State Of U.P. vs Zakir And Others
2018 Latest Caselaw 2263 ALL

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
 
 

Court No. - 51
 

 

 
Case :- GOVERNMENT APPEAL No. - 3689 of 2012
 

 
Appellant :- State Of U.P.
 
Respondent :- Zakir And Others
 
Counsel for Appellant :- G.A.
 

 
Hon'ble Vipin Sinha,J.

Hon'ble Ifaqat Ali Khan,J.

Heard Sri Om Prakash Mishra, learned A.G.A. appearing for the State on the application seeking leave to appeal against the judgment and order dated 11.5.2012 by means of which the accused-respondents Zakir and Washim Akram have been acquitted in Session Trial No. 871 of 2009 under Sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 402, 467, 468, 471 IPC; accused Respondents Zakir and Washim Akram have been acquitted in Session Trial No. 872 of 2009 under Sections 411 and 414 IPC; accused-respondents Washim Akram has been acquitted in Session Trial No. 873 of 2009 under section 25/4 Arms Act; accused-respondent Punit Sharma has been acquitted in Session Trial No. 719 of 2010 under Sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 420, 467, 468 and 471 IPC; accused-respondent Punit Sharma has been acquitted in Session Trial No. 132 of 2011 under Sections 411 and 414 IPC; accused-respondent Punit has been acquitted in Session Trial No. 720 of 2010 under Section 25 Arms Act.

Keeping in view the contention as raised by learned A.G.A. at the bar of this Court and keeping in view of the grounds taken in the memo of appeal, the court proceeds to examine the matter of the case, the findings as recorded by the lower court with the purpose of verifying as to whether the findings are based on evidence on record or not. The finding and the observation of the Court are being extracted hereinbelow:

^^bl izdkj lk{kh ih0 MCyw0 1 gejkg o ?kVuk dk p'enhn gS] ftlds }kjk vius c;kuksa es Li"V :i ls Lohdkj fd;k fd ftl LFkku ij vfHk;qDrx.k dh fxjQrkjh dh x;h Fkh og de HkhM& HkkM okyk {ks= gS] rFkk vfHk;qDrx.k dh fxjQrkjh ls iwoZ iqfyl dfeZ;ks }kjk viuh vkilh tkek ryk'kh ugh yh x;h Fkh] tcfd fu;ekuqlkj vfHk;qDrx.k dh fxjQrkjh ls iwoZ iqfyl ikVhZ }kjk vkilh tkek ryk'kh yh tkuh pkfg, Fkh] bl izdkj lk{kh us ftjg esa ;g Hkh Lohdkj fd;k fd xksyh iquhr 'kekZ us pyk;h Fkh] xksyh fdlh dks Hkh ugh yxh] ;g Hkh ugh irk fd xksyh fdlds ikl ls xqtjh Fkh] geus flQZ Qk;j dh vkokt lquh Fkh] ;g dFku vR;Ur vk'p;Ztud izrhr gksrk gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk iqfyl dfeZ;ks ij tku ls ekjus dh uh;r ls Qk;j fd;k x;k ijUrq mDr Qk;j ls fdlh iqfyl dehZ dks [kjk'k rd ugh vk;h tcfd iqfyl dehZ vf/kd la[;k esa ?kVuk LFky ij ?ksjko fd;s gq;s Fks] blds vfrfjDr lk{kh us c;kuksa esa cjken reapks o pkdw ij tax yxh gksuk Lohdkj fd;k gS] vr% reapks o pkdw dh cjkenxh o Qk;j fd;s tkuk vkSj mDr ?kVuk esa fdlh iqfyl dehZ dks dksbZ [kjk'k rd u vkuk ?kVuk esa lUnsg izdV djrk gS] lk{kh us ;g Hkh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd ;g ckr ges ekywe gS fd tc dksbZ O;fDr dkuwuh dk;Zokgh esa enn djus ls euk djrk gS rks mlds fo:) dk;Zokgh dh tk ldrh gS] gekjs ekSds ij igqapus ds ckn o vfHk;qDrx.k ds vkus ls igys rd djhc 15&20 yksx ogka ls xqtjs ftuls xokgh ds fy, dgk rks mUgksus euk dj fn;k mUgksus viuk uke o irk ugh crk;k geus fdlh dks cSBkdj uke o irk tkuus dh vko';drk eglwl ugh dh] blls Hkh Li"V gS fd ek= dkxth dk;Zokgh gh esa mDr rF; dk mYys[k fd;k x;k] ftlesa Hkh ?kVuk lafnX/k izrhr gksrh gS] blds vfrfjDr tks cjken lkeku vfHk;qDrx.k ij ikuk] flMklh o fMªy e'khu fn[kk;h x;h mlds lEcU/k esa Lo;a lk{kh us Lohdkj fd;k gS fd ;g rks lkekU;r% nqdku ij fey tkrs gS vkSj ftlesa cjken fMªy e'khu dks u;h gksuk Lohdkj fd;k x;k] ftlls ;g Li"V ugh gksrk gS fd muds }kjk mDr lkeku dks dgka] fdl LFkku ij pksjh djus vFkok ywV&ikV djus esa iz;ksx esa yk;k x;k] ;g lk{kh dh lk{; ls Li"V ugha gksrkA vr% lk{kh ds lEiw.kZ c;ku ls vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mijksDr ?kVuk dkfjr fd;s tkus dh iqf"V ugh gksrh cfYd ?kVuk esa lUnsg izdV gksrk gSA

blh izdkj ;g Hkh lk{kh Lohdkj fd;k fd vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk pyk;h x;h xksyh fdlh iqfyl deZpkjhx.k dks ugha yxh vkSj u gh gekjs utnhd ls fudydj x;h Fkh blds vfrfjDr u gh fdlh gfFk;kj dh dksbZ pksV fdlh iqfyl dehZ ds vk;h Fkh bl izdkj vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk ?kVuk LFky ij Qk;j fd;s tkuk vFkok iqfyl ikVhZ ij fxjQrkjh ds nkSjku Hkkxus dk iz;kl djus esa fdlh gfFk;kj ls izgkj fd;s tkuk ?kVuk dks lafnX/k cukrk gS D;ksfd mDr lk{kh us Li"V :i ls Lohdkj fd;k fd fdlh iqfyl dehZ dks dksbZ pksV rd ugh vk;h] mDr rF; vR;Ur vk'p;Ztud gS rFkk iqfyl dfeZ;ksa }kjk vfHk;qDrx.k dks fxjQrkj djus ds iwoZ vkSj fxjQrkjh ds i'pkr vkilh tkek ryk'kh ugh yh x;h Fkh tcfd fu;ekuqlkj ,d nwljs dh tkek ryk'kh yh tkuh pkfg, FkhA

blds vfrfjDr vfHk;qDrx.k ls eky cjken fd;s tkus esa lhy dj lhy eqgj yxkus esa Hkh L;kgh ds jax esa fHkUurk gS tks fd vfHk;qDrx.k ls cjkenxh fd;s tkus esa lUnsg mRiUu djrk gS ,oa vfHk;qDrx.k dks fxjQrkj dj Fkkuk gktk esa nkf[ky djrs le; yh tkus okyh ryk'kh es Hkh dksbZ dkxtkr cjken u gksuk Hkh bl vksj b'kkjk djrk gS fd ?kVuk LFky ij tks QnZ cuk;h x;h mldh izfr vfHk;qDrx.k dks ugha nh x;h tcfd QnZ ij Li"V :i ls vfHk;qDrx.k dh lgefr ls QnZ dh izfr vfHk;qDr bCusglu dks fn;s tkus dk i`"Bkadu fd;k x;k tcfd fu;ekuqlkj QnZ dh ,d &,d izfr lHkh vfHk;qDrx.k dks nh tkuh pkfg, FkhA bl izdkj lk{kh ds }kjk fn;s x;s c;kuksa ls vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mijksDr ?kVuk dkfjr fd;s tkuk fl) ugh gksrkA

bl izdkj lk{kh ih0 MCyw0 3 ,l- vkbZ- jktohj flag tks fd mDr izdj.k ds foospd gS] lk{kh ds }kjk fn;s x;s c;kuksa ds voyksdu ls vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mijksDr ?kVuk dkfjr fd;s tkus dh iqf"V ugh gksrh D;ksfd Lo;a lk{kh us vius c;kuksa dh ftjg esa Lohdkj fd;k fd vfHk;qDrx.k ls cjken pkdw o reapksa dk fof/k foKku iz;ksx'kkyk es ijh{k.k ugha djk;k x;k] ftlls Li"V gksrk gS fd mDr cjken reaps o pkdw dk ?kVuk ds le; iz;ksx fd;k x;k vFkok ugha vkSj mDr ?kVuk dh frfFk ij D;k reaps pkyw gkyr es Fks ;k ugha ;k iz;ksx esa yk;s x;s [kks[ks D;k mUgha reapks ls pys Fks] vkSj ugh dksbZ ifCyd dk ?kVuk ds le; dk lk{kh gh cuk;k x;k ftlls cjkenxh lkfcr gksrh] blh izdkj vkxs lk{kh us Lohdkj fd;k fd uD'kk utjh esa og tgka iqfyl dehZ [kMs Fks] ogka ls vfHk;qDrx.k dks idMk x;k ml LFkku ds e?; fdruh nwjh Fkh mDr LFkku uD'kk utjh esa vafdr ugha fd;k x;k] blds vfrfjDr lk{kh us ;g rF; Hkh Lohdkjj fd;k fd vfHk;qDr tkfdj ds dCts ls vksIVªk dkj ua0 ih0 ch0 06, 3869 dh uEcj IysV yxh cjken gqbZ Fkh ftldk vlyh ua0 Mh0 ,y0 3 lh,, 1773 Fkk rFkkk Lokeh dks uke vt; NkcMk Fkk] ijUrq nkSjku foospuk dkQh iz;kl ds ckn Hkh ;g xkMh pksjh dh gksuk ugha ik;k x;k] blds vfrfjDr nkSjku foospuk rQlhu ds ckjs es Hkh dksbZ tkudkjh ugh gqbZ Fkh] u gh foospuk }kjk nkSjku foospuk eks0 rQlhu dk c;ku gh fy;k x;k] eks rQlhu tkfdj dk lkyk gS ;k ugh eq>s tkudkjh ugh gS] ;g dguk lgh gS vkIVk xkMh dh vykok dksbZ lfnX/k oLrq vfHk;qDr tkfdj ls cjken ugh gqbZ Fkh] ;g dguk Hkh lgh gS fd pkdw ls fdlh iqfyl dehZ dks dksbZ pksV ugh vk;h Fkh] olhe o bCysglu eksVj lkbZfdy ij Fks foospuk ds nkSjku fdlh us Hkh ;g ugh crk;k Fkk fd ;g eksVj lkbZfdy mldh gS] QnZ ds eqrkfcd dksbZ batu ua0 o psfll ua- ugh Fkk] nkSjku foospuk cjkenk eksVj lkbZfdy dk HkkSfrd lR;kiu ugha fd;k Fkk fd ml batu o psfll ua0 gS ;k ugha] olhe o bCysglu dh fu'kknsgh ij rhu xkfM;k cjken gqbZ FkhA bl izdkj lk{kh ds c;kuksa ls ek= Lkk{kh }kjk foospuk ds nkSjku vkSipkfjdrk dks gh iw.kZ fd;k x;k tcfd vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mijksDr ?kVuk dkfjr fd;s tkuk lk{kh ds c;kuks ls fl) ugh gksrkA

bl izdkj lk{kh ds c;kuks ls vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mijksDr ?kVuk dkfjr fd;s tkus dh iqf"V ugh gksrh] D;kasfd lk{kh us Lo;a vius c;kuksa esa Li"V fd;k fd mldh fu;qfDr vfHk;qDrx.k dks idMs tkus ds le; iz/kku fyfid ds in ij Fkkuk dk;kZy; lSDVj 58 esa gksuk crk;k x;kA vr% lk{kh ds c;kuksa ls vfHk;kstu dFkkud dh iqf"V ugha gksrhA

cgl ds nkSjku vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo}ku vf/koDrk }kjk U;k;ky; le{k ;g rdZ izLrqr fd;k x;k fd izLrqr izdj.k esa foospd }kjk vR;Ur vlykgksa ls ySl Fks mudh vksj ls dksbZ izfrj{kk esa Qk;j ugh fd;k x;k vfHk;qDrx.k us vius dFku ds leFkZu esa fof/k O;oLFkk 2007 ¼59½ ,l- lh-lh-&939 bykgkckn gkbZdksVZ cztyky o vU; cuke LvsV vkQ ;w0 ih0 lafLFkr dh x;h ftles ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; us ;g O;OkLFkk nh gS fd tgka ij iqfyl ikVhZ ij Qk;j fd;k tkrk gS vkSj iqfyl ikVhZ }kjk tokch Qk;j ugha fd;k tkrk gS vkSj mUgsa dksbZ pksV Hkh ugha vkrh gS rks blls vfHk;kstu dFkkud dks cy ugh feyrk gSA eSa iw.kZ :i ls vfHk;qDrx.k ds vf/koDrk ds rdZ ls lger gwW] bldk [k.Mu vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls Hkh ugh fd;k x;kA

cpko i{k dh vksj ls U;k;ky; ds le{k ;g rdZ Hkh izLrqr fd;k x;k fd vfHk;qDrx.k dks mijksDr dsl esa >wBk Qalk;k x;k ] D;ksafd iqfyl ikVhZ }kjk vfHk;qDrx.k olhe vdje o bCysglu ls tks eksVj lkbZfdy dkys jax dh iYlj cjken gksuk crk;h x;h gS] mldk iathd`r Lokeh Lo;a olhe vdje gS] ftls U;k;ky; ls Loa; vius i{k esa fjyht Hkh djk;k tk pqdk gSA bl izdkj vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo:) dksbZ ekeyk ugh curk gSA vr% vfHk;qDrx.k dks bldk ykHk nsrs gq, nks"k eqDr fd;k tkosA

eSa cpko i{k ds mijksDr rdZ ls lger gwW D;ksafd cpko i{k dh vksj ls vius rdZ ds leFkZu esa izLrqr fd;s x;s izi=ksa 19 [[email protected] rk 49 [[email protected] ls Li"V gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k olhe vdje o bCysglu ls dkys jax dh iYlj eksVj lkbZfdy dh tks cjkenxh fn[kk;h x;h gS] og eksVj lkbZfdy iYlj 150 ftldk ua0 Mh ,y 5 ,l vkbZ&2336 olhe vdje ds uke ls iathd`r gS rFkk v/khuLFk U;k;ky; olhe vdje ds }kjk U;k;ky; ds vkns'k fnaukfdr 22&8&09 dks vius i{k esa fjyht djk;h tk pqdh gS ftldk [k.Mu Hkh vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ugh fd;k x;kA vr% mijksDr rdZ dk ykHk vfHk;qDrx.k ikus ds vf/kdkjh gSA

eSa vfHk;qDrx.k ds mijksDr rdZ ls iw.kZ :i ls lger gwW D;ksafd i=koyh ij vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls oknh eqdnek dks ijhf{kr ugh djk;k x;k] ftlds lEcU/k esa i=koyh ij vkns'k i=ksa ds voyksdu ls Li"V gS fd mDr lk{kh oknh eqdnek ,l- vkbZ- Jh lat; Hkkj)kt ds fo:) izkslsl Hkh tkjh fd;s x;s fdUrq mDr lk{kh U;k;ky; ds le{k mifLFkr ugha vk;k] ftldk ykHk Hkh esjs fopkj ls vfHk;qDrx.k ikus ds vf/kdkjh gSA

QnZ cjkenxh ,oa xokgksa ds c;kuks esa ?kVuk LFky ls fxjQrkj vfHk;qDr x.k dks mijksDr xkfM;ksa dh pksjh fd;s tkuk ,oa muds uEcj o batu uEcj o psfll uEcj cnyuk dgk x;k ijUrq bl lEcU/k esa fdlh lk{kh dks ijhf{kr ugh djk;k x;k] ftlls vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mijksDr cjken xkfM+;ks dks pqjkuk vFkok muds psfll uEcj cnyus dh fLFkfr Li"V gksrhA

;gka ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k dh dksbZ f'kuk[r Hkh fdlh LorU= xokg ls ugha djk;h x;h ftlls Li"V gksrk fd mijksDr xkfM;k fdl izdkj /kks[kk /kM+h dj dkxtks dks dwV jfpr dj muds }kjk mijksDr d`R; fd;k x;k] bl lEcU/k eas dksbZ vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls Li"V lk{; izLrqr ugh fd;k x;k gSA

;gka ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ijhf{kr lk{kh jkgqy tSu tks fd buksok xkMh dk iathd`r Lokeh gksuk crkrk gS vkSj mlds }kjk Li"V lk{; fn;k x;k fd mlds pkyd eUthr flag ls buksok dkj ywV yh Fkh mlds pkyd dk uke iqfyl dks crk fn;k x;k Fkk bu lcds ckotwn Hkh mDr lk{kh pkyd eUthr dks xokg Hkh ugha cuk;k x;k] ftlls vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mijksDr ?kVuk dks lkfcr fd;k tk ldrk FkkA vr% mijksDr fu"d"kZ ds vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mDr ?kVuk dkfjr fd;s tkuk izekf.kr ugha gksrh cfYd ?kVuk lafnX/k izrhr gksrh gSA

Reference may be made to the recent judgment of the Apex Court rendered in the case of Bannareddy & Ors. vs. The State of Karnataka & Ors reported in 2018 (5) SCC 790 wherein the Apex Court has held as under:

11. Before we proceed further to peruse the finding of the High Court, it is relevant to discuss the power and jurisdiction of the High Court while interfering in an appeal against acquittal. It is well settled principle of law that the High Court should not interfere in the well reasoned order of the trial court which has been arrived at after proper appreciation of the evidence. The High Court should give due regard to the findings and the conclusions reached by the trial court unless strong and compelling reasons exist in the evidence itself which can dislodge the findings itself. This principle has further been elucidated in the case of Sambhaji Hindurao Deshmukh and Ors. vs. State of Maharashtra, (2008) 11 SCC 186, para 13, wherein this Court observed that: "The High Court will interfere in appeals against acquittals, only where the trial court makes wrong assumptions of material facts or fails to appreciate the evidence properly. If two views are reasonably possible from the evidence on record, one favouring the accused and one against the accused, the High Court is not expected to reverse the acquittal merely because it would have taken the view against the accused had it tried the case. The very fact that two views are possible makes it clear that the prosecution has not proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and consequently the accused is entitled to benefit of doubt.

12. It is not in dispute that the presumption of innocence is further reinforced, reaffirmed and strengthened against the acquitted accused by the judgment in his favor. [Vide Rabindra Kumar Pal @ Dara Singh vs. Republic of India, (2011) 2 SCC 490 in para. 94].

27. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, we hold that the prosecution was not able to establish the guilt of the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt. Further, the High Court should not have re-appreciated evidences in its entirety, especially when there existed no grave infirmity in the findings of the trial court. There exists no justification behind setting aside the order of acquittal passed by the trial court, especially when the prosecution case suffers from several contradictions and infirmities. No specific assertion could be proved regarding the role and involvement of the accused persons. Further, certain actions of the victim-respondents themselves are dubious, for instance admitting themselves later in a Multi-speciality hospital without proper cause. It has further come to our notice that respondents have already compromised and have executed a compromise deed to that extent, though the same is not the basis for our conclusion.

Reference may also be made to the judgments of the Apex Court rendered in the cases of Sanmwat Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan reported in 1961 SC 715, Murlidhar @ Gidda & Anr. Vs. State of Karnataka decided on 09.04.2014 in Criminal Appeal No. 791 of 2011, Basappa Vs. State of Karnataka decided on 27.02.2014 passed in Criminal Appeal No. 512 of 2014, Ashok Rai Vs. State of U.P. & Ors. Decided on 15.04.2014 in Criminal Appeal No. 1508 of 2005, Ramesh Harijan vs. State of U.P. 2012 AIR SCW 2990 and Murugesan v. State through Inspector of Police reported in 2012 AIR SCW 5627.

In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, it cannot be said that the view taken by the Court below is not possible and plausible thus the judgment of the court below cannot be interfered with by this Court only on account of the fact that another view is possible.

Learned A.G.A. has not been able to point out any illegality or perversity with the findings as recorded by the court below and thus it cannot be said that the view taken by trial court is a perverse view.

Thus in view of aforesaid consistent legal position as elaborated above and also in view of the fact that learned A.G.A. has failed to point out any illegality or perversity with the findings so recorded in the impugned order, no case for interference has been made out. No interference with the impugned judgment and order of acquittal is warranted. Accordingly the application seeking leave to appeal is rejected. Consequently, appeal is also dismissed.

Let a copy of this order be certified to the court concerned for necessary compliance.

Order Date :- 31.8.2018

Manish Tripathi