The conduct and demeanor of key
witness of the prosecution appears suspicious and against the human
behavioural pattern. If in reality the alleged incident would have taken
place in the wee hours of morning, PW-3 Laxman and his wife Vimalbai
should have ventilated the grievance against the accused to the onlookers,
denizens, passerby, etc., Moreover, there were no efforts to shift their
injured daughter Shilavati to the hospital for medical treatment at the
earliest. They maintained silence uptill 9.00 p.m. and thereafter the PW-3
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Crapl 239.13 F.odt
Laxman blamed the assailants for injuries sustained to his daughter Shilavati
for the first point of time in his FIR (Exh.54). Taking recourse of the legal
guidelines delineated in the cases (1) Bacchu Narain Sngh Vs. Naresh
Yadav and others AIR 2004 SC 3055, (2) Rajeevan and another vs. State
of Kerala, AIR 2003 SC 1813 (3) Harijana Thirupala and ors vs. Public
prosecutor, High Court of A.P. , Hyderabad, AIR 2002 SC 2821, we are of
the opinion that there is serious doubt about the occurrence of alleged
incident of assault, resulting into fatal injuries to victim Shilavati.
30] The prosecution much more gave emphasis on the legal issue of
motive of the crime. There were litigation on account of land dispute in
between the PW-3 Laxman and accused. Taking umbrage of the land
dispute, the accused with motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman attacked his
daughter in mistake. It is imperative to appreciate that the motive is double
edged weapon, which cuts both ways, helping or harming, both the
prosecution and the defence. It is to be noted that the motive cannot by
itself sustain a criminal charge although proof of motive may lend assistance
to the evidence with regard to the actual occurrence; nor an offender can be
set free simply for want of motive in the prosecution case. Where there is
some motive to commit crime but no reliable evidence is available to
connect any of the accused with the alleged crime, the accused persons
would entitle to be acquitted for the charges pitted against them.
Obviously, the motive is something which prompts a man to form an
intention to commit offence. Motive is the reason which induces or activates
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Crapl 239.13 F.odt
a man to do a certain act. In the instant case, we would reiterate that the
alleged crime has an chequered history of litigation. Prior to the alleged
incident of assault on victim Shilavati, there were complaint against accused
under Money Laundering Act as well as there was a proceeding under Section
107 of Cr.P.C. initiated against PW-3 Laxman at the behest of appellant
Ishwar. These circumstances are sufficient for drawing an inference that
there was hostile atmosphere amongst the accused. The PW-3 Laxman and
accused were at logger-heads following the land dispute. According to
prosecution, the accused with a motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman in mistake
attacked his daughter. As mentioned supra, the motive is a double edged
weapon and when there existed serious enmity between the parties, the
motive for accused to kill first informant Laxman and motive for first
informant Laxman to implicate the accused was equally balanced; then the
court has to look to surrounding circumstances to find out the truth. It is to
be noted that the accused came forward with a specific defence that on
account of animosities, PW-3 Laxman embroiled them falsely in this case. In
view of attending circumstances on record and suspicious nature of
evidence of the PW-3 Laxman discussed above, we find substance in the
defence propounded on behalf of the accused. We would reiterate that
where the evidence of the prosecution witnesses to prove the crime is not
satisfactory even strong motive cannot furnish the lacuna in the prosecution
case. The factor of motive though relevant is required to be considered
alongwith rest of the evidence and it cannot be treated as evidence of crime
itself. Therefore, mere enmity in between the accused and PW-3 Laxman
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Crapl 239.13 F.odt
following land dispute, would not be a decisive factor to draw adverse
inference against the accused in this case.
The conduct and demeanor of key
witness of the prosecution appears suspicious and against the human
behavioural pattern. If in reality the alleged incident would have taken
place in the wee hours of morning, PW-3 Laxman and his wife Vimalbai
should have ventilated the grievance against the accused to the onlookers,
denizens, passerby, etc., Moreover, there were no efforts to shift their
injured daughter Shilavati to the hospital for medical treatment at the
earliest. They maintained silence uptill 9.00 p.m. and thereafter the PW-3
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{28}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
Laxman blamed the assailants for injuries sustained to his daughter Shilavati
for the first point of time in his FIR (Exh.54). Taking recourse of the legal
guidelines delineated in the cases (1) Bacchu Narain Sngh Vs. Naresh
Yadav and others AIR 2004 SC 3055, (2) Rajeevan and another vs. State
of Kerala, AIR 2003 SC 1813 (3) Harijana Thirupala and ors vs. Public
prosecutor, High Court of A.P. , Hyderabad, AIR 2002 SC 2821, we are of
the opinion that there is serious doubt about the occurrence of alleged
incident of assault, resulting into fatal injuries to victim Shilavati.
30] The prosecution much more gave emphasis on the legal issue of
motive of the crime. There were litigation on account of land dispute in
between the PW-3 Laxman and accused. Taking umbrage of the land
dispute, the accused with motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman attacked his
daughter in mistake. It is imperative to appreciate that the motive is double
edged weapon, which cuts both ways, helping or harming, both the
prosecution and the defence. It is to be noted that the motive cannot by
itself sustain a criminal charge although proof of motive may lend assistance
to the evidence with regard to the actual occurrence; nor an offender can be
set free simply for want of motive in the prosecution case. Where there is
some motive to commit crime but no reliable evidence is available to
connect any of the accused with the alleged crime, the accused persons
would entitle to be acquitted for the charges pitted against them.
Obviously, the motive is something which prompts a man to form an
intention to commit offence. Motive is the reason which induces or activates
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/07/2017 00:21:55 :::
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Crapl 239.13 F.odt
a man to do a certain act. In the instant case, we would reiterate that the
alleged crime has an chequered history of litigation. Prior to the alleged
incident of assault on victim Shilavati, there were complaint against accused
under Money Laundering Act as well as there was a proceeding under Section
107 of Cr.P.C. initiated against PW-3 Laxman at the behest of appellant
Ishwar. These circumstances are sufficient for drawing an inference that
there was hostile atmosphere amongst the accused. The PW-3 Laxman and
accused were at logger-heads following the land dispute. According to
prosecution, the accused with a motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman in mistake
attacked his daughter. As mentioned supra, the motive is a double edged
weapon and when there existed serious enmity between the parties, the
motive for accused to kill first informant Laxman and motive for first
informant Laxman to implicate the accused was equally balanced; then the
court has to look to surrounding circumstances to find out the truth. It is to
be noted that the accused came forward with a specific defence that on
account of animosities, PW-3 Laxman embroiled them falsely in this case. In
view of attending circumstances on record and suspicious nature of
evidence of the PW-3 Laxman discussed above, we find substance in the
defence propounded on behalf of the accused. We would reiterate that
where the evidence of the prosecution witnesses to prove the crime is not
satisfactory even strong motive cannot furnish the lacuna in the prosecution
case. The factor of motive though relevant is required to be considered
alongwith rest of the evidence and it cannot be treated as evidence of crime
itself. Therefore, mere enmity in between the accused and PW-3 Laxman
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{30}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
following land dispute, would not be a decisive factor to draw adverse
inference against the accused in this case.
The conduct and demeanor of key
witness of the prosecution appears suspicious and against the human
behavioural pattern. If in reality the alleged incident would have taken
place in the wee hours of morning, PW-3 Laxman and his wife Vimalbai
should have ventilated the grievance against the accused to the onlookers,
denizens, passerby, etc., Moreover, there were no efforts to shift their
injured daughter Shilavati to the hospital for medical treatment at the
earliest. They maintained silence uptill 9.00 p.m. and thereafter the PW-3
::: Uploaded on - 14/07/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 15/07/2017 00:44:07 :::
{28}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
Laxman blamed the assailants for injuries sustained to his daughter Shilavati
for the first point of time in his FIR (Exh.54). Taking recourse of the legal
guidelines delineated in the cases (1) Bacchu Narain Sngh Vs. Naresh
Yadav and others AIR 2004 SC 3055, (2) Rajeevan and another vs. State
of Kerala, AIR 2003 SC 1813 (3) Harijana Thirupala and ors vs. Public
prosecutor, High Court of A.P. , Hyderabad, AIR 2002 SC 2821, we are of
the opinion that there is serious doubt about the occurrence of alleged
incident of assault, resulting into fatal injuries to victim Shilavati.
30] The prosecution much more gave emphasis on the legal issue of
motive of the crime. There were litigation on account of land dispute in
between the PW-3 Laxman and accused. Taking umbrage of the land
dispute, the accused with motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman attacked his
daughter in mistake. It is imperative to appreciate that the motive is double
edged weapon, which cuts both ways, helping or harming, both the
prosecution and the defence. It is to be noted that the motive cannot by
itself sustain a criminal charge although proof of motive may lend assistance
to the evidence with regard to the actual occurrence; nor an offender can be
set free simply for want of motive in the prosecution case. Where there is
some motive to commit crime but no reliable evidence is available to
connect any of the accused with the alleged crime, the accused persons
would entitle to be acquitted for the charges pitted against them.
Obviously, the motive is something which prompts a man to form an
intention to commit offence. Motive is the reason which induces or activates
::: Uploaded on - 14/07/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 15/07/2017 00:44:07 :::
{29}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
a man to do a certain act. In the instant case, we would reiterate that the
alleged crime has an chequered history of litigation. Prior to the alleged
incident of assault on victim Shilavati, there were complaint against accused
under Money Laundering Act as well as there was a proceeding under Section
107 of Cr.P.C. initiated against PW-3 Laxman at the behest of appellant
Ishwar. These circumstances are sufficient for drawing an inference that
there was hostile atmosphere amongst the accused. The PW-3 Laxman and
accused were at logger-heads following the land dispute. According to
prosecution, the accused with a motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman in mistake
attacked his daughter. As mentioned supra, the motive is a double edged
weapon and when there existed serious enmity between the parties, the
motive for accused to kill first informant Laxman and motive for first
informant Laxman to implicate the accused was equally balanced; then the
court has to look to surrounding circumstances to find out the truth. It is to
be noted that the accused came forward with a specific defence that on
account of animosities, PW-3 Laxman embroiled them falsely in this case. In
view of attending circumstances on record and suspicious nature of
evidence of the PW-3 Laxman discussed above, we find substance in the
defence propounded on behalf of the accused. We would reiterate that
where the evidence of the prosecution witnesses to prove the crime is not
satisfactory even strong motive cannot furnish the lacuna in the prosecution
case. The factor of motive though relevant is required to be considered
alongwith rest of the evidence and it cannot be treated as evidence of crime
itself. Therefore, mere enmity in between the accused and PW-3 Laxman
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{30}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
following land dispute, would not be a decisive factor to draw adverse
inference against the accused in this case.
37 In the present case before this court, none of these
symptoms find mention in the postmortem report Ex.PW8/A.
Although the report had mentioned that cause of death has been kept
pending till chemical examination report of viscera is received, the
report is significantly silent about any of symptomatic damage to the
stomach, intestine, liver, kidney etc having been caused by aluminum
phosphide. All these, in considered opinion of this court, makes the
prosecution case suspected. It was observed in Harizana Thirupala
and Others Vs. Public Prosecutor [(2002) 6 SCC 470] that in case
where the court entertains reasonable doubt regarding the guilt of the
accused the benefit of such doubt should go in favour of the accused.
The conduct and demeanor of key
witness of the prosecution appears suspicious and against the human
behavioural pattern. If in reality the alleged incident would have taken
place in the wee hours of morning, PW-3 Laxman and his wife Vimalbai
should have ventilated the grievance against the accused to the onlookers,
denizens, passerby, etc., Moreover, there were no efforts to shift their
injured daughter Shilavati to the hospital for medical treatment at the
earliest. They maintained silence uptill 9.00 p.m. and thereafter the PW-3
::: Uploaded on - 14/07/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 15/07/2017 00:44:03 :::
{28}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
Laxman blamed the assailants for injuries sustained to his daughter Shilavati
for the first point of time in his FIR (Exh.54). Taking recourse of the legal
guidelines delineated in the cases (1) Bacchu Narain Sngh Vs. Naresh
Yadav and others AIR 2004 SC 3055, (2) Rajeevan and another vs. State
of Kerala, AIR 2003 SC 1813 (3) Harijana Thirupala and ors vs. Public
prosecutor, High Court of A.P. , Hyderabad, AIR 2002 SC 2821, we are of
the opinion that there is serious doubt about the occurrence of alleged
incident of assault, resulting into fatal injuries to victim Shilavati.
30] The prosecution much more gave emphasis on the legal issue of
motive of the crime. There were litigation on account of land dispute in
between the PW-3 Laxman and accused. Taking umbrage of the land
dispute, the accused with motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman attacked his
daughter in mistake. It is imperative to appreciate that the motive is double
edged weapon, which cuts both ways, helping or harming, both the
prosecution and the defence. It is to be noted that the motive cannot by
itself sustain a criminal charge although proof of motive may lend assistance
to the evidence with regard to the actual occurrence; nor an offender can be
set free simply for want of motive in the prosecution case. Where there is
some motive to commit crime but no reliable evidence is available to
connect any of the accused with the alleged crime, the accused persons
would entitle to be acquitted for the charges pitted against them.
Obviously, the motive is something which prompts a man to form an
intention to commit offence. Motive is the reason which induces or activates
::: Uploaded on - 14/07/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 15/07/2017 00:44:03 :::
{29}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
a man to do a certain act. In the instant case, we would reiterate that the
alleged crime has an chequered history of litigation. Prior to the alleged
incident of assault on victim Shilavati, there were complaint against accused
under Money Laundering Act as well as there was a proceeding under Section
107 of Cr.P.C. initiated against PW-3 Laxman at the behest of appellant
Ishwar. These circumstances are sufficient for drawing an inference that
there was hostile atmosphere amongst the accused. The PW-3 Laxman and
accused were at logger-heads following the land dispute. According to
prosecution, the accused with a motive to eliminate PW-3 Laxman in mistake
attacked his daughter. As mentioned supra, the motive is a double edged
weapon and when there existed serious enmity between the parties, the
motive for accused to kill first informant Laxman and motive for first
informant Laxman to implicate the accused was equally balanced; then the
court has to look to surrounding circumstances to find out the truth. It is to
be noted that the accused came forward with a specific defence that on
account of animosities, PW-3 Laxman embroiled them falsely in this case. In
view of attending circumstances on record and suspicious nature of
evidence of the PW-3 Laxman discussed above, we find substance in the
defence propounded on behalf of the accused. We would reiterate that
where the evidence of the prosecution witnesses to prove the crime is not
satisfactory even strong motive cannot furnish the lacuna in the prosecution
case. The factor of motive though relevant is required to be considered
alongwith rest of the evidence and it cannot be treated as evidence of crime
itself. Therefore, mere enmity in between the accused and PW-3 Laxman
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{30}
Crapl 239.13 F.odt
following land dispute, would not be a decisive factor to draw adverse
inference against the accused in this case.
9. So far as the judgments as referred to by the learned counsel for the appellant are concerned, none of them are applicable to the present case. The case of "Harijana Thirupala vs. Public Prosecutor", reported in 2002 (6) SCC 470, relates to criminal trial. Therein, any finding given with regard to the evidence cannot be applied to a case under service jurisprudence.