Bombay High Court
Vasant Ramchandra Gaikwad vs The State (At The Instance Of Sahar on 3 July, 2012
Author: V.M. Kanade
Bench: V. M. Kanade, P. D. Kode
nsc. 1/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1263 OF 2006
Vasant Ramchandra Gaikwad
Adult Indian Inhabitant residing
At Ram Baug, Bamanwada,
MC Chagla Marg, Vile Parle (E), .. Appellant.
Mumbai - 99. (Original Accused 2)
Vs.
The State (At the instance of Sahar
Air Port Police Station in C.R. No.
340/86, C.C. No. 1237/P/87) .. Respondent.
---
Mr. P.P. Runwal, for the Appellant.
Mr. J.P. Yagnik, APP for the State.
CORAM : V. M. KANADE &
P. D. KODE, JJ.
DATED : JULY 3, 2012
ORAL JUDGMENT: (Per V.M. Kanade, J.) :-
1. The Appellant-Original Accused no. 2 has filed this appeal challenging the Judgment and Order passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Greater Bombay dated 28 th November, 2006. By the said Judgment and Order the learned Additional Sessions Judge was pleased to convict the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 ::: nsc. 2/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc code and sentence him to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 200/- and in default of payment of fine to suffer further R.I. for one month. The Trial Court however acquitted Accused - Appellant herein for the offence punishable under Section 452 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 25 r/w with Section 27 of the Arms Act and also under Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act.
2. Brief facts are as under : The prosecution case in brief is that on 20th July, 1986, PW.1 Sarvesh Jaising Chavan and one other person Silvestor James Peter found one John Lazoras lying in an injured condition in a shop known as R.G. Patel Stores situated in Bamanwada area at Vile Parle. According to the prosecution they gave intimation about this fact to the Police and pursuant to the said information the Investigating Officer, Firoz Sorabji Ganjia - PW.3 attached to the Sahar Air Port Police Station came to the spot alongwith the two informants and shifted the injured John to the Cooper Hospital for treatment and after taking permission of Dr. Tillu, he recorded the statement of John. The prosecution case is that the injured John informed PW.3, Firoz Ganjia that the Appellant, Vasant Ramchandra Gaikwad and the other accused Raju Mama, (expired during the pendancy of the trial) assaulted him with sword and sickle. The statement of the John was recorded and it was read over to him in Hindi, however, his thumb impression or signature could not be obtained and therefore the endorsement of Dr. Tillu was taken on the statement of the John who later on succumbed to the injuries and died at about 5.00 p.m. on 20th July, 1986. His statement was treated as an FIR and offence punishable under Sections 452, 302 of Indian Penal ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 ::: nsc. 3/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc Code was registered against the appellant and deceased Raju Mama. During the course of the investigation, PW-3 seized the blood stained clothes and wrist watch of the deceased John in the panchanama at Exhibit -15. Blood stains were found on the gunny bags containing food grains and a plastic can kept in the shop. He also found a railway pass, identity card of accused, Vasant, his batch number issued by the R.T.O, one pair of slippers and one single slipper and a panchanama was prepared at Exhibit-16 of the said discovery. The accused were arrested on 21st July, 1986. After they surrendered to the police, a Arrest panchanama was prepared. The postmortem was performed by Dr. Prabhakar Ganesh Bhave, who gave opinion that the cause of death was due to multiple injuries sustained by the deceased.
The Memorandum Panchanama was also prepared in respect of recovery of the clothes of the appellant vide Seizure panchanama, Exhibit-20 and Exhibit-20/1. Clothes and weapons were recovered at the instance of deceased Raju Mama at Memorandum Panchanama, Exhibit-19 and Seizure Panchanama, Exhibit-19/1. Blood samples of both the accused were taken and blood of the deceased was also sent to the C.A. The C.A. Report was received, in which it was mentioned that the blood group of deceased Raju was 'A', blood group of Appellant, Vasant was 'O' and the blood group of deceased John was 'B'. In respect of the clothes which were sent to the C.A., report stated that the blood detected on Exhibit- 2 to 17 was human and was of 'B' group. The statements of witnesses before whom the deceased gave the dying declaration was recorded by the Investigating Officer, charge-sheet was filed, the accused pleaded not guilty of the said charge. The prosecution examined only three witnesses P.W.1, Sarveshkumar ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 ::: nsc. 4/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc J. Chavan, P.W-2, Dr. Prabhakar G. Bhave, who performed the postmortem and the Investigating Officer, PW-3. PW-1 turned hostile. The trial court convicted the appellant only on the basis of the dying declaration which was given by the deceased to the Investigating Officer and also on the basis of the recovery of the blood stained clothes at the instance of the appellant and the blood which was found on the articles belonging to the appellant which were found at the spot.
3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant submitted that the Trial Court had erred in convicting the appellant only on the basis of uncorroborated testimony of PW.3 who was the Investigating Officer. He submitted that no independent witnesses were examined by the prosecution in support of the cases of dying declaration being recorded by PW.3 in the presence of independent witnesses whose statements were recorded. It was submitted that the prosecution failed to prove the endorsement of Dr. Tillu who had given an endorsement that John who was in an injured condition was fit and conscious and in a proper mental frame of mind to give a statement to PW.3. It was further submitted that therefore no reliance could have been placed on the alleged dying declaration. It was further submitted that no attempt was made to call the Special Executive Magistrate to record the dying declaration of the deceased. He submitted that independent witnesses such as panchas who had prepared the panchanama also were not examined by the prosecution. He therefore, submitted that the trial court has erred in relying on the sole testimony of the Investigating Officer for the purpose of convicting the appellant.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 :::nsc. 5/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc
4. Learned APP appearing on behalf of the State on the other hand submitted that the trial court had given cogent reasons for the purpose of relying on the testimony of the Investigating Officer. He submitted that the trial court was justified in relying on the statement given to the police as a dying declaration. He further submitted that the railway pass and other articles which were found belonging to the appellant on the spot were blood stained and further he submitted that the blood stained clothes of the appellant were recovered at his instance and the blood which was found on the said clothes was of the deceased. He submitted that therefore this was not a fit case for this court to interfere with the finding recorded by the trial court.
5. We have heard both the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Appellant and learned APP appearing on behalf of the State at length. We have perused the Judgment and Order of the Trial Court and also the evidence which is adduced by the prosecution.
6. It is not disputed that death of John who died on 20 th July, 1986 was homicidal. P.W.2 who performed the postmortem has stated in his evidence the injuries which were found on the person of the deceased. He has described all the said injuries which are as under :-
1) IW horizontal on the vault near post for
7.5 cm X 1.5 cm X skull fracture outer table.
2) Vertical IW Rt. cheek near the angle of mouth 10 cms X 0.5 cm X skin deep.
3) IW Horizontal Rt. arm upper part front 9 cms X 6.5 cm X 4 cms cutting muscles and blood vessels.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 :::nsc. 6/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc
4) Vertical oblique IW Rt. arm lower third front 10 cms X 3 cm and 3 cm cutting muscles and blood vessels.
5) Verticle IW behind injury No. 4.
10 cm X 3 cm X 3 cms cutting muscles and blood vessels.
6) Multiple inter meigled wounds IW's with the tags of skin in between Rt. forearm upperthird both bones of Rt. forearm muscles and internal structure cut exposed.
7) IW 6 cms X 3.5 cm X 3 cms cutting muscles and internal structure Lt.arm lower third backside cutting the humerus bond.
8) IW Lt. elbow backside 6 cm X 3 cms X 3 cms cutting all 3 bones of the elbow.
9) Multiple intermigled IW wound on the Lt. forearm lower third with tags of skin in between. Cutting and exposing both bones of Lt. forearm. Muscles and internal structure. Practically amputated.
10) All four fingers of the Lt. hand partially amputated with distal phalanx of Lt. Index finger absent.
11) Vertical IW Rt. axilla 8 cms X 4 cms X axilla deep 4 cms cutting muscles and internal structure.
12) Horizontal IW Rt. hip outer side 11 cms X 4.5 cm X 2 cms deep.
13) Oblique IW Rt. thigh lower third 12 cms X 6 cms X 4 cm deep cutting femur, muscles and internal structure.
14) IW 10 cm X 4 cm X 3 cms Rt. leg midthird front cutting both bone and internal structure.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 :::nsc. 7/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc
15) Two Horizontal IW Rt. leg upperthird 4 cm X 2 cm Skin deep each.
16) Multiple intermingled IW's Lt. leg midthird 12 cms X 6 cms X 4 cms cutting both bones muscles and structure. Leg practical ampinel.
17) IW 14 cm X 7 cm X 5 cm, cutting the femur bone on the Lt. thighs lower third.
7. From his evidence therefore it is abundantly clear that the death of John was unnatural and homicidal. The prosecution has therefore established this fact.
8. The only question therefore which needs to be considered is whether the appellant can be said the author of the injuries which were found on the deceased.
9. The prosecution has examined only three witnesses viz., P.W.1, Sarveshkumar J. Chavan, who was the informant who informed the police that John was lying in an injured condition in the shop. This witness unfortunately turned hostile and has not supported the prosecution case. Prosecution has then examined PW.2., Dr. Prabhakar Ganesh Bhave, who has performed the postmortem and who has stated that the cause of death was unnatural and homicidal and the third witness is PW.3, Firoz S. Ganjia who is the Investigating Officer.
10. It has to be noted here that no explanation has been given by the prosecution as to why the independent witness viz. the other informant viz. Silvestor James Peter who had accompanied P.W.1 was not examined. Secondly, P.W.3 in his evidence has ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 ::: nsc. 8/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc stated that the dying declaration of deceased John was recorded in the presence of other witnesses and the statements of these witnesses were taken. No explanation was given by P.W.3 as to why these independent witnesses were not examined. Lastly, no explanation has been given as to why the panch witnesses who were present at the time of panchanama of recovery of weapons by deceased-accused Raju Mama and the recovery of clothes at the instance of appellant, Vasant were not examined. The entire prosecution case, therefore, rest on the testimony of the Investigating Officer, Firoz. In our view, the evidence which is brought on record by the prosecution surely indicates that there is no eye-witness and the entire case of the prosecution rests on circumstantial evidence.
11. It is well settled principle in law that when the case of the prosecution rest on circumstantial evidence, the prosecution has to establish each and every circumstance and these circumstances should unerringly point towards the guilt of the accused. The prosecution also has to ensure that there is no missing link in the chain of the circumstances and only when this burden is discharged by the prosecution, the Court can on the basis of the chain of the circumstantial evidence, convict the accused in such a case.
12. In our view the prosecution has miserably failed to establish these circumstances, so as to come to the conclusion that the accused only was the perpetrator of the crime. In the present case, the Investigating Officer has not examined the panchas who are independent witnesses and who are supposed to deposed before the court, regarding the recovery of the ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 ::: nsc. 9/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc clothes and of discovery of articles belonging to the accused on the spot where the deceased was found. It is true that panchanama has been proved by the Investigating Officer though the panch witnesses were not examined. It has to be remembered that the recovery of weapons and articles has been held by the Apex Court as a weak type of evidence and therefore it has been consistently held that the independent witnesses have to be examined for the purpose of proving recovery. No explanation has been given by the Investigating Officer as to why independent witnesses were not examined.
13. This being the position, it is very difficult to rely on the recovery of the clothes at the instance of the accused. The clothes also have been recovered on the next day. It is quite surprising that two panchanamas have been prepared at the instance of the Investigating Officer, regarding recovery panchanama. Initially a panchanama was made in respect of the wet clothes which were found. Thereafter the said clothes were dried and the second panchanama in respect of the dried clothes was also prepared and thereafter the said clothes have been sent to the C.A. None of the panch witnesses have been examined by the Investigating Officer. Therefore, merely because the report of the Chemical Analyser discloses that the blood which was found on the clothes was of 'B' group i.e. the blood group of the deceased, that circumstance by itself will not be relevant for the purpose of establishing the fact of recovery of clothes, since the recovery of the clothes, has become doubtful on account of non-examination of panch witnesses. This is not a case where the prosecution examined panch witnesses but they turned hostile, but this is a case where the prosecution ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 ::: nsc. 10/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc have not made any attempt to examine these panch witnesses, which creates a serious doubt regarding the recovery of the clothes at the instance of the accused. So far as recovery of the weapons is concerned, it was recovered at the instance of deceased Raju and as such the said recovery would not be of any assistance to the prosecution, particularly when the panch witnesses regarding the recovery have not been examined.
14. The Trial court has relied on the oral dying declaration given to PW.3, Investigating Officer, Firoz and has held that the said dying declaration can be relied upon as a circumstance against the appellant.
igIn our view, it will not be possible to accept the said finding recorded by the Trial Court. The prosecution has failed to give an explanation as to why the independent witnesses whose statements were recorded have not been examined to corroborate the testimony of PW.3. The only evidence therefore regarding recording of dying declaration is of PW.3, Investigating Officer. An endorsement on the said statement which is recorded by PW.3 was made by Dr. Tillu who had stated that the injured was in a fit condition to give a statement. This doctor has also not been examined and according to the Investigating Officer said doctor could not be examined, since he had gone abroad.
15. The net result therefore is that the only evidence on record is that of the Investigating Officer. In our view, it will not be possible to accept the sole testimony of the Investigating Officer in respect of the alleged dying declaration recorded by PW.3. No explanation whatsoever is given as to why no effort was made by him to contact the nearest Special Executive ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 ::: nsc. 11/11 apeal.1263.2006.doc Magistrate so that his dying declaration will be recorded by an independent SEO. All these circumstances clearly create a strong doubt about the truthfulness of the dying declaration which was recorded by the Investigating Officer. Taking into consideration all this facts and circumstances, it will not be possible to rely on the testimony of PW.3 or on the circumstances of recovery of the clothes at the instance of the appellant or the recovery of the weapons at the instance of the deceased Raju Mama.
16. The prosecution has miserably failed in establishing the case of appellant beyond reasonable doubt. The Judgment and Order therefore passed by the Trial Court will have to be quashed and set aside. The appellant is therefore acquitted of the offence with which he was charged and he is directed to be released forthwith, unless he is required in any other case.
17. Appeal is accordingly allowed. The fine amount if any, paid by the appellant shall be refunded. Since the appeal is finally allowed, the bail application does not survive, as it has become infructuous and is accordingly disposed of.
(P. D. KODE, J.) (V. M. KANADE, J.)
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:43:51 :::