Citation : 2017 Latest Caselaw 6798 Bom
Judgement Date : 5 September, 2017
1 apeal7.15.odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,
NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.7 OF 2015
Suresh s/o. Mahadeo Deshmukh,
About 47 Yrs., Occ. Labour,
r/o. Presently Convict No.
C-4626, Amravati Central
Prison, Amravati/Murtizapur,
Tq. Murtizapur, Distt. Akola. .......... APPELLANT
// VERSUS //
State of Maharashtra,
through Police Station Officer,
P.S.O., Murtizapur, Tq.
Murtizapur, Distt. Akola. .......... RESPONDENT
____________________________________________________________
None for the Appellant.
Mr.A.M.Deshpande, A.P.P. for the Respondent/State.
____________________________________________________________
::: Uploaded on - 14/09/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 15/09/2017 00:25:40 :::
2 apeal7.15.odt
CORAM : SMT. VASANTI A NAIK
AND
M.G.GIRATKAR, JJ.
DATE : 5.9.2017.
ORAL JUDGMENT (Per M.G.Giratkar, J) :
1. The appellant has challenged the Judgment of conviction
awarded by the Additional Sessions Judge, Akola in Sessions Trial
No.152 of 2012, dt.13.11.2014, by which he is sentenced to suffer
life imprisonment for the offence punishable under Section 302 of
the Indian Penal Code and to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/-, in default to
undergo rigorous imprisonment for two months.
2. The case of the prosecution/complainant, in short, is as
under :
The deceased along with his wife namely Maya was
residing near Lakadgunj over bridge, Murtizapur. The complainant
lost her first husband. She married with the deceased/husband for
the second time. She has two daughters namely Chhakuli and
3 apeal7.15.odt
Shalini. The deceased along with his family and parents were
residing jointly. The accused is relative of deceased. He was always
visiting to the house of the deceased. The accused and the deceased
both were addicted to liquor.
3. On 5th August, 2012, the deceased went outside for
bringing liquor. He returned back at about 9.00 a.m. He told his
wife/complainant that he wanted to go to the house of the accused
to get the amount back which was given by him to the accused.
Later, he told her that he has drunk liquor excessively and therefore,
he will go in the evening.
4. In the evening, at about 5.30 p.m., deceased Sonu went
to the house of the accused. His wife/complainant was knowing that
the accused is a quarrelsome person and therefore, she suspected
that there would be some quarrel between the accused and the
deceased. Therefore, she sent her daughter Chhakuli after 5-10
minutes towards the house of appellant Suresh. After sometime,
Chhakuli returned back and informed to the complainant that her
father was lying there and blood was oozing ("papa vaha pade hai
aur unka bahut khoon ja raha hai"). The complainant immediately
4 apeal7.15.odt
rushed to the spot of incident. She found her husband lying in a pool
of blood. He had injuries on his face, nose etc. On the complainant
asking her husband/deceased, he replied that he was beaten by
accused Suresh. Then she asked him by what means he was beaten.
He replied that the accused beat him by stone. The complainant
called auto and took the deceased to the Government hospital,
Akola. Doctor examined the deceased and declared him brought
dead. Complainant lodged the report in the Police Station,
Murtizapur about the incident.
5. After report, investigation machinery was put in motion.
The Investigating Officer started investigation. He went to the spot of
incident, prepared spot panchanama, seizure panchanama, inquest
panchanama etc. The Investigating Officer arrested the accused. He
was referred to the Medical Officer. The Investigating Officer seized
the clothes of the deceased, stone and the clothes of accused and
their blood samples etc. The Investigating Officer sent all the seized
properties to the Chemical Analyser for examination as per the letter
at Exh.44. The Investigating Officer recorded the statements of
complainant and other witnesses. It was revealed during the
investigation that the accused committed murder of deceased Sonu.
5 apeal7.15.odt
6. After completing investigation, charge sheet was
submitted to the Court of the Judicial Magistrate, First Class,
Murtizapur. The offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian
Penal Code is exclusively triable by the Sessions Court. Therefore,
Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Murtizapur committed the case for
trial to the Court of Sessions at Akola.
7. The Additional Sessions Judge, Akola framed charge at
Exh.2. The charge was read over and explained to the accused. The
accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
8. The defence of the appellant/accused appears to be of
total denial and false implication due to enmity.
9. Prosecution has examined in all nine witnesses. The
statement of accused was recorded under Section 313 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure. The accused denied the material incriminating
evidence against him.
10. The learned Additional Sessions Judge, Akola, after
hearing the prosecution and the defence, convicted the accused for
6 apeal7.15.odt
the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code
and sentenced him as stated above.
11. Being aggrieved by the Judgment, the appellant has filed
the present appeal.
12. None appears on behalf of the appellant. Heard
Mr.A.M.Deshpande, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the
Respondent/State. He has pointed out to us the evidence adduced by
the prosecution before the trial Court and submitted that the
evidence of complainant is supported by other circumstantial
evidence. The learned A.P.P. has submitted that the deceased went to
the house of the accused to demand money, which was advanced by
him earlier. The complainant was well aware that there would be
some quarrel. Therefore, she sent her daughter. Daughter returned
within a short time and informed to the complainant that the
deceased was lying in a pool of blood. The complainant immediately
went to the spot of incident and on her asking, the deceased stated to
her that the accused beat him by stone.
7 apeal7.15.odt
13. Mr.A.M.Deshpande, learned A.P.P. has submitted that
oral dying declaration given by the deceased to PW-1 Complainant is
sufficient to convict the accused. The learned A.P.P. has further
submitted that blood was found on the clothes of the accused. He has
also pointed out the evidence of daughter of the deceased and
submitted that the prosecution has proved the guilt of the accused
beyond reasonable doubt and therefore, the conviction awarded by
the trial Court is perfectly legal and correct, hence, appeal is liable
to be dismissed.
14. Whether death of Sonu is homicidal is to be seen. To
prove homicidal death, prosecution has examined Medical Officer
Dr.Bele (PW-7), who has conducted post mortem on the dead body
of Sonu Chavan on 6.8.2012. He found the following injuries :
(I) Crushed lacerated wound involving upper lip, right
and left nostrils of size 5.5 cm. 2.3 cm. x bone deep. The
surface of wound at edges and margins are red and
crushed along with underline maxilla and nasal bone
appears broken into pieces and broken pieces of bone can
be seen through wound.
8 apeal7.15.odt
(II) Contused abrasion of reddish brown colour
over chin of size 3 x 1 cm.
(III) Laceration of size 4 x 2cm x muscle deep over
zygoma.
(IV) Lacerated wound over left leg on medical
aspect of size 2.5 x 1.3 cm x bone deep.
(V) Diffused contusion seen over chest on right side
intra-clavicular and supra-maxillary region extending
towards interior fold of axilla towards right side of size
13 x 6.3 cm.
(VI) Nail scratch mark seen over left shoulder joint
and intra-clavicular region multiple.
(VII) Spindle shape incised penetrating stab wound
over right leg, lower 1/3rd aspect, anterior of size 3.2 x
1.5 cm x cavity deep.
(VIII) Fracture of nasal bone maxilla zygomatic arch
confirmed on dissection.
All the injuries were ante mortem.
15. As per the evidence of Medical Officer Mr.Bele, cause of
death as per his opinion was haemorrhagic shock due to laceration of
9 apeal7.15.odt
liver and associated cranio cerebral injury. Accordingly, he prepared
the Post Mortem report (Exh.36). He has further stated that the
injuries which he found on the dead body were sufficient in the
ordinary course of nature to cause death. Such injuries were possible
if any person was assaulted by stone. Therefore, it is clear that
death of Sonu Chavan was homicidal death. In his cross-
examination, he has admitted that in case of cerebral injury to a
person, it may cause instant death or he may become unconscious.
16. The learned trial Court relied on the evidence of Maya
Sonu Chavan (PW-1) and her daughter Chhakuli @ Shalini Sonu
Chavan (PW-4). The learned trial Court relied on the oral dying
declaration given by the deceased to Maya Chavan (PW-1) and also
relied on the circumstantial evidence. Admittedly, there is no eye
witness of the incident.
17. Now it is a well settled law that the Court can convict the
accused only on the basis of the dying declaration provided that the
dying declaration should be of such a nature which should inspire
the confidence of the Court. Now, in the catena of decisions, it is
held that there is no particular format to record the dying
10 apeal7.15.odt
declaration. The dying declaration may be oral or may be in writing.
The dying declaration, as stated by the complainant, is sufficient to
convict the accused and whether there is any other evidence to
support/corroborate the dying declaration.
18. Now we have to see whether the oral dying declaration
given by Maya Chavan (PW-1) and the circumstantial evidence relied
on by the Court are sufficient to convict the accused for the offence
punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
19. Maya Chavan (PW-1) has stated in her evidence that, at
the time of incident, at about 5.30 p.m., her husband Sonu Chavan
had gone to the house of the accused to demand money which was
advanced to him. She has further stated that she immediately sent
her daughter Chhakuli (PW-4) to see as to whether there was any
quarrel. Chhakuli followed her father/deceased and returned back
within a short time. Chhakuli narrated to Maya Chavan (PW-1) that
deceased Sonu was lying in front of the house of Mangala. Maya
Chauvan (PW-1) along with Chhakuli and her father-in-law went to
the spot of incident. At that time, Meena Mohan Waghmare (PW-5)
and Deokabai were also present.
11 apeal7.15.odt
20. Maya Chauhan (PW-1) has stated in her evidence that
her husband was lying in a pool of blood. When she asked him as to
what happened, the deceased told her that accused Suresh beat him
by stone.
21. Maya Chavan (PW-1) has further stated in her evidence
that she immediately took her husband to the Government Hospital,
Murtizapur. The Medical Officer advised her to take her husband to
the General Hospital at Akola. She took her husband to the General
Hospital, Akola. The Medical Officer declared him brought dead.
22. Chhakuli @ Shalini Sonu Chavan (PW-4) is the daughter
of the deceased and Maya Chavan (PW-1). It is to be seen as to
whether the evidence adduced by Maya Chavan (PW-1) and
Chhakuli (PW-4) is sufficient and reliable.
23. Now it is well settled law that an oral dying declaration
can be relied on to convict the accused. It is a piece of evidence
which can be relied on as like other substantive evidence. If it is
found that it is a reliable evidence then the Court can convict the
accused only on the basis of the dying declaration. In the landmark
12 apeal7.15.odt
Judgment of Khushal Rao vs. State of Bombay reported in AIR
1958 SC 22, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed thus :
" In order to pass the test of reliability, a dying declaration has to be subjected to a very close scrutiny, keeping in view the fact that the statement has been made in the absence of the accused who had no opportunity of testing the veracity of the statement by cross-examination. But once, the Court has come to the conclusion that the dying declaration was the truthful version as to the circumstances of the death and the assailants of the victim, there is no question of further corroboration.
If, on the other hand, the Court, after examining the dying declaration in all its aspects, and testing its veracity, has come to the conclusion that it is not reliable by itself, and that it suffers from an infirmity, then, without corroboration it cannot form the basis of a conviction. Thus, the necessity for corroboration arises not from any inherent weakness of a dying declaration as a piece of evidence, as held in some of the reported cases, but from the fact that the Court, in a given case, has come to the conclusion that that particular dying declaration was not free from the infirmities, referred to above or from such other infirmities as may be disclosed in evidence in that case. "
13 apeal7.15.odt
24. In the present case, the dying declaration given by the
deceased to Maya Chavan (PW-1) appears to be not reliable because
evidence of PW-1 is not supported by any other evidence. PW-5 has
stated that deceased has not stated anything. As per medical
evidence he must be unconscious or dead. There should be
satisfaction of the Court that the deceased was in a fit state of mind
when he disclosed the incident. The dying declaration is the last
statement of the person about the cause of his death. As per Section
32 of the Evidence Act the statement made by the deceased about his
cause of death or the circumstances which leads to the death is
admissible.
25. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Laxman vs.
State of Maharashtra, (2002) 6 SCC 710 has observed as under :
"The Juristic theory regarding acceptability of a dying declaration is that such a declaration is made in extremity, when the party is at the point of death and when every hope of this world is gone, when every motive to falsehood is silenced, and the man is induced by the most powerful consideration to speak only the truth....... The situation in which a man is on death bed is so solemn and serene, is the
14 apeal7.15.odt
reason in law to accept the veracity of his statement. It is for this reason the requirements of oath and cross-examination are dispensed with ........A dying declaration can be oral or in writing and in any adequate method of communication whether by words or by signs or otherwise will suffice provided the indication is positive and definite......When it is recorded, no oath is necessary nor is the presence of a Magistrate is absolutely necessary, although to assure authenticity it is usual to call a Magistrate, if available for recording the statement of a man about to die. There is no requirement of law that a dying declaration must necessarily be made to a Magistrate and when such statement is recorded by a Magistrate there is no specified statutory form for such recording"
26. The principle behind the dying declaration is that the
person who is on a death bed will not speak lie. Therefore, it can be
relied on by the Court as like other evidence and only on the basis of
the dying declaration, the accused can be convicted provided that the
dying declaration should inspire confidence of the Court.
27. With the above said observation of Hon'ble Apex Court,
we have to see whether the dying declaration given by the deceased
to Maya Chavan (PW-1) before the trial Court is sufficient to hold
15 apeal7.15.odt
that the accused has committed murder of deceased Suresh. As per
the evidence of Maya Chavan (PW-1) when she reached to the spot
of incident, the deceased was lying in a pool of blood. On her asking,
her husband/ deceased replied that the accused beat him by stone.
Immediately she took her husband to the Medical Officer,
Murtizapur, who advised her to take the deceased immediately to the
General Hospital at Akola.
28. Maya Chavan (PW-1) has stated in her evidence that she
immediately took her husband to the General hospital, Akola and the
doctor/Medical Officer declared him brought dead. In such a
situation, whether the deceased was in a mentally fit condition to
disclose about the cause of death is to be seen. Maya Chavan (PW-1)
and Chhakuli (P.W-4) are the interested witnesses because Maya
Chavan (PW-1) is wife and Chhakuli (PW-4) is the daughter of the
deceased. There is no law preventing or barring the Court from
relying on the relatives of the deceased. The relatives of the
deceased can be relied on, but their evidence is to be scrutinized very
carefully.
16 apeal7.15.odt
29. Maya Chavan (PW-1) has stated in her evidence that
when she asked her husband, he told that the accused beat him by
stone. This evidence is not supported or corroborated by any other
evidence. Chhakuli (PW-4) has stated in her evidence that she along-
with her mother Maya Chavan (PW-1) went to the spot of incident.
Her mother asked the deceased as to how the incident took place.
Her father replied that accused beat him by stone. Her evidence is
not reliable because in her cross-examination she has admitted that
Maya Chavan (PW-1) tutored her. She was given instructions as to
how to depose in the Court and what should be deposed before the
Court. This admission in the cross-examination of Chhakuli (PW-4)
clearly shows that she was tutored by Maya Chavan.
30. As per the evidence of Maya Chavan (PW-1), Meena
Waghmare (PW-5) was also present with her. Evidence of Meena
(PW-5) shows that Maya Chavan had not asked anything to the
deceased. She has not supported to the prosecution. She has
specifically stated in her examination-in-chief that there was no talk
between Maya and deceased Sonu. Though this witness has not
supported to the prosecution, the evidence of hostile witness cannot
17 apeal7.15.odt
be thrown away. The material evidence can be taken into
consideration.
31. It is to be seen from the medical evidence also as to
whether deceased Sonu was in a position or in a fit mental condition
to state anything before Maya Chavan (PW-1). As per the evidence of
Maya Chavan (PW-1), she had taken the deceased to the Medical
hospital, Murtizapur. The Medical Officer was present there. He
instructed her to take the deceased immediately to the General
Hospital, Akola.
32. When the Medical Officer was present, it was for the
prosecution to examine him to show as to whether the deceased was
conscious and was in a position to give statement. Had it been a fact
that the deceased was conscious and was in a fit mental condition
then, as per the general procedure, the Medical Officer ought to have
informed the police and to record the dying declaration through the
Executive Magistrate. It is not done in the present case. Therefore, it
supports the defence that the deceased was not conscious when
Maya reached to the spot of incident and thereafter, when she took
the deceased to the hospital.
18 apeal7.15.odt
33. The defence is proved by effective cross-examination by
the side of the accused. The learned trial Court has not taken into
consideration the material admissions brought on record by the side
of the defence. Medical Officer Dr.Ramhari Parbat Bele (PW-7) has
stated in his evidence that he conducted post mortem on the dead
body of the deceased and found about eight injuries. In his
examination-in-chief itself, he has stated that the cause of death as
per his opinion was "hemorrhagic shock due to laceration of liver and
associated cranio cerebral injury". There is no doubt that the deceased
died homicidal death. As per the admission in the cross-examination
of Dr.Bele, it is clear that the deceased died immediately on the spot.
He has admitted in his cross-examination that, in case of cerebral
injury to a person, it may cause instant death or he may become
unconscious.
34. As per the evidence of Dr. Bele, deceased sustained
haemorrhagic shock due to laceration of liver and associated cranio
cerebral injury. In his cross-examination, Dr. Bele has specifically
stated that, in case of cerebral injury to a person, he may die
instantly or become unconscious. Therefore, it is clear that the
deceased must have died instantly or he must have become
19 apeal7.15.odt
unconscious. Therefore, the evidence adduced by Maya Chavan
(PW-1) that her husband stated to her that the accused beat him by
stone is not reliable.
35. Evidence of PW-1 is falsified by the evidence of Dr. Bele.
As per his evidence, the deceased sustained haemorrhagic shock due
to laceration of liver and associated cranio cerebral injury and in
such a case, the deceased must have died instantly or he was
unconscious. Therefore, the dying declaration which creates doubt
cannot be relied on as held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case
of Surinder Kumar .vs. State of Haryana, reported in (2011) 10
SCC 173. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed that " though
there is neither a rule of law nor of prudence that dying declaration
cannot be acted upon without corroboration but the Court must be
satisfied that the dying declaration is true and voluntary and in that
event, there is no impediment in basing conviction on it, without
corroboration. It is the duty of the Court to scrutinize the dying
declaration carefully and must ensure that the declaration is not the
result of tutoring, prompting or imagination. Where a dying
declaration is suspicious, it should not be acted upon without
corroborative evidence. Likewise, where the deceased was
20 apeal7.15.odt
unconscious and could never make any declaration the evidence with
regard to it is rejected. "
36. In the present case, the oral dying declaration given by
the deceased to Maya Chavan (PW-1) is suspicious, without any
corroboration and therefore, cannot be relied on to convict the
accused.
37. The learned trial Court relied on the circumstantial
evidence. The learned trial Court has observed that the deceased
went to the house of the accused to demand money. Chhakuli (PW-
4) followed him and found him lying on the road in a pool of blood.
PW-1 with Chhakuli went to spot and asked the deceased then he
replied that accused beat him by stone. The learned trial Court has
observed that these are the circumstances.
38. It is pertinent to note that the accused was not found on
the spot of incident, near the spot of incident or at his house. It is the
case of the prosecution that the deceased was lying in front of the
house of Mangala on a public road. Prosecution has not examined
Mangala or any other person who are residing nearby the spot of
21 apeal7.15.odt
incident. It is pertinent to note that the incident took place at about
5.30 p.m. Therefore, it was an evening time. The people must have
been there or nearby the spot of incident. Therefore, it was the duty
of the prosecution to examine any of the witnesses residing nearby
the spot of incident. But not a single witness from the spot of
incident is examined by the prosecution.
39. The circumstances relied on by the trial Court are not
sufficient to convict the accused. Now it is a settled and established
law that the circumstances should be of such a nature that they
should point towards the guilt of the accused and none else as held
by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Sharad Birdhichand Sarda
vs. State of Maharashtra, (1984) 4 SCC 116. In the present case,
not a single circumstance is brought on record by the prosecution to
show that the accused is the author of the crime and none else.
40. Evidence of Maya Chavan (PW-1) is not
supported/corroborated by any other evidence. Evidence of Chhakuli
(PW-4) clearly shows that she has stated before the Court as per
instructions of Maya Chavan (PW-1). Meena Waghmare (PW-5)
specifically stated that Maya Chavan (PW-1) did not enquire with the
22 apeal7.15.odt
deceased in her presence. Raju Bhimrao Chavan (PW-6), the father-
in-law of Maya Chavan (PW-1) has stated that Maya Chavan (PW-1)
asked in his presence to the deceased and the deceased had told that
the accused beat him by stone. This evidence is falsified by his cross-
examination. In his cross-examination, it is brought on record as a
material omission. Therefore, it is clear that it is nothing but
improvement. Moreover, Raju Chavan (PW-6) was prosecuted on the
report of the accused and therefore, there was enmity between them.
41. The Chemical Analyser's reports are on record at Exh.
Nos. 47 to 51. The C.A. Reports show that human blood was found
on the clothes of the deceased, the accused and the stone. Blood
group of accused and deceased are not determined. It is pertinent to
note that the material admissions are brought on record in the cross-
examination of the Investigating Officer. The Investigating Officer
has stated in the cross-examination that he seized three bottles of
blood of deceased, whereas he sent only two bottles to the C.A. He
has not explained in his evidence as to what he has done with the
third bottle. Therefore, possibility cannot be ruled out that the blood
might have been smeared on the clothes and stone and therefore, the
evidence of C.A. Report is doubtful.
23 apeal7.15.odt
42. The evidence to convict the accused for the offence
punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code must be
carefully scrutinized and the Court should insist for an
unimpeachable evidence. In the present case, the Court relied on the
dying declaration given to Maya Chavan (PW-1). First of all, it was
an oral dying declaration. It appears that the deceased was not in a
fit mental condition to give the dying declaration. If it was so, then
as per the practice, the dying declaration should have been recorded
by the Executive Magistrate. The dying declaration was not recorded
either by the Executive Magistrate or the Medical Officer or police.
43. The oral dying declaration given to Maya Chavan (PW-1)
is not reliable because of the admission given by Meena Waghmare
(PW-5). She has specifically stated that Maya Chavan (PW-1) did
not ask anything to the deceased in her presence. The evidence of
Medical Officer Dr.Bele clearly shows that the deceased sustained
celebral injury. As per his evidence in the cross-examination, if any
person sustains such type of injury then he must die instantly or must
become unconscious. Therefore, it is clear that the deceased must
have died instantly or he was unconscious.
24 apeal7.15.odt
44. Prosecution has not examined the Medical Officer of
Murtizapur. If the deceased was really in conscious condition, then
he would have recorded some observations in the record of hospital.
As per evidence of Maya Chavan (PW-1), the Medical Officer,
Murtizapur directed her to take the deceased immediately to the
General Hospital, Akola. This itself shows that the deceased was in a
serious condition or he might have died. Maya Chavan (PW-1) has
stated that immediately she took her husband to the General
Hospital, Akola. The Medical Officer at Akola Government Hospital
declared him brought dead. All this evidence clearly show that the
oral dying declaration relied on by the trial Court as stated by Maya
Chavan (PW-1) is doubtful; therefore, accused cannot be convicted
on the basis of oral dying declaration.
45. The circumstantial evidence which is also relied on by
the trial Court is not sufficient to convict the accused. There is no
other circumstance. The only circumstance that the deceased went to
the house of the accused to demand money is the circumstance taken
into consideration by the trial Court. It is pertinent to note that
nobody saw the accused at his house near the spot of incident or on
the spot of incident. Therefore, this circumstance cannot be said to
25 apeal7.15.odt
be a circumstance to be taken into consideration to convict the
accused.
46. The trial Court miserably failed to consider the material
evidence brought on record during the course of cross-examination.
The effective cross-examination is made by the side of the accused to
all the witnesses and material admissions are brought on record, but
all those admissions are not considered by the trial Court. Now it is
well settled law that, while delivering the Judgment, the Court has to
see or scrutinize the whole evidence which is brought on record. The
Court cannot see a particular part of evidence and neglect the other
part of evidence. The evidence in isolation is not to be read. The
Court has to read the evidence as a whole and not in isolation. It
appears from the Judgment of the trial Court that the material
evidence which is beneficial to the accused is not taken into
consideration. The material evidence of doctor itself shows that the
deceased died instantly or he was unconscious when Maya Chavan
(PW-1) reached to the spot of incident. There is no other material
circumstance to point out towards the guilt of the accused.
26 apeal7.15.odt
47. Prosecution has miserably failed to bring home the guilt
of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, the accused is
entitled for acquittal. The learned trial Court has not considered the
evidence properly and therefore, the impugned Judgment of
conviction is liable to be quashed and set aside. Hence, we allow the
appeal as prayed for and pass the following order.
The appeal is allowed.
Accused Suresh Mahadeo Deshmukh is hereby acquitted
of the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal
Code.
The appellant/accused is in jail. He be set at liberty if not
required in any other case or crime.
The seized property being worthless be destroyed after
lapse of the appeal period.
The record and proceedings be sent back to the trial
Court.
JUDGE JUDGE
jaiswal
27 apeal7.15.odt
JUDGE JUDGE
[jaiswal]
28 apeal7.15.odt
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