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12. PW-6 Dr. Vikas Gupta deposed that on 05.02.2018, he was SC No.699/18 FIR No.53/2018 State Vs. Gaurav Kumar & Ors. page no.6 of 27 working as Senior Consultant in the department of Neuro Surgery Maharaja Agrasen Hospital. On that day, Harnek Singh came to the hospital as an emergency case with the history of loss of consciousness, not able to move both upper limbs and lower limbs. He had complaint of sensory loss below T4 level. The patient was referred from DDU hospital for treatment. On examination, the patient had quadriparesis. Investigation showed C2-C3 injury with associated compression of the spinal cord. He was operated for the same and C2-C3 decompression and fixation was done. The patient was discharged from the hospital on 19.02.2018 in a stable condition with persistent quadriparesis with minimal improvement. The discharge summary of the patient was prepared by his junior Dr. Amit Gupta and verified by him. He identified the signatures of Dr. Amit Gupta on the discharge summary Ex.PW6/A.

13. He further deposed that on 27.02.2018, a letter was received by Medical Superintendent, Maharaja Agrasen Hospital to handover the treatment papers as well as to give final opinion on the MLC of injured Harnek Singh. He examined the case history and treatment given to the patient and opined the nature of injury as 'dangerous' on the basis of severe high cervical cord injury leading to quadriparesis, and that it can also lead to respiratory problems in future if not operated. The said opinion is Ex.PW6/B.

14. During his cross-examination, PW-6 admitted that at the time of admission in the hospital on 05.02.2018, the patient was SC No.699/18 FIR No.53/2018 State Vs. Gaurav Kumar & Ors. page no.7 of 27 conscious and oriented. He denied the suggestion that the margin in MRI cervical spine is common with the age. He denied that the injuries mentioned in the medical documents are not serious in nature and not caused by any physical assault. He stated that If there is acute onset of quadriparesis with evidence of acute injury in the cord in MRI, then it can be attributed to the acute trauma and injury. In case it is age related, then any weakness in the limb is very gradual in onset and not acute.

40. As per the opinion regarding injuries Ex.PW6/B, the injured had suffered 'Acute cervical spinal cord injury leading to quadriparesis'. PW-6/Dr. Vinod Gupta gave the opinion of the injury of the injured Harnek Singh as 'dangerous'.

41. It has been argued by Ld. Counsel for accused persons that the medical condition of the injured was due to old age and not due to the injury caused to him. It has been submitted that the victim was suffering from degeneration of spinal cord due to old age and he has taken advantage of the same to implicate the accused persons. At this stage, it would be relevant to the refer to the testimony of PW-6/Dr. Vikas Gupta, who had given the final opinion on the MLC of the injured and opined the nature of injury as 'dangerous'. This witness deposed that he gave the nature of injury as dangerous as the injured suffered from severe high cervical cord injury leading to 'quadriparesis'. He also deposed that it can lead to respiratory problems in future if not operated. In his cross-examination, PW-6 denied the suggestion SC No.699/18 FIR No.53/2018 State Vs. Gaurav Kumar & Ors. page no.20 of 27 that the margin in MRI cervical spine is common with age. He specifically denied the suggestion that margin in MRI cervical spine is common with age. The relevant portion of the testimony of this witness is reproduced verbatim as under, "Ques. I put to you that is it in all cases C2-3 injury with associated compression of the spinal cord is caused by a blunt force or not.