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Bangalore District Court

The State Of Karnataka vs No.1 Shivakumar Jain on 11 March, 2020

                                       Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                           1

IN THE COURT OF THE L ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL
       & SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU

        Dated this the 11 th Day of March, 2020

                    - : PRESENT: -

            SMT. SUSHEELA B.A. LL.B.
      L Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge,
                    BENGALURU

          SPECIAL C.C. No. 558/2018

COMPLAINANT     The State of Karnataka,
                By Puttenahalli Police Station,
                Bengaluru
                              Public Prosecutor-Bangalore

                 / VERSUS /

ACCUSED No.1     Shivakumar Jain,
                 S/o. Atmaram Bhauvalal, 56 years,
                 R/at. No.59, 10th Main, 15th Cross,
                 Wilson Garden,
                 Bengaluru-560 030.

ACCUSED No.2     Rajubai Banjara,
                 S/o. Gepar Ramji, 24 years,
                 R/at Madan Singh's House, 2nd Cross,
                 Near Aradhana School,
                 Arakere MICO Layout,
                 J.P. Nagar 7th Stage,
                 Bengaluru.
                                       Sri.E.T.D. Advocate
                                            Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                   2

1    Date of commission of offence         01-02-2017 to
                                           28-06-2017
2    Date of report of occurrence          28-06-2017
3    Date of arrest of A-1
     Date of release of A-               ON BAIL
     Period undergone in custody by A-1
     Date of arrest of A-2              29-06-2017
     Date of release of A-2             11-07-2017
     Period undergone in custody by A-2 12 days
4    Date of commencement of evidence      20-09-2019
5    Date of closing of evidence           03-02-2020
6    Name of the complainant               Seema Diwan
7    Offences complained of                Sec.370(4) r/w. 34-
                                           IPC & Sec.75, 79-
                                           J.J. Act & Sec.3,
                                           14 C.L. Act
8    Opinion of the Judge                  Accused No.1 and
                                           2are acquitted
9    Order of Sentence                     As per the final
                                           order
                      J UD GM EN T

     This charge    sheet filed by Police     Sub-Inspector of

Puttenahalli Police Station-Bengaluru, against accused No.1

and 2 for the offences punishable under Section 370(4) read

with 34 of I.P.C, Section 3 and 14 of Child Labour (Prohibition

and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Section 75 and 79 of Juvenile

Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
                                             Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                3


     2.     The case of the prosecution in brief, as per the

prosecution papers, is stated as follows:


     The accused No.1 is running a cloth shop in the name and

style of J.R. Dresses at No.521, 2nd Cross, Govindappa Reddy

Layout, MICO Layout, Arekere within the limits of Puttenahalli

Police Station, Bengaluru. The Accused No.2 who is known to

him, brought Cw.2-minor boy, his relative and son of Cw.4-

Leela Devi viz.,   by way of human trafficking from Rajasthan

and left the said boy in the Cloth shop of accused No.1 as a

labour and in turn the accused No.1 extracting work from the

said boy for long hours without paying salary and also given

mental and physical torture while extracting work from him. On

the basis of complaint lodged by Cw.1-complainant-Seema

Diwan-President of Talaash Association, the Police registered

the case against the accused No.1 and 2 in Crime No.248/2017

for the offences punishable under Section 370 of I.P.C, Section

3 Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and

Section 75 and 79 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
                                            Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                               4

Children) Act, 2015.


     3.    The Investigating Officer has investigated the same

and filed charge sheet against accused No.1 and 2 for the

offences punishable under Section 370(4) read with 34 of I.P.C,

Section 3 and 14 of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)

Act, 1986 and Section 75 and 79 of Juvenile Justice (Care and

Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Thereafter, after filing the

charge sheet, as usual the accused No.1 and 2 appeared before

the Court. The copy of charge sheet furnished to accused No.1

and 2 as contemplated under Section 207 of Cr.P.C. Thereafter

the learned advocate for accused No.1 and 2 submitted that

there is no argument before framing charge and requested to

frame charge.    As a result the charges were framed, the

contents of charge read over and explained to the accused No.1

and 2 in Kannada and they pleaded not guilty and submits

crime to be tried. Thereafter the case against accused No.1 and

2 was set down for prosecution evidence.

     4.    The prosecution in order to establish the guilt of the
                                                                      Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                                5

accused No.1 and 2 has examined 5 witnesses as Pw.1 to Pw.5,

got marked 6 documents as Ex.P1 to Ex.P6 and closed its side

evidence. In view of incriminating evidence appeared against the

accused No. 1 and 2, they are examined under Section 313 of

Cr.P.C., by recording their statement. The accused No.1 and 2

denied the alleged incriminating evidence appeared against

them as false. Earlier to that the accused No.1 and 2 complied

the provision of Section 437-A of Cr.P.C., by executing personal

bond and surety bond. Thereafter arguments heard from both

the sides and the matter is set down for judgment.


     5.    Having regard to the facts, circumstances and

arguments submitted by both sides, the following points that

arise for my consideration are as under:-

           1.1£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ £ÀUÀgÀ ¥ÀÅmÉÖãÀºÀ½î ¥ÉÇðøï oÁuÁ ªÁå¦ÛUÉ M¼À¥ÀqÀĪÀ
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              eÉ.Dgï.qÉæ¸À¸ï JA§ §mÉÖ CAUÀrAiÀÄ ªÀiÁ°ÃPÀ£ÁVzÀÄÝ ಆತನಗಗÉ ¥ÀjZÀAiÀÄ«zÀÝ 2£ÉÃ
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              CdÄð£ï PÀĪÀiÁgï C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ªÀAiÀĸÀÌ£ÉAzÀÄ w½¢zÀÝgÀÆ ¸ÀºÀ ¨ÉÃgÉ gÁdåªÁzÀ
              gÁd¸ÁÜ£À¢AzÀ PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌAzÀÄ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ §AzÀÄ 1£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦AiÀÄ CAUÀrAiÀİè
              PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌ ¸ÉÃj¹ ¨sÁgÀwÃAiÀÄ zÀAqÀ ¸ÀA»vÉ PÀ®A.370(4) ಸಹವವಚಕ ಕಲಲ.34gÀ
              CrAiÀÄ°è ²PÁëºÀðªÁzÀ C¥ÀgÁzÀsªÀ£ÀÄß J¸ÀVzÁÝgÀÉAzÀÄ ¥Áæ¹PÀÆåµÀ£ï ¥ÀPÀëzÀªÀgÀÄ
              ¸ÀA±ÀAiÀiÁwÃvÀÀªÁV gÀÄdĪÁvÀÄ ¥Àr¸ÀÄvÁÛgÉAiÉÄ?

           2. ªÉÄÃ¯É ºÉýzÀ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀAzÀ¨ÀsðzÀ°è 1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 2£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ ತರರ ¸ÀªÀiÁ£À
                                                                   Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                            6

          GzÉÝñÀ¢AzÀ 2£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ gÁd¸ÁÜ£À¢AzÀ PÀgÉvÀA¢zÀÝ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ªÀAiÀĹì£À ¨Á®PÀ
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          CPÀæªÀĪÁV PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌ ElÖÄPÉÆAqÀÄ CªÀ¤AzÀ 12 UÀAmÉVAvÀ®Æ ºÉZÀÄÑ PÁ®
          zÀÄr¹PÉÆAqÀÄ PÀ¤µÀ× ªÉÃvÀ£ÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¤ÃqÀzÉà ªÀiÁ£À¹PÀ ºÁUÀÆ zÉÊ»PÀªÁV »A¸É ¤Ãr
          ¨Á®PÁ«ÄðPÀ PÁAiÉÄÝ PÀ®A 3 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 14 gÀrAiÀÄ°è ²PÁëºÀðªÁzÀ C¥ÀgÁzÀsªÀ£ÀÄß
          J¸ÀVzÁÝgÀÉAzÀÄ ¥Áæ¹PÀÆåµÀ£ï         ¥ÀPÀëzÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÀA±ÀAiÀiÁwÃvÀÀªÁV gÀÄdĪÁvÀÄ
          ¥Àr¸ÀÄvÁÛgÉAiÉÄ?

     3. ªÉÄÃ¯É ºÉýzÀ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀAzÀ¨ÀsðzÀ°è 1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 2£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ ತರರ ¸ÀªÀiÁ£À
        GzÉÝñÀ¢AzÀ 2£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ gÁd¸ÁÜ£À¢AzÀ CPÀæªÀĪÁV PÀgÉvÀA¢zÀÝ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ
        ªÀAiÀĹì£À ¨Á®PÀ ¸ÁQë-2 CdÄð£ï PÀĪÀiÁgï£À£ÀÄß 1£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ ತನನ §mÉÖ
        CAUÀrAiÀİè PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌ £ÉëĹPÉÆAqÀÄ CªÀ¤AzÀ 12 UÀAmÉUÀÆ ºÉZÀÄÑ PÁ®
        CªÀiÁ£À«ÃAiÀĪÁV zÀÄr¹PÉÆAqÀÄ ªÀiÁ£À¹PÀ ºÁUÀÄ zÉÊ»PÀ »A¸É ¤Ãr PÀ®A.75gÀ
        ªÀÄPÀ̼À £ÁåAiÀÄ C¢ü ¤AiÀĪÀÄ PÁ¬ÄÝ CrAiÀÄ°è         ²PÁëºÀðªÁzÀ C¥ÀgÁzÀsªÀ£ÀÄß
        J¸ÀVzÁÝgÀÉAzÀÄ ¥Áæ¹PÀÆåµÀ£ï      ¥ÀPÀëzÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÀA±ÀAiÀiÁwÃvÀÀªÁV gÀÄdĪÁvÀÄ
        ¥Àr¸ÀÄvÁÛgÉAiÉÄ?

     4.   ªÉÄÃ¯É ºÉýzÀ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀAzÀ¨ÀsðzÀ°è 1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 2£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ ತರರ ¸ÀªÀiÁ£À
          GzÉÝñÀ¢AzÀ 2£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ gÁd¸ÁÜ£À¢AzÀ PÀgÉvÀA¢zÀÝ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ªÀAiÀĹì£À ¨Á®PÀ
          ¸ÁQë-2 CdÄð£ï PÀĪÀiÁgï£À£ÀÄß 1£Éà DgÉÆÃ¦ ತನನ §mÉÖ CAUÀrAiÀİè
          CPÀæªÀĪÁV PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌ £ÉëĹPÉÆAqÀÄ CªÀ¤AzÀ 12 UÀAmÉVAvÀ®Æ ºÉZÀÄÑ PÁ®
          zÀÄr¹PÉÆAqÀÄ PÀ¤µÀ× ªÉÃvÀ£ÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¤ÃqÀzÉà ಆತನ ದರಡಮಯಲದ ಲವಭ
          ಮವಡಕಗಕಲಡರ PÀ®A.795gÀ ªÀÄPÀ̼À £ÁåAiÀÄ C¢ü ¤AiÀĪÀÄ PÁ¬ÄÝ CrAiÀİè
          ²PÁëºÀðªÁzÀ        C¥ÀgÁzÀsªÀ£ÀÄß   J¸ÀVzÁÝgÀÉAzÀÄ   ¥Áæ¹PÀÆåµÀ£ï   ¥ÀPÀëzÀªÀgÀÄ
          ¸ÀA±ÀAiÀiÁwÃvÀÀªÁV gÀÄdĪÁvÀÄ¥Àr¸ÀÄvÁÛgÉAiÉÄ?

     5. AiÀÄÁªÀ DzÉñÀ?

6.   My findings on the above points are as under:-

      Point No.1: In the Negative.

      Point No.2: In the Negative.

      Point No.3: In the Negative.

      Point No.4: In the Negative.

      Point No.5: As per the final orders for the following:
                                             Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                 7

                        RE AS ON S

     7.    Point No.1 to 4:- As these points are inter-related

one, hence I have taken up together for my consideration in

order to avoid repetition of reasons.


     8.    In order to prove the alleged offences against the

accused No.1 and 2, the prosecution has examined in all 5

witnesses as Pw.1 to Pw.5, got marked 6 documents as Ex.P1 to

Ex.P6 and this Court perused the same. As per the prosecution

case, Pw.1 is the complainant, Pw.2 is the victim boy, Pw.3 is

the mother of victim boy, Pw.4 is independent Panch witness

and Pw.5 is the police office and Investigating Officer. Hence,

this Court shall proceed to see whether the available evidence of

said witnesses is sufficient for establishing the alleged offences

against the accused No.1 and 2.


     9.    In order to establish the alleged offences against

accused No.1 and 2, the prosecution is required to prove that

the accused No.1 is running a cloth shop in the name and style

of J.R. Dresses at No.521, 2 nd Cross, Govindappa Reddy Layout,
                                              Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                8

MICO Layout, Arekere within the limits of Puttenahalli Police

Station, Bengaluru.     The Accused No.2 who is known to

him,Cw.2-minor boy, brought         his relative and son of Cw.4-

Leela Devi viz., by way of human trafficking from Rajasthan

and left the said boy in the Cloth shop of accused No.1 as a

labour and in turn the accused No.1 extracting work from the

said boy for long ours without paying salary and also given

mental and physical torture while extracting work from him and

thereby the accused No.1 and 2 committed offences punishable

under Section 370(4) read with 34 of I.P.C, Section 3 and 14 of

Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and

Section 75 and 79 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of

Children) Act, 2015.


     10.   Before venturing into scan the available material

evidence on record, it is necessary to mention the very definition

of offences under Section 370(4) read with 34 of I.P.C, Section 3

and 14 of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

and Section 75 and 79 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection
                                                    Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                     9

of Children) Act, 2015.

    Section 370(4) of I.P.C defines that:

          Where the offence involves the trafficking of a minor-it
    shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which shall
    not be less than 10 years, but which may extend to
    imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.

    Section 3 of The Child Labour (Prohibition and
    Regulation) Act, 1986 defines that:

         Prohibition of employment of children in any
    occupation and process:

          (1) No child shall be employed or permitted to work in
    any occupation of process.

            (2) Nothing in sub-section(a) shall apply where the
    child,-(a)helps his family or family enterprise, which is other
    than any hazardous occupations or process set forth in the
    Schedule, after his school hours or during vacations;

    Section 14 of The Child Labour (Prohibition and
    Regulation) Act, 1986 defines that:

            Penalties.-:

            (1) Whoever employs any child or permits any child to
     work in contravention of the provisions of section 3 shall be
     punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be
     less than three months but which may extend to one year or
     with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but
     which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both..

           (2)Whoever, having been convicted of an offence under
    section 3, commits a like offence afterwards, he shall be
    punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less
    than six months but which may extend to two years.

            (3)Whoever,
                                                      Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                      10

              (a) fails to give notice as required by section 9; or
              (b) fails to maintain a register as required by section 11
                or makes any false entry in any such register; or
               (c) fails to display a notice containing an abstract
                section 3 and this section as required by section 12;
                or
                (d)fails to comply with or contravenes any other
                provisions of this Act or the rules made there under,

         Shall be punishable with simple imprisonment which may
    extend to one month of with fine which may extend to ten
    thousand rupees or with both.

    Section 75 of J.J. Act, defines that:

          Punishment for cruelty to child:-Whoever, having the
    actual charge of or control over, assaults, abandons, exposes
    or willfully neglects the child or causes or procures the child to
    be assaulted, abandoned, abused, exposed or neglected in a
    manner likely to cause such child unnecessary mental or
    physical suffering shall be punishable with imprisonment for
    a term which may extend to three years, or with fine of one
    lakh rupees or with both.

    Section 79 of J.J. Act, defines that:

          Exploitation of child employee-whoever ostensibly
    engages a child and keeps him in bondage for the purpose of
    employment or withholds his earnings or uses such earning
    for his own purpose shall be punishable with rigorous
    imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years also
    be liable to fine of one lakh rupees.


    With these observations, now left with the available

material   evidence       to   consider      whether       the    facts    and

circumstances of the case and given evidence attracts the

definitions of above said sections to believe alleged offences
                                                Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                 11

against accused No.1 and 2 has to be looked into or it

probabalises the defense of the accused No.1 and 2.


     11.   By   going   through       the   evidence   of   Pw.1   the

complainant by name Seema Diwan, she has deposed that she

is the President of Talaash Association, she has not seen the

accused No.1 and 2. On 28-06-2017 she has seen the victim

boy working at cloth shop by name J.R. Dresses run by 1 st

accused.   She has intimated the same to the police by filing

complaint as per Ex.P1 and rescued the said boy from the

exploitation of the accused No.1. Except that she has not stated

anything against accused No.2.


     12.   In the cross-examination the accused No.1 and 2

tested her veracity by elicitating some commission and omission

and also taken defence that the victim boy was not working as a

child labour in the cloth shop of accused No.1 and he is the

relative of accused No.2, due to summer vacation he came along

with his relatives to see Bengaluru, since the accused No.2

known to the accused No.1, the victim boy came near the shop,
                                                    Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                   12

except that he has not worked as child labour as per the case of

prosecution, for that she has denied the same. Since this

witness is interested witness though she has supported the case

of prosecution by way of giving corroborative evidence, but at

the same time it has to be looked through the evidence victim

boy and other independent witnesses supported the evidence of

this witness and the case of prosecution to come to a conclusion

of commission of offence by the accused No.1 and 2 as per the

case of prospection.


     13.   By going through the evidence of Pw.2-Arjun Kumar-

the victim boy he has deposed that he is permanent resident of

Bolathra   Village,    Pasibadra        Tahasil,    Bodmaire   District

Rajasthan State. He is not doing any work, he is residing in his

village, once he came to Bangalore to see the Bengaluru, except

that he doesn't know anything about the case. He know the

accused No.1 and 2, accused No.2 is his in-law and accused

No.1 is the friend of accused No.2. At no point of time he was

working under accused No.1, he doesn't know anything about
                                             Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                 13

the case, the accused persons have not created any problem to

him.


       14.    The material witness and victim boy turned hostile

to the case of prosecution and the prosecution cross-examined

him by suggesting that the accused No.1 has taken him as

Labour to his Cloth shop and extracting work from 09.00a.m.,

to 09.00 p.m., causing ill-treatment both physically and

mentally and also his salary is received by the accused No.2

being his in-law and he was working since from 4 months as on

the date of raiding of the police, as per the complaint of

complainant the President of Talash Association and he has

given his statement as per Ex.P2, for that this witness denied

the same.      His definite answer is he has not worked under

accused No.1 as child labour and the accused No.1 not

exploited him and       he has not given any statement as per

Ex.P2.       Through this witness the prosecution failed to prove

alleged offences against accused No.1 and 2 beyond all

reasonable doubt.
                                            Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                               14

     15.   By going through the evidence of Pw.3-Leela Devi-

the mother of victim boy and sister of accused No.2, she has

deposed in support of evidence of Pw.2-the victim boy regarding

their residence, relationship with accused No.2 and victim boy.

She has also deposed that the victim boy came along with

accused No.2 to see Bengaluru, during his vacation. When her

son was in the shop of the friend of accused No.2, the police

came and lodged this case.     At no point of time her son-the

victim boy worked as child labour in the cloth shop of accused

No.1. The victim boy is in her village and she has not joined her

son to work in the cloth shop of accused No.1.      There is no

problem to her son from anybody. This witness also turned

hostile to the case of prosecution and the prosecution suggested

each and every word of Ex.P3, for that she has denied the same

and her definite answer is she has not given any statement as

per Ex.P3 before police. Through the evidence of Pw.3, the

prosecution failed to corroborate its case against accused No.1

and 2.
                                            Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                               15

     16.   By going through the evidence of Pw.4-Dilip, he has

deposed that he has not seen the accused No.1 and 2 earlier

and for the first time he saw them today before the Court.

Ex.P4(a) is his signature, but he doesn't know anything about

Ex.P4. Further he has deposed that he doesn't know the

contents of Ex.P4 and also he doesn't know the case of

prosecution, he has not seen the cloth shop of accused No.1.

Since this witness also turned hostile to the process of

conducting Mahazar as per Ex.P4 on 29-06-2017 at about

09.30a.m., near the shop of accused No.1, due to engaging of

child as labour in his cloth shop up to 10.30p.m, and obtained

his signature there itself, for that he has denied the same. His

definite stand is no such process of Mahazar conducted by the

police before him. Through the evidence of this witness also the

prosecution failed to prove alleged offences against accused

No.1 and 2 beyond all reasonable doubt.


     17.   By   going   through     the   evidence   of   Pw.5-K.

Shivalingaiah-P.S.I., he has deposed that on 28-06-2017, he
                                           Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                              16

was the SHO of the station, the complainant came at about

02.00p.m, and lodged the complainant as per Ex.P1. He has

verified the same and registered the case in Crime No.248/2017

under section 370 of IPC, section 3 of Child Labour Prohibition

Act and Section 75 and 79 of J.J. Act, 2015 and entered the

Shara and signed as per Ex.P1(b). Further he has deposed that

on the basis of said complaint, he has prepared FIR as per

Ex.P5 and submitted the same to the Court. Further he has

deposed that on the very same day, he has recorded the

statement of Cw.2, Cw.3, Cw.11 and Cw.12. Here Cw.2 is the

victim boy, but he has not supported the case of prosecution

and his definite answer is that he has not given any statement

as per Ex.P2 and on the same day he has send the victim boy to

Balakara Bala Mandira along with requisition.


     18.   Further Pw.5 deposed that on 29-06-2016 Pw.12 has

arrested the accused No.2 produced before him at about

02.00p.m. He has arrested him and recorded his voluntary

statement. Here the complainant/Pw.1 not whispered anything
                                             Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                17

against accused No.2. In her evidence, even she has deposed

that she has not seen accused No.1 and 2 earlier. The Panch

witness-Pw.4 also not supported the process of conducting

Mahazar by this witness. This witness also recorded the

statement of Cw.4 and Cw.5, but they have not stepped into

witness box to give their evidence.      He has sent the police

personnel for receiving of age certificate of the victim boy On 13-

07-2017 he has recorded the statement of Cw.4 as per Ex.P3,

but Cw.4 as Pw.3 turned hostile to the case of prosecution. He

has received age certificate as per Ex.P6 and filed charge sheet

against accused No1 and 2 after closing of investigation and

also identified accused No.1 before Court. The accused persons

tested the veracity of the evidence of this witness by eliciting

some commission and omission, except denial suggestion

nothing has been elicited favourable to their defense. Since the

complainant not identified the accused No.1 and 2, the victim

boy and his mother i.e., -Pw.2 and Pw.3 not corroborated the

case of prosecution and Pw.4 turned hostile to the case of

prosecution, at this stage, this Court opines the evidence of this
                                            Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                               18

witness is a formal one.


     19.   The oral and documentary evidence placed on record

by the prosecution is insufficient to prove the alleged offences

against accused No.1 and 2 beyond all reasonable doubt. The

defense of the accused No.1 and 2 and the facts and

circumstances of the case including materials on record

discussed above probablizes the defense of the accused No.1

and 2 rather than the case of the prosecution.


     20.   In view of aforesaid reasons, I hold that the evidence

of Pw.1 to Pw.5 and documentary evidence as per Ex.P1 to

Ex.P6, placed on record in respect of alleged offences, is

insufficient to prove that the accused No.1 is running a cloth

shop in the name and style of J.R. Dresses at No.521, 2 nd Cross,

Govindappa Reddy Layout, MICO Layout, Arekere within the

limits of Puttenahalli Police Station, Bengaluru, the Accused

No.2 who is known to him, brought Cw.2-minor boy, his relative

and son of Cw.4-Leela Devi viz., by way of human trafficking

from Rajasthan and left the said boy in the Cloth shop of
                                                  Spl.C.C.No.558/2018
                                 19

accused No.1 as a labour and in turn the accused No.1

extracting work from the said boy for long hours without paying

salary and also given mental and physical torture while

extracting work from him and thereby committed offences

punishable under Section 370(4) read with 34 of I.P.C, Section

3 and 14 of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

and Section 75 and 79 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection

of   Children)   Act,   2015    beyond     all    reasonable   doubt.

Consequently, I hold Point No.1 to 4 in the "Negative".


      21.   Point   No.5:- For the above said reasons and

discussions on Point No.1 to 4, I hold that the accused No.1 and

2 are entitled for an order of acquittal.         Hence, in the final

result, I proceed to pass the following:

                               ORDER

Acting under Section 235(1) of Cr.P.C., the accused No.1 and 2 are acquitted for the offences punishable under Section 370(4) read with 34 of I.P.C, Section 3 and 14 of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Section 75 and 79 of Spl.C.C.No.558/2018 20 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Their bail bonds and surety bonds stand cancelled.

(Dictated to the Judgment Writer, transcribed and typed by her. It is then corrected, signed and pronounced by me in open court on this the 11 th Day of March, 2020) (SUSHEELA) L ADDL.CITY CIVIL & SESSIONS JUDGE, BANGALORE AN NE XU RE LIST OF WITNESSES EXAMINED ON BEHALF OF PROSECUTION Pw.1 Seema Diwan Cw.1 20-09-2019 Pw.2 Arjun Kumar Cw.2 08-01-2020 Pw.3 Leela Devi Cw.4 08-01-2020 Pw.4 Dilip Cw.9 08-01-2020 Pw.5 K.Shivalingaiah Cw.13 03-02-2020 LIST OF DOCUMENTS MARKED ON BEHALF OF PROSECUTION Ex.P 1 Complaint Pw.1 20-09-2019 Ex.P 2 Statement of Pw.2 Pw.2 08-01-2020 Ex.P 3 Statement of Pw.3 Pw.3 08-01-2020 Ex.P 4 Mahazar Pw.9 08-01-2020 Spl.C.C.No.558/2018 21 Ex.P 5 FIR Pw.4 03-02-2020 Ex.P 6 Age estimation Pw.4 03-02-2020 certificate of Pw.2 LIST OF MATERIAL OBJECTS MARKED ON BEHALF OF PROSECUTION

-NIL-

LIST OF WITNESSES EXAMINED, DOCUMENTS MARKED & MO.S MARKED ON BEHALF OF DEFENCE

-NIL-

L ADDL.CITY CIVIL & SESSIONS JUDGE, BANGALORE