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[Cites 14, Cited by 8]

Madhya Pradesh High Court

Balvinder Kumar Singh & 4 Ors. vs State Of M.P. on 5 January, 2015

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    HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH, JABALPUR
                BENCH AT INDORE

    (DIVISION BENCH :  HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE SHANTANU 
   KEMKAR & HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE JARAT KUMAR JAIN )


             CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.138 OF 2008.

     Balindar Kumar s/o Tapeshwarsingh and 4 others 

                           V  E  R  S  U  S

                    State of Madhya Pradesh
                              * * * * * *
    Shri Avinash Sirpurkar, learned counsel for the appellants.

 Shri R.S.Parmar, learned Panel Lawyer for the Respondent/State.

* * * * * * J   U   D   M   E   N   T ( Delivered on this  5th day of January, 2015 ) Per J.K.Jain, J. :

THE appellants by preferring the appeal  under  Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure [for short  "the   Code"]   assailed   the   legality   and   validity   of   their  conviction under Section 364­A read with Section 120­Bof  the IPC and consequent sentences of imprisonment for life  and   a   fine   of   Rs.500­00   with   default   clause   passed   on  18.12.2007 by 20th ASJ (Fast Track Court), Indore in S.T.  No.212/2005.

[2] Briefly stated the prosecution case as unfolded  before the Trial Court is that on 16.12.2004 Kailash Baheti 

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(60 years) a businessman of Indore City left his residence  for morning walk at 4.30 AM. It was stated that normally  he returns back at home around 7.00 AM, but on the date  of incident he did not return. Then around 7.30 AM his  sons Sanjay and Vipin got worried about him and made  enquiries.  They   found   that   their   father's   car  was   parked  near Zanjeerwala Chouraha. Both the sons tried their best  but they could not gather any positive information about  their   father.   Thereafter   Vipin   went   to   Police   Station  Tukoganj,   Indore   and   lodged   the   missing   report   of   his  father   which   was   registered   as   Gumshudgi   No.29/2004.  On the same date, Sanjay received a call on his mobile­ phone from an unknown person who introduced himself as  Raja.   Raja   told   him   that   his   father   (Kailash   Baheti)   is  abducted and is in his possession and Rs.5 crores be kept  ready to pay as ransom.  Sanjay informed the police about  the telephonic call which he has received on his mobile­ phone. Thereafter police registered a case under Sections  364,   365,   368   and   120­B   of   the   IPC   against   unknown  persons and started investigation. Mobile­phones of Vipin,  Sanjay and land line phone of their residence were kept on  surveillance and the conversations were recorded. It was  found   that   on   each   communication,   the   abductors   used  different sim cards. Sanjay (son) and Santosh (son­in­law)  negotiated with the abductors whereupon they agreed to  accept   Rs.   one   crore   as   ransom.   The   abductors   asked 
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Sanjay   to   come   to   Nagpur   with   Rs.one   crore.   Sanjay,  Santosh   and   Radheyshyam   reached   Nagpur   whereupon  Sanjay   received   the   message   to   come   at   Kolkata.   Then  they started by train for Kolkata. In the middle of journey  Sanjay again got the message to get down at Bilaspur so as  to deliver the ransom between Bilaspur and Nagpur. That  as per the instructions of the abductors Sanjay and others  got   down   at   Bilaspur   and   started   waiting   for   further  instructions of the abductors, in the meanwhile, they got  the information that Kailash Baheti has been released and  he has reached to Nagpur.   
[3]                  Meanwhile   Indore   police   sent   the  information to neighboring States and requested them for  apprehending   the   culprits.   After   lapse   of   a   month,   on  17.01.2005, during checking at Dharseema, District Raipur  (C.G.) appellant Balvinder Singh, Khalid, Santosh Singh  and Shailendra were arrested under Section 41 (2) of the  Code, but Gopal Tiwari escaped. Gopal Tiwari @ Baba  informed the appellant Sajid Ansari that police can arrest  him at any time, therefore, he must release Kailash Baheti  immediately. Thereafter Kailash Baheti was released in the  forest   between   Wardha   to   Nagpur.   Somehow   Kailash  Baheti  reached  Nagpur,   then   with   the   help   of  police   he  reached at Indore. 
[4]   Kailash   Baheti   stated   to   Police   that   on  16.12.2004   at   about   4.30AM   he   left   his   residence   for 
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morning   walk.   He   stated   that   he   parked   his   car   near  Zanjeerwala Chouraha and started walking. There he saw  a man coming out of a Bolero car. The said man asked him  about the location of some person's residence. Before he  could   reply,   7­8   persons   surrounded   him   and   he   was  pushed into the car and was taken away. The abductors  tied a strip of cloth on his eyes and after travelling a long  distance  he was kept in a flat  where the  windows were  covered   by   ply   so   he   cannot   see   outside   the   flat.   The  abductors kept him as a hostage in that flat [No.3, Rupali  Apartment,   Laxmi   Nagar   Wardha,   (M.S)]   for   about   a  month. During that period he under coercion wrote some  letters to his sons for paying ransom to the abductors.
[5]  During investigation Kailash Baheti stated that  he knew one of the accused Mukesh (since acquitted) who  earlier   worked   as   his   driver.   He   identified   the   accused  persons (appellants)  in  test  identification   parade.  During  further   investigation,   a   revolver   with   cartridges,   mobile  Phones and a car was recovered from possession  of the  appellants. At the instance of appellants, application forms  and other documents were recovered from the shopkeepers  who sold the sim cards to the appellants. Call details were  also   collected   from   the   concerned   Service   Providers.  Voice samples of the appellants were sent to FSL Delhi  and   the   documents   were   sent   for   examination   to 
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Government   handwriting   expert.   After   completing   the  investigation,   final   report   was   filed   against   appellants­ herein   and   Ajay   and   Mukesh,   in   the   Court   of   JMFC,  Indore. The case was committed to the Court of Sessions,  Indore. Then it was made over to 20th ASJ Indore for trial.
[6] After   hearing   the   parties   and   considering   the  material,   learned   ASJ   framed   charges   against   appellants  under Sections 364­A r/w 120­B of the IPC.   Appellants  abjured their guilt. They pleaded false implication.
[7] For proving the charge, prosecution examined  as many as 56 witnesses.  Prosecution also relied upon 191  exhibits and 31 articles.  After completing the statement of  prosecution   witnesses,   appellants   were   examined   under  Section   313   of   the   Code.   They   did   not   produce   any  witness in their defence.  Defence relied upon 7 exhibits.
[8] After   hearing   learned   counsel   for   both   the  parties,   learned   ASJ   recorded   the   conviction   against  Balvinder,   Khalid,   Sajid,   Shailendra   and   Santosh   under  Section   364­A   r/w   120­B   of   the   IPC;   whereas   charges  against Ajay and Mukesh were not proved, therefore, they  were acquitted from these charges. Against the conviction  and sentence, appellants have preferred this appeal.
[9] We have heard Shri Avinash Sirpurkar, learned  counsel   for   the   appellants   and   Shri   R.S.Parmar,   learned  Panel Lawyer for the Respondent/State.
[10] Learned   counsel   for   the   appellants   submitted 
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that no case has been made out against the appellants for  an   offence   punishable   u/s   364­A   of   IPC   in   as   much   as  ingredients   of   section   364­A   of   IPC   has   not   been  established by the prosecution. There is no evidence that  the appellants have caused any injury or have administered  any threat of death to Kailash Baheti. The prosecution has  not produced any recording/transcription or any document  in   regard   to   demand   of   ransom   for   release   of   Kailash  Baheti.  On  the   other   hand   the   appellants   have   provided  him   food   and   essential   medicines   and   when   he   was  released, appellants gave him some  of Rs. 500/­ for his  travelling   expenses.   There   is   no   evidence   that   the  appellants   have   demanded   any   ransom   or   procured   any  amount as ransom. From these facts it can be seen that at  most the act of the appellants comes under the purview of  section   365   IPC   for   which   the   maximum   punishment  provided is 7 years and in as much as the appellants have  already served about 10 years of sentence therefore, the  appeal be allowed and the appellants be released. For this  purpose, he relied upon the judgment of this Court in the  case   of  Shahid   Khan  v/s  State   of   M.P.  [2013.Cr.L.R.  (MP) 763].

[11] Learned   counsel   for   appellants   cited   the  judgment of Apex court in the case Vishwnath Gupta vs.  State   of   Uttaranchal  (2007)11SCC   633   and   submitted  that there are three stages in Section 364­A IPC, one is the 

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kidnapping or abduction, second is threat of death coupled  with demand of money and lastly when the demand is not  met,   then   causing   death.   If   the   three   ingredients   are  available,   that   will   constitute   the   offence   under   Section  364­A IPC. In the present case prosecution has failed to  prove   these   three   stages   of   the   offence.   Therefore   the  conviction of the appellants u/s 364­A r/w 120­B IPC is  liable to be setaside.   
[12] On   the   other   hand,   learned   Panel   Lawyer  submitted   that   from   the   evidence   of   abductee   Kailash  Baheti, his son sanjay, son­in­law Santosh Muchhal and  Radheyshyam   it   is   proved   that   Kailash   Baheti   was  abducted for ransom of Rs.5 crores. After negotiations, the  appellants were agreed to accept Rs.one crore as ransom.  It is also proved that Kailash Baheti was taken away from  Indore to Wardha and was kept as a hostage in the flat for  about a month by the appellants. Thus it is evident that due  to the conduct of the appellants a reasonable apprehension  arose in the mind of Kailash Baheti that he may be put to  death   or   caused   a   grievous   hurt   by   the   appellants.   It  reveals    from  the   evidence   that   appellants   had   no   other  intention except to extort the ransom. The facts of Shahid  Khan's  case   (supra)   are   different,   in   that   case   an   eye  witness of a murder case, was abducted to create pressure  on him that if he would give evidence against the accused  persons of that murder case, then he may be put to death. 
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Therefore,   this   judgment   will   not   be   helpful   to   the  appellants.   It   was   therefore   submitted   that   the   appeal  deserves   to   be   dismissed   by   confirming   the   order   of  conviction and sentence passed by the Trial Court. [13]    We   have   given   our   anxious   and   most   thoughtful  consideration to the rival submissions of both the sides.  We have also perused the judgment of trial court and have  minutely gone through the evidence on record.          [14] In so far as abduction of Kailash Baheti is concerned,  it has been clearly established and cogently proved by the  prosecution evidence that Kailash Baheti was abducted on  16.12.2004 at about 4.30 AM when he was on morning  walk and was taken from Indore to Wardha and was kept  in a flat for 32 days. For this purpose learned ASJ was  right   in   relying   upon   the   testimony   of   victim   Kailash  Baheti (PW­1) his son Sanjay Baheti (PW­17), his Son­in­ law Santosh Muchhal (PW­42) and Radhyeshyam Sharda  (PW­46) and it is further corroborated by prompt FIR (Ex­ P­146). We saw no infirmity in the prosecution evidence  nor in the findings recorded by the trial court in regard to  abduction of Kailash Baheti. 

[15]  Now it has to be seen that whether appellants were  involved   in   the   aforesaid   abduction   of   Kailash   Baheti?  Kailash   Baheti   deposed   that   he   was   abducted   by   the  appellants   on   16.12.2004   and   he   remained   with   the  abductors   until   17.1.2005   i.e.   for   32   days.   During   Test 

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Identification   Parade   he   identified   the   appellants.   His  evidence   is   natural   and   inspires   confidence.   Learned  Counsel for the appellants has not challenged this finding  that   the   appellants   abducted   Kailash   Baheti.   Thus   it   is  proved   beyond   doubt   that   the   appellants   hatched   a  conspiracy   and   abducted   Kailash   Baheti   and   took   him  from Indore to Wardha and was kept in a flat for 32 days. [16]  Now,   let   us   consider   whether   the   prosecution   has  established its case for the offence punishable u/s 364­A of  IPC   beyond   reasonable   doubt.   If   it   is   established   that  offender after kidnapping/abducting a person keeps him in  detention and threatened to cause death or hurt in order to  extort ransom and communicates that demand, he is guilty  for kidnapping for ransom.
[17]  It is not necessary to deal with the statements of all  the   witnesses   insofar   as   the   instant   controversy   is  concerned. It would be necessary to refer to the statements  of   a   few   witnesses   so   as   to   deal   with   the   submissions  advanced on behalf of the appellants. 
[18]  Firstly we have considered that whether any threat to  cause death or hurt was administered by the appellants to  the victim Kailash Baheti and/or his sons? For this purpose  we would refer some portion of the statement of  Kailash  Baheti (PW­1) who deposed that ­ PARA­4     **fQj ftl xkMh esa eq>s Mkyk x;k Fkk mlus pyuk 'kq:
fd;k yxHkx 15 fefuV ckn eq>s I;kl yxhA rks eSus ikuh ekaxkA rks
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muesa ls fdlh us eq>s ikuh dh cksry gkFk esa nhA vk/kk ?kwaV ihus ij gh dM+ok yxus ij eSus ikuh Fkwad fn;kA rc eq>s FkIiM+ ekjk x;kA blds ckn esjk eqag lhV ds uhps dj fn;k x;kA FkksM+h nsj ckn xkM+h :dh vkSj dqN lokfj;ksa dh vnyk&cnyh gqbZ blds ckn yxHkx 8 ?k.Vs rd xkM+h yxkrkj pyrh jghA bl vof/k esa tc dHkh dksbZ cLrh utnhd vkrh FkhA rks esjk flj uhps nck fn;k tkrk FkkA** PARA­6 **dkj esa csBs&csBs esjh iV~Vh [kksy nh x;h vkSj ftl ¶ysV esa eq>s j[kk x;k Fkk mlds xsV ij gh dkj jksdh x;h FkhA og ¶ysV xzkm.M ¶yksj dk FkkA Åij eYVh LVksjh fcfYMax FkhA dkj ls mrkjdj eq>s lh/ks ¶ysV ds vanj ys tk;k x;kA esjs nksuksa rjQ nks&nks rjQ vkneh [kMs gks x;sA ftUgksus eq>s b/kj&m/kj ugha ns[kus fn;kA** PARA­7  **eSa ml ¶ysV esa 32 fnu rd jgkA brus fnuksa es eq>s ml ¶ysV ds nks dejksa es j[kk x;kA igys okys dejsa essa f[kfM+fd;ka FkhA ysfdu muesa I;k;owM yxkdj gok jks'kuhcan dj nh x;h FkhA ogka yxHkx pkj ?k.Vs ykbZV can jgrh FkhA dqN fnukas ckn eq>s nwljs dejsa es f'k¶V dj fn;k x;k FkkA bu 32 fnuksa dh vof/k esa eq>s bruk Mjk fn;k x;k Fkk fd dHkh esus f[kM+dh [kksyus ;k rksM+us dh dksf'k'k ugh dhA eq>ls dgk tkrk Fkk fd pqipki cSBs jgksA gekjs f[kykQ dqN djus dh dksf'k'k ugha djukA bl vof/k esa ogka tks yksx gksrs Fksa eSa muls ckj&ckj fuosnu djrk Fkk fd tks Hkh eq>ls ysuk gS ysdj eq>s NksM+ nks] ;k eSa fnyk nwaxkA ;g Hkh dgk fd fdlh fj'rsnkj ls esjh ckr djk nks rks eSa iSls dk bartke dj nwaxkA ;k eq> ij fo'okl gks rks eq>s NksM+ nks ckn esa iSls ns nwaxkA** PARA-11 **ysfdu esjs ikl fdlh dks T;knk QVdus ugh fn;k tkrk FkkA rFkk eq>s ges'kk /kedkdj j[kk tkrk FkkA tc Hkh dek.Mj cyhUnj vkrk Fkk rks eSa iSlks ds ckjsa es mlls iwNrk FkkA fd iSls fey jgs gS ;k
-:- 11 -:-
ughA eq>ls esjs yM+dksa ds uke ij fpV~Vh;ka fy[kok;h tkrh Fkh fd budks iSlk ns nks tks Hkh ;s ekaxrs gSaA eSa cgqr ijs'kkuh es gwa esjh tku [krjs es gSA eq>s ;g dHkh ekywe ugh iM+k fd esjh fjgkbZ ds fy, dqy fdruk iSlk ekaxk tk jgk gSA vyx&vyx fnuksa esa pkj&ikap fpfV~V;ka fy[kok;h x;hA rc eSa ckn esa ¶ysV esa ekStwn vU; yksxksa ls fpVfB;ksa ds tokc ds ckjs es iwNk djrk FkkA rks og dgrs Fksa fd dek.Mj ls gh ckr djukA ** PARA-12 **32 fnu ckn 'kke dks yxHkx lk<+s 5&6 cts dk le; FkkA vpkud ¶ysV esa eksckbZy ds VsyhQksu dh ?k.Vh cth tks fd igyh ckj cth Fkh blds igys dHkh esus fdlh dks eksckbZy ij ckr djrs gq, ugha ns[kk FkkA rc eksckbZy dh ?k.Vh ctus ij tks vkneh esjs fy;s [kkuk cukrk FkkA mlus Qksu ij ckr dhA rc og cgqr T;knk ?kcjk;k gqvk Fkk tSls dksbZ cMh ?kVuk ?kV x;h gksA eq>s Mj yxk fd dgha eq>s ekj Mkyus dk vkns'k rks ugha vk jgk gSA ml le; ¶ysV esa dqy rhu yksx FksaA fQj VsyhQksu ij ckr djus okys vkneh us eq>ls dgk fd rqEgkjh fjgkbZ dk vkns'k gks pqdk gSA** **ml O;fDr ls eSus vius lhj ij gkFk j[kokdj iwNk fd D;k okLro esa vki yksx eq>s NksM+ jgs gks \ vkSj D;k vkidks iSlk fey pqdk gS \ rks ml vkneh us dgk fd gka iSlk fey pqdk gS vkSj ge vkidks NksM+ jgs gSaA ** From   these   facts   it   is   clear   that   the   appellants   have  threatened to cause death or hurt to Kailash Baheti in order  to extort ransom. Thus, there is no force in the argument of  the learned counsel for the appellants that the appellants  have not administered any threat to cause death or hurt to  Kailash Baheti.
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[19] Now we have considered that whether the appellants  have   demanded   ransom   of   Rs.5   crores   for   releasing  Kailash   Baheti?     For   this   purpose   the   statements   of  Kailash Baheti, his son Sanjay and son­in­law Santosh and  one Radheyshyam would be useful.
[20] Kailash Baheti also stated that under coercion he has  to   write   letters   [Ex­P/1,   P/2   &   P/33]   to   his   son.   These  letters are as under:­ Exhibit - P/1 1&1&05 lat;] eSa Bhd gwa budh O;oLFkk dSls Hkh dj nsosa A uhps yh[ks yksxksa ls iSlk bdV~Bk djds ns nsosa vkSj muls promise dj nsosa fd esjs vkus ls lkjs pqdrk dj nsosaxs A (1) Brij Mohanji (2) Narayandasji (3) Hemant Neema (4) Guddu Lunawat (5) Radheshyamji (6) Indorilalji (7) Tripathi (8) Bhaktani eq>s djhc 17 fnu gks x;s gSa budh O;oLFkk rkcM+rksc djok nsosa A Risk rks ysuh gh iM+sxh A iqfyl ds pDdj esa ugha iM+s A /;ku jgs tYnh tYnh message djsa D;ksafd ;gka eu ugha yx jgk gSA dSyk'k ckgsrh
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Exhibit - P/2 lat;] budks :i;k fnYyh dkuiqj] ukxiqj] tgka ls Hkh vius dks fey lds O;oLFkk djk nsosa A luhi esgjk ls try dj ysosa ;k My Car dkuiqj dks try dj ysosa A t;nso pkS/kjh vkxjk dks dj ugha ikosxk fQj Hkh VkbZe ij dke vk tkos A dksf'k'k djuk fd jk/ks';keth ukxiqj O;oLFkk djk nsosa ,oa oks gh settle dj nsosa A eSa vkus ls ftldk Hkh :i;k yksxs mls pqdkus dh O;oLFkk dj nwaxk A lkjh O;oLFkk tYnh djus dh O;oLFkk djk nsosa rkfd eSa tYnh ls NqV ldwa A ?kj ij cPpksa ls 'kqHk vk'kh"k ,oa HkkbZ;kas ,oa nksLrksa ,oa leLr ifjokj okyksa ls ;Fkk;ksX; dguk dSyk'k ckgsrh 1&1&05 Exhibit - P/33 7.15 A.M. 24.12.04 Dear Sanjay, Kindly settle & pay money otherwise I will be in trouble. Do not go to Police. They can do nothing, so many days have been passed.

I have given number of Santoshji, Radheshyamji, Satish Mehra for collecting money. Number of "My Car" Dealer of Maruti Bhopal & Kanpur also I have given. Kindly Depute Radheshyamji for this settlement.

My Blessings to all in house.

dSyk'k ckgsrh 24&12&04 7.15 A.M. [21]  It is true that these letters [Ex­P/1, P/2 & P/33] sent  by Kailash Baheti and received by his Son Sanjay Baheti  made no reference to any specific demand of the amount  of   ransom,   however   in   these   letters   Kailash   Baheti  requested to arrange ransom amount for his release. His  son   Sanjay   (PW­17)   deposed   that   on   a   day   after   his 

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father's   abduction,   he   received   a   phone   call   from   an  unknown person  who stated that your father is safe in our  custody and he demanded Rs.5 Crores. He further stated  that after this telephonic conversation he received the letter  by fax [Ex­P/33] and then Ex­P/1 & Ex­P/2 by courier. He  further deposed that he was constantly in touch with the  abductors   on   telephone.   He   also   negotiated   with   the  abductors and they were agreed to accept Rs. one Crore  and   as   per   their   instructions   he   along   with   Santosh  Mucchal   (PW­42)   and   Radheyshyam   (PW­46)   went   to  Nagpur.   After   reaching   Nagpur   the   abductors   instructed  them   to   reach   Kolkata   by   Geetanjali   Express   but   in  between they were again directed to get down at Bilaspur,  however they did not deliver the ransom amount as they  received   a   message   from   the   police   officer   that   the  abductors have been caught and their father is safe. All  these aforesaid facts have been corroborated by Santosh  Muchhal (PW­42) and Radheyshyam (PW­46). It is seen  that the testimonies of these witnesses remained unshaken  in the cross­examination.
[22] In such circumstances there is no force in contention  of the learned counsel for the appellants that there was no  demand of ransom by the appellants. It is also to be seen  that from the facts it is apparent that there was no other  intention of the appellants  except to  extort ransom after  abducting Kailash Baheti.
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[23]  It was strenuously argued by the learned counsel of  the   appellants   that   no   CD   in   regard   to   conversation   of  demand of ransom was produced by the prosecution, and  neither any mobile phone or landline phone were seized  from   the   appellants.   In   the   considered   opinion   of   this  Court,   it   does   not   in   any   way   adversely   affect   the  prosecution,   if   otherwise   the   evidence   of   prosecution  witnesses  is reliable  and the  Court is satisfied  as to  the  circumstances   leading   to   the   demand   of   ransom   by   the  appellants.
[24] At this juncture we considered the judgment of this  Court in case of Shahid Khan (supra). In Shahid Khan's  case Dinesh Chandravanshi an eye witness of murder case  was abducted, to create pressure on him that if he would  give   the   evidence   against   the   accused   persons   of   that  murder case then he may be put to death. In that case there  was no demand of ransom which is one of the essential  ingredient for the offence u/s 364­A of IPC whereas in the  present case the appellants have abducted Kailash Baheti  and they took him from Indore to Wardha and they kept  him   as   a  hostage   in   a   flat   at   Wardha   for   32   days.   The  appellants have demanded the ransom of Rs. 5 crore and  after negotiation they agreed to accept ransom of Rs. one  crore. From the conduct of the appellants it is proved that  there was a reasonable apprehension that if the demand of  ransom has not been fulfilled, Kailash Baheti would be put 
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on death. Thus the Shahid Khan's judgment is not helpful  to the appellants.
[25] Now we have considered the judgment of Vishwanath  Gupta (supra) which is heavily relied upon by the learned  counsel   of   the   appellants.   Learned   Counsel   of   the  appellants tried to impress us that in Vishwanath Gupta's  case   Hon'ble   Apex   Court   has   held   that   there   are   three  stages   in   Section   364­A   of   IPC.   One   is   kidnapping   or  abduction, second is threat of death coupled with demand  of   money   and   lastly   when   the   demand   is   not   met   then  causing death. If these three ingredients are available, that  will   constitute   an   offence   u/s   364­A   if   IPC.   We   have  considered   this   submission.   In   Vishwanath's   case,   the  question before the Hon'ble Supreme Court was that when  all the ingredients of the offence have not taken place at  one place then which court had territorial jurisdiction to  try the matter. The Hon'ble Supreme Court after elaborate  discussion held that the offence u/s 364­A of IPC has three  stages and the trial could be conducted at any of the court  in which any one stage of the offence is committed. In this  judgment, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has nowhere held  that unless the aforesaid  three stages are completed,  the  offence under section 364­A of IPC would not be made  out. 
[26]  We would however like to refer the judgment of the  Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of Akram Khan v State of 
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West Bengal reported in 2012(1) SCC 406.
"28) In Malleshi vs. State of Karnataka, (2004) 8 SCC 95, while considering the ingredients of Section 364A IPC, this Court held as under:
" 12. To attract the provisions of Section 364-A what is required to be proved is: (1) that the accused kidnapped or abducted the person; (2) kept him under detention after such kidnapping and abduction; and (3) that the kidnapping or abduction was for ransom....."

To pay a ransom, as stated in the above referred Sec- tion, in the ordinary sense means to pay the price or de- mand for ransom. This would show that the demand has to be communicated.

29) We have already pointed out the evidence of PW-3 that he had received 8 or 9 calls from the accused per- sons demanding ransom for release of his son and the evidence of PW-7, an employee of a public telephone booth, also corroborates with the evidence of PW-3 who deposed that the calls were made on several occa- sions by the appellant from the telephone booth and on 2 or 3 occasions along with the child.

30) In Vinod vs. State of Haryana, AIR 2008 SC 1142, while reiterating the principles enunciated in Malleshi (supra), this Court accepted the case of the prosecution and confirmed the conviction and sentence of life imprisonment imposed under Section 364A IPC.

31) Though learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the case falls only under Section 363, namely, mere kidnapping and not under Section 364A i.e., Kidnap- ping for ransom, in the light of the acceptable evidence led in by the prosecution, relied on and accepted by the trial Court and the High Court, we reject the said con- tention."

[27] It is not necessary for the prosecution to establish the 

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offence u/s 364­A of IPC that the abductors have actually  extort  some ransom  and  in   not fulfilling  the   demand  of  ransom the abductee had been resulted in death. But the  prosecution   has   to   prove   that   the   abductee   was   kept   in  detention and threatened to cause death or hurt in order to  extort ransom and communicates that demand for ransom. [28]  In the present case the prosecution has proved  all the three ingredients of section 364­A of IPC which are  enunciated   in   Malleshi's   case.   Thus   the   submissions   of  learned  counsel   for   the   appellants   has  no   force   that   the  case falls under 365 of IPC and not under section 364­A of  IPC.
[29] Now   we   have   to   consider   as   to   whether   the  sentence imposed by the trial court is appropriate or not.  The   prosecution   has   proved   beyond   doubt   that   the  appellants have committed offence punishable u/s 364­A  r/w 120­B IPC. The offence shall be punishable with death  or   imprisonment   for   life   and   shall   be   liable   to   fine.  Learned trial court awarded the sentence of imprisonment  for life and fine of Rs.500/­ with default clause. We are of  the   view   that   sentence   passed   by   the   learned   ASJ   is  appropriate in the present facts and circumstances of this  case.  
[30]  From   the   above   discussions,   in   our   considered  opinion   the   trial   court   has   not   committed   any   error   in  convicting   the   appellants   for   the   offence   as   stated 
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aforesaid.   Consequently   the   appeal   fails,   conviction   and  sentence imposed by the trial court is maintained.  Appeal dismissed. 
[SHANTANU KEMKAR ]                [JARAT KUMAR JAIN] 
              J U D G E                                 J U D G E 

Sharma AK/­