Learned counsel for the appellants has submitted that the deceased died after seven years of her marriage and therefore, no offence under Section 304-B of the IPC is made out against the appellants. In this context, Pooran Singh (PW-1), Raghuveer Singh (PW-2) and Maharaj Singh (PW-3) etc. were examined. They have stated that the deceased died after five years of her marriage. In the written FIR Ex.P/1, it was not clearly mentioned as to when the marriage of the deceased took place and what was the duration of her marriage at the time of incident. Pooran Singh father of the deceased has accepted that marriage of the deceased Sheela 4 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 Bai took place eight years prior to the incident and immediately after that statement, he again stated that marriage took place five years back. Raghuveer Singh (PW-2) brother of the deceased has stated that marriage of the deceased took place 6-7 years prior to the incident. Maharaj Singh (PW-3) has stated that marriage of the deceased took place 5-6 years prior to the incident. However, in his cross- examination, he has accepted that his marriage took place 13 years back and after six years of his marriage, the marriage of the deceased took place. According to the calculation shown by Maharaj Singh, it appears that marriage of the deceased took place seven years prior to the incident.
7. After considering the submissions of Pooran Singh and Raghuveer, it would be apparent that they could not tell the exact year of marriage of the deceased. They have bent upon to say that the marriage of the deceased took place five years prior to the incident, whereas both of them have accepted in the cross-examination that marriage of the deceased Sheela Bai took place 6-7 years prior to the incident. Pooran Singh has accepted that marriage of the deceased took place eight years prior to the incident.
8. In this connection, if the FIR Ex.P/1 lodged by 5 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 Pooran Singh is examined, then it would be apparent that it was a typed written FIR prepared by some law knowing person and so many facts were mentioned in the FIR but in the statements of the witnesses, they did not corroborate such facts and therefore, FIR is not a document, which can be considered as the FIR. It appears that it is a drafted document prepared by some law knowing person and it does not match with the actual factual position. Since it was hidden in the FIR Ex.P/1 as to whether marriage of the deceased Sheela Bai took place seven years prior to the incident or not and therefore, an adverse inference is to be drawn that since marriage of the deceased Sheela Bai took place seven years prior to the incident, such facts was hidden in the FIR Ex.P/1 and thereafter, the witnesses have stated according to their wishes. When a doubt is created then, a benefit of doubt is to be given to the accused persons. If marriage of the deceased Sheela Bai took place seven years prior to the incident then, according to the Provisions of Section 304-B of the IPC, such offence shall not constitute in the present case.
9. Pooran Singh (PW-1), Raghuveer Singh (PW-2) father and brother of the deceased alongwith an independent witness Maharaj Singh (PW-3) were examined to show the 6 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 harassment done by the appellants to the deceased prior to her death. However, Maharaj Singh did not support the prosecution's case that the deceased was being harassed for dowry demand etc. According to him, he was informed by one Chhotelal that the appellants have quarreled with the deceased that she was not blessed with child. However, in case diary statement, it was not mentioned that he got such an information from Chhotelal. Under these circumstances, the statement given by Maharaj Singh appears to be an afterthought. Being a witness of prosecution, his statement indicates that he was never informed by anyone that the deceased was being harassed by the appellants for demand of Rs.40,000/- or other articles.
10. Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh have stated that the appellants demanded a sum of Rs.40,000/- from the deceased and she was being harassed for that demand. It was also stated by them that since the deceased was not blessed with a child, she was being threatened by the appellants and therefore, Pooran Singh had lodged an FIR against the appellants. According to the FIR Ex.P/1, Preetam brother of the deceased was the person, who immediately went to the spot and helped in taking the deceased to the hospital, whereas Preetam was not examined before the trial 7 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 Court to inform the conversation took place between the deceased and him. In the FIR Ex.P/1, Pooran Singh had alleged that the appellant nos.2 & 4 had tried to kill the deceased and thereafter, they gave a threat to the deceased so that she could not give the statement in favour of the appellants. The complainant has also claimed that in oral dying declaration, the deceased had stated that she was burnt by the appellant nos.1 & 4. Before the trial Court, neither Pooran Singh nor Raghuveer Singh have stated that the deceased was killed by the appellants but looking to the text of FIR Ex.P/1, it appears that the false facts were mentioned in the FIR without any basis. According to the FIR, Raghuveer went to the well of Gopal to fetch some water, when the deceased was taken to the hospital, which clearly indicates that Raghuveer Singh was not present when the deceased was taken to the hospital and therefore, the statement of Raghuveer Singh that the deceased was unconscious and remained unconscious till her death cannot be accepted. On the contrary, he has accepted that the appellant no.2 mother-in-law of the deceased Sheela Bai took her to the hospital in a bullock cart and she was present with her. Raghuveer Singh has claimed that when Nayab Tahsildar (Executive Magistrate) took the statement of 8 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 the deceased when, he was present but he did not state at that time that the deceased Sheela Bai was unconscious.
11. In this connection, the Executive Magistrate C.L. Ahirwar (DW-1) has proved the dying declaration Ex.D/1 given by the deceased, in which it was stated by the deceased that she sustained the burn injuries due to an accident. She had no grievance with the appellants. If the appellants were torturing the deceased for dowry demand etc. then, she would have stated before the Executive Magistrate about that fact. The Executive Magistrate has proved that certificate was taken by him from the doctor, who was treating the deceased that she was capable to give her statement. When he took the statement, he did not permit anyone to remain present with the deceased. Dr. S.B. Kulkarni (PW-8) has accepted in the cross-examination that he gave the certificate to the concerned Executive Magistrate that Sheela Bai was fit to give her statement and she remained conscious while recording of the statement Ex.D/1. Under these circumstances, the dying declaration Ex.D/1 was recorded by the Executive Magistrate C.L. Ahirwar and it appears that the investigation officer had suppressed this dying declaration and it was not filed alongwith the charge sheet.
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12. It is for the investigation officer to investigate the matter with the clean hands. He should have asked Pooran Singh, Raghuveer Singh and other witnesses about the year of marriage of the deceased. He would have placed the dying declaration recorded by the Executive Magistrate alongwith the charge sheet. The investigation should not be tinted one, it should be done with the clean hands. However, it would be important that Preetam brother of the deceased, who was present at the time of treatment of the deceased was not made as a witness in the case. If list of the witnesses annexed with the charge sheet is perused then, name of Preetam is missing. Preetam was brother of the deceased and there was no conflict of interest between Preetam and deceased Sheela Bai or Preetam and his father Pooran Singh. Non-examination of the witness Preetam indicates that he was not interested to state anything against the appellants and due to his non-examination, an adverse inference shall be drawn against Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh that they created a false case against the appellants and even, their family members have not agreed to do so. Under these circumstances, the testimony of Pooran Singh, Raghuveer comes into the clouds of doubt.
13. If the testimony of Pooran Singh and Raghuveer 10 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 Singh was examined otherwise then, it would be apparent that Pooran Singh has accepted that the appellants were properly blessed persons and the intimation of the incident was given by a servant of the appellant Khet Singh. Hence, the status of the appellants is apparent that they were rich persons and they could have kept servants in their fields, whereas Pooran Singh and his sons were not so rich. They could not give alleged amount of dowry in last six years. If there was a demand of Rs.40,000/- then, certainly a little portion would have been given by Pooran Singh to the appellants in the past and he would have given sufficient amount in the installment to the appellants or he would have lodged an FIR at any police station or he would have informed the reputed persons of his community about that problem for its resolution. Maharaj Singh (PW-3) was examined being a member of the community of the witness Pooran Singh but he did not support that he was informed about the fact of dowry demand done by the appellants. The witness Pooran Singh has stated that he intimated about the demand to Heeralal and Jagat Singh Patel etc. but those persons were not named before the police and therefore, they were not examined to support the witness Pooran Singh. Raghuveer Singh has accepted that he told about the 11 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 demand of the appellants to one Heeralal but such statement was not given by this witness to the police. Neither Heeralal was examined nor he was cited as a witness.
14. If a woman is tortured in the house by the husband or his relatives for dowry demand or otherwise then, it would be natural for that woman to tell about her problems to her mother. A woman is expected to be very much close to her mother and thereafter, the mother would have resolved the problems by telling that problem to father of that woman or to talk with husband of the woman. In the present case, it is surprising that mother of the deceased Sheela Bai, who was present at the time of her death was not examined by the police and not cited as a witness in the case. If the deceased would have informed her father and brothers about any harassment to her then, they would have taken some steps to redress her problems, like they would have informed the respected members of their community to get the problem resolved or they would have kept the deceased Sheela Bai in their house so that the appellants would have been pressurized to talk about the problem or in life time of the deceased Sheela Bai either the complainant or the deceased Sheela Bai would have lodged an FIR.
12 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 However, no respected persons of that community is examined before the trial Court to show that Pooran Singh or Raghuveer Singh have informed about the problem or any meeting of Panchayat of that community was called to resolve the problem of the deceased in her life time. No FIR has been lodged by the deceased in her life time against the appellants. She was never detained in the house or her parents. According to Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh, she was not prohibited to visit the house of her parents. She was a routine visitor to her parents house.
15. It would be pertinent to note that Pooran Singh was resident of Bandoli and the deceased was residing with the appellant at village Jamuniya. Bandoli and Jamuniya are adjacent villages and therefore, on receiving the intimation that the deceased sustained the burn injuries, her brothers could immediately visit to the house of the appellants and no appellants would have been found at the house except the appellant no.2 Parvati Bai mother-in-law of the deceased thereafter, brothers of the deceased helped Parvati Bai in taking the deceased to the hospital and therefore, if she was in problem then, certainly she would have informed her parents immediately because she could go to her parents house within a small period of time. Under 13 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 these circumstances, looking to the circumstances of marital period of the deceased Sheela Bai and her dying declaration Ex.D/1, the testimony of the witnesses Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh cannot be relied upon. The Sessions Judge has committed an error in relying upon their testimony.
16. In this connection, learned counsel for the appellants has placed his reliance upon the judgment passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of "Manohar Lal Vs. State of Haryana" [(2014) 9 SCC 645] in which, it is observed that the deceased died within five years of her marriage due to burn injuries and it was alleged that she was subjected to harassment for dowry. The evidence given by her mother was full of contradictions and improvements, hence not reliable. It was held that there was no evidence that the deceased was harassed soon before her death for or in connection with demand of dowry and therefore, the accused persons were entitled to their acquittal. In the present case, it is doubtful that the deceased died within seven years of her marriage. The possibility cannot be ruled out that she died after seven years of her marriage. There is a typed FIR Ex.P/1 lodged by Pooran Singh, which appears to be prepared by some law knowing person. The fact mentioned in the FIR do not match with the statement of 14 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh. The important witnesses like Preetam brother of the deceased and mother of the deceased were not examined. The story given by Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh appears to be baseless and it is not proved in the present case that the deceased was being harassed "soon before her death" for or in connection with dowry demand and therefore, the conviction of the appellants for the offence under Section 304-B of the IPC cannot be maintained.
17. So far as the the offence under Section 498-A of the IPC is concerned, Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh could not prove that the deceased was subjected for any dowry demand. She resided with the appellants for more than seven years. She was never ousted from the house and therefore, the allegations of Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh cannot be accepted that the appellants tortured her because she was not blessed with child. Maharaj Singh (PW-3), who stated about the fact that he was informed about such harassment, however it was nothing but an improvement which does not exist in his case diary statement. As discussed above, the testimony of Pooran Singh and Raghuveer Singh is not worthy to be trusted and the important witnesses like Preetam and mother of the 15 Criminal Appeal No.2233/1998 deceased were not examined in the case. The deceased in her dying declaration Ex.D/1 did not state anything about her harassment done by the appellants. Therefore, it cannot be said that the appellants dealt her with cruelty for any reason. Under these circumstances, the appellants cannot be convicted of offence under Section 498-A of the IPC.
18. On the basis of aforesaid discussion, appeal filed by the appellants appears to be acceptable and therefore, it is hereby accepted. The conviction as well sentence imposed by the trial Court of offence under Sections 304-B & 498-A of the IPC is hereby set aside. The appellants are now acquitted from all the charges appended against them.
19. The appellants are on bail. Their presence is no more required before the Court therefore, it is directed that their bail bonds shall stand discharged.
20. Copy of the judgment be sent to the trial Court alongwith its record for information.
(N.K. GUPTA) JUDGE 03.07.2015 pnkj