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[Cites 10, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

State vs . Prem Etc. on 20 August, 2018

                                                      1

   IN THE COURT OF SH. DEVENDER KUMAR JANGALA
        ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE­03, (WEST)
          TIS HAZARI COURTS, DELHI


UID No.57477/2016
FIR No. 266/14
U/S 392/397/411/34 IPC
P S Mundka 
State Vs. Prem etc. 

                                       J U D G E M E N T

1      Sl. No. of the case                                57477/2016
2      Date of Committal to Sessions 24.09.2014
3      Name of the complainant                            Sh. Ramesh Kumar
4      Date of commission of offence 05.06.2014
5      Name and Parentage of                              (1) Prem, S/o Sh. Noor Singh
       accused                                            R/o H. No.H348, JJ Colony, 
                                                          Bakkarwala, Delhi.
                                                          (2) Puneet, S/o Late Sh. Ganga 
                                                          Prasad, R/o H. No. D­273, JJ 
                                                          Colony, Bakkarwala, Delhi.
                                                          (3) Mohd. Chand, S/o Mohd. 
                                                          Tamanna, R/o H. No. H­194, JJ 
                                                          Colony, Bakkarwala, Delhi.
6      Offence complained of                              Under Section 
7      Offence charged                                    Under Section
8      Plea of guilt                                      Pleaded Not Guilty
9      Final order                                        Acquitted under Section 
                                                          397/411/34 IPC


FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      1 of 27
                                                       2

                                                          Convicted under Section 
                                                          392/34 IPC
10 Date on which order reserved  30.07.2018
11 Date on which order                                    20.08.2018
   announced


BRIEF FACTS:

1. The   present   FIR   was   registered   on   the   statement   of   the complainant Ramesh Kumar. It is alleged by the complainant that   he   was   working   in   the   agriculture   field   of   Sh.   Satish Kumar. That  on the date of  incident, he was  working in the agriculture   field   alongwith   his   friends   Sharda,   Deshraj   and Arun. The complainant alleged that around 11.00 am, four boys came there and asked them to hand over all the money. On their refusal, they four started beating them with leg, fist blow and sticks.   One   boy   also   threaten   them   to   kill   with   knife.   The complainant alleged that the said accused persons have forcibly snatched Rs. 40/­ from him, Rs. 300/­ from Sharda, Rs. 200/­ from Deshraj and Rs. 200/­ from Arun. Thereafter, some more FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      2 of 27 3 persons   came   there   and   apprehended   the   accused   persons namely Prem, Puneet and Mohd. Chand at the spot. One person namely Kishan succeed in running away from the spot. 

2. The   police   registered   the   case   on   the   statement   of   the complainant   Ramesh   Kumar.   Thereafter,   investigation   was conducted. All three accused persons namely Prem, Puneet and Mohd.   Chand   were   arrested   and   after   completion   of   the investigation, charge sheet was filed. The case was committed to the sessions court as section 397 was exclusively triable by the court of Sessions. 

3. On 25.11.2014, the charge for commission of the offence under Section 392/397/411 read with Section 34 IPC was framed upon all the three accused persons namely Prem, Puneet and Mohd. Chand to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. 

4. The   prosecution   to   prove   its   case   has   examined   total   10 witnesses.   Statements   of   the   accused   persons   were   recorded under Section 313 Cr.PC. The accused persons denied the story of the prosecution and stated that they are falsely implicated in FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      3 of 27 4 the present case. The accused persons did not lead any evidence.

5. The   prosecution   to   prove   its   case   had   examined   total   10 witnesses. The relevant and material extract of the testimony of the witnesses are reproduced as under: 

6.  PW­1 W/HC Sudesh is the Duty Officer who recorded the FIR on the basis of Rukka. PW 1 has proved the copy of FIR Ex.PW 1/A. 

7. PW­2 Ramesh Kumar  is the complainant and victim of the present   case.   PW   2   has   deposed   that   on   05.06.2014,   he alongwith Arun, Sharda and Deshraj was working in the filed of one   Satish   Kumar.   Thereafter,   at   about   11.00   am,   4   persons including the accused persons present in the court, came there and   demanded   money.   On   their   refusal,   they   started   beating them. PW 2 deposed that accused Puneet pointed out a knife towards   him   and   snatched   Rs.   40/­   from   him.   The   accused persons  have  also  snatched  Rs.   300/­   from the  possession   of Sharda, Rs. 200/­ from Arun and Rs. 200/­ from Deshraj. On hearing the noise, Satish Kumar reached there, who also made FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      4 of 27 5 the call to the police. PW 2 deposed that the accused persons were apprehended before arrival of the police but one of their associate   succeeded   to   run   away   from   the   spot.   PW   2   has proved his statement Ex.PW 2/A. PW 2 has also identified the accused persons. PW 2 has also deposed that associate of the accused person who ran away from the spot, took away all the robbed money and nothing was recovered from the possession of the accused persons present in the court. PW 2 was cross examined   by   the   Ld.   Addl.   PP   for   the   State.   During   cross examination PW 2 admitted that the person who ran away from the spot was Kishan. It is admitted that Puneet handed over the robbed   amount   to   Kishan.   It   is   also   admitted   that   the   other accused   persons   had   not   handed   over   the   robbed   amount   to Kishan.     During   cross   examination   by   the   Ld.   Counsel   for accused Prem and Puneet, PW 2 admitted that the Police Officer did not seize the dandas from the spot. It is also admitted that nothing was recovered from the possession of accused persons in   his   presence.   During   the   cross   examination   by   the   Ld. FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      5 of 27 6 Counsel for accused Chand Mohammad, it is admitted by the witnesses   that   accused   persons   were   beating   him   and   his colleagues with fist, blows and dandas. It is also admitted that knife was shown to him but they did not give any knife blow. 

8. PW­3   Satish   Kumar  is   the   employer   of   the   victims   and owner/occupier  of the field where the victims were working. PW 3 has deposed that on 05.06.2014, one boy came to him and told  that some persons are robbing the labours working in his field. He also heard the noise of the labours and alongwith some other labours reached at the field. PW 3 deposed that at the spot, he found that the accused persons were beating his labours and snatching their money. PW 3 correctly identified the accused persons. He deposed that the accused persons were apprehended at the spot but one person ran away from the spot. During cross examination,   PW   3   reaffirmed   that   he   has   witnessed   the accused persons beating his labours and snatching money. PW 3 also admitted that he saw dandas in the hand of accused persons when he reached at the spot. PW 3 has stated that those dandas FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      6 of 27 7 were thrown on the spot and he did not hand over the same to the   police.   PW   3     was   confronted   with   his   statement   under section 161 Cr.PC where the fact of carrying dandas was not mentioned. It is also admitted that no recovery was effected by the police in his presence. 

9. PW­4   Ct.   Vipin  is   the   police   official   who   joined   the investigation   alongwith   the   IO.   PW   4   deposed   that   on   the receipt of PCR call, he alongwith ASI Phool Kanwar went to the spot and met the complainant. The complainant handed over the custody of three persons who are present in the court. The IO recorded the statement of the complainant and prepared a Rukka. Thereafter, the case was registered. The accused persons were interrogated vide their disclosure statement Ex.PW 4/A to Ex.PW 4/C. PW 4 deposed that from the possession of accused Puneet robbed cash amount of Rs. 40 was recovered and from the possession of accused Prem, the robbed amount of Rs. 200/­ was   recovered.   PW   4   deposed   that   a   sum   of   Rs.   200/­   was recovered from the possession of accused Chand Mohammad.

FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      7 of 27 8 PW 4 correctly identified the case property. 

10.PW­5 Sh. Arun  is one of the victim. PW 5 deposed that on 05.06.2014, the four accused persons came to the agriculture field at  about  11/11.15 am and asked them to hand over  the money. PW 5 deposed that on their refusal, the accused persons start beating them with dandas. One accused person threatened them for stabbing, if they did not give money to them. PW 5 deposed   that   they   raised   the   noise   and   on   hearing   the   same, some other persons came to help them. Three accused persons who   are   present   in   the   court,   were   apprehended.   Thereafter, police   came   there.   PW   5   deposed   that   accused   Puneet threatened to kill them with knife. During cross examination, PW 5 admitted that there was no specific identification mark on the currency notes. It is admitted that the dandas were not taken into possession by the police in his presence. 

11. PW 6   Sh. Desh Raj  is also one of the victim. PW 6 has also deposed   that   while   he   was   working   in   agriculture   field alongwith   other   victims   at   about   11/11.15   am,   four   persons FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      8 of 27 9 came there. PW 6 deposed that the accused persons demanded money from them and on refusal, threatened to beat them with dandas.   One   of   the   accused   also   threatened   to   stab   them. Thereafter, on hearing the noise, some other persons came there to   help   them   and   apprehended   the   accused   persons.   PW   6 correctly identified the accused persons. It is admitted that PW 6 has identified the currency notes. During cross examination, PW 6 admitted that the statement of Ramesh was not recorded by the police in his presence. It is admitted that dandas were not taken into possession by the police in his presence. 

12. PW 7 Sh. Sharda is also one of the victim who deposed on the same line. During cross examination, PW 7 admitted that the dandas   were   not   taken   into   possession   by   the   police   in   her presence. It is stated that the dandas remained in the field. 

13. PW 8 HC Sudesh is the Duty officer who recorded the DD No. 20A regarding the incident vide Ex.PW 8/A. 

14.  PW 9 Lady Constable Archna  is the Operator who deposed that she received the information on 05.06.2014 at about 11.42 FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      9 of 27 10 am regarding snatching which was passed to the operator of the communication. The copy of the said PCR form no. 1 is proved as Ex.PW 9/A. 

15. PW 10 ASI Phool Kanwar is the IO of the present case. PW 10   deposed   that   on   05.06.2014,   he   received   the   information regarding DD No. 20A and went to the spot. The complainant Sh.   Ramesh   Kumar   handed   over   the   custody   of   the   accused persons   who   are   present   in   the   court.   The   statement   of   the complainant   was   recorded   vide   Ex.PW   2/A.   Thereafter,   the Rukka Ex.PW 10/A was prepared and Ct. Vipin was sent for registration of the case. The site plan Ex.PW 10/B of the spot of incident   was   prepared.   Thereafter,   accused   persons   made   the disclosure statement Ex.PW 4/A to Ex.PW 4/C.  On the search of the accused persons, a sum of Rs. 200 was recovered from the   possession   of   accused   Prem,     sum   of   Rs.   200/­   were recovered from the possession of accused Mohd. Chand and a sum of Rs. 40/­ were recovered from the possession of accused Puneet.   PW   10   deposed   that   all   the   recovered   notes   were FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      10 of 27 11 identified by the victims as were robbed by the accused persons. The   arrest   memo   and   personal   search   memo   of   the   accused persons   are   proved   as   Ex.PW   4/E1   to   Ex.PW   4/E6.   PW   10 correctly identified the case property and the accused persons. During cross examination, PW 10 admitted that the arrival entry of the accused persons is not placed on record. PW 10 affirmed that Sh. Satish Kumar, owner of the agriculture field alongwith victims were present and the accused were present at the spot. PW 10 has deposed that the dandas could not be recovered as the same were thrown away in pond. 

16. The statement of the accused persons under section 313 Cr.PC was recorded. It is submitted by the accused persons that it is a false case and they are falsely implicated in the present case. 

17.I have carefully perused the material on record and have gone through the submissions made by Sh. Pravesh Ranga, Ld. Addl. PP for the State and Sh. B C Jain, Ld. Amicus Curiae for the accused persons. 

18.It is submitted by Ld. Addl. PP for the State that the prosecution FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      11 of 27 12 in   the   present   case   has   examined   the   victims   and   the   eye witnesses of the incident. That the witnesses examined by the prosecution have corroborated the testimonies of each other and stood the test of cross examination. It is prayed that in view of the   material   on   record,   the   accused   persons   may   kindly   be convicted for commission of the alleged offence. 

19.On the other hand, it is submitted by Sh. B C Jain, Ld. Amicus Curiae   /   counsel   for   the   accused   persons   that   the   accused persons have been falsely implicated in the present case. That they  have   nothing   to   do  with   the  commission   of   the  alleged offence. It is submitted that there are material contradictions in the testimonies of the witnesses. That the witnesses have given contradictory statements which could not be reconciled. That no weapon of offence was recovered in the present case. 

20.In the present case, accused persons are charged for commission of the offence punishable under Section 392/397/411/34 IPC. It is alleged that on 05.06.2014 at about 11.00 AM in fields (Khet) of Satish Kumar at village Hirankudna, Delhi, all the accused FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      12 of 27 13 persons namely Prem, Puneet and Mohd. Chand committed a robbery   of   Rs.   40/­   from   Ramesh   Kumar,   Rs.   300/­   from Sharda, Rs. 200/­ from Desh Raj and Rs. 200/­ from Arun and also gave beating to the complainant with stick(danda), slaps and kicks and also extended threat to cause injury with knife while   committing   the   robbery.   That   all   the   accused   persons were   found   in   possession   of   stolen   property,   i.e.,   (Rs.   200/­ Prem), (Rs. 200/­ Mohd. Chand) and (Rs. 40/­ Puneet) knowing or having reason to believe the same to be stolen property. 

21.All three accused persons are charged for commission of the offence under Section 392/34 IPC.  Section 392 IPC  has laid down the punishment for robbery. It lays down that whoever commits robbery shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.  

22.Robbery is defined under Section 390 of IPC. It lays down that in all the robbery there is either theft or extortion. It further lays down that theft is "Robbery", if, in order to the committing of FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      13 of 27 14 the   theft,   or   in   committing   the   theft,   or   in   carrying   away   or attempting   to   carry   away   property   obtained   by   the   theft,   the offender, for that end, voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to any person death or hurt or wrongful restraint, or fear of instant death   or   of   instant   hurt,   or   of   instant   wrongful   restraint. Extortion is "robbery" if the offender, at the time of committing the extortion, is in the presence of the person put in fear, and commits the extortion by putting that person in fear of instant death, of  instant  hurt, or  of  instant wrongful restraint to that person   or   to   some   other   person,   and,   by   so   putting   in   fear, induces the person so put in fear then and there to deliver up the thing extorted. 

23.The prosecution to prove its case has examined 10 witnesses.

PW2 Sh. Ramesh Kumar, one of the victims and complainant of the present case. PW2 has deposed that he was working in the field alongwith Arun,  Sharda and Des Raj and 4 persons came there   and   demanded   money.   On   their   refusal,   they   started beating  them.   PW2  deposed   that  accused   Puneet   pointed   out FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      14 of 27 15 knife towards him and snatched Rs. 40/­ and also snatched Rs. 300/­ from Sharda, Rs. 200/­ from Arun and Rs. 200/­ from Des Raj. PW3 Sh. Satish Kumar is the owner of the agriculture field who reached at the spot on hearing the noise of the victims and witnessed the incident. PW5 Sh. Arun is also one of the victim who corroborated the deposition of PW2 Sh. Ramesh Kumar. PW­6 Sh. Des Raj and PW­7 Sh. Sharda are also the victims of the incident who specifically deposed about the commission of the offence by the accused persons. 

24.All   the   five   public   witnesses   have   correctly   identified   the accused person namely Prem, Mohd. Chand and Puneet in the court   during   their   deposition.   The   PWs   have   also   correctly identified the robbed money recovered from the possession of the accused persons. All the five PWs have deposed that the accused persons were apprehended at the spot and handed over to the police. The public witnesses were cross examined by the Ld.   Counsel   for   the   accused   persons   but   no   material contradiction   has   emerged   to   shake   their   trustworthiness   and FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      15 of 27 16 credibility. The five PWs have corroborated the testimonies of each other even during the lengthy cross examination conducted by the Ld. Counsel for the accused persons. The other witnesses examined   by   the   prosecution   are   the   police   officials   who remained   associated   with   the   investigation   of   the   case.   The testimony   of   the   police   witnesses   have   also   corroborated   the testimonies of public witnesses/victims. 

25.It   is   submitted   by   Ld.   Counsel   for   the   accused   persons   that PW2, in his cross examination has admitted that nothing was recovered from the accused persons in his presence. That PW3 has also admitted in his cross examination that no recovery was effected by the police in his presence. It is submitted by Ld. Counsel for the accused persons that PW4 Ct. Vipin and PW10 IO/ASI Phool Kanwar have deposed that robbed cash amount was recovered from the accused persons during cursory search. That the public witnesses have not supported the deposition of the police officials in this regard. It is also submitted that PW2, PW3, PW5, PW6 and PW7 in their deposition have admitted FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      16 of 27 17 that   neither   any   weapon   of   offence   nor   any   Danda   was recovered by the police in their presence. It is also stated that PW4 Ct. Vipin has nowhere deposed recovery of any weapon of offence   from   the   accused   persons.   It   is   also   submitted   that PW10   IO/ASI   Phool   Kanwar   has   deposed   that   weapon   of offence   were   thrown   by   the   accused   persons   in   the   pond. Therefore, same could not be recovered.  Therefore, benefit of doubt should be given to accused persons. 

26.Ld. Counsel for the accused persons has contended that PW2 in his cross examination has admitted that nothing was recovered from the accused persons in his presence. The perusal of the cross examination, would clarify the recovery of the currency notes, because in the next reply PW2 has stated that there was no specific identification mark on the currency notes of Rs. 10/­. The PW2 in his examination in chief has specifically deposed that he was having Rs. 40/­ which were 4 currency notes of 10 rupee   denominations   which   were   robbed   by   the   accused persons. PW2 has correctly identified these currency notes in FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      17 of 27 18 the court. The cross examination by Ld. Addl. PP for the State has   also   clarified   the   ambiguity   of   the   currency   notes.   PW2 during   his   cross   examination   has   admitted   that   the   accused Puneet   handed   over   the   robbed   amount   to   Kishan.   It   is   also admitted  that   other  accused   persons  did  not  handed   over  the robbed amount to Kishan. In view of the above, the contention raised by Ld. Counsel for accused persons in this regard is not sustainable. 

27.It is also contended by Ld. Counsel for accused persons that PW2 Sh. Ramesh Kumar in his cross examination has admitted that no recovery was affected by the police in his presence. The PW2   Sh.   Ramesh   Kumar   in   his   examination   in   chief   has nowhere claimed that the robbed amount was recovered in his presence. Therefore, this admission of the PW2 does not contra­ dict his deposition. The deposition of PW4 Ct. Vipin and PW10 ASI Phool Kanwar regarding recovery of the alleged amount from the possession of accused persons during the cross exami­ nation is also corroborating the deposition of PW2 Sh. Ramesh FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      18 of 27 19 Kumar and other public witness. There is no contradiction in the deposition of the complainant / victims and the police officials relating to the investigation of the case. The contention of Ld. Counsel for accused persons that the public witnesses have not supported the deposition of police officials regarding recovery is contrary to the record. 

28.Another contention was raised by the Ld. Counsel for accused persons that the public witnesses / victims in their deposition have   admitted   that   neither   any   weapon   of   offence   nor   any Danda was recovered by the police. It is true that the public wit­ nesses / victims,i.e., PW2 Sh. Ramesh Kumar, PW3 Sh. Satish Kumar, PW5 Sh. Arun, PW6 Sh. Des Rah and PW7 Sh. Sharda in their deposition have clearly deposed that no weapon of of­ fence was recovered from the possession of accused persons. PW10 IO ASI Phool Kanwar in his testimony has deposed that weapon of offence was thrown by the accused persons in the pond. Therefore, same could not be recovered.

FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      19 of 27 20

29.None of the PWs in their examination in chief had deposed re­ garding recovery of weapon of offence. Therefore, their admis­ sion of the fact that no weapon of offence was recovered in their presence does not contradict their deposition. In view of the co­ gent and clear deposition of the public witnesses / victims, the production of the dandas/weapon of offence is not fatal for the case of the prosecution to prove the commission of offence un­ der Section 392/34  of IPC. 

30.The prosecution has examined the five eye witnesses/victims to prove the charge for commission of the offence under Section 392/34 IPC. The public witnesses have categorically deposed that the accused persons in furtherance of their common inten­ tion have robbed them. The removal of sum of Rs. 40 from the possession of Ramesh Kumar, a sum of Rs. 300/­ from the pos­ session of Sharda, a sum of Rs. 200/­ from the possession of Deshraj and a sum of Rs. 200/­ from the possession of Arun is proved by public witnesses/victims. In view of the testimonies of the public witnesses corroborated with the police witnesses FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      20 of 27 21 relating to the investigation, I am of the considered opinion that the prosecution is able to prove beyond reasonable doubt the commission of the offence punishable under Section 392/34 IPC by the accused persons.

31.The accused persons in their statement recorded under Section 313   Cr.PC have failed to give any plausible explanation sus­ tainable  in  the  eyes   of  law   to  raise   even  a  slight   shadow  of doubt upon the case of the prosecution. The accused persons have not examined any defence witness to demolish the case proved by the prosecution. 

32.Accordingly,   the   accused   persons   namely   Prem,   Puneet   and Mohd. Chand are convicted for commission of offence punish­ able under Section 392/34 IPC.

33.All the three accused persons are also charged for the commis­ sion of the offence punishable under Section 397 of IPC. Sec­ tion 397 of IPC provides the enhanced punishment if any deadly weapon is used during commission of offence of robbery. 

FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      21 of 27 22

34.The prosecution in the present case has claimed that all the ac­ cused   persons   have   beaten   the   complainant/victims   with stick(dandas), slaps and kicks and also extended threats to cause injuries   with   knife   while   committing   the   offence   of   robbery. The   prosecution   has   claimed   that   the   accused   persons   were armed with lathis and one of the accused namely Puneet was carrying a knife with him. 

35.At   the   outset,   it   is   to   be  mentioned   that  the   prosecution   has claimed that the accused persons were carrying lathis (dandas) in their hands. The lathi/wooden stick(danda) is not to be con­ sidered as 'deadly weapon' as mentioned in Section 397 of IPC. The lathi / wooden stick (danda) is not a deadly weapon. There­ fore, the accused Prem and Mohd. Chand are not liable to be convicted for commission of the offence under Section 397 of IPC.   The   prosecution   has   nowhere   alleged   that   the   accused Prem and Mohd. Chand were carrying the deadly weapon as de­ fined under Section 397 of IPC. The prosecution has not proved any MLC of injury upon the person of victims of case. 

FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      22 of 27 23

36.It is claimed that accused Puneet was having a knife in his hand at the time of the commission of the offence of robbery. PW2 Sh. Ramesh Kumar /complainant in his deposition has stated that accused Puneet has pointed out a knife towards him and snatched Rs. 40/­ from him. PW2 Sh. Ramesh Kumar during his cross examination stated that the knife was shown to him but they did not give any knife blow. It is stated that he do now know whether the police officials took into the possession the knife from the accused persons. PW3 Sh. Satish Kumar is the eye witness of the incident but in his deposition, he has nowhere deposed regarding possession or the use of the knife by any of the accused persons. PW5 Sh. Arun in his examination in chief has deposed  that accused  Puneet  who is present in the court threatened them to kill with knife and he robbed his Rs. 200/­. PW6 Sh Des Raj in his examination in chief has also deposed that accused Puneet who is present in the court has threatened to kill them with knife. PW7 Sh. Sharda has also deposed regard­ FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      23 of 27 24 ing the threats given by accused Puneet to kill them with knife at the time of commission of the offence.

37.It is submitted by Ld. Counsel for accused Puneet that in the present case, no weapon of offence/knife was recovered from the possession or at the instance of accused Puneet. Therefore, the accused Puneet is entitled for acquittal for commission of the offence punishable under Section 397 IPC. 

38.It is true that in the present case, no weapon of offence was re­ covered or the possession or at the instance of accused Puneet The police had reached at the spot and the accused persons were apprehended at the spot by the victims and other public persons. PW10 Sh, ASI Phool Kanwar has deposed that all the dandas / wooden sticks could not be recovered as the same were thrown by the accused persons in the nearby pond. However, no expla­ nation has been given by PW10 ASI Phool Kanwar regarding the knife. The victims/ public witnesses have deposed regarding the knife alleged to be used by accused Puneet at the time of commission  of  the offence,  however, they have failed to ex­ FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      24 of 27 25 plained   the   missing   'knife'.   The   accused   Puneet   was   appre­ hended at the spot during the commission of offence of robbery. None of the witnesses or the police officials have deposed that the accused had an opportunity to remove or throw away the knife. The witnesses and the police officials are silent regarding recovery of the knife. 

39.In view of the offence of recovery of the knife and the failure of the public witnesses or the police witnesses to furnish explana­ tion regarding the dis­appearance of the knife, I am of the con­ sidered opinion that the accused Puneet is entitled for the bene­ fit of doubt regarding commission of the offence under Section 397   of   IPC.   Therefore,   considering   all   the   facts   and   circum­ stances of the case and while granting the benefit of doubt, I am of   the  considered   opinion   that  the   prosecution   is   not   able   to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt for commission of of­ fence under Section 397 of IPC by accused Puneet. 

40.All the three accused persons were charged with the commis­ sion of the offence under Section 411 IPC. All the three accused FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      25 of 27 26 persons have already been convicted by this judgment for com­ mission of the offence punishable under Section 392/34 IPC. All   the   three   accused   persons   were   apprehended   at   the   spot while committing the offence of robbery and the robbed amount was also recovered from their possession at the spot. The ac­ cused persons have been apprehended at the spot and the robbed amount   was   also   recovered   in   the   chain/continuous   circum­ stances. Therefore, the accused persons could not be held guilty for   commission   of  the  offence  punishable   under   Section  411 IPC as they have already been convicted for commission of the offence under Section 392/34 IPC. Accordingly, all the three ac­ cused persons namely Prem, Puneet and Mohd. Chand are ac­ quitted for commission of the offence punishable under Section 411 of IPC. 

41.In   view   of   the   above   discussions,   all   three   accused   persons namely   Prem,   Puneet   and   Mohd.   Chand   are   acquitted   for commission of the offence punishable under Section 397/411/34 IPC. However, the accused persons namely Prem, Puneet and FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      26 of 27 27 Mohd.   Chand   are   convicted   for   commission   of   offence punishable under Section 392/34 IPC.

42.Let the convicts be heard on the point of sentence separately. Announced in the open court  today i.e. 20th August, 2018   (DEVENDER KUMAR  JANGALA) ASJ­03, WEST/DELHI              This judgement contains 27 pages and all pages bears my signatures.             




                                                  (DEVENDER KUMAR  JANGALA)
                                                       ASJ­03, WEST/DELHI




FIR No.266/14                             State Vs Prem etc.                              Pages      27 of 27