Karnataka High Court
State Of Karantaka By Doddabelavangala ... vs Ranganath Bin Muniyappa on 30 November, 2010
Bench: K.Sreedhar Rao, S.N.Satyanarayana
-1-
INTHEIHGH(XfifiUWfi'&M%MfiAKAATBANGALORE
DATED THIS THE 30""! DAY OF "NOVEMBER 2010 V.
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR.JUS'I'ICE K.SREEDHA_R. [f I'
AND
THE HON'BLI'+3 MRJUSTIC
CRIMINAL AEFEAL 131() [:g23.9sa_»g}20.()5'-- « J. V
BETWEEN V A _
1.. STATE OF KAR$\NTA¥IA"':.--:" '
BY DoDDAg3£LA_xrANcA;4A..<:
POLICE siI1mQ1g1___V_ . '
~ _ ...APPELLANT
{By Sri ; P'.IMLI'u'AV;TAZ, "}XI)DL,'V'SPI3} '
1. %\TGANA.'VI1JaBEN
. 'A _ AGE1Z3:'20'YRS,
M'i:IN§YAPPA
'-- Aw/0 1x«1U_1~e1j5AI>PA
Aggy} 4Qf1'RS.
R/A"£f_:MALL()HALLI
" 'MADHURE HOBLI
- _I)_QDI)ABALLAPUR TQ., .. RESPONDENTS
1, :{By5Sri : S BALAN & ADV} -2- THIS CRLA. IS FII,i_?3E.') U/:3. 3'?8{l_) & {3} (IR.P.C BY '1":-»1I«: S'I'A'I'iC R1-3. FOR '1'm+: S'_"i.'A'I'E?, PRAYING '1'I-LAT.--.1*1--115 I-«1<'_>1_\mL£«; C€)E§R'I' MAY ma PLISASEID TO GRAN'1' Liazmsngfo 1911,19 AN AIWIFZAIJ A(.wNs'1' TI Ha JU1e)G EMENT :)'1'.H_1'"e..8-.~:ée0'5 PASSED BY T':--IE 19.0., 1¢'.'1'.(:<v', IEEANGALORE RU_RAI;~~ BANGALORE EN S.C.NO. 158/2003, Ac:Q1Jm'I§~i'_<3. LITE-IE.i_ ' RESPO§\IDENTS~ACCUSI-CI") mm '_m.r«:__ 01r:<*§:N'c--z«t;3 'I-'/'_U./.':3._ "
498~A, 30443 R/W 34 (>3? we ANI33 U/sH'1«;es,_T 3,4 .AN.z;.__6"Q_F] DP. ACT.
'I'}-118 APPEAL (JOMlNGv'{):N».{?'OE-{TIBMIRIN-(1 "ifI'1.i':3» DAY, * ' SRI.+2E'DI~IAR RAO (1., D151,1VI:JRI£I§*i1']:?IE_ F01;Lt:i)WI:\:(;:';§ The Iiiateriai i"21(:i.sA»;)i'fv:Iii'i:.£: disclose that one MaI1g&]§1IiiIIl'Z§:{7..ES i';fi--.e tiie'(EeaSed."--" 'ihe resporiciezlt N0s.E and 2iare_21eeiis;e(;I_V:'1_.A211«a.ii""1?:__iweibre the trial Court {for short A1 and A2) of A1. The deceased is wife of A1. Tfieir m'a1<riz£ge"t()(S'k place. on 5.52002. It is the case of ii*prciszeetéiinziii' ..t}1a!,. z1i.W1','E:i<?* time; 01' ;r1ar1"iage it was (.ie11'1amile(:1 ._.zir1giu a (:2.1s%";. of Rs.15,()O()/--. geld jewehy of 6 s0v.ereig_n:~; my be given to i}:1e girl anti 2 sovereigris to be given to the iioy. I*"m'i,her, 1,I%1.ai, Al. 11:1 the evetlt of gefiting "if e.:rn§§1ey:::1ez3i. at I3a;1gz.11():'e a sum of Rs.10,()OO/~ shouid be " giveri for S(?('.i1.}'iIlg the heuse on lease. One I':.zt.i;araju, PW.1. is the brother of <:ie(:ee21s+:.e:i. Oric Saroj;;;m;1x;1a, P"/'.8 is the wife of WV. 3 .
2. It is said that the a(:(:use§!,..a¥_1(1 th--e'V'tl(:e:ee..sVeci 'iivezi happiiy for Sonic t.im.e after i'uz;1.rriage_. Tf1C.I'€'£1fi.€!I"-fi'it? zi'ee:.:s'é::«fi_' .'star'£,e('i pest*ering the <1e«::ease'r.i to gc3i,E€_s:i1(),O0O'/Ag v:;1_g1.'ee§(.i to be given towards see.u.ri1'ig lease .i.I"E2t:'$:§$€Ct i::VE? of the fact whether A1 takes _§1o:11s;e iii I3aVngaiore or not. In that: corA1r_1eet:iorA1..,. to harassment and cruelty. H '(:i;ui'.i't1g._i to the house of PW .1 used ::'to PWs.1, 8 and other :1eight>:oiiiiei_'iA informing a neighbour "i"himr1'1:v2ii:1§3;'---I~'VW'.S}: 'f:z;1rassr31ent. The demaxad was not met'.. 'i.;hf3._V(i.(%c:ta21$e(.E 'we'-is su1')_jeCte(! to (:ru.e!ty and she 'v.,<.:oIii.ii1it1;e("I SgiieicleiVby"l?1z;mgi1.1g on 2'i'.11.20()2 ai'ou1'1d 11.30 __zi'i1'1_.; ':.nfe;e».iinorrgmg. PW . .1. has lodged (.'.O1'I1§')}8i1'1t before the 1io!,iee on 283 L2€)O} at £0 a.m.. The inquest is Conduetejd on the same day. The post rnorteI::1 report diseiosee that the deceased had ante mortem injuries on the hotly, which were if'1fiiCE'.<'(§ zeibouf, 48 to 72 hours before the -4- post. iI1()I'1,E3iI1. The a{'.CiiS{'('1 is ehargeti for eciiziinitmig V '1 offences ur1{1e.r $('.(.Tf.iOI}S 498A 304I"3 1"/W Section 134V.i.E'(,_§-uicl $8.3, 4 ::'m(i {S of I)<)w1y Proliibitiori Act'.
3. In the eV1'(1e1.'1ee PW. 1. has §1I_i.;)g)i)11c2(_'i.iihéé=§a$se"oflhe prosecution and his eviderzee is (:0:i%1Sis;.t'ei:1't wiifh'~r;e:itfeffi;$ the FIR. PW.2~inquest. pzmeI_'1','=..PWs'.3._ V;1ri{i"v3,'v«--reee3vefy officers and PW.5-r1eighi)o:.:r I1E1.'..'v"::fV,'V" ti,_1r:1e(.i did not support the case of the '=.1f..ivl:"'3§-':'(?"-'fv'TLltgifliiI '-1-?i?ii'.£'7-_;.>a1i(:h witness to :?x..P€3 supperteecithe The eviderice of P'W.'7 is the [.)1'0SCCL11.iO1.'}.
Ifges material circumstance of accueegi the deceased 1,0 erueity as per the Version '"'giy9en.. by me" deceased to them. They have 'V-.Slif)p'f)I"V{_€d 'éhe the prosecution. PWSJ4 to 18, __1ieieg}'i%ne'u.;"s.éii:1_<:!";)t.her r'es.~si(.§.e1.1i;s have tumeci hostile and did 1:sC';i__Si.1;)1')r.7i'1;' {fie ezise ef the pi*(>see.ii%:i()i'i. .1:-'W.}.9 is the Doctor <__wi1e «:()rij('iu.ete<i pest. :1:r)1rieii;1. PW23 is the PSI who :"£?§§i'$~t.er<2cI the ease. i;-«"'W.i2i() and 2}. are the I'.Os., who <:}311(iu(:Leci the ilf1V€Stiga1.§OI1. PW.2:3 is the 'i"aIuka Exetriitive 1 U1 I 1\«'E::1gist.r:1te who (:0:1du<::;ed. ,i:;qu.est,. 'I"Ir1<-3 trial Court has f0u.:1d t;}1a,1: pr0se(:ut.ion has not esi:a.t)IisI1.e(1 the (1€I ;.1;r1I_1'(1 Of dowry emci (:rueit.y in file-if: bchaif. 1"1€.I'1.(',('. aC_;§i;'i*..i.§3:I1__] {.'r_§_e accused u.r1.der Secti011 £3048 and 533.3, 4 z1x.1(i.V_6"=0uf 'D:;I'._.A-rt." However, convicted the £1C{',11S€(1 21/ State is in appeal for £1(:q1.:itt21i _u/S 3{)4"1'_3 I'/W_ 8.'i'j'l(.'l '5V."'. of D.P.Act.
4. Tiara accused }'1§._2s not (éha_1}e3:1g¢(i the" 'co;1vi_('.ti()n :1/S 498A, IPC. In fact: t.1r1é"--:x.t;c.Lis3e££. 11ai'e "s¢1ve{i the serxterxce imposed on Ehemhy the'€;x'ia!::('301;a:§i1».,_ ' K 5v'.'.'()"I14'tfV1O'1'V(V)i'»;\§}'.l' (Sf the (:vider1(:e of PW.} in the (:r0ss--exan1inati0r1-at'._p:=1::%i 21 it b(~":c;ornes explicit that he cr0r_r1é:-3 1110' 1g.1.'10w' "'a«!:.)(3_1__1t ':.Ir2t2 illcident around 7.10 pm" on
1..1..2300?'t,}*i'rr>ugl*1 his wife. PW}-3 and perhaps PWJ wouid §fga.vr9fa'e21t:h§;:%.dV'T:th&3 $Ctf;:'.£T"1€'f 21:. about 8.30 p.112. His evidence ('iiSC§(}S{§'fS'V that poiice weir. already presem; at the s(:c:r1e " gxxarding the 'I'hc dacgrs were locked and were opened :t{) éfiable PWJ to w1'.messs the dead body, which was V' '"har1gi11g. I-'W.I. ttmt he .f0:,:1'1(.l that tlwre were ixljuries on the face, hawks a.2"1('§ iegzs. He fxarther says that ___when police made enquiries with h.i1:11 can the night of he did not say the reason fer the suicide to :.;'>dii'Ce'§j--ii i. only on the next day at .10 31:11., he gave a wrijtten: 'c0ii1piz'1,int, which came to be 1'egi.<3tere('i as FIR.'-._
6. 'E"he eiose sc:mi.ii'1y <;ai"_t.i1e C:3:1'1f§E\Il cog:-'3iov'i' thel FER aveiiiable in the record (§.isc:I()s-;eSe» .I_;f'13,t the"ti_11i.'E: ii"i_(?id€I1t is Shown as 7.30 p.m. 11;'-Liagtii, ilfie <:'i*e{1i§t)ie..evi(i<:nee"on record discloses that the ir1(:ide.r.1ie :i1eici.'Vbt::k;_anZ";i§3.Q.¢. around 11.30 51111., The co;Itent$- 0f::_1<'IR ihere is delay in ioclging the 1hgeV.r:)tE';er-- hand, the evidence of PW.1 would eiiiqgtltise i"1.101'(1iI'1aie delay H1 lodging FIR, Eiettajise his'°t;v_iV(i<:i'.1(.:e €iis;C'}(>ss<':$ that police had air'e:uiy come *.,?;0 "tile? :'s{>.£?r'1'i';fip1'i()i' i:ii"'?.{iO p.n':., ar1.d they were guardiiig the S(§f3_Ii€--. Vi"'«'1f§;e4"'ii21C'i;.. of czirueliy and 1'1arassmeni'. on a.(:(:o1m.i. of which 1'.he Wtziiectzeistrcjl (mm; r.r'1ii:i,e(i suicicle was within the knowieiige (if PW.'I. If ihai. was the reason for suicide he f_" sghouuicl have definitely icndged the eornplairit immediately and tigiere wcmici not have been delay of £2 ITl()LI1'S. Infact from the I *7- 'Lime of incident £1121: has taker; place, the ()()Ii'1I)1£;1.iI'1t is iotlged almost. armm(i 24 hours zi.§'t.<~=,_:' that.
7. The pI'():'>'€?("11{i£3l'i has cviclcritiy est21i)}isi1jéét}"Ei.[1*z2_( i.i::e'v death is unnatural and by way of S{.1i('.i(1€. 'rneu*ria.ge of deceased with A1 is proved and (ieiith isf)j;rox{eti'_Ato._be.. the period of 7 years. The i1:.c_c1ica1 'c3yi('ier1cediscioses fti.i.at the injuries on the body are aiife.,,ti1oi:*ten'1'a.a:1(}ebetweeii 48 to 72 hours prior to post .i:'i'e;rt.c?iii. _'IA'h-:~3. i.nfiirie3s w<5uVi<i suggest that the (leccascd shouid 1'i21V'Vii?.v'i:)V('3'{')I1.~'S31fl')j§£!3i':§fi(1 10 some sort Z'--_1e{()i;yevc:,.'timeiiaiiiurfeflon iihe part of PW. 1 of physical <:r1§zei'T,y.Vy in noteVii'i;i;o'r.1.*aii*i,c_§ iii? '(':aiIi':2;e"iif mam to the police immediately on 27.11.2002 gives.i"isij'i'i.:;"'sr3r1'1e 3.II1{)11}f1'L' of suspicion with regard toiciifieoiiy by the accused for dowry " '~ (:o.:fis:i(ie1faiion. 51'i1e.._s_aiv<'i ingredient is clinching the issue. In 'thatevie}V~o'f«v1.h<2__maticrg we do not find any good grouml to i':1t4erfe.rew?ii§:2VAi1=ii<é opinion ofthe triai (ITou:'i,. Hence. the order of aeq.11i'ivti,:i.ifiu/S 3(}4~»B F/W 3, 4 and 6 of 13.13' Act does not 2 ., 15311.. for 1;.'I1'{'.€ff(*)I'€,',I}(.'.€ in this appeal. with re5.§ar(i to coi1vici,io.r1 'ii/'bS"A498A ihe Cmmsei for respondexits/accused did not, Vi "press the same because {he co:':si('1erat.ion oi" the said aspect wouid be only of at):-1<ic>111i(: i111p0rt.ance sirlce 'poth___ the accused have aireaciy sserveti the $eni:en(:e iII1p<)sse.('_1:"~.;_1/S 498A.
8. In that View ()fi§'1r:> :'1'22;ii't.<?r,[f;l':&2 _a.p1:(?%>,l (}.i_S}'}g;s_e-'£1 Vpf in 11116 terms i11c1.i(:a1.e('i above. _ sdn _§ "IUDGE Nd /-