M.B. Suresh v. State of Karnataka

CHANDRAMAULI KR. PRASAD, J. 1. Appellant, besides his father Bhadregowda, was put on trial for offence punishable under Section 302, 114 and 427 of the Indian Penal D Code and Section 3 read with Section 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. Additional Sessions Judge, Hasan, vide judgment and order dated 24th of February, 2000 passed in Sessions Case No. 24of1992, acquitted both the accused of all the charges. Aggrieved by the same, the State of Karnataka preferred an E appeal. The High Court, vide judgment and order dated 9th of February, 2007 passed in Criminal Appeal No. 991 of 2000, reversed their acquittal and held the appellant M.B. Suresh guilty of offence punishable under Section 302 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. However, his father Bhadregowda was found guilty of offence F punishable under Section 427 of the Indian Penal Code alone. Appellant M.B. Suresh was sentenced to undergo life .imprisonment for offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and fine of Rs. 5,000/-, and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for six months. He was also sentenced to G undergo one year's imprisonment and fine of Rs. 2,000/- for offence under Section 27 of the Arms Act. Both of them were sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for one week for offence under Section 427 of the Indian Penal Code and fine of Rs. 5,000/- each. Sentences were directed to run H concurrently. Aggrieved by the same, M.B Surech has preferred M.B. SURESH v. STATE OF KARNATAKA 103 [CHANDRAMAULI KR.PRASAD, J.] the present appeal whereas his father Bhadregowda, aggrieved A by his conviction and sentence, has preferred Special Leave Petition No. 5363 of 2007. 2. Leave granted in Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 5363 of 2007. B 3. According to the prosecution there was a long standing enmity between the family of the informant and the accused in respect of land of Survey No. 29/2 and 22 of Marur Village over which the accused Bhadregowda was claiming tenancy rights. According to the prosecution, on 19th of November, 1991 the C deceased Chandrashekar, along with his elder brother Raghunath, cousin Krishnegowda, a friend Prakash and one Suresh came to the residence of Halegowda in the Village Marur in a tractor-trailer for unloading the gunny bags. After unloading the gunny bags, they sent the tractor-trailer along with D the labourers to the coffee plantation of Ramegowda to pluck coffee seeds. However, the aforesaid persons stayed back at Halegowda's house to have a cup of coffee and later, at about 10.30 AM., while they were going to coffee estate by the side of the wetland of Ramegowda, Chandrashekar was ahead of E them. At that time, Chandrashekar was shot at by the appellant M.B. Suresh, who was standing near the gate made of bamboo. After the first shot, his father Bhadregowda instigated him to fire again and at that the appellant M.B. Suresh fired for the . second time at the deceased and thereafter they left the place. F P.Ws. 1 to 3, namely Krishnegowda, Raghunath and Prakash respectively, rushed to the place where Chandrashekar had fallen on the ground and in order to save him, they carried him to the village, but unfortunately he died because of the gun shot injury on their way to the village. On the basis of the report given G by Krishnegowda (PW-1), a case was registered at the Bellur Police Station. Post-mortem on the dead body was conducted by Dr. Gunashekar V.C.(PW-10), who found nine injuries on the person of the deceased caused.by the appellant. A "1. Three circular pellet wounda present over the lett part of the fore head, each measuring 0.5 cm. in diameter bony deep over an area of 4 cm. x 4 cm. 2. Three circular pellet wounds present near the lateral end of the right side of the lip each measuring 0.5 cm. in diameter skin deep over an area of 2 cm. x 2 cm. 3. Two pellet wounds over the left side of the front of the neck 0.5 cm. in diameter the muscle deep, there c is an exit lacerated wound over the back of the left side of the neck piercing the skin 2 cm. x 2 cm., with lacerated edges. 4. Three circular pellet wounds present over the D anterior aspect of the right arrn each 0.5 cm. in diameter muscle deep over an area of 1 Yz" x 1 Yz". 5. Six circular pellet wounds present over the right anterior aspect of the chest each measuring 0.5 cm. EE in diameter over an area of 4" x 4" skin deep. 6. A single circular pellet present in the anterior aspect of chest at the level of the 12th rib measuring 0.5 cm. in diameter and skin deep. F 7. An incised like wound 1" x Yz" in the epigastrium skin deep. 8. A single circular pellet wound measuing 0.5 cm in diameter skin deep in the right iliac fassa. G 9. Three pellet wounds circular in shapre each measuring 0.5 cm. in diameter in the anterior aspect of the upper third of the right thigh over an area of 6" x 4" skin deep" 4. As regards the cause of death, the doctor has stated M.B. SURESH v. STATE OF KARNATAKA 105 [CHANDRAMAULI KR.PRASAD, J.] that it was because of shock. The trial court, on appreciation A of evidence, came to the conclusion that the prosecution had not been able to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt and, accordingly, acquitted them of both the charges. However, the judgment of acquittal has been reversed by the High Court in an appeal preferred by the State. B 5. We have heard Mr. Basant R., learned Senior Advocate, on behalf of the appellant whereas the respondent, State of Karnataka is represented by Ms. Anitha Shenoy. Mr. Basant submits that even if the entire case of the prosecution is C accepted, the same does not constitute an offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. He submits that according to the prosecution, the deceased died of shock but there is nothing on record to show that the shock was on account of the injury inflicted by the appellant M.B. Suresh. He further submits that the prosecution has not brought any D evidence to show that the deceased suffered any grievous hurt and in that view of the matter, the appellant at most can be held guilty for an offence under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code. He points out that the appellant M.B. Suresh has already remained in jail for more than 10 years. Ms. Shenoy, however, E contends that the very fact that the deceased died within a few hours of the incident, it has to be assumed that the cause of death, i.e. shock had occurred on account of the gun shot injury caused by the appellant M.B. Suresh. 6. We have bestowed our consideration to the rival submissions and we partly find substance in the submission of Mr. Basant R. Dr. GunashekarV.C.(PW-10) had conducted the post-mortem examination on the dead body of the deceas~d Chandrashekar and, as stated earlier, had found nine injuries G on his person out of which six were skin deep of the size of 0.5 or less than 0.5 cm., three circular wounds each measuring 0.5 cm. bone deep found over an area of 4 cm. x 4 cm. over the left side of the forehead as also a lacerated wound of the same size over the left side of the front of the neck and another H A muscle deep wound of the same size on the right arm. The doctor conducting the post-mortem examination was categorical in his evidence that no internal injuries were found and the gun was fired from a distant range. As regards the cause of death, the doctor has opined that it was because of B shock but he has nowhere stated that it was due to the injuries . caused by the appellant. For holding an accused guilty of murder, the prosecution has first to prove that it is a culpable homicide. Culpable homicide is defined under Section 299 of the Indian Penal Code and an accused will come under the c mischief of this section only when the act done by him has caused death. True it is that the deceased died of shock but there is no evidence to show that the shock had occurred on account of the injuries caused by the appellant. We cannot ignore that the case of the prosecution itself is that after the 0 deceased sustained injuries while he was being taken to the hospital for treatment, he died on the way. Any mishandling of the deceased by the person carrying him to the hospital so as to cause shock cannot be ruled out. The doctor had not stated that the deceased profusely bled which could have caused E shock. In the absence of any such evidence, we are in doubt as to whether the deceased suffered shock on account of the injuries sustained by him. It is not shown that the injuries found on the person of the deceased were of such nature, which in the ordinary course of nature could cause shock. We cannot assume that those injuries can cause shock in the absence of F any evidence in this regard. The doctor has not even remotely suggested that the shock was caused due to the injuries sustained by the deceased. In the face of what we have observed above, we are not in a position of hold that it is the act of the appellant, which caused death. Hence, we are of the G opinion that the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code cannot be sustained. 7 Next question which falls for our consideration is as to the offence for which the appellant M B Suresh would be liable. H What has been proved against this appellant is that he shot at M.B. SURESH v. STATE OF KARNATAKA 107 [CHANDRAMAULI KR.PRASAD, J.] the deceased, but there is no evidence to show that it was the A injury inflicted by the appellant which was the cause of death. However, from the facts proved, there is no doubt that he shot at the deceased with an intention to kill him or at least he had the knowledge that the act would cause the death. Accordingly, we are of the opinion that the allegations proved con.stitute an 8 offence under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. The view which we have taken finds support from the judgment of this Court in the case of Bhupendra Singh v. State of U.P., (1991) 2 sec 750, in which it has been observed as follows: "9 .......... The evidence only established that the first C appellant shot at the deceased but it is not known where the bullet hit and whether that injury caused by the said bullet shot caused the death. Even in the case of shooting by a rifle unless the evidence shows the particular injury caused by the same and that injury is sufficient to cause D death, the offence under Section 302 IPC could not be said to have been made out. In the circumstances, therefore, we are unable to agree with the High Court that the first appellant is guilty of offence under Section 302 IPC of causing the death of Gajendra Singh. However, we are of E the view that while the first appellant shot at the deceased there could be no doubt that either he had the intention to kill him or at least he had the knowledge that the act could cause the death. 10. All the witnesses also say that the shot by A 1 brought down the deceased to the ground. There could, therefore. be no doubt that the shot had caused some hurt or injury though we could not predicate what was the nature of the injury and whether that injury could have caused the death. G In the circumstances we consider that the offence would come under the second limb· or second part of Section 307, IPC. Though imprisonment for life also could be awarded as sentence for such an offence on the facts and circumstances we impose a sentence of 10 years rigorous 108 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2014) 1 S.C.R. A imprisonment. Accordingly we alter the conviction under Section 302, IPC as one under Section 307 IPC and sentence him to a term of 10 years rigorous imprisonment." 8. Accordingly, we alter the conviction of the appellant M.B. Suresh from Section 302 to Section 307 of the Indian Penal B Code and sentence him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for · ten years. 9. Mr. Basant R. has not assailed the conviction of the appellant M.B. Suresh other than Section 302 of the Indian C Penal Code. As regards the conviction of the other accused Bhadregowda under Section 427, it is on correct appreciation of evidence, which does not call for interference in the present appeal. 10. In the result, Criminal Appeal No. 985 of 2007 is partly D allowed, the conviction of the appellant M.B. Suresh under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code is set aside and is altered to Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and he is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years. However, his a conviction under other penal provisions is maintained. Sentences awarded to him shall run concurrently. As the appellant has already remained in custody for more than 1 O years, we direct. that he be set at liberty forthwith unless required in any other case. F 11. The appeal (arising out of Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 5363 of 2007) preferred by the appellant Bhadregowda is, however, dismissed. R.P. Appeals disposed of.