The State of Uttar Pradesh v. Raja Etc.

R. BANUMATHI, J.: 1. These appeals arise out of judgment and order dated 29 th May, 2009 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Criminal Appeal NO.568 of 2002, Criminal Appeal No.231 of 2002 and Criminal Appeal NO.250 of 2002 in which the High Court reversed the verdict of the conviction and also the sentence and acquitted the respondents. 2. The facts of the case in a nutshell are as follows. On 13 th June, 1995 at 9.00 a.m. deceased-Shabu along with Riyazuddin (PW-2) was taking their buffaloes for grazing in the jungle. Complainant, Imamuddin (PW-1) and Hafiz were following them. The case of the prosecution is that when deceased-Shabu and Riyazuddin (PW-2) were so proceeding to the jungle , accused Raja (A-1) exhorted the other accused that they have an opportunity to kill both the brothers, namely, deceased-Shabu and Riyazuddin (PW-2). Raju (A-2) and Aas Mohammad (A-3) (since acquitted) who were armed with rifles fired at Shab u and also on Riyazuddin (PW-2). Shabu sustained gunshot injuries on his chest and died on the spot. Injured Riyazuddin (PW-2) received injuri es on his right forearm. On seeing Imamuddin (PW-1) and other villagers coming towards them, all the accused ran away. On the complai nt lodged by Imamuddin (PW-1), law was set in motion. Dr. P.K. Chaturvedi (PW- 3) conducted post-mortem on dead-body of the deceased-Shabu and noted the following injuries: “1. Gunshot wound 1 cm. x 1 cm x chest cavity deep on right side of front of chest 2 cm. Below right nipple at 4 O’clock pos ition margins inverted and lacerated. No blackening and no charring (external wound) detected medially backwards towards left scapula” 3. Based upon the evidence of Imamuddin (PW-1) and Riyazuddin (PW-2), injured witness, the trial court convicted Raja (A-1) (since dead) Raju (A-2) and also Aas Mohammad (A-3) under Section 302 I.P.C. read with 34 I.P.C. Fourth accused Sarfaraj was acquitted by the trial court from all the charges. In the appeal preferred by the accused, the THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH v. RAJA ETC. High Court set aside the conviction and acquitted the accused from all the charges. Being aggrieved, the State is before us. 4. We have heard Mr. V.V.V. Pattabhiram, learned co unsel appearing for the appellant-State and Mr. Yunus Malik, learned counsel appearing for the respondent(s) and also perused the impugned judgment of the High Court and the evidence/materials on record. 5. Though the trial court held that Imamuddin (PW-1 ) is a trustworthy witness, the High Court doubted the presence of Imamuddin (PW-1) at the time and place of occurrence and also trustworthiness of his evidence. It is brought on record that Imamuddin (PW-1) is an advocate having good practice at the Bar. Imamuddin (PW-1) was also the n a member of the Nagar Palika. In his evidence Imamuddin (PW- 1) has admitted that normally he used to give hearing to the public in the morning time at the Nagar Palika. As observed by the High court that audience to the public by Imamuddin (PW-1) could have been only bef ore the commencement of court hours and thereafter he would go to the court. Occurrence happened on 13 th June, 1995 at 9.30 a.m. It is brought on record that 13 th June, 1995 was a working day. Imamuddin (PW-1) being a lawyer having good practice and also a member of t he Nagar Palika giving audience to the public in the morning, the High Court rightly doubted his presence at the place of occurrence at 9.30 a.m. on the said day. The High Court also doubted the evidence of Imamuddin (PW-1) as to why an advocate like Imamuddin (PW-1) instead of going to the court would follow his deceased brother-Shabu who was taking the cattle for grazing in the jungle and PW-1-Imamuddin’s conduct in following his brother being unnatural and we find it difficult to ta ke a different view. 6. In his evidence, Imamuddin (PW-1) stated that af ter the occurrence he went to the court to write down the complaint first. Here again, the High Court observed that the conduct of Imamuddin (PW-1) is quite unnatural in the sense that when one of his brothers, Shabu, was killed and another brother, Riyazuddin (PW-2), sustained injuries in his arm, instead of taking the injured brother to a hospital or going to the police station, Imamuddin (PW-1) had gone all the way to the Court only to write down the complaint. Here again, the conduct of Imam uddin (PW-1), as observed by the High Court appears to be st range and unnatural. 27 7. The High Court has also referred to the submission of t he counsel who appeared for the accused which in our considered view is relevant. As pointed out earlier, the deceased-Shabu sustained gunshot wound on the chest with chest cavity deep. Dr. P.K. Chaturvedi (PW-3) in his evidence as pointed out that there was not a single hole either in the vest, kurta and tehmad which were sent along with the de ad body for examination. Even the Inquest Report does not mention any bullet hole in the clothes of the deceased-Shabu. When the decea sed-Shabu sustained gunshot injury on the chest with chest cavity deep, in the normal course one would expect holes on the clothes worn by the decea sed, namely, western kurta. Absence of bullet holes on the clothes of the deceased creates a doubt about the case of the prosecution and the time and manner alleged. Raising doubts about the case of the prosecution, the High Court has extended the benefit of doubt to the responde nts- accused to reverse the conviction. 8. For the foregoing reasons, it cannot be said that the view taken by the High Court suffers from any serious and subs tantial error warranting interference by this Court. 9. In the result, the appeals are dismissed. Devika Gujral Appeals dismissed. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH v. RAJA ETC. [R. BANUMATHI, J.]