Supreme Court of India
Mulakh Raj Etc vs Satish Kumar And Others on 10 April, 1992
Equivalent citations: 1992 AIR 1175, 1992 SCR (2) 484, AIR 1992 SUPREME COURT 1175, 1992 (3) SCC 43, 1992 AIR SCW 1131, 1992 UP CRIR 390, 1992 SCC(CRI) 482, (1992) 2 JT 554 (SC), (1992) 2 SCR 484 (SC), 1993 CRIAPPR(SC) 88, 1992 (2) JT 554, 1992 CRILR(SC MAH GUJ) 423, (1992) 1 HINDULR 587, (1993) MAD LJ(CRI) 79, (1992) 1 ORISSA LR 585, (1992) 5 OCR 320, (1992) 2 SCJ 253, (1992) 2 CURCRIR 41, (1992) 1 CRICJ 449, (1992) 2 CRILC 640, (1992) 29 ALLCRIC 341, (1992) 2 ALLCRILR 97, (1992) 2 CRIMES 130
Author: K. Ramaswamy
Bench: K. Ramaswamy, Kuldip Singh
PETITIONER:
MULAKH RAJ ETC.
Vs.
RESPONDENT:
SATISH KUMAR AND OTHERS
DATE OF JUDGMENT10/04/1992
BENCH:
RAMASWAMY, K.
BENCH:
RAMASWAMY, K.
KULDIP SINGH (J)
CITATION:
1992 AIR 1175 1992 SCR (2) 484
1992 SCC (3) 43 JT 1992 (2) 554
1992 SCALE (1)804
ACT:
Criminal Law :
Indian Penal Code, 1860: Sections 302 and 201-Death of
wife-Strangulation and destruction of dead body by burning
to destroy evidence-Sessions Court convicting husband on the
basis of post-mortem report and medical and other
circumstantial evidence-Acquittal by High Court-Whether
justified-Symptoms on dead body showing death due to
pressure on neck-Medical evidence revealing ante-mortem
strangulation and 95% post-mortem burn injuries-Doctor's
evidence clear, cogent, truthful, reliable and conclusively
establishing death due to asphysxia, and consistent with
medical jurisprudence-Circumstantial evidence connecting
husband-accused with the crime-Hence death homicide and not
suicide-High Court not justified in reversing Court's
conviction of husband-Accused.
Criminal Trial
Murder of wife-Motive-Proof-Absence of-Whether material
when facts are clear-Whether breaks the link in the chain of
circumstances connecting husband accused with the crime.
Murder of wife and destruction of evidence-Suspicion
that someone amongst parents and brother of husband-accused
might have facilitated accused to screen evidence-Whether a
substitute for proof-Acquittal of these accused-Whether
proper.
Medical Jurisprudence :
Ante-mortem and post-mortem burn injuries-Distinction
between.
HEADNOTE:
The first respondent, his brother and parents were
charged under Section 302 read with section 34 and section
201 I.P.C. for the murder of first respondent's wife and
screening of evidence.
485
After seventeen months of marriage of the deceased with
the first respondent, PW.15, deceased's brother received a
telegram that his sister had died. Immediately, the same
night at 9.00 P.M., he came to the first respondent's place
and found that his sister was dead. He alleged that the
first respondent had made extra judicial confession that the
deceased was strangulated for not getting the dowry of their
demand, and that she was burnt to destroy the evidence and
sought pardon of him. He sent for his people. A
compromise was mooted to which he was not agreeable. A
complaint was lodged with the police the next day. PW.1,
the doctor, held the autopsy and found that the death was
due to asphyxia.
The prosecution adduced evidence of PWs. 9 and 15 for
the motive of demand for more dowry, extra judicial
confession of first respondent, said to have been made to
PW.15 that the deceased was strangulated, for not getting
dowry of their demand and burnt to destroy evidence, and
recoveries etc.
PW.1, the Doctor, who conducted post-mortem in his
evidence stated that the deceased died due to asphyxia, as a
result of strangulation, which was ante-mortem and
sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature,
and that burn injuries were 95 per cent, on the entire body
except on the feet, and these were post-mortem.
The Sessions Judge disbelieved the extra judicial
confession spoken to be PW.15 and others, but accepted the
evidence of PW.1 and other circumstantial evidence and found
that the first respondent had strangulated the deceased and
burnt the body to destroy the evidence, and convicted him
under Section 302 and 201 I.P.C. However, the Sessions
Judge acquitted the other respondents giving them benefit of
doubt. On Appeal, the High Court acquitted the first
respondent and confirmed the acquittal of the other
respondents.
Aggrieved, the brother of the deceased, the
complainant, and the State filed appeals by special leave,
before this Court.
It was contended on behalf of the respondents that
since palms were not clenched and the eyes did not protrude
but were half closed , the mouth was closed and tongue was
not protruding and the duration of death was of 5 to 10
minutes, as opined by the doctor, it was not a case of
strangulation, but suicide, that the respondents had no
motive, and in fact, the High
486
Court had found that the evidence was not sufficient to
establish motive, and the case was based on circumstantial
evidence and, therefore, motive being absent, the
prosecution had failed to establish this important link in
the chain of circumstances to connect the accused, and that
the evidence of DW.4., and the statement of first respondent
under Section 313 Cr.P.C. clearly established that the
respondent was not at home when the occurrence had taken
place.
Allowing the appeals, partly, this Court,
HELD : 1.1 In a case founded on circumstantial evidence
the prosecution must prove all the circumstances connecting
unbroken chain of links leading to only one inference that
the accused committed the crime. If any other reasonable
hypothesis of the innocence of the accused can be inferred
from the proved circumstances, the accused would be entitled
to the benefit. What is required is not the quantitative
but qualitative, reliable and probable circumstances to
complete the chain connecting the accused with the crime. If
the conduct of the accused in relation to the crime comes
into question the previous and subsequent conduct are also
relevant facts. Therefore, the absence of ordinary course
of conduct of the accused and human probabilities of the
case also would be relevant. The court must weight the
evidence of the cumulative effect of the circumstances and
if it reaches the conclusion that the accused committed the
crime, the charge must be held proved and the conviction and
sentence would follow.
[491F-H, 492A]
1.2 Undoubtedly, in cases of circumstantial evidences
motive bears important significance. Motive always locks up
in the mind of the accused and some time it is difficult to
unlock. People do not act wholly without motive. The
failure to discover the motive of an offence does not
signify its non-existence. The failure to prove motive is
not fatal as a matter of law. Proof of motive is never
indispensable for conviction. When facts are clear it is
immaterial that motive has been proved. Therefore, absence
of proof of motive does not break the link in the chain of
circumstances connecting the accused with the crime, nor
militates against the prosecution case. [498H, 499A]
1.3 In the instant case, it is clearly established that
the deceased aged about 22 years, was exterminated hardly
one year and five months after the marriage. As per
doctor's evidence, she died of asphyxia, as a
487
result of strangulation, and that 95% post-mortem burn
injuries were found over the dead body except the feet. He
positively ruled out the theory of alternatives or suicide.
[491E-E]
1.4 A study of medical jurisprudence establishes that
the symptoms found at post-mortem are not uniform but
variable depending on the compression employed on the neck
and duration. It would be an inferential fact since direct
evidence would rarely be available. [497G-H]
Taylor's Principles and Practice of Medical
Jurisdrudence, Thirteenth Edition 1984 by Keith Mant, Vol.
I pps. 282, 283, 286, 287, 305; Gradwolh's Legal Medicine,
Second Edition Chapter 18, pps. 336, 337; Medical
Jurisprudence by Raju & Jhala : Chapter XXI p.226; Medical
jurisprudence and Toxicology, 13th Edn. by Modi p. 155, 156,
159 and 161 and H.W.V. Cox's Medical jurisprudence and
Toxicology by Dr. Bernard Kinght, 5th Edn. in Chapter 1 p.
207 and 213, referred to
1.5 In the instant case, all the symptoms found on the
dead body of the deceased unmistakably show that her death
was due to pressure on the neck and the findings at the
post-mortem examination recorded by the doctor and his
evidence are consistent with medical jurisprudence. The
duration of death also depends on the mode of pressure
employed and the circumstances in which constriction was
done. Doctor's evidence is clear, cogent and convincing in
his findings that the death was due to asphyxia and not due
to suicide. The doctor had meticulously done an expert and
excellent autopsy with grasp of medical jurisprudence to
establish, without any shadow of doubt, of the cause of
death of the deceased as asphyxia. [498D-E]
1.6 The evidence of PW.1, the doctor, is truthful,
reliable and acceptable. From his evidence it is now
conclusively established that the death was due to
constriction (asphyxia) and that a deliberate attempt was
made to destroy the evidence of death by pouring kerosene on
the dead body and burning the dead body extensively of 95%.
The High Court committed palapable illegality in accepting
the defence version to doubt the evidence of the doctor.
The death was, therefore, homicide and not suicide. [498E]
1.7 The evidence of DW.4, maternal uncle of the first
respondent, that the first respondent, his brother and
father were in the shop at the relevant time has to be
considered in the light of the attending circumstances and
the conduct of the first respondent. It is established from
the
488
eivdence that the deceased and the first respondent alone
were living in the upstair's room. The occurrence took
place in the broad day time in their bed room. Admittedly,
the day of occurrence is a Sunday and that too in the
afternoon. Therefore, the shops must have been closed.
DW.2, Post Office Superintendent, examined by the defence,
categorically admitted that the handwriting of all the four
telegrams was of the same person. The first respondent
admitted that he issued two telegrams including the one to
PW.15 and the two were issued by this father. Therefore,
four telegrams were issued by the first respondent alone.
When the wife was practically charred to death, and
innocent, and compassionate husband would be in a state of
shock and would not move from the bed-side of the deceased
wife and others would attend to inform the relations. It is
also his case that he phoned to the police station and
informed of the occurrence. Evidence is other way about.
An attempt was made to have the matter compromised, but
failed. Thereafter they were found to be absconding. The
evidence of DW.4 that the first respondent was in the shop
thus gets falsified and his is a purgered evidence. This
false plea is a relevant circumstance which militates
against his innocence. The death took place on the bed room
of the spouse and the attempt to destroy the evidence of
murder by burning the dead body; the unnatural conduct of
the first respondent immediatley after the occurrence, the
false pleas of suicide and absence from house are telling
material relevant circumstances which would complete the
chain of circumstantial evidence leading to only one
conclusion that first respondent alone committed the ghastly
offence of murder of his wife, the deceased. Though the
torn pieces of the letter would indicate that she
contemplated to commit suicide, obviously it was due to
being unable to bear with the mental torture brought upon
her. She accordingly must have written, but later changed
her mind seeing the tender son in her arms and not to make
him to lose mother's care and affection. That would clearly
show that she was not being treated well. Far from being
helpful, this circumstances also is in favour of the
prosecution and against the husband showing that the
deceased was subjected to cruelty. No credence can be given
to the plea that the first respondent was not the author of
the crime and the plea that no neighbour was examined by the
investigation officer as they were not prepared to give
their statements. Therefore, the investigating officer was
helpless in collecting the evidence from the neighbours. It
is not an insurance that he was innocent. The delay in
filing F.I.R. cannot be considered fatal to the prosecution.
Admittedly, PW.15 was residing in another place. On receipt
of the telegram he rushed to the place and immediately on
seeing the dead body
489
he sent for his relations. After they come to the scene, the
F.I.R. was lodged on the next day. The delay in lodging
F.I.R. is of little significance. [499B-H, 500A-G]
1.8 The High Court did not consider the evidence in
proper perspective. The order of acquittal of the first
respondent is set aside and his conviction and the sentences
awarded by the Sessions Judge restored.
[501B]
1.9 The evidence of PWs. 15 and 9, regarding the motive
was found to be shaky by the High Court and for the
reasoning given, it might appear to be probable. In those
circumstances the animation by the in-laws and brother-in-
law to be a privy to the ghastly murder cannot be positively
concluded. Undoubtedly, the parents and brother might be
present. They or someone amongst them might have
facilitated the first respondent to screen the evidence of
murder. Suspicion is not a substitute for proof. No proof
beyond doubt is forthcoming. Under these circumstances on
the facts of this case their acquittal is right. [500H,
501A-B]
JUDGMENT:
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal Nos. 22 to 25 of 1983.
From the Judgment and Order dated 25.11.81 of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in Criminal Appeals Nos. 281-DB of 1981 and 528-DB of 1981.
I.S. Goyal, Ms. Indu Malhotra and S.M. Ashri for the Appellants.
U.R. Lalit and Prem Malhotra for the Respondents. The Jugdment of the Court was delivered by K. RAMASWAMY, J. The four appeals arise out of common incident. They are disposed of by common judgment. The complainant, the brother of the deceased Shashi Bala filed two appeals and the State filed other two appeals by special leave granted by this court against the judgment of the Division Bench of Punjab & Haryana High Court dated November 25, 1981 acquitting Satish Kumar, the first respondent of the conviction and sentence under section 302 and 201, I.P.C. of the charge of murder of Shashi Bala, his wife, and also in the same judgment confirmed the acquittal, by the Sessions Court, of Gulshan Kumar, brother, Ramji 490 Das, the father and Smt. Kartaro Devi, the mother of Satish Kumar. Shashi Bala, a beautiful young lady of 20 years was married to Satish Kumar, the first respondent, on March 1, 1979 and she met with a homicidal death on August 10, 1980 in her marital home. The crucial question in this case is whether is was suicide as contended by the defence or homicide as stated by the prosecution and who is the author of the murder. The facts lie in a short compass. They are stated as under.
As stated the deceased was married to the first respondent on March 1, 1979 by her brother Harbans Lal, PW.
15. She was given usual presentation of the gold ornaments, utencils, television set etc. She gave birth to a male child and by August 10, 1980 the boy was 3 months old. PW. 15 gave on June 8, 1980 Rs. 5,000 to her as against Rs. 10,000 requested for. He received a telegram on August 10, 1980 at Sasuna, Punjab State that Shashi Bala died. He immediately came to Uklana Mandi, Haryana State at about 9.00 p.m. on August 10, 1980 and found Shashi Bala dead. It is his case that Satish Kumar made extra judicial confession that the deceased was strangulated for not getting the dowry of their demand and that she was burnt to destroy the evidence and sought pardon of him. He sent for his people. A compromise was mooted to which he was not agreeable. The complaint was laid with the police on August 11, 1980. PW.1 Dr. Sher Singh held the autopsy and found that the death was due to asphyxia. The police laid the charge under section 302 read with sections 34 and 201 I.P.C. against all the respondents. The prosecution adduced evidence of PWs9 & 15 of the motive of demand for more dowry; extra judicial confession and recoveries etc. The defence set up by the respondents was that the relationship between the deceased and the first respondant was cordial. No demand for dowry was ever made. The first respondent arranged marriage of Parmila, sister of the deceased with one Gopal, his cousin which later was broken down due to which the deceased became gloomy. In support thereof they produced a letter of torn pieces (Ext. E). Therefore , it is their case that the deceased poured kerosene on herself and set fire to herself and committed suicide. It is their further case that while the first respondent, his brother and father were in the shop in the afternoon, they were informed of the suicide committed by the deceased. By the time they came home they saw some people bringing the dead body from the upstairs. They also participated in bringing the dead body to the ground floor and kept the body on a slab of ice and informed PW.15 and others by telegram and also the police. The police did not record his statement. The police took them into the custody on the same day and found that they did not commit 491 any crime.
PW.1, the Doctor, who conducted post-mortem in his evidence stated that the deceased died due to asphyxia, as a result of strangulation, which was ante-mortem and sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. The burn injuries were 95 per cent on the entire body except on the feet and that the burn injuries were post-mortem. The Sessions Judge disbelieved the extra judicial confession spoken to by PW.15 and others. The Sessions court accepted the evidence of PW.1, the doctor, and other circumstantial evidence and found that Satish Kumar, husband of the deceased strangulated the deceased and the deceased was burnt to destroy the evidence. Giving the benefit of doubt to the brother and the parents of the respondent they were acquitted. The first respondent was found guilty of murder and was convicted for the offence of murder under section 302 and for screening the evidence of murder, s. 201 IPC and was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and one year respectively and both the sentences were directed to run concurrently by the judgment dated April 23, 1981.
The narrative of the facts clearly establishes that the young beautiful lady, aged about 22 years, who had intense and passionate love for the first respondent yearning to have long and happy marital life was exterminated hardly one year and five months after the marriage. As per doctor's evidence, she died of asphyxia, as a result of strangulation, and that 95 per cent burn post-mortem injuries were found over the dead body except the feet. Admittedly this was done in the residential home of the respondent. The crucial question whether the theory of suicide propounded by the defence and as accepted by the High Court is true and believable. Undoubtedly this case hinges upon circumstantial evidence. It is trite to reiterate that in a case founded on circumstantial evidence, the prosecution must prove all the circumstances connecting unbroken chain of links leading to only one inference that the accused committed the crime. If any other reasonable hypothesis of the innocence of the accused can be inferred from the proved circumstances, the accused would be entitled to the benefit. What is required is not the quantitative but qualitative, reliable and probable circumstances to complete the chain connecting the accused with the crime. If the conduct of the accused in relation to the crime comes into question the previous and subsequent conduct are also relevant facts. Therefore, the absence of ordinary course of conduct of the 492 accused and human probabilities of the case also would be relevant. The court must weigh the evidence of the cumulative effect of the circumstances and if it reaches the conclusion that the accused committed the crime, the charge must be held proved and the conviction and sentence would follow.
The crucial question is whether medical evidence of the doctor is reliable and acceptable and whether death due to suicide is probable? Due to 95% burns PW.1, the doctor, did not find any visible ligature marks on the neck. Eyes were half closed. The mouth was closed. Blood stained forth was coming from both the nostrils. Tongue was swollen and cynosed. On dissection of neck there was infilteration of blood in the upper part of the neck in front below chin. On further dissection he found fracture on right cornua of hyoid bone at the junction with its body and on opening the larynx and pharynx, he noted blood-stained forth in their cavities, they were ante-mortem in nature. The stomach was empty. Peritoneum, organs of generation plora, walls, ribs and cartilages were congested. The right side of heart was full of dark blood and left side contained scanty blood. Except both the feet there were burns all over the body. There was no line of redness. There were false vesicles at places such vesicles were containing full of air, the base of which was yellow, dry and hard, nor red and coppery. The burns were anti-mortem and it was 95 per cent. As stated earlier he opined that the death was due to asphyxia by strangulation which was sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. He opined that deceased must have been died on August 10, 1980 between 2.00 to 3.00 p.m. For suggestions given to the doctor by the defence counsel in the cross-examination that if the deceased had sprinkled kerosene oil on her and had set fire and while in the agony if she runs hither and thither and in that process if she fell in such a condition that her throat comes in contact with a protruding part of the wall resulting constriction of the wind pipe he categorically negatived that such a fall of the victim would cause only partial constriction and it is not possible to cause fracture to the hyoid bone. He further stated that the death could not be due to suffocation. He also ruled out the possibility that the hyoid bone is not likely to be fractured by fall against hard surface. He also stated that the burns were post- mortem because there were no shoot present in the trachea or wind pipe. Thus he positively rules out the theory of alternatives or suicide.
Let us consider whether the factual findings at the post-mortem examination of the deceased and the evidence of Dr. Sher Singh is sup-
493ported by medical jurisprudence. Taylor's Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence, Thirteenth Edition 1984 by Keith Mant, Vol, I stated at p. 282 that asphyxia being a condition in which there is an inadequate supply of oxygen to the tissues. It may be defined as a state a which the body lacks oxygen because of some mechanical interference with the process of breathing. At p. 283 it was further stated that cyanosis indicates the blue colour of the skin, mucous memberanes and of internal organs, notably spleen, liver and kidneys. The capillary dilation that accompanies a reduction in oxygen tension promotes stasis and therefore a vicious cycle of suboxygenation of the blood commences. The return of blood to the heart is diminished. The resultant impaired oxygenation leads to further capillary dilation, further stasis, with deepening cyanosis ..... Prabably results from a combination of stasis and hypoxia. Fluid exudes into the tissue spaces.
At p. 286 it was also stated of the distinction between suffocation and strangulation that conditions associated with mechanical asphyxia include suffocation were the interference with the process of breathing is at the level of the nose or mouth; strangulation where there is compression of the neck, either by (a) the human hand (manual strangulation or throttling); (b) a ligature. In pararaph 6 he stated that in each of these categories the obstructive process at the various level will result in the development of the symptoms and the signs associated with asphyxia previously described. At p.287 of general features of asphyxia, it was stated that the head and face may show intense congestion and cyanosis with numerous petechiae. Blood exudes from the mouth and nose. Blood tinged frothy fluid is present in air passages. Mucus may be found at the back of the mouth and throat. The lungs which are of particular interest, usually show in addition to congestion of inter-alveolar capillaries, the presence of the oedema fluid in the alveoli, areas of haemorrhage and collapse with intervening emphysema...
Regarding post-mortem appearances in strangulation at p.305 it was stated a careful search in suitable mortuary conditions will usually reveal either external or internal evidence of the area where the constrictions has occurred. At p.306 the General Internal appearances, it is stated that internally the air passages contain fine forth, often blood stained. The lungs are congested with subpleural petechiae. Mycroscopically there is usually intense interalveolar congestion with haemorrhages of varying size, fluid in the alveoli, areas of collapse and intervening area of ruptured 494 alveoli. The air passages often contain large areas of desquamated respiratory type epithelium, red blood cells and fluid. The remaining organs show only congestive changes.
These conditions very because of the circumstances that the assailants usually employ considerably more force than would appear to be necessary to ensure that death takes place. In general terms the mark of the neck is usually of the same width as the constricting object and the depth is about half its diameter. Regarding finger-nail marks it was stated that in manual strangulation the marks of burising will be on the front or sides of the neck, chiefly about the larynx and about it. Marks of pressure of fingers may, however be slight. The distribution of these marks when present will vary with the circumstances, and factors which will affect it include the relative position of the assailant and victim, the manner of gripping the neck, being greater if the grip is shifted or has been reapplied if the victim struggles, and the degree of pressure. The solid tissues of the neck are of extreme importance in cases of suspected strangulation. the solid structures comprise the hyoid bone and the cartilages forming the larynx. If the body is found to have died with marks on the neck which indicate manual strangulation and this is subsequently confirmed in the mortuary and laboratory the case must be regarded as a killing by another person. It is inconceivable that anyone could die from compression of the neck by his own hand because loss of consciousness would cause relaxation of the constricting fingures.
In Gradwohl's Medicine, Second Edition in Chapter 18 under the caption Interpretation of Post-Mortem Appearances in Death from Respiratory Obstruction and Compression of the Neck, at p. 336 it was stated that Systemic and pulmonary congestion and dilatation of the heart are classically described as signs of an asphyxial death. At p. 337 regarding hyoid bone it was stated that two mechanisms have been suggested in which the hyoid bone may be fractured :
from direct lateral compression and from indirect violence. Direct lateral compression is one mechanism in manual strangulation, when pressure is applied under the angles of the jaw.
Medical Jurisprudence by Raju & Jhala in Chapter XXV death from asphyxia and death from drowning at p.226 stated that the heart in asphyxia, specifically right chambers, is always found full of dark venous blood. This is important to note as usually with death, blood disappears 495 from the heart. The venous system of circulation, because of back pressure, is always found distended with blood. The blood in heart and veins is not only dark blue but also liquid and remains liquid.... The internal organs and mucous membrane also present the general signs of congestion..... This congestion has to be looked for and has to be found in all cases of genuine asphyxia.
In Medical jurisprudence and Toxicology, 13th Edn. by Modi at p. 155 it was stated that in the case of constriction occurring at the end of expiration the lungs are congested, oedematous and exude bloody serum on being cut, but are pale if constriction occurred at the end of inspiration.... The right side of the heart, the pulmonary artery and venae and cavae are full of dark fluid blood, and the left side is empty. The abdominal organs are usually congested. The brain is usually normal, it may be pale or congested according to the mode of death. For symptoms at p.158 it was pointed out that if the wind pipe is compressed so suddenly as to occlude the passage of air altogether, the individual is rendered powerless to call for assistance, becomes insensible and dies instantly. If the windpipe is not completely closed, the face becomes cyanosed, bleeding occurs from the mouth, nostrils and ears, the hands are clenched and convlusions precede death. As in hanging, insensibility is very rapid, and death is quite painless. Regarding appearances on the neck he stated at p.159 that if the fingers are used (throttling) marks of pressure by the thumb and fingers are usually found on either side of the windpipe.... At p. 161, appearances due to asphyxia it was stated that the face is swollen and cyanosed, and marked with petechiae. The eyes are prominent and open. In some cases they may be closed. The conjunctive are congested, and the puplis are dilated. The lips are blue. Bloody foam escapes from mouth and nostrils, and sometimes pure blood issues from the mouth, nose and ears, especially if great violence has been used. Regarding internal appearances he stated that the cornua of the hyoid bone may be fractured, also the cornua of hyoid cartilage but fracture of the cervical vertebrae is extremely rare. The liver may show cloudy swelling and necrosis of the cells, if death has been delayed. The kidneys may show signs of nephritis, and on section the straight tubules may be filled with debris of the blood corpuscles giving the appearances of reddish-brown markings.
Regarding the distinction between anti-mortem and post- mortem burns, he pointed out the lines of redness, of vasication and reparative 496 processes as distinctive features. He elaborated the same later. A reading of it gives the distinction and would be concluded thus:
1. Ante-mortem burn injuries are characterised by the presence of burnt caroon particles (soot) in the trachea which is absent in the case of post-mortem burn injuries.
2. Carbodyhaemoglobin is present in the heartblood in ant-mortem burning which is absent in case of post-mortem burning.
3. Ante-mortem burns are usually red owing to the tendency of the system of rush blood towards the injured parts for repairs, which is distinctly different from post- mortem burns which are hard and yellowish in colour.
4. Blisters are prominently present in ante-mortem burns. Some blisters may appear in post-mortem burns, but there are distinctly different from ante mortem burns, where blisters are full of protein rich fluid that contains a substantial amount of white cells, caused by the tendency of the system to rush in white cells to fight against infection. The presence of protein is so high that it becomes solid on heating. Post-mortem blisters hardly contain any protein in their fluid and whatever fluid is contained has so little protein that on heating only a faint opalescence is seen. The fluid in post-mortem blisters does not contain any white blood cells.
5. In ante-mortem burns, reparative enzymes are present in the vicinity of burnt areas as the reparative enzymes would try to repair the burnt areas. Their presence could also be used for predicting the time since the person was burnt. Various enzymes appear at the following time:
(a) Enzyme esterase - 30 minutes. (b) Leucine aminopeptidase - 2 hours approx. (c) Acid Phosphatase - 3 approx. (d) Alkaline Phosphatase - 6 hours. Reparative enzymes are not detected in post-mortem burns.
6. Signs of infection in a burn injury only lead of the conclusion that the burn injury is anti-mortem in nature as there cannot be infection in a post-mortem burn injury, only putrefaction. Since infection occurs roughly 36 hours after the burn, one can easily predict the time since the burn injuries occurred.
497In H.W.V. Cox's Medical jurisprudence and Toxicology by Dr. Bernard Knight, 5th Edn. in Chapter 1 at p. 207 is was stated that strangulation is again a term which is not exact in itself, as there are several types of strangulation, mainly mannual strangulation and strangulation by a ligature. Though both these are similar, there are certain differences which are reflected in the pathological findings. Strangulation is not by any means the same thing as asphyxia : in fact, a better name would be `pressure on the neck', which is used as an alternative description by some pathologists. Regarding manual strangulation and the length of time required to cause death at p.213 it is stated that the length of time for which pressure on the neck must be maintained to cause death is very variable, from zero seconds to several minutes. The statement regarding length of time he stated that no dogmatic statement of time of two minutes or three minutes can be made. It is of little practical value as unless or three minutes can be made. It is of little practical value as unless a witness is present, there is never any way of determining such times. If, however, there is physical evidence of pressure on the neck from bruises and haemorrhage, but no congestion whatsoever, then it is certain that death was relatively rapid before these classical signs appeared, due to reflex cardiac arrest. Where death is due to cerebral anoxia from compression of carotid vessels, then there is usually cyanosis and congestion due to simultaneous blockage of the jugular venous system, though ignorance of time factors make this statement of little practical value. In Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence it was stated at p.282 that the amount of pulmonary oedema can be used to estimate the time interval between injury and death. In practice it is seldom of value as it is common experience that the changes described can develop with great rapidity when a patient dies after choking. At p.285, asphyxia by violence, it is stated that if the breathing is interfered with for a sufficient period of time unconsciousness and death will supervene.
The contention of Sri U.R. Lalit that the palms were not clenched and the eyes did not protrude but were half closed, the mouth was closed and tounge was not protruding, the duration of death of 5 to 10 minutes as opined by the doctor and in the case of death by strangulation, the death would be instant and that, therefore, it is not a case of strangulation but suicide does not cast any doubt on the cause of death. Above study of medical jurisprudence establishes that the symptoms found at post-mortem are not uniform but variable depending on the compression as employed on the neck and duration. It would be an inferential fact since direct evidence would rarely be available. The discussion of the medical 498 jurisprudence conclusively establishes that all symptoms found on the dead body of Shashi Bala unmistakeably show that her death was due to pressure on the neck and the findings at the post-mortem examination recorded by the doctor and the evidence of Dr. Sher Singh, PW-1, are consistent with medical jurisprudence. The duration of death also depends on the mode of pressure employed and the circumstances in which constriction was done. Doctor's evidence is clear, cogent and convincing in his findings that the death was due to asphyxia and not due to suicide. We place on record that Dr. Sher Singh had meticulously done an expert and excellent autopsy with grasp of medical jurisprudence to establish, without any shadow of doubt, of the cause of death of Shashi Bala as asphyxia.
Realising this unsurmountable difficulty concerted attempt was made to sling mud and cloud of doubt on the unimpeachable evidence of Dr. Sher Singh. Who would be benefitted by a complaint against the doctor? The prosecution is not interested since his autopsy report is completely in its favour. PW.15 or anybody on his behalf is not interested to make nay allegation against PW-1. It is the accused that would be benefitted and so a false complaint of demand of illegal gratification was fabricated which was rightly thrown out. The further suggestion that some unknown Doctor along with PW-15 brought pressure on PW.1 to give fabricated autopsy report is a desperate one. We accept the evidence of PW.1, Dr. Sher Singh as truthful, reliable and acceptable. From his evidence it is now conclusively established that the death was due to constriction (asphyxia) and that a deliberate attempt was made to destroy the evidence of the death by pouring kerosene on the dead body and buring the dead body extensively of 95 per cent. We find that the High Court committed palpable illegality in accepting the defence version to doubt the evidence of Dr. Sher Singh. The death was, therefore, homicide and not suicide.
The question then is who is the author of the murder? The contention of Sri Lalit is that the respondent had no motive and the High Court found as a fact that the evidence is not sufficient to establish motive. The case is based on circumstantial evidence and motive being absent, the prosecution failed to establish this important link in the chain of circumstances to connect the accused. We find no force in the contention. Undoubtedly in cases of circumstantial evidences motive bears important significance. Motive always locks up in the mind of the accused and some time it is difficult to unlock. People do not act wholly without motive. The 499 failure to discover the motive of an offence does not signify its non-existence. The failure to prove motive is not fatal as a mater of law. Proof of motive is never an indispensable for conviction. When facts are clear it is immaterial that no motive has been proved. Therefore, absence of proof of motive does not break the link in the chain of circumstances connecting the accused with the crime, nor militates against the prosecution case. The question, therefore, is whether Satish Kumar alone committed the offence of murder of his wife? In this regard Sri Lalit pressed into service the evidence of DW. 4, the uncle of the respondent who stated that the Ist respondent, his brother and father were in the shop at the relevant time and that the respondent also stated so in his statement under section 313 C.P.C. This evidence clearly establishes that the respondent was not at home when the occurrence had taken place. This evidence has to be considered in the light of th attending circusmtances and the conduct of Satish Kumar. It is established from the evidence that the deceased and the first respondent alone were living in the upstair's room. The occurrence took place in the broad day time in their bed room. The deceased at that time was having three months old child. What had happened to the child at the time when the ghastly occurrence had taken place is anybody's guess. Normally three months child would be in the lap of the mother unless somebody takes into his/her laps for play. It is not the case. It would be probable that after the murder, the child must have been taken out and the dead body was burnt after pouring kerosene and litting fire. Therefore, the one who committed the offence must have removed the child later from the room. Admittedly the day of occurrence is a Sunday and that too in the afternoon. Therefore, the shops must have been closed. DW-2, Post Office Superintendent, examined by the defence, categorically admitted that the handwritting of all the four telegrams was of the same person. Satish Kumar admitted that he issued two telegrams including the one to PW-15 and the two were issued by his father. Therefore, four telegrams were issued by the Ist respondent alone. When the wife was practically charged to death an innocent and compassionate husband would be in a state a shock and would not move from the bed-side of the deceased wife and others would attend to inform the relations. It is also his case that he phoned to the police station and informed of the occurrence. Evidence is other way about. An attempt was made to have the matter compromised, but failed. Thereafter they were found to be absconding. The evidence of DW-4 (maternal uncle) that the Ist respondent was in the shop thus gets 500 falsified and his is a burgered evidence. This false plea is a relevent circumstance which militates against his innocence. The death took place on the bed room of the spouse and the attempt to destroy the evidence of murder by burning the dead body; the unnatural conduct of Satish Kumar, immediately after the occurrence; the false pleas of suicide and absence from house are telling material relevant circumstances which would complete the chain of circumstantial evidence leading to only one conclusion that Satish Kumar alone committed the ghastly offence of murder of his wife, Shashi Bala.
It is true as contended by Sri Lalit that Satish Kumar must have married the deceased as she was extremely pretty and that the letter written by her would establish cordiality and love between them. The deceased obviously appears to have written that undated letter expressing her profuse love for the husband at the beginning of their marital life without knowing the true colours of the husband.
It is true that the torn pieces of the letter would indicate that she contemplated to commit suicide. Obviously it was due to being unable to bear with the mental torture brought upon her. She accordingly must have written but later she must have changed her mind seeing the tender son in her arms and not to make him to lose mother's care and affection. That would clearly show that she was not being treated well. Far from being helpful this circumstance also is in favour of the prosecution and against the husband showing that the deceased was subjected to cruelty. The contention that the first respondent was not the author of the crime does not inspire us to give credence. The further contention that no neighbour was examined by the investigation officer as they were not prepared to falsely implicate him and it would be viewed against the prosecution is without any substance. The investigating officer in his evidence clearly stated that he contacted all the neighbours but they were not prepared to give their statements. Therefore, the investigation officer was helpless in collecting the evidence from the neighbours. It is not an insurance that he was innocent. The further contention that the delay in filing F.I.R. is fatal to the prosecution is without any substance. Admittedly PW.15 was residing in Sasuna of Haryana State. On receipt of the telegram he rushed to the place and immediately on seeing the dead body he sent for his relations. After they come to the scene the F.I.R. was lodged on the next day. The delay in lodging F.I.R. is of little significance. We have the evidence of PWs-15 and 9, which of the motive was found to be shaky by the High Court and for the reasoning given it might appear to 501 be probable. In those circumstances the animation by the in-laws and brother-in-law to be a privy to the ghastly murder cannot be positively concluded. Undoubtedly the father, mother and brother might be present. They or someone amongst them might have facilitated Satish Kumar to screen the evidence of murder. Suspicion is not a substitute for proof. No proof beyond doubt is forthcoming. Under these circumstances on the facts of this case we hold that their acquittal is right. The High Court did not consider the evidence in proper perspective. The order of acquittal of Satish Kumar is set aside. He is convicted for the offence of murder of his wife Shashi Bala, punishable under s. 302 I.P.C. and is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life. He is convicted under s.201 I.P.C. and sentenced to undergo R.I. for one year and both the sentences would run concurrently.
The judgment and order of acquittal of Satish Kumar by the High Court in Crl. Appeal No. 281/81 is set aside judgment and order in Crl. Appeal No. 528/81 is confirmed. The judgment, conviction and sentences of Satish Kumar and acquittal of others in Sessions Case No. 159/80 and Sessions Trial No. 85/80 dated April 23, 1981 by the Sessions Court at Hisar is restored. The appeals are accordingly allowed as against Satish Kumar and dismissed as against other three respondents.
N.P.V. Appeals partly allowed.
502