Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati
Konakonda Durga Prasad, vs The State Of Ap Rep By Its Pp Hyd., on 5 September, 2023
HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE A.V.RAVINDRA BABU
CRIMINAL APPEAL No.650 OF 2010
JUDGMENT:
The judgment, dated 21.04.2010, in Sessions Case No.296 of 2006 on the file of the Court of III Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Prakasam Division, Ongole (for short, 'the learned Additional Sessions Judge'), is under challenge in the present Criminal Appeal filed by the appellant, who is the unsuccessful accused.
2. The parties to this Criminal Appeal will hereinafter be referred to as described before the trial court, for the sake of convenience.
3. Sessions Case No.296 of 2006 arose out of the committal order in PRC No.32 of 2006 on the file of the Court of Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate, Chirala (for short, 'the learned Magistrate') pertaining to Crime No.36 of 2006 of Vetapalem Police Station, Prakasam District for the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, 'the IPC').
4. The case of the prosecution, in brief, according to the contents of the charge sheet, as above, is that accused is a 2 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 resident of Ayodhyanagar of Desaipeta Village. The scene of offence is situated at Ayodhyanagar. LW.1 - Kotha Atchamma Nageswara Reddy is the Branch Manager of Share Micro Finance Limited Company (for short, 'the SMFL') at Vetapalem. LW.2 - Maradana Someswara Rao is the Area Manager of the SMFL dealing in Finance Business. LWs.3 to LW.19 namely Kuppala Bhagya Lakshmi, Malla Audilakshmi, Moghal Ghousia Begam, Mogili Kumari, Kesineni Basavamma, Shaik Ramana, Gurijala Saraswathi, Moghal Sirajunnisa, Bala Ramulamma, Gorremutchu Mercy, Gorremutchu Samuelamma, Kavuri Venkataratnam, Somana Ramana, Kola Sri Gowri, Esam Venkayamma, Konakonda Anjamma and Kola Padma are the members and group leaders in the SMFL, who borrowed the amounts from the SMFL from Rs.6,000/- to Rs.13,000/- and they have to repay the loan obtained in installments. Badda @ Baddam Sudhakar @ Sudhakar Reddy (hereinafter referred to as 'the deceased') used to work as Field Credit Assistant since 8 months from the date of occurrence. His duty was to collect the loan installments from the borrowers on behalf of LW.1 and LW.2 from 07:00 a.m. onwards under their supervision. While so, LW.18 - K. Anjamma, mother of the accused, is the group leader in SMFL, also borrowed the loan and was repaying the loan installments amount. There were rumors in 3 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 their locality that LW.1 and LW.2 were harassing the borrowers, who failed to repay the loan installments, regularly, and also restraining the members.
Accused felt that LW.18 and some other members will also be harassed as they are incapable of paying the regular loan installments. He hatched a plan to kill the deceased with a view to terrorize LW.1 and LW.2 to avoid repayment of loan installments and he was waiting for an opportunity.
There was a procedure for conveying a meeting at the house of the group leaders while collecting the loan installments by the deceased. LWs.3 to LW.13 belongs to the group of LW.19. Since the house of LW.19 is not convenient for the meeting, the members of the group of LW.19 used to meet at the house of LW.18, mother of the accused, as there was adequate space for the members to sit.
On 05.04.2006, the deceased in the usual manner at 06:30 a.m. started to Ayodhyanagar for collection of loan installments and proceeded to the house of LW.18, where there was gathering of LWs.3 to LW.19 in connection with repayment of loan installments to LW.1 and LW.2. LW.1 and LW.2 followed the deceased on their motorcycle for supervision. The deceased was looking in the accounts by sitting on a mat at the house of LW.18 4 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 and LWs.2 to LW.13 were in meeting with them. At about 07:30 a.m. the accused went upon the deceased with a big knife that was already procured by him and hacked on left side of the neck of the deceased with an intention to kill him. The deceased sustained heavy incised injury on the left side of his neck and died on the spot in a pool of blood. Thereafter, the accused went away by throwing the knife at the scene. LWs.1 to LW.19 witnessed the occurrence.
Then, LW.1 went to Vetapalem Police Station and gave the report. LW.28 - R. Srinivasa Rao, SI of Police, registered the report as a case in Crime No.36 of 2006 for the offence under Section 302 IPC and LW.29 - Y.T. Naidu, Inspector of Police, took up investigation. He visited the scene, photographed the same through LW.21 - Poludasu Poornachandra Rao and at 11:00 a.m. held inquest over the dead body of the deceased in the presence of LW.22 and LW.23 namely Parchuri Venkateswarlu and Katakam Veeraswamy, who are the inquest panchayatdars. Later, he forwarded the dead body to the Government Hospital, Chirala for autopsy. LW.29 seized the bloodstained knife, bloodstained papers of the deceased and other material papers under the cover of inquest report. During inquest, he examined LWs.1 to LW.20 and recorded their statements. On the same day night, accused 5 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 surrendered at Vetapalem Police Station. LW.29, on information, arrested the accused on 06.04.2006 at 09:30 a.m. and seized his bloodstained shirt under the cover of mahazar, attested by LW.24 and LW.25 namely Lakkakula Sambasiva Rao and Katta Nathanial, the mahazar witnesses. LW.29 sent the accused for remand. On requisition filed by LW.29 before the learned Magistrate, Parchur, LW.26 - learned Magistrate, recorded the statements of LWs.1 to LW.13 under 164 Cr.P.C. The material objects seized during investigation were forwarded to RFSL, Guntur. LW.27 - Dr. M.Ch. Subba Rao, Civil Assistant Surgeon, Government Area Hospital, Chirala conducted autopsy over the dead body of the deceased and issued postmortem certificate opining that the deceased appears to have died of haemorrhage shock due to cut of major blood vessels and injury to brain. After completion of investigation, LW.30 - Md. Mahaboob Basha, Inspector of Police, Chirala, filed charge sheet for the offence under Section 302 IPC.
5. The learned Magistrate, Chirala took cognizance of the case for the offence under Section 302 IPC. After appearance of the accused and after completing the formalities under Section 207 Cr.P.C, the learned Magistrate committed the case to the Court of 6 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 Sessions under Section 209 Cr.P.C. Thereafter, it was numbered as S.C. No.296 of 2006 and made over to the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge for disposal in accordance with law.
6. After appearance of the accused before the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Ongole, a charge under Section 302 IPC was framed and explained to the accused in Telugu, for which he pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
7. The prosecution, in order to establish the guilt against the accused, examined PWs.1 to PW.19 and marked Exs.P-1 to P-25 and MOs.1 to MO.11. Accused, during the course of cross- examination of PW.1 and PW.10 got marked Exs.D-1 to D-3.
8. After closure of the evidence of the prosecution, accused was examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C with reference to the incriminating circumstances appearing in the evidence let in by the prosecution, for which he denied the same and stated that he has defence evidence. During the course of 313 Cr.P.C. examination, he gave a statement that previous night somebody committed murder of the deceased and thrown the dead body into vacant space and as it was happened near his house (accused 7 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 house), he was implicated falsely. Accused did not let in any defence evidence.
9. The learned Additional Sessions Judge, on hearing both sides and after considering the oral and documentary evidence on record, found the accused guilty of the offence under Section 304 (Part-II) IPC as against the original charge under Section 302 IPC and convicted him under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. for the offence under Section 304 (Part-II) IPC. After questioning him about the quantum of sentence, the learned Additional Sessions Judge sentenced the accused to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for 7 years and to pay a fine of Rs.2,000/- in default to suffer Simple Imprisonment for 6 months.
10. Felt aggrieved of the same, the un-successful accused filed the present Appeal challenging the judgment of the learned Additional Sessions Judge in convicting him under Section 304 (Part-II) IPC.
11. Though the prosecution has alleged the offence under Section 302 IPC but there is no Appeal filed by the prosecution as against the finding of the trial Court that the charge under Section 302 IPC was not established by the prosecution. So, as there is no 8 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 Appeal filed by the prosecution, challenging the finding of the trial Court that the case under Section 302 IPC is not made out, the scope of this Appeal is confined only to decide whether the prosecution before the Court below proved the offence under Section 304 (Part-II) IPC against the accused.
12. Now, in deciding this Criminal Appeal, the points that arise for consideration are:
1) Whether the prosecution before the Court below proved that on 05.04.2006 at 07:30 a.m. at Ayodhyanagar, Chirala at the house of the mother of the accused, accused attacked the deceased with a big knife on his neck causing his instantaneous death?
2) Whether the impugned judgment in convicting the accused under Section 304 (Part-II) is sustainable under law and facts and whether are any grounds to interfere with the conviction recorded by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ongole?
3) To what relief?
POINT Nos.1 & 2:
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13. Before adverting to the arguments advanced by learned counsel for the appellant as well as by learned Public Prosecutor, firstly, I would like to deal with the nature of evidence that is available. PW.1 is the then Branch Manager in SMFL, Chirala. PW.2 is the then Area Manager in SMFL. So, PW.1 and PW.2 belongs to the same Share Micro Finance. PW.1 is the person who claimed to have witnessed the occurrence. PW.2 is the person who claimed to have witnessed the occurrence. PW.3 and PW.4 are the direct witnesses to the occurrence. Though the prosecution cited PW.5, PW.6, PW.7, PW.8 and PW.12 also as direct witnesses to the occurrence, they were declared as hostile by the prosecution on the ground that they did not support the case of the prosecution on certain aspects. PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11 are the direct witnesses to the occurrence and they supported the case of the prosecution. PW.13 was the photographer who took photographs of the deceased at the instance of Police. PW.14 is the Junior Assistant, who was present at the time of inquest over the dead body of the deceased and seizure of certain things at the time of inquest. PW.15 is the Panchayat Secretary who acted as mediator at the time of arrest of the accused. PW.16 is the Medical Officer, who conducted autopsy over the dead body of the deceased. PW.17 is the then Inspector of Police, Chirala and was the Investigating 10 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 Officer in this case. PW.18 is the Sub-Inspector of Police, who registered the FIR on the report from PW.1. PW.19 is the successor of PW.17 who laid charge sheet.
14. Sri N. Ravi Prasad, learned counsel appearing for the appellant/accused, would contend that PW.1 and PW.2 belonged to SMFL, Chirala who are interested in the case of the prosecution. Their evidence is interested in nature. There was no probability or possibility for PW.1 and PW.2 to follow the deceased to supervise his work. Their presence at the house of the mother of accused having allegedly followed the deceased is totally abnormal. In fact, they had no necessity, whatsoever, to supervise the field work which was to be done by the persons like the deceased. Though prosecution labeled PW.3, PW.4, PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11 as independent witnesses to the occurrence, PW.3 has some differences with the family of the accused which she admitted in her cross-examination. The Investigating Officer by getting recorded the statements of persons like PW.4, PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11 under 164 Cr.P.C. compelled to give them evidence with certain threats as such they deposed false in support of the case of the prosecution. Their evidence is to be scrutinized with great care and caution. PW.5, PW.6, PW.7 and PW.8, the so called direct 11 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 witnesses, claimed that they did not witness the occurrence. The prosecution branded them as hostile witnesses. Further, PW.11 also turned hostile. So, as about half a dozen witnesses, who were cited as direct witnesses, did not support the case of the prosecution, it is unsafe to believe the evidence of PW.1, PW.2, PW.3, PW.4, PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11. The possibility of compelling PW.3, PW.4 and PWs.9 to PW.11 to give false evidence by the Investigating Officer cannot be ruled out. He would contend strenuously that the deceased was in fact murdered by some un- known persons in the vacant space adjacent to the house of the accused probably in the intervening night of 4/5-04.2006. Later, the dead body was shifted into the verandah of house of mother of the accused purposefully by the Police by falsely implicating the accused. Learned counsel would further submit that though the deceased was murdered in the vacant site adjacent to the house of the mother of the accused by un-known persons but for obvious reasons the dead body was moved to the verandah of the accused by falsely implicating him in this case. The evidence of Medical Officer coupled with the post-mortem report reveals that the deceased died 12 hours prior to his post-mortem examination, which was conducted at 02.40 P.M. on 05.04.2006. It means that at 02:30 a.m. of the previous night, he died. All these aspects were 12 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 not considered by the trial Court. If really, the deceased visited Ayodhyanagar at 07:30 a.m., he would have completed his breakfast and in that event food particles must have been found in the stomach of the deceased. When his stomach was opened for the post-mortem examination his stomach was found empty. The trial Court did not consider Exs.D-1 to D-3 in proper perspective. There was a discrepancy with regard to the weapon used as to whether it is Veta Kathi or Veta Kodavali, which was not considered properly by the trial Court. The learned Additional Sessions Judge did not see that there was delay in giving report to the Police. There was no possibility for anybody to witness the incident alleged to have been happened in the verandah of the house of the mother of the accused because there is a compound wall in front of the house and people cannot see anything that takes place in the verandah. Absolutely, accused had no intention to kill the deceased. According to the evidence on record, the learned Additional Sessions Judge erroneously convicted the accused and a benefit of doubt is to be extended to the accused. He would further submit that in the event of confirmation of the conviction by this Court, for any valid reason, the sentence imposed against the appellant/accused may kindly be reduced as 13 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 the sentence imposed against the accused is excessive and harsh. With the above submissions, he seeks to allow the Appeal.
15. Sri Y. Jagadeeswara Rao, learned Special Assistant, representing learned Public Prosecutor, would contend that absolutely the evidence of PW.1 and PW.2 was in detail about their duties to supervise the works of the Field Assistant which they have spoken clearly in their chief-examination. The nature of duties to be performed by them is not in dispute. PW.1, PW.2, PW.3, PW.4, PW.5, PW.6, PW.7, PW.8, PW.9, PW.10, PW.11 and PW.12 are the direct witnesses to the occurrence. Except PW.1 and PW.2, others were the members and group leaders in SMFL having borrowed the loan amounts. These people in fact gathered in the verandah of the house of mother of the accused at the time of incident. So, when they were sitting in the verandah the accused hacked the deceased as such they had every chance to witness the occurrence. The bunch of photographs marked under Ex.P-18 would depict the incident in question very clearly. The contention of the appellant that deceased was murdered in the vacant space is not tenable because according to Ex.P-18 photographs there was heavy bleeding on the floor from the neck of the deceased. A look at the photographs shows that the scene of 14 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 offence was located in the verandah of the house of mother of accused. PW.1, PW.2, PW.3, PW.4, PW.9 and PW.10 fully supported the case of the prosecution. They have no reason to depose false. For obvious reasons, PWs.5 to PW.8 and PW.11 did not support the case of the prosecution though they witnessed the occurrence but they testified the nature of duties to be performed by the deceased. Their hostility was proved by the prosecution. There was no delay in lodging Ex.P-1 report. Under the circumstances, the judgment of the trial Court is sustainable under law and facts as such Appeal is liable to be dismissed.
16. Coming to the evidence of PW.1 and PW.2, they claimed to be the employees in the SMFL. The evidence of PW.1 was in detail as to the nature of duties to be performed by them. His evidence with regard to the nature of duties of them is that the deceased worked as cash collection agent in Share Micro Finance Limited, Vetapalem, Prakasam District. The SMFL used to lend money to the ladies of inhabitants of the villages. They lent money to the ladies of Ayodhyanagar. LW.3 - Kuppala Bhagyalakshmi, LW.4 - Malla Audi Lakshmi, LW.5 - Moghal Ghousiya Begum, LW.6 - Mogili Kumar, LW.7 - Kesineni Basavamma, LW.8 - Shaik Ramana, LW.9 - GUrijala Saraswathi, LW.10 - Moghal 15 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 Sirajunnisa, LW.11 - Bala Ramulamma, LW.12 - Gorremutchu Mercy, LW.13 - Gorremutchu Samuelamma, LW.14 - Kavuru Venkata Ratnam, LW.15 - Somana Ramana, LW.16 - Kola Sri Gowri, LW.17 - Esam Venkayamma, LW.18 - Konakonda Anjamma and LW.19 - Kola Padma are the members in the group of SMFL, Chirala. The members who borrowed the loan amounts have to repay the loan amounts in weekly installments. They lent an amount of Rs.13,000/- to LW.18 - Konakonda Anjamma. Their field assistant used to go to the villages to collect the loan amounts. The deceased used to collect the weekly installments. Accused is the son of LW.18. On 05.04.2006 at 07:00 a.m., deceased went to Ayodhyanagar for collection of weekly installments. LW.2 - M. Someswara Rao, Area Manager, went to Ayodhyanagar. He also went to the house of LW.18 - K. Anjamma.
17. Similar is the evidence of PW.2 as regards the duties of the Branch Manager and his duties.
18. During the course of cross-examination of PW.1 and PW.2, nothing was elicited as regards the duties to be performed by them. So, the substance of their evidence is such that they used to supervise the work of Field Assistant, who used to collect the loan installments by going to the villages.
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19. With regard to the actual incident in question, the evidence of PW.1 is that at that by the time they went to the house of LW.18
- Anjamma, deceased was collecting weekly installments from the borrowers and was making entries in their respective passbooks. Then, he (PW.1) and LW.2 - Someswara Rao were talking with some other debts in the verandah. Meanwhile, accused armed with Veta Kodavali came out from his house and hacked the deceased with Veta Kodavali on the left side of neck. He also uttered a word that 'does the money be paid to your institution'. He uttered such a word before hacking him. Then the deceased fell down in a pool of blood. Then, they tried to catch the accused but the accused left Veta Kodavali at the scene of offence and fled away. All the debtors got frightened and went away from the scene. Deceased died on the spot. Immediately, they contacted the Field Operational Manager, Hyderabad and thereafter went to Vetapalem Police Station and reported the matter. Ex.P-1 is the report of him. Then, the Police came to the scene. Mother of the accused - Anjamma borrowed money from SMFL. Accused killed their agent i.e., deceased in order to frighten them for collecting weekly installments from his mother. He also gave his statement before the learned Magistrate under Ex.P-2 and MO.1 is the Veta Kodavali.
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20. The evidence of PW.2 with regard to the incident is that on 05.04.2006, he went to Sipaipet, Vetapalem Branch and picked up PW.1 and both of them went to the house of LW.18 - Anjamma. At 07:20 a.m. they found the deceased, who was sitting on the mat in the verandah along with members and collecting weekly installments from them. He was making entries in their respective passbooks. LW.3, LW.4, LW.5, LW.6, LW.7, LW.8, LW.9 and others were there. He and PW.1 were standing at the steps in front of the verandah. The deceased was collecting cash and making relevant entries. Meanwhile, the accused armed with big Veta Kathi questioned the deceased as to whether the amount be paid to their institution and hacked the deceased with big Veta Kathi on his left side. Then, on seeing the incident, he was shocked for a while and attempted to catch the accused but the accused left the big Veta Kathi at the scene and fled away. Deceased died there. Then, he contacted the Divisional Manager of SMFL, Sattenapalli by phone and also contacted Field Operational Manager, Head Office of SMFL at Hyderabad and informed that accused killed their field Assistant to give a threat to the employees of SMFL not to collect weekly installments from the members. He was examined by the Police. His statement was recorded by the learned Magistrate under Ex.P-3. MO-1 is big veta kathi.
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21. PW.3 is direct witness to the occurrence and member of SMFL, who borrowed the amount from SMFL, supported the case of the prosecution. She claimed her presence at the time of occurrence at the house of mother of the accused along with other members. So, with regard to the incident in question, her evidence is that she along with other members i.e., LW.4, LW.5, LW.6, LW.7, LW.8, LW.9 and some others were there at the house of the mother of the accused. Deceased was collecting money from the members and was making relevant entries in their passbooks. When the deceased was making relevant entries in passbooks, accused came out from his house armed with big knife and hacked the deceased with that knife on the left side of the neck of the deceased. Deceased received a blow on the left side of his neck and fell down. Accused ran away from the scene and the deceased died on the spot. On seeing the incident, the other members also ran away from the scene. She was examined by the Police. She can identify the big knife. MO-1 is the said knife. Her statement was recorded by the learned Magistrate under Ex.P-4.
22. According to PW.4, she also borrowed money from the SMFL. The deceased was their collection agent. On that day, she went to the house of LW.18 - Anjamma. Deceased sat on the mat 19 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 in the verandah of the house of LW.18 and counting the money. In the meanwhile, accused came and hacked the deceased on his neck. The deceased sustained a blow on his neck and fell down. Then, they got frightened and went away from the scene. The deceased died on the spot. The mother of the accused also borrowed money from SMFL. Her statement was recorded by the learned Magistrate under Ex.P-5.
23. PW.5 deposed that she also borrowed money from the SMFL, Chirala. She used to repay the loan amount to the deceased in installments. Deceased used to visit Ayodhyanagar once in a week to collect the loan installment amounts. She did not witness the occurrence. She does not know anything about the case. The learned Magistrate recorded her statement under Ex.P-6. Prosecution got declared her as hostile and during cross- examination she denied that she stated before Police as in Ex.P-7.
24. Coming to the evidence of PW.6, though she testified that she borrowed amount from SMFL and the nature of duties of the deceased but she claimed that she did not witness the occurrence but she gave statement under Ex.P-8 before the learned Magistrate. The prosecution got declared her as hostile and during 20 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 cross-examination, she denied that she stated before Police as in Ex.P-9.
25. PW.7 though supported the case of the prosecution with regard to the nature of the duties to be done by the deceased, her borrowing money from SMFL and that accused and his mother are living jointly under one roof but she did not support the case of the prosecution with regard to the incident. She admitted that she put her signature on Ex.P-10 as statement under 164 Cr.P.C. Prosecution got declared her as hostile and during cross- examination she denied that she stated before Police as in Ex.P-11.
26. PW.8 also did not support the case of the prosecution with regard to the incident in question but she admitted that she borrowed money from SMFL like others and she know the deceased and she used to repay the loan installments to the deceased. With regard to the incident, she did not support the case of prosecution. During cross-examination by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, she denied that she stated before Police as in Ex.P-13.
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27. PW.9 and PW.10 supported the case of the prosecution. They claimed that they know the accused as well as the deceased. They admitted about the duties that were performed by the deceased i.e., to collect the installments from the group members. With regard to the incident in question, according to PW.9 as on the date of incident at 07:00 a.m. she along with others went to the house of LW.18 - Anjamma. By then, the deceased was collecting installments from the members and making relevant entries at the verandah. Meanwhile, the accused came from his house and hacked the deceased with knife on his left side. Deceased sustained a blow, fell down and died on the spot. Accused has thrown the knife at the scene of offence and went away. She gave statement under Ex.P-14 before the learned Magistrate. Evidence of PW.10 with regard to the incident in question is also that they visited the house of LW.18 when the deceased came there to collect the installments, when they were talking with PW.1 and PW.2 at the steps of the house of LW.18, deceased was collecting weekly installments. Meanwhile, accused armed with a knife came out from his house and hacked the deceased with knife on the left side of his neck. Deceased received injury and died on the spot. Accused fled away from the scene. She gave statement under Ex.P-15 before the learned Magistrate. 22
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28. Coming to the evidence of PW.11, her evidence is that the deceased informed her that he would visit Ayodhyanagar on Wednesday and requested her to meet him at Ayodhyanagar and, on the date of incident, she went to the house of LW.18 - Anjamma and by then the deceased was collecting money from the members. While the deceased was collecting money from the members, accused came out and hacked the deceased with a knife on the left side of the neck. The deceased sustained a blow on his neck and fell down. Accused has thrown the knife near the dead body and went away. She gave statement before the Magistrate under Ex.P-16.
29. Coming to the evidence of PW.12, she did not support the case of the prosecution. Prosecution got declared her as hostile and during cross-examination, she denied that she stated before Police as in Ex.P-17.
30. So, out of the above witnesses, PW.1, PW.2, PW.3, PW.4, PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11 supported the case of the prosecution. Firstly, I would like to deal with as to whether the death of the deceased is homicidal.
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31. As seen from Ex.P-18 - bunch of photographs, they were taken by the Investigating Officer with the help of the photographer and, as evident from the same, the deceased with serious head injury with a pool of blood was lying in the so called verandah of the house of the mother of the accused. As seen from the inquest report marked under Ex.P-19, the nature of the injuries received by the deceased was there. There is overwhelming direct evidence on record in the form of PW.1, PW.2, PW.3, PW.4, PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11 that the death of the deceased was of homicidal. There is evidence of PW.16 - the Medical Officer, who conducted autopsy over the dead body of the deceased. According to him, he found an oblique cut lacerated wound of 12" x 6" x 4"
present on the left side of the neck extending from the posterior aspect of the neck up to the angle of left side of the mouth, exposing the base of the skull, parietal bone and occipital bone with soft tissues. The injury caused to the lower 1/3rd of the left ear lobule is ante-mortem in nature having bleeding and vitality. He is of the opinion that the deceased would have died of hemorrhagic shock due to cutting away of crucial blood vessels and injury to the vital organs of brain. Ex.P-21 is the post-mortem certificate.24
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32. There is evidence of PW.14, who acted as mahazar witness in support of the case of prosecution that the Investigating Officer conducted inquest maahazar. There is evidence of PW.17 - the Investigating Officer to prove the factum of conducting inquest mahazar. Absolutely, the cause of death of the deceased is not in dispute throughout. So, by virtue of the above evidence, the prosecution before the trial Court was able to establish the death of the deceased was of homicidal.
33. Now, this Court has to look into the theory of the defence that the deceased was murdered by some unknown persons during the intervening night of 4/5-04-2006 and purposefully the dead body was brought into the verandah of house of the mother of accused by the Police for the reasons best known and accused has nothing to do with the same. During the course of cross- examination, PW.1 deposed that there is a vacant site on the northern side of the verandah. There is bloodstained earth at vacant site which is situated on the northern side of the verandah. He denied a suggestion that the deceased was killed in that vacant site on the previous night.
34. Coming to the cross-examination of PW.2, he deposed that there is a vacant site on the northern side of the verandah of 25 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 LW.18. He found a pool of blood at vacant site near neem tree. He denied that on the previous night deceased was killed in the vacant site and his dead body was lying in that pool of blood in the vacant site. He denied that after arrival of Police to the scene of offence, he, PW.1 and Police shifted the dead body of the deceased into the verandah of the house of LW.18 from the place of vacant site. He denied that he is deposing false.
35. Coming to the cross-examination of PW.3, she denied that no incident took place in the verandah of the house of LW.18 and that she is deposing false. She does not know whether the Sudhakar Reddy was killed at vacant site on the previous night. She found the dead body of the deceased at the verandah.
36. Coming to the cross-examination of PW.4, the theory of the accused that the deceased was murdered in the vacant site adjacent to the verandah of the house of LW.18 was not suggested to her. Similarly, during the course of cross-examination of PWs.9, PW.10 and PW.11 also the theory of the accused that the deceased was murdered in the vacant site by unknown persons is not suggested to them. Coming to the cross-examination part of PW.17, the Investigating Officer, he denied that the deceased was murdered on the previous night of the date of FIR i.e., on the 26 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 intervening night of 4/5-04-2006 and the deceased did not die in the manner as stated in the charge sheet. During the course of cross-examination of PW.17 and PW.18, they were not at all cross- examined by suggesting the theory that it is they who shifted the dead body from the so called vacant site into the verandah of LW.18. A look at the photographs under Ex.P-18 reveals that there was a profuse bleeding on the floor in the verandah. The position of the dead body, as seen from the photographs, was not such that the dead body was brought to verandah from the vacant site. If really, the deceased was murdered in the vacant site, adjacent to the verandah, there would have been mud and other things around the dead body of the deceased. As seen from the photographs, the bleeding from the wound appears to be fresh. By looking into the photographs, by any stretch of imagination, it cannot be held that the dead body was brought from the vacant site adjacent to the verandah into the verandah. The features that are there in Ex.P-18 are such that there are also mats which establishes the case of the prosecution that there was a meeting by the members like PW.3 and others when the deceased was collecting the loan installment amounts due by them. It is very interesting to note that the verandah on one side was not with any 27 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 wall. It is no doubt true that PW.1 and PW.2 spoke to the fact that there was a drench of blood in the vacant site.
37. A close examination of the photographs clearly reveals that there was profuse bleeding from the dead body and the blood was dropping from the wall into the open space. In all its fairness, the evidence of PW.1 and PW.2 that they found blood marks in the vacant space adjacent to the verandah is really true. But a close examination of the photographs reveals that blood went into the open space from the dead body which was lying in the verandah. Taking advantage of the answers spoken by PW.1 and PW.2 in their cross-examination, the accused made out a deliberate attempt to contend that scene of offence was shifted. Men may lie but the circumstances would not so. There is no challenge to the evidence of PW.13 - photographer, who took the photographs of the dead body that he did not take the photographs of the dead body. Evidence of PW.13 coupled with the evidence of PW.17 - Investigating Officer reveals that the Investigating Officer took photographs of the dead body. So, the photographs under Ex.P-18 falsify the case of the defence to any extent. When there was heavy bleeding from the neck of the deceased flowing into the vacant 28 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 space, the accused cannot contend that the deceased was murdered in the vacant space by un-known persons.
38. As evident from the evidence of Inspector of Police i.e., PW.17, he prepared rough sketch at the scene of offence which is marked as Ex.P-22. During the course of cross-examination, the preparation of the rough sketch by the Investigating Officer was not in dispute. Towards the northern side of the house of LW.18 - Anjamma, vacant space is shown. In the vacant space, Item No.6 is the blood mark. The Investigating Officer has categorically shown flowing of blood from the dead body through the wall into the vacant space. Blood mark is shown at serial No.6 in the rough sketch. So, the blood mark in the vacant site was no other than the blood flowing from the dead body through the wall into the vacant site.
39. This Court has considered the contention of the appellant that cause of death was 12 hours prior to post-mortem examination carefully. By advancing such a contention the contention of the appellant is that deceased was murdered around 02:30 a.m. during the previous night. It is to be noticed that PW.16 - Medical Officer did not speak about the time of conducting of post-mortem examination. So, this Court has to look 29 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 into the post-mortem report. The post-mortem report is both printed as well as hand written. Commencement of the time of post-mortem examination was at 02:40 p.m. on 05.04.2006 but when it was concluded was not there. The request for post-mortem examination was received at 02:30 p.m. on 05.04.2006. The appellant wanted to count of 12 hours from 02:40 p.m. prior to which it cannot be accepted. Defence counsel did not cross- examine the Medical Officer regarding his conclusion time of the post-mortem examination. So, conclusion of the post-mortem examination may be by the evening. According to the post-mortem report, the time of death was mentioned as 12 hours prior to post- mortem examination. The time of 12 hours cannot be taken as exact time by which the deceased died. It only means that the probable time of death may be around 12 hours prior to the post- mortem examination. According to the prosecution, the accused was murdered at 07:30 a.m. Under the circumstances, I am of the considered view that the basing on 12 hours prior to post-mortem examination mentioned in the post-mortem report, it cannot be held that the deceased was murdered at 02:30 a.m. There is evidence of PW.1, PW.2 and others revealing the time of offence at 07:30 a.m. The opinion mentioned in post-mortem report would not nullify the evidence of the direct witnesses, if it is convincing. 30
AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 Whether the evidence of PW.1, PW.2, PW.3, PW.4, PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11 is convincing or not will be considered by appreciating the evidence on record.
40. Therefore, in the considered view of this Court, the accused cannot contend that the deceased was murdered during the previous night at 02:30 a.m. The bunch of photographs under Ex.P-18 would give a clue as to why bloodstains were there in the open space. The basis for the accused/appellant to contend that deceased was murdered at the vacant space is the answers spoken by PW.1, PW.2 and others in their cross-examination. In fairness, they admitted that there were blood marks in the open space also but the photographs explain how there were blood marks in the open space. So, the contention of the appellant that the deceased was murdered in the open space is falsified. When such a crucial contention is falsified, now the appellant cannot contend that the deceased was murdered 12 hours prior to post-mortem examination, when the post-mortem examination was concluded by evening.
41. Now I would like to appreciate the evidence in other aspects. 31
AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010
42. It is the contention of appellant in the grounds of Appeal that the prosecution did not prove the motive for the commission of offence. According to the appellant, nobody testified that the SMFL people were harassing the borrowers, who failed to repay the loan installments regularly. So, as per him, the prosecution did not prove the motive, the case against him is not proved. It is to be noticed that the entire case of the prosecution rests on direct evidence. The prosecution sought to prove the guilt against the accused before the learned Additional Sessions Judge basing on the evidence of the direct witnesses. It is immaterial as to whether the prosecution established the motive for the offence or not. Prosecution categorically established that the mother of the accused was a member in SMFL, which fact was not disputed during the course of cross-examination of PW.1 and PW.2. The offence in question was happened in the verandah of LW.18 - mother of the accused. So, when the case is based upon the direct evidence, his contention that the prosecution did not prove that the SMFL people were harassing the members is not tenable.
43. Coming to the contention of the appellant that, if really, the deceased went to the house of LW.18 at 07:00 or 07:30 a.m., he would have had the breakfast and in that event, his stomach, 32 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 during the course of post-mortem examination, would not have revealed it empty. The above said contention is nothing but fallacious. There is no hard and fast rule that a person should go to breakfast by 07:00 a.m. I do not find any merit in the above said contention advanced on behalf of the appellant.
44. As seen from the evidence of PW.1 during cross- examination, Exs.D-1 and D-2 were marked. The evidence of PW.1 is that accused hacked the deceased with Veta Kodavali (hunting sickle). During cross-examination, PW.1 denied that he stated before the Police as in Exs.D-1 and D-2. According to the Investigating Officer i.e., PW.17, PW.1 stated as in Exs.D-1 and D-2. As seen from Ex.D-1, the allegation is that accused brought a big knife. As seen from Ex.D-2, it reads that mother of the accused has to pay 10 installments as on the date of his report but due to hurry and confusion mood, he stated that she has to pay 7 installments. As evident from the bunch of photographs under Ex.P-18, the weapon used in the commission of offence is nothing but a hunting sickle which looks like a knife also. The above said discrepancy is not at all material. Apart from this, when there is no dispute about the fact that the mother of the accused was a member in SMFL, having borrowed the amount, it is immaterial as 33 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 to whether she was due of 7 or 10 installments, as on the date of offence. Apart from this, it is not a case where PW.1 deposed in chief-examination that mother of the accused has to pay 10 installments as on the date of incident. During cross-examination, he testified that LW.18 - Anjamma was indebted to a tune of Rs.3,000/- and she has to discharge the debt in 10 weekly installments. So, even Ex.D-2 is not at all material. So, Exs.D-1 and D-2 are of no use to the contention of the accused. During further cross-examination, PW.1 denied that by the time they went to the house of LW.18 - Anjamma, Police were present and there he prepared a report with the help of the Police. He denied the suggestion that he did not witness anything and that he is deposing false.
45. PW.2 also during cross-examination denied that after arrival of the Police to the scene of offence, he, PW.1 and Police shifted the dead body of the deceased - Sudhakar Reddy to the verandah. He denied that accused never hacked the deceased and no incident took place in the verandah of the house of LW.18, mother of the accused, as deposed by him. Presence of PW.1 and PW.2, according to the defence of the accused, was there subsequent to the commission of the offence but according to the defence, by the 34 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 time PW.1 and PW.2 went to the scene, already Police were there and the Police obtained report from PW.1. The above said defence of the accused, in my considered view, is not at all probable. PW.1 and PW.2 were duty bound to supervise the duties of the Field Assistants. The evidence of PW.1 and PW.2 in this regard is in detail. There are no circumstances elicited from the mouth of PW.1 and PW.2 to disbelieve their testimony that they went to the house of LW.18 i.e., mother of the accused to supervise the duties of the deceased Field Assistant. Insofar as the evidence of PW.1 and PW.2 is concerned, there are no doubtful circumstances to doubt their presence at the time of incident. Apart from this, PW.3, PW.4 and PWs.9 to PW.11 were also direct witnesses to the occurrence.
46. Turning to the evidence of PW.3, who fully supported the case of prosecution, in cross-examination she deposed that Police never threatened to send her to jail if she failed to depose according to the version of the prosecution. There are no ill- feelings between her and the family members of the accused. She denied that there are disputes over the landed property between them and the family of the accused. She stated that they have no talking terms with the family members of the accused. They do not visit the house of the accused and his family members also do not 35 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 visit her house. It is to be noticed that, absolutely, there is no suggestion given to PW.3 that she was not the member of SMFL. Though, PW.3 was not on talking terms but there are no doubtful circumstances throughout her evidence to doubt her presence at the time of offence. In my considered view, nothing is elicited during the course of cross-examination of PW.3 to disbelieve her testimony. In spite of probing cross-examination, there remained nothing in her evidence to disbelieve her testimony.
47. Coming to the evidence of PW.4, she fully supported the case of the prosecution. She was also a member in SMFL. She testified her presence at the time of incident in the verandah of LW.18. Even in cross-examination, she reiterated her presence at the time of offence. She denied that she did not go to the house of LW.18 - Anjamma and that she is deposing false. Absolutely, PW.4 has no reason to depose false against the accused. She has nothing to do with any disputes with the family of the accused. She has nothing to do to support the case of the prosecution un- necessarily. In my considered view, the presence of PW.3 and PW.4 at the time of occurrence is quietly proved.
48. Coming to the evidence of PWs.9 to PW.11, who supported the case of the prosecution, absolutely, there are no doubtful 36 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 circumstances elicited during the course of their cross- examination. PW.9, during the course of cross-examination, denied that she is deposing false and that she was not a witness to the occurrence.
49. Similarly, PW.10 and PW.11 denied the defence of the accused during their cross-examination. Through the examination of PW.10, during cross-examination, Ex.D-3 was marked and according to the Investigating Officer, PW.10 stated before him as in Ex.D-3. As evident from Ex.D-3, its contents are such that on 05.04.2006 morning there is a new group arrangement and there is a meeting in Ayodhyanagar and they were informed to go there. It is the evidence of PW.10 that she attended the meeting at Ayodhyanagar at the house of LW.18. In my considered view, Ex.D-3 is not going to contradict the evidence of PW.10 in any way. Therefore, even Ex.D-3 is not at all material in the circumstances of the case. PWs.9 to PW.11, who confirmed their presence at the time of occurrence in the verandah of the house of LW.18 - Anjamma, have no reason, whatsoever, to depose false against the accused. The evidence of PW.2, PW.3, PW.4, PW.9, PW.10 and PW.11 corroborates the testimony of PW.1 with regard 37 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 to the manner of attack. This Court has no reason, whatsoever, to disbelieve their testimony.
50. Coming to the evidence of PWs.5 to PW.8 and PW.12, they did not support the case of the prosecution. Having testified the nature of the duties to be performed by the deceased i.e., collection of loan installments, they claimed that they did not witness the occurrence of the incident. Their hostility towards the case of the prosecution is proved through the evidence of PW.17 - Investigating Officer, who deposed that PWs.5 to PW.8 and PW.12 stated before him as in Exs.P-7, P-9, P-11, P-13 and Ex.P-17 (161 Cr.P.C. statements). Merely because some of the prosecution witnesses turned hostile to the case of prosecution, the evidence of PWs.1 to PW.4 and PWs.9 to PW.11 cannot be disbelieved. The ocular testimony of these direct witnesses, who supported the case of the prosecution, with regard to the attack made by the accused on the neck of the deceased, has any amount of support as evident from Ex.P-18 photographs. The scene of offence is no other than the verandah in the house of LW.18 and the accused and his mother are residing under one roof. There is no dispute that both the accused and his mother used to reside in the said house. The plea that the dead body was found in vacant space as such it was 38 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 brought into verandah of the house of the mother of the accused has no legs to stand. As evident from Ex.P-22 - rough sketch, vacant space is shown towards northern side of the verandah and it is also elicited from the cross-examination of PW.1. So, the vacant space is immediate opposite to the verandah. If Ex.P-18 photographs are examined carefully towards the right side of the verandah, there is no wall. Even in front of the verandah, there are steps to constitute a small staircase. So, beyond that only vacant space is located. Beyond the so called vacant space is no other than the vacant space of the house of the mother of the accused. So, it is not a third parties vacant site. As pointed out, the photographs under Ex.P-18 falsify the contention of the accused that the commission of murder was in the vacant space. So, all this goes to show that the contention of the accused is nothing but false.
51. Apart from this, it is also the contention of the accused that there is no possibility for anybody to witness the occurrence. It is a case where PWs.1 to PW.4 and PWs.9 to PW.11 had a connection with the SMFL. So, when the deceased was convening a meeting in the verandah, they gathered there, it is not that they were outside the house standing beyond the compound wall. Absolutely, there 39 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 are no such circumstances. So, there is every possibility for PW.1, PW.2, PW.3, PW.4 and PWs.9 to PW.11 to witness as to what actually happened in the verandah. The contention of the accused that these witnesses had no probability to witness the incident alleged to have happened at verandah is devoid of merits.
52. Coming to the contention of learned counsel for the appellant that the prosecution did not explain the delay in lodging Ex.P-1 - report by PW.1, PW.1 during chief-examination deposed that immediately after the incident, they contacted the Field Operational Manager at Hyderabad by phone and informed the matter and later he went to the Police Station and reported the matter in the Police Station. He presented a written report. He further deposed that, on seeing the incident, all the debtors got frightened and went away from the scene of occurrence. During the course of cross-examination, he deposed that on seeing the incident, he got confused and frightened and contacted their higher ups at Hyderabad and informed the matter and on account of which he did not report in the Police Station immediately. It is to be noticed that the accused did not challenge the testimony of PW.1 in chief-examination and cross-examination that after informing the incident to the higher ups only he presented a report 40 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 to the Police. It is not a case where there was any animosity between PW.1 and the accused. In my considered view, the delay was properly explained by the prosecution as such the contention of the accused that prosecution did not explain the delay is not tenable.
53. In the light of the above, the evidence of PWs.1 to PW.4 and PWs.9 to PW.11 is fully believable. It is convincing and it is inspiring confidence in the mind of the Court. As pointed out, the death of the deceased was of homicidal, considering the evidence of Medical Officer i.e., PW.16, coupled with the post-mortem report marked under Ex.P-21. The nature of the injuries received by the deceased was incised injuries. As evident from Ex.P-18 photographs, the injury received by the deceased is nothing but deadly. There was profuse bleeding in the verandah dropping through the wall into the vacant space. The trial Court, believing the case of the prosecution, was of the view that the accused had no intention to kill the deceased but he had knowledge that the attack that was made by him would cause the death of the deceased. As against the findings that the accused had no intention to kill the deceased and that the prosecution did not make out any case under Section 302 IPC, the prosecution did not 41 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 file any Appeal. It is a case where the accused targeted the neck of the deceased and the photographs revealed that the attack was made brutally on the neck of the deceased. The injury received by the deceased was deadly. Under the circumstances, it is amply proved that the accused had every knowledge with certainty that the attack, being made by him, would cause the death of the deceased. Though the prosecution did not file any Appeal as against the findings that the accused had no intention to kill but the evidence on record amply proves that the accused had every knowledge that his act would cause the death of the deceased. So, undoubtedly, the case of the prosecution would attract the essential ingredients of the culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Hence, I am of the considered view that the prosecution has categorically proved that on 05.04.2006 at 07:30 a.m. the accused made an attack on the deceased with Veta Kodavali and the evidence i.e., adduced by the prosecution is fully convincing, which made out a case against the accused that accused caused the homicidal death of the deceased and according to the findings of the trial Court, it amounts to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Under the circumstances this Court has no reason to interfere with the findings of the learned Additional Sessions 42 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 Judge. Hence, I do not find any reason to interfere with the findings of the learned Additional Sessions Judge.
54. It is also the contention of learned counsel for the appellant that, if this Court is going to dismiss the Appeal, for any valid reason, the sentence of imprisonment imposed on the appellant/accused may be reduced as the sentence imposed against him is harsh.
55. Section 304 IPC provides two types of punishments; one is imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine, if the act by which the death is caused is done with the intention of causing death, or of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death and the second type of punishment is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both, if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death.
56. The finding of the trial Court is that accused did the act with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death. So the sentence of 7 43 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 years imprisonment imposed against the accused by the learned Additional Sessions Judge is quite reasonable and it is not at all excessive or harsh. Hence, I am not convinced to reduce the term of imprisonment imposed against the accused by the learned Additional Sessions Judge.
57. In the light of the above, I am of the considered view that the judgment, dated 21.04.2010, in Sessions Case No.296 of 2006 on the file of the Court of III Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Prakasam Division, Ongole is sustainable under law and facts and there are no grounds to interfere with the same.
POINT No.3:
58. In the result, the Criminal Appeal is dismissed confirming conviction and sentence imposed against the appellant/accused in Sessions Case No.296 of 2006, dated 21.04.2010, on the file of the Court of III Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Prakasam Division, Ongole.
59. The Registry is directed to take steps immediately under Section 388 Cr.P.C. to certify the judgment of this Court including 44 AVRB,J Crl.A. No.650/2010 the trial Court record, if any, to the trial Court on or before 12.09.2023 and on such certification, the trial Court shall take necessary steps to carry out the remainder sentence, if any, imposed against the appellant/accused in S.C. No.296 of 2006, dated 21.04.2010, and to report compliance to this Court. A copy of this judgment be placed before the Registrar (Judicial), forthwith, for giving necessary instructions to the concerned Officers in the Registry.
Consequently, Miscellaneous Applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.
________________________________ JUSTICE A.V.RAVINDRA BABU Date: 05.09.2023 DSH