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Pattakka Suresh Babu vs State Of Kerala
2025 Latest Caselaw 7734 Ker

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 7734 Ker
Judgement Date : 8 April, 2025

Kerala High Court

Pattakka Suresh Babu vs State Of Kerala on 8 April, 2025

Author: P.B.Suresh Kumar
Bench: P.B.Suresh Kumar
                                                    2025:KER:30106


         IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                          PRESENT

        THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR

                             &

         THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE JOBIN SEBASTIAN

  TUESDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 18TH CHAITHRA, 1947

                   CRL.A NO. 685 OF 2018

    CRIME NO.94/2007 OF Kannavam Police Station, Kannur

     AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN CP NO.53 OF 2008

OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS ,KUTHUPARAMBA ARISING

OUT OF THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN SC NO.421 OF 2009 OF

ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT & SESSIONS COURT - IV, THALASSERY


APPELLANT/ACCUSED NO.8:

          ANNERI VIPIN, AGED 38 YEARS, S/O.PAVITHRAN,
          PAREKETTIL (H), KUTHUPARAMBA AMSOM, MOORIYAD,
          KUTHUPARAMBA.

          BY ADVS. ​
          SRI.B.RAMAN PILLAI (SR.)​
          SRI.R.ANIL​
          SRI.T.ANIL KUMAR​
          SRI.M.SUNILKUMAR​
          SRI.SUJESH MENON V.B.​
          SRI.THOMAS ABRAHAM NILACKAPPILLIL​
          SRI.THOMAS SABU VADAKEKUT​
          SRI.E.VIJIN KARTHIK

RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:

          THE STATE OF KERALA​
          REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
          HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM-682031.
 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          2​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


​      BY ADV. SRI. ALEX M THOMBRA, SENIOR PUBLIC PROSECUTOR


THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
24.03.2025,  ALONG  WITH  CRL.A.722/2018, 740/2018 AND
CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON 08.04.2025 DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          3​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018



              IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                     PRESENT

             THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR

                                         &

              THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE JOBIN SEBASTIAN

    TUESDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 18TH CHAITHRA, 1947

                           CRL.A NO. 722 OF 2018

      CRIME NO.94/2007 OF Kannavam Police Station, Kannur

           AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN CP NO.53 OF 2008

OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS ,KUTHUPARAMBA ARISING

OUT OF THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED 04.04.2018 IN SC NO.421 OF

2009 OF ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT & SESSIONS COURT - IV,

THALASSERY

APPELLANTS/ACCUSED NOS.4 & 10 (IN JAIL):

      1           ANNERI PAVITHRAN, AGED 59, S/O KUNHIRAMAN,
                  PAREKKATTIL HOUSE,KUTHUPARAMBA AMSOM, MOORIYAD.

      2           PALERI RIJESH @ RIJU, AGED 42, S/O VASU,
                  KIZHAKKAYIL HOUSE, KUTHUPARAMBA AMSOM,
                  MOORIYAD DESOM, MOORIYAD PARA.

                  BY ADVS. ​
                  P.K.VARGHESE​
                  K.S.ARUN KUMAR(K/1588/2003)​
                  M.T.SAMEER(K/3346/1999)​
                  P.S.ANISHAD(K/560/2010)​
                  DHANESH V.MADHAVAN(K/298/2006)​
                  JERRY MATHEW(K/658/2015)​
                  BIJU KUMAR(K/1085/2018)​
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          4​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


                  SOJAN K. VARGHESE(K/1611/2019)​
                  REGHU SREEDHARAN(K/653/2020)​
                  APARNA ANIL(K/968/2020)​
                  RAMEEZ M. AZEEZ(K/001008/2022)​
                  NAMITHA K.S.(K/2262/2022)​
                  SUDARSANAN U.(K/2436/2022)​
                  ANU ASHOKAN(K/1343/2023)​
                  ARJUN KUMAR K.S.(K/1680/2019)​
                  ATHUL.P(K/001590/2023)​


RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT & FORMAL PARTY:

      1           STATE OF KERALA TO BE REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
                  HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM-682 031.

      2           SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE​
                  KANNAVAM POLICE STATION,
                  KUTHUPARAMBA-670643.

                  BY ADV. SRI. ALEX M THOMBRA, SENIOR PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

     THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
24.03.2025, ALONG WITH CRL.A.685/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES,
THE COURT ON 08.04.2025 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          5​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018



              IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                     PRESENT

             THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR

                                         &

              THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE JOBIN SEBASTIAN

    TUESDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 18TH CHAITHRA, 1947

                           CRL.A NO. 740 OF 2018

      CRIME NO.94/2007 OF Kannavam Police Station, Kannur
           AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN CP NO.53 OF 2008
OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS ,KUTHUPARAMBA ARISING
OUT OF THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN SC NO.421 OF 2009 OF
ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT & SESSIONS COURT - IV, THALASSERY

APPELLANT/9TH ACCUSED:

                  PATTAKKA SURESH BABU, AGED 46 YEARS​
                  S/O.CHATHUKUTTY, CHAMALAYIL HOUSE,
                  KUTHUPARAMBA AMSOM, MOORIYAD.

                  BY ADV SRI.NANDAGOPAL S.KURUP

RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:

      1           STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
                  HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM-682031.

      2           BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA​
                  REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,21,ROUSE AVENUE
                  INSTITUTIONAL AREA,NEAR BAL BHAWAN,NEW DELHI-110002

                  SUO MOTU IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 25/10/2023 IN
                  CRL.A.740/2018
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          6​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


                  BY ADV. SRI. ALEX M THOMBRA, SENIOR PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

     THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
24.03.2025, ALONG WITH CRL.A.685/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES,
THE COURT ON 08.04.2025 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          7​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018



              IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                     PRESENT

             THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR

                                         &

              THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE JOBIN SEBASTIAN

    TUESDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 18TH CHAITHRA, 1947

                           CRL.A NO. 775 OF 2018

      CRIME NO.94/2007 OF Kannavam Police Station, Kannur
           AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN CP NO.53 OF 2008
OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS ,KUTHUPARAMBA ARISING
OUT OF THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN SC NO.421 OF 2009 OF
ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT & SESSIONS COURT - IV, THALASSERY

APPELLANT/ACCUSED NO.11:

                  VALODATH SASI @ PACHADI SASI​
                  S/O CHATHUKUTTY, AGED 51 YEARS, SHAKHIL
                  NIVAS,KOOTHPARAMBA AMSOM, MOORIYAD DESOM,
                  KUTTIKATTIL-670643.


                  BY ADVS. ​
                  R.ANIL R​
                  SRI.B.RAMAN PILLAI (SR.)​
                  M.SUNILKUMAR(K/926/1989)​
                  SUJESH MENON V.B.(S-1613)​
                  T.ANIL KUMAR(K/101/2006)​
                  THOMAS ABRAHAM (NILACKAPPILLIL)(K/857/2011)​
                  THOMAS SABU VADAKEKUT(KL/001082/2017)​
                  MAHESH BHANU S.(K/1620/2018)​
                  S.LAKSHMI SANKAR(K/001642/2018)​
                  RESSIL LONAN(K/1251/2020)​
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          8​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018




RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:

                  STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC
                  PROSEUCTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM,
                  COCHIN-31.

                  BY ADV. SRI. ALEX M THOMBRA, SENIOR PUBLIC PROSECUTOR


     THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
24.03.2025, ALONG WITH CRL.A.685/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES,
THE COURT ON 08.04.2025 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          9​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018



              IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                     PRESENT

           THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR

                                         &

             THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE JOBIN SEBASTIAN

    TUESDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 18TH CHAITHRA, 1947

                           CRL.A NO. 790 OF 2018

    CRIME NO.94/2007 OF Kannavam Police Station, Kannur
      AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN CP NO.53 OF 2008
OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS ,KUTHUPARAMBA ARISING
OUT OF THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN SC NO.421 OF 2009 OF
ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT & SESSIONS COURT - IV, THALASSERY

APPELLANTS/ACCUSED NOS.2,3, 5 TO 7:

      1           KUNNAPPADI MANOHARAN, AGED 58, S/O.ACHUTHAN,
                  MANHAMPARAMBATH (H), KUTHUPARAMBA, MOORIYAD.

      2           NANOTH PAVITHRAN, AGED 68,
                  S/O.KUNHIKANNAN, MANIKYA PARAMBATH (H),
                  KUTHUPARAMBA, MOORIYAD.

      3           PATTAKKA DINESAN, AGED 60, S/O.CHATHUKUTTY,
                  CHAMALAYIL (H), MURIYAD, KUTHUPARAMBU.

      4           KALATHUMKANDI DHANESH, AGED 42, S/O.BHASKARAN,
                  KUTTIMAKKOOL (H), KUTHUPARAMBU AMSOM, MOORIYAD.

      5           KELOTH SHAJI @ KOYI SHAJI​
                  AGED 46, S/O.BALAN, JANAKI NILAYAM,
                  KUTHUPARAMBU AMSOM, MOORIYAD.


                  BY ADVS. ​
 ​      ​      ​       ​




                                          10​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


                  SRI.B.RAMAN PILLAI (SR.)​
                  SRI.R.ANIL​
                  SRI.T.ANIL KUMAR​
                  SRI.M.SUNILKUMAR​
                  SRI.SUJESH MENON V.B.​
                  SRI.THOMAS ABRAHAM NILACKAPPILLIL​
                  SRI.THOMAS SABU VADAKEKUT​
                  SRI.E.VIJIN KARTHIK


RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:

                  STATE OF KERALA​
                  REPRESENTED BY PUBIC PROSECUTOR,
                  HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM-682031.

                  BY ADV. SRI. ALEX M THOMBRA, SENIOR PUBLIC PROSECUTOR


     THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
24.03.2025, ALONG WITH CRL.A.685/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES,
THE COURT ON 08.04.2025 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          11​   ​   ​    2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018




                              JUDGMENT

[CRL.A Nos.685/2018, 722/2018, 740/2018, 775/2018, 790/2018]

Jobin Sebastian, J.

​ Criminal Appeal Nos. 685/2018, 722/2018, 740/2018, 775/2018, and

790/2018 arose out of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence

passed in S.C. No.421/2009 on the file of Sessions Court, Thalassery,

whereby the accused Nos. 2 to 11 were found guilty of the offences

punishable under Sections 143, 341, 307, 302 r/w 149 of Indian Penal

Code. Apart from the above-said offences, accused Nos. 2, 3 & 11 were

found guilty of offence punishable under Section 147 r/w 149 of the Indian

Penal Code, and accused Nos. 4 to 10 were found guilty of offence

punishable under Section 148 r/w 149 of Indian Penal Code and they were

convicted and sentenced for the said offences as well.

​ 2.​ Altogether ten accused faced trial in this case. The case

against the 1st accused was abated as he died after the commitment of

the case to the Sessions Division. Out of the five appeals mentioned

above, Criminal Appeal No. 685 of 2018 has been preferred by the 8th

accused, Criminal Appeal No. 722 of 2018 has been preferred by the 4th ​ ​ ​ ​

12​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

and 10th accused, Criminal Appeal No. 740 of 2018 has been preferred by

9th accused, Criminal Appeal No.775 of 2018 has been preferred by the

11th accused and Criminal Appeal No. 790 of 2018 has been filed by 2nd,

3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th accused.

​ 3. The facts of the case, in brief, are as follows:

The accused are loyalists of the Communist Party of India

(Marxist) [C.P.I.(M)], and Pramod and Prakashan, the deceased and

injured in this case, were workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party [B.J.P.].

Due to political rivalry, on 15.08.2007 at 6.00 p.m., accused Nos. 1 to 3

hatched a criminal conspiracy in the house of accused No.3. In pursuance

of the conspiracy, on 16.08.2007 at 7.00 a.m. accused Nos. 1 to 11 and

other five identifiable assailants formed themselves into an unlawful

assembly, armed with dangerous weapons, on a property where cashew

trees were planted and in the prosecution of the common object of the

said assembly, the accused attacked Pramod and Prakashan, while both of

them were proceeding to Vannathimoola Bhagam from Muriyad by walking

through a pathway situating close to the cashew tree plantation. Accused

Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 11 raised exhortations to hack and kill Pramod and

Prakashan. Meanwhile, the 4th accused hacked Pramod with a chopper

while accused Nos. 5, 9, and 10 with choppers, and accused Nos. 6, 7, and ​ ​ ​ ​

13​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

8 with swords repeatedly hacked Pramod and the other five identifiable

assailants, struck Pramod's head, legs, and hands by using iron sticks and

murdered him. Furthermore, the accused attempted to murder Prakashan

by inflicting multiple hack and stab wounds to his head, hands, and legs

with swords. Hence, the accused are alleged to have committed the

offences punishable under Sections 120(B), 143, 147, 148, 341, 326, 307,

302 r/w 149 of Indian Penal Code.

​ 4.​ On completion of the investigation, the final report was

submitted before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kuthuparamba.

As the case was one triable exclusively by the Court of Session, the

learned Magistrate after complying with all the necessary formalities

committed the case to the Court of Session, Thalassery. After taking

cognizance, the learned Sessions Judge made over the case for trial and

disposal to Additional Sessions Court-IV, Thalassery.

5.​ On the appearance of the accused before the Additional

Sessions Court-IV, Thalassery, both sides were heard under Section 227 of

the Cr.P.C. Upon hearing under Section 227 of Cr.P.C. and perusal of

records, as it was satisfied that this was not a fit case to discharge the

accused, the learned Additional Sessions Judge, framed a written charge

against the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 120B, 143, ​ ​ ​ ​

14​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

147, 148, 341, 326, 307, 302 r/w 149 of IPC. When the charge was read

over and explained to the accused, all of them pleaded not guilty and

claimed to be tried.

6.​ The prosecution thereupon examined 24 witnesses as PW1 to

PW24 and Exts.P1 to P25 were exhibited and marked . MO1 to MO9 were

the material objects identified by the prosecution witnesses and marked in

evidence. The contradictions in the 161 statement of the witnesses

brought out by the defence were marked as Exts.D1 to D8. Exts.D9 and

D9(a) were the other exhibits marked from the side of the defence

through prosecution witnesses. After completion of prosecution evidence,

when the accused were questioned under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C., they

denied all the incriminating materials brought out against them in

evidence. Since it was not a fit case to acquit the accused under Section

232 of the Cr.P.C., the accused were directed to enter upon their defence.

But no evidence, whatsoever, was adduced from the side of the accused.

7.​ After trial, accused Nos.2 to 11 were found guilty of the

offences punishable under Sections 143, 341, 307, 302 r/w 149 of the

Indian Penal Code and convicted. Apart from the above-said offences,

accused Nos. 2, 3 & 11 were found guilty of the offence punishable under

Section 147 r/w 149 of the Indian Penal Code, and accused Nos. 4 to 10 ​ ​ ​ ​

15​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

were found guilty of the offence punishable under Section 148 r/w 149 of

Indian Penal Code and they were convicted. The accused Nos.2 to 11

were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay a

fine of Rs.75,000/- (Rupees seventy-five thousand only) each with a

default clause to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year for the

offence punishable under Section 302 r/w 149 of the IPC.

8.​ The accused Nos.2 to 11 were sentenced to undergo rigorous

imprisonment for a period of 7 years and to pay a fine of Rs.25,000/- each

for offence punishable under Section 307 r/w 149 IPC. In default of

payment of the fine, the accused were sentenced to undergo rigorous

imprisonment for a period of six months.

9.​ The accused Nos.2 to 11 were sentenced to undergo rigorous

imprisonment for three months each for the offence punishable under

Section 143 r/w 149 IPC.

10. The accused Nos.2 to 11 were sentenced to undergo rigorous

imprisonment for one month each for the offence punishable under

Section 341 r/w 149 IPC.

11.​ The accused Nos.2, 3, & 11 were sentenced to undergo

rigorous imprisonment for one year each for the offence punishable under

Section 147 r/w 149 IPC.

 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          16​   ​   ​    2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


12.​ The accused Nos.4 to 10 were sentenced to undergo rigorous

imprisonment for 2 years each for the offence punishable under Section

148 r/w 149 IPC.

13.​ The accused Nos.2 and 3 were found not guilty of the offence

punishable under Section 120(B), and they were acquitted under Section

235(1) of Cr.P.C. Similarly, accused Nos.2 to 11 were found not guilty of

the offences punishable under Section 326 r/w 149 of IPC and acquitted.

14.​ The rivalry, that existed between loyalists of two political

parties, viz, BJP and CPI(M) had allegedly led to the incident in this case,

resulting in the death of Pramod and grievous injuries to Prakashan. The

deceased Pramod as well as the injured Prakashan (PW2) were BJP

workers, whereas the accused were CPI(M) loyalists.

15.​ The Sub Inspector of Police, Kannavam Police Station had set

the law in motion in this case, by registering a suo motu FIR on the basis

of the telephonic information that he had received from the Sub Inspector

of Police, Kuthuparamba. The Sub Inspector, who registered this case suo

motu, was examined as PW1. According to PW1, on 16.08.2007 while he

was working as Sub Inspector of Police, Kannavam, at around 7.30 p.m.,

he received telephonic information from his colleague, the Sub Inspector

of Kuthuparamba Police Station, that somebody had attacked and injured ​ ​ ​ ​

17​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

two BJP workers named Pramod and Prakashan inside the property

belonging to Ayisha Company situated at Mooriyad. Immediately then, he

entered the said information in the general diary maintained in the Police

Station and proceeded to Mooriyad along with his Police party in the

department jeep. When he along with the police party arrived at the

scene he found blood stains here and there on the road from Morolicham

to Palaparamba. He also found blood stains on the northern side of the

one-foot pathway that leads to Vannathimoola from Palaparamba -

Morolicham road. Moreover, loose chappals and a chopper were also

found lying there. Although he made enquiries, he was unable to find

anyone. As the incident occurred in an uninhibited cashew plantation, he

deputed a Police Constable for scene guard duty and proceeded to Indira

Gandhi Co-operative Hospital to gather more information. Upon arrival at

the hospital, he learned that two BJP workers namely Pramod and

Prakashan had already been taken to the said hospital with severe injuries.

Further inquiry revealed that Pramod, one of the injured had succumbed

to the injuries at approximately 9 a.m., while the other injured person was

undergoing treatment in the ICU. He then returned to the Police Station

and informed his superior officers about the incident. Immediately

thereafter, at around 9.30 p.m. he registered a case suo motu as crime ​ ​ ​ ​

18​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

No.94/2007 of Kannavam Police Station. Ext.P1 is the FIR so registered.

16.​ Prakashan, who sustained serious injuries in the alleged

incident was examined as PW2. According to PW2, during the period of

occurrence in this case, he resided at a place called Ayodhya Nagar near

Mooriyad and worked as a mason. On 16.08.2007, at 6.30 a.m., he left his

house along with his brother (CW3, not examined) to go to work, as usual.

When they reached the road in front of his house, Pramod, the deceased

in this case, as well as Jinoy (PW4) and Ramesan (PW3), also arrived

there to go to work. Usually, they go to Kuthuparamba for work through a

route that passes through Mooriyad. However, about one and a half

months back, a political clash occurred between BJP and CPM workers,

resulting in escalating tension in the area. Furthermore, they faced threats

from the CPM workers. The CPI(M) workers even conducted searches on

buses passing through Mooriyad, armed with weapons. Scared of the

CPI(M) workers he as well as his friends avoided traveling through

Mooriyad to reach Kuthuparamba. Instead, they opted to go to

Vannathimoola first, taking the Chullikkunnu road and from there they

would proceed to Kuthuparamba by bus. On the alleged date of the

incident, when he and others reached in front of the house of Valanki

Vinod (PW5), they found PW5 standing there and after talking with him, ​ ​ ​ ​

19​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

he proceeded further with others. Pramod, the deceased in this case was

walking ahead of him. When they reached the road leading to

Palaparamba, around 10 to 16 assailants approached them. Then accused

Nos.1, 2, 3, and 11 uttered to hack and kill them. By that time, the

accused repeatedly hacked Pramod. It was the 4th accused who hacked

Pramod first. Following it, accused Nos.6, 7, and 8 hacked Pramod with

swords, while accused Nos.5, 9, and 10 hacked Pramod with choppers.

Five other identifiable assailants also hacked and beat Pramod using iron

sticks as well as with other weapons. He was standing about 5 meters

behind Pramod. He was unsure of what to do, so he raised the alarm and

ran about 5 to 6 meters. But he stumbled and fell down. When he raised

from the ground, someone hacked, aiming his head. Then he blocked the

attack with his hands. Thereafter, those who hacked Pramod, hacked him

also, incessantly. When he cried aloud, the accused fled from the spot to

'Valiyavelicham Bhagam'. Immediately thereafter, he contacted his wife

over the phone and informed her that he had been assaulted and asked

her to come urgently. He also contacted Shyju (PW7). Approximately five

or six minutes after the incident Valanki Vinod (PW5), Murali, and two or

three ladies approached him. Then he asked for some water, and one of

them gave him water. After 20 minutes, a Tata sumo vehicle came and ​ ​ ​ ​

20​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

he as well as Pramod were taken inside the said vehicle. Thereafter, he

lost consciousness. It was on the next day while he was in the Medical

College Hospital, Kozhikode he regained memory. The assailants belong to

his locality. PW2 identified all the accused before the court with their

names. According to PW2, both he and the deceased, Pramod were BJP

workers, while the accused were CPI(M) workers. It was due to political

rivalry the accused attacked him as well as Pramod. According to PW2,

although he could identify the weapons used by the accused in the

commission of the offence, he is unable to specify which accused used

particular weapons. However, PW2 identified a 'Chopper' as the weapon

used by the 4th accused. He also stated that the accused attacked him as

well as Pramod with MO2 series swords and MO3 series Choppers.

17.​ Another occurrence witness, when examined as PW3,

deposed that on 16.08.2007 at 6.30 a.m., he left his house to go for

concrete work. When he reached Chulli Bhagam he met the deceased

Pramod, Prakashan (PW2), Jinoy(PW4), and one Pradeepan. All of them

walked together towards Vannathimoola, to catch a bus to go to work.

Except Pramod he as well as the others were going to work at Kolassery

and Pramod was going to work at Vellachal. While walking so, on the way

he met Vinod (PW5) and his sister Nalini, and after exchanging a few ​ ​ ​ ​

21​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

words, all of them proceeded further. Pramod was then walking ahead of

all of them and Prakashan was walking behind him. He as well as

Pradeepan and Jinoy were walking behind Prakashan. Thereafter, while all

of them crossed the road near Ayisha Company, suddenly around 10 to 16

persons encircled Pramod, the deceased in this case, and Accused Nos.1,

2 3, and 11 uttered "വെട്ടെടാ...കുത്തെടാ...കൊല്ലെടാ...". Then the 4th accused

hacked Pramod using a chopper and accused Nos.6, 7, and 8 hacked

Pramod with swords, and accused Nos.5, 9, and 10 hacked Pramod with

choppers incessantly. Thereafter, the accused turned towards Prakashan.

When Prakashan attempted to take to his heels, he stumbled down. Then

the accused attacked Prakashan with weapons. The accused Nos. 4, 5, 6,

7, 9, and 10 hacked PW2 with swords and choppers repeatedly. Seeing

that the accused are approaching PW3 and others, he as well as his

friends Jinoy and Pradeepan ran away from the spot through the cashew

tree plantation belonging to Ayisha Company. After half an hour he

returned back to Chulli Bhagam and learned that both Prakashan and

Pramod had been taken to hospital. PW3 identified all the accused before

the court with their names. PW3 identified MO1 as the chopper used by

A4. PW3 also identified MO2 series swords as the weapons used by A6,

A7, and A8. However, he admitted that he could not identify which specific ​ ​ ​ ​

22​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

accused used each of the weapons in the MO3 series. According to PW3,

his statement was recorded by the investigating officer after three days of

the incident.

18.​ Another witness to the occurrence, when examined as PW4,

deposed that the deceased and the injured in this case were his

neighbours and residents of his locality. The incident in this case

happened on 16.08.2007, while he was walking towards Vannathimoola

bus stop to catch a bus to go for his job. He was accompanied by

Prakashan(PW2), Pradeepan(CW3), Ramesh (PW3), and Pramod the

deceased, who were also heading to work. On the way they met Vinod

(PW5), who was residing on the side of the road, and after making a

casual talk with him, all of them proceeded further. The deceased Pramod

and injured Prakashan were walking ahead of the group. After passing

Chullikkunnu Heights, when Pramod crossed 'Palaparamba Valiya Velicham'

road, the accused Nos.1 to 11 approached Pramod by shouting

"വെട്ടെടാ...കൊല്ലെടാ...". Thereafter, all the accused encircled Pramod and

hacked Pramod with weapons. After hacking Pramod they rushed towards

Prakashan (PW2) and hacked him down. Even after Prakashan fell down,

the accused continued to hack at him. According to PW4 fearing that the

accused would attack him and his friends, they ran towards Palapramba ​ ​ ​ ​

23​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

Bhagam and he then rushed to his house. Thereafter when PW4 was

about to inform the neighbours about the incident, his father said that all

the injured had been taken to hospital. Moreover, his father said he heard

somebody giving directions to inform the matter to police. Afraid of the

accused, PW4 as well as others remained near his house. According to

PW4, he is acquainted with all the accused in this case as they belong to

his locality. Apart from the accused facing trial in this case, five other

persons were also involved in this case. PW4 identified all the accused

before the court. He also identified the weapons of the offence.

According to PW4, the MO1 chopper was used by the 4th accused. When

MO2 series weapons were shown to PW4, though he identified those

weapons as the weapons used by the accused, he deposed that he could

not specify who used each one. However, he admitted that it was accused

Nos.6 to 8 who used the swords in the commission of the offence.

According to PW4 accused Nos.5, 9, and 10 used choppers to hack the

deceased and the injured. He also identified MO3 series weapons, as those

used in the commission of the offence. According to PW4, it was due to

political rivalry, that the accused unleashed violence and attacked Pramod

and PW2. According to PW4, the deceased Pramod and the injured

Prakashan are B.J.P./R.S.S. workers and the accused are C.P.I.(M) workers.

 ​      ​      ​      ​




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Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


19.​ Another independent witness, PW5, who rushed to the scene

after the alleged occurrence, testified that he resides at 'Chullikkunnu'.

PW2, the injured in this case as well as the deceased were familiar to him.

The incident in this case happened on 16.08.2007. On the morning of

16.08.2007 at around 7.00 a.m. he saw PW2, PW3, PW4, and CW3

heading to Vannathimoola Bhagam to catch a bus for going for their work.

On seeing him, Rameshan (PW3) exchanged friendly words with him and

left the place by saying that, he was going for work. Five minutes after

they departed, he heard a huge cry from Vannathimoola Bhagam. Hearing

the same he immediately contacted his friend named Ashokan (PW13)

over the phone and asked him to come quickly. Then he proceeded to the

place from where the outcry was heard. His sister as well as one

Dineshan also followed him. Upon arriving at the scene, he found Pramod

lying in a pool of blood. Looking around, he spotted Prakashan (PW2)

lying a short distance away, from the place where Pramod was found lying.

While rushing towards the house of Ashokan to fetch him, he found

Ashokan and one Mohanan coming along with two other persons.

Meanwhile, his sister brought some water. Then Ashokan asked both

Pramod and Prakashan whether they wanted water and gave water to

them. By that time Shyju (PW7) and one Santhosh also arrived at the ​ ​ ​ ​

25​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

scene. After ten minutes, a vehicle arrived and he along with others took

Pramod and Prakashan to Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital in the said

vehicle. After examining Pramod, the doctor reported that Pramod is no

more. Thereafter, Prakashan, the injured in this case was taken to Medical

College Hospital, Kozhikode for better management.

20.​ When Shyju, who arrived at the scene after the incident, was

examined as PW7, he deposed that on 16.08.2007 at around 7.20 p.m.,

Prakashan (PW2) one of the injured in this case, contacted him over the

phone and said that "എന്നെ അടിച്ചു, വെട്ടി". After saying so PW2 disconnected

the phone. Then he called back PW2 and PW2 told that "എനിക്കും പ്രമോദിനും

വെട്ടും അടിയും കിട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. പെട്ടെന്ന് വാ". Immediately then, PW7 disconnected the

phone call and rushed toward the scene of the occurrence, accompanied

by Sujeesh, Satheesh, and Santhosh. As PW2 said that the incident

occurred near the house of Vinod (PW5), he rushed to the said place.

When he reached there, Vinod, Ashokan (PW13), and some others were

also present at the scene. Then PW2 was lying, soaked in blood,

approximately 7 to 8 meters away from there, Pramod, the deceased was

found lying in a pool of blood. Five minutes after PW7's arrival, a TATA

Sumo Jeep came there and he along with others took Pramod and

Prakashan in the said vehicle and took them to hospital. Then, Pramod ​ ​ ​ ​

26​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

and Prakashan were partially conscious. Then he heard Pramod, the

deceased saying the names of one Anneri Pavithran (A4), Koyi Shaji (A7),

Rajesh (A10), Dhanesh (A6), Vipin (A8), and some others. When reached

near Palathinkara, the conversation of the deceased dwindled into mere

murmurs. Then he along with others took Prakashan and Pramod to Indira

Gandi Co-Operative Hospital, where it was later confirmed that Pramod

had succumbed to the injuries. After giving first aid, Prakashan was

referred to Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. According to PW7, the

attack on Prakashan and Pramod was motivated by political rivalry.

21.​ The Circle Inspector of Police, Kuthuparamba who conducted

the initial part of the investigation in this case was examined as PW24.

According to PW24, he took over the investigation on 16.08.2007, and as

part of the investigation, he prepared an inquest after reaching the

mortuary of Government Hospital, Thalassery where the body of Pramod

was kept. Ext.P6 is the inquest report prepared by him. Thereafter, on

16.08.2007 he visited the scene of occurrence and prepared a scene

mahazar in the presence of independent witnesses. Ext.P9 is the scene

mahazar prepared by him. According to PW24, one chopper found at the

crime scene was taken into custody by him after describing it in Ext.P9

scene mahazar. Moreover, the chappals and a ball pen found at the crime ​ ​ ​ ​

27​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

scene were also seized as per Ext.P9 scene mahazar. The scientific

assistant collected blood-stained soil found at the crime scene in three

packets and handed over the same to him. The same was also taken into

custody. Thereafter, he interrogated and recorded the statements of PW5

and CW7 (not examined). Then he filed a report before the jurisdictional

magistrate and Ext.P17 is the said report. Subsequently, the additional

Sub Inspector, Kuthuparamba (PW17) recorded the statement of PW2, the

injured, from Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, and produced the said

statement before him. On the basis of the said statement, he submitted a

report before the jurisdictional magistrate showing the correct name and

address of accused Nos.4 to 11 and Ext.P18 is the said report. Thereafter,

on 25.08.2007 he effected the arrest of the 11th accused. Subsequently,

accused Nos.2 to 10 surrendered before the jurisdictional magistrate, and

thereupon, he submitted an application for getting those accused into

police custody and the same was allowed.

22.​ According to PW24, after the arrest of the accused he

interrogated all, and out of them accused Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 had

given separate confession statements and on the strength of the

disclosure statements made by those accused and as led by them he

reached a place called Morolicham and recovered weapons used in the ​ ​ ​ ​

28​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

commission of the offence which where kept separately in a concealed

state from different places in and around the place of occurrence in this

case. The mahazars prepared contemporaneously with the said recovery

were marked in evidence as Exts. P2, P3, P4, P5, P7, and P8 and the

relevant portions of the confession statements of the accused recorded in

the above-said seizure mahazars which led to the recovery and proved

through PW24 were separately marked as Exts. P2(a), P3(a), P4(a), P5(a),

P7(a) and P8(a). The weapons allegedly recovered on the strength of the

disclosure statement made by the accused were also identified by PW24

before the court. Moreover, PW24 identified the thondi articles recovered

from the place of occurrence as well as the items recovered at the time of

inquest. According to PW24, the weapons as well as the other items

recovered by him were produced before the court, after entering it in the

Ext.P22 property list. The forwarding note prepared by him for sending

the thondi articles for FSL examination is marked as Ext.P23. The FSL

report received after the examination of the thondi articles, in this case,

was marked as Ext.P24 through PW24. According to PW24, a further part

of the investigation was conducted by PW22, his successor in office.

23.​ The successor in office of PW24, who conducted the

remaining part of the investigation when examined as PW23 deposed that ​ ​ ​ ​

29​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

he took over the investigation on 18.01.2008. According to him, as part of

the investigation, he perused the records in this case and submitted a

report before the jurisdictional magistrate adding Section 326 IPC.

According to PW23, it was he who laid the final report in this case after

the culmination of the entire investigation.

24.​ This is a case in which two B.J.P. loyalists were allegedly

hacked with swords and dangerous weapons by C.P.I.(M) loyalists, out of

political rivalry. In the incident, one of the injured died and the other one

survived the grievous injuries. The prosecution mainly relies on the ocular

evidence of the said injured witness, who is the survivor of the attack as

well as the evidence of two other occurrence witnesses to prove the

matters that transpired in this case. Being a case built upon direct

evidence of the ocular witnesses, the main question to be considered is

whether their oral account regarding the incident is convincing and

reliable.

25.​ Before delving into a detailed discussion regarding the

reliability of the evidence of the occurrence witnesses, it is noteworthy that

even the defence is not disputing the fact that the death of Pramod, the

deceased in this case is a homicidal one. Now it is apposite to have a look

at the evidence given by the doctor who conducted the autopsy ​ ​ ​ ​

30​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

examination, who was examined before the court as PW15. On

examination before the court, PW15 deposed that on 16.08.2007 at 1.40

p.m., while she was working as an Assistant Surgeon at General Hospital,

Thalassery, she conducted a postmortem examination on Pramod, the

deceased in this case and issued a postmortem certificate. The

postmortem certificate issued by her is marked as Ext. P11. Referring to

Ext. P11 postmortem certificate, PW15 testified that she had noted the

following antemortem injuries in the postmortem examination;

●​ Total amputation of both legs just above the ankle with only skin

attachment on the medial aspect on left leg and lateral aspect on

the right leg;

●​ Multiple lacerated wounds exposing muscles inner aspect of

middle third of right leg measuring 3½ "long and 2" wide;

●​ Linear wound partially cutting tibia and fibula measuring 5" long

just below the level of amputation;

●​ 2.5cm long and 1cm wide oval-shaped wound on dorsal aspect of

left foot over middle aspect partially cutting underlying muscles

and bones 2½ " long and 1" wide wound dorsomedial aspect of

left forearm 3" above left wrist cutting underlying muscles and

radius and ulna;

 ​      ​        ​     ​




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Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


●​ Another incised wound 1cm wide and 2.5cm "long 2 above the

previous wound. 2½ " long and 1" wide incised wound on the

scalp 2.5cm above the hairline the middle line;

●​ Another incised wound bone deep 2½ "long 1" wide just above

the previous wound with track fracture of underlying skull bone

2" long and 1" wide incised wound bone deep back of head 2"

behind the upper level of the left ear.

26.​ After referring to the postmortem certificate, the doctor

opined that the death was due to multiple injuries causing blood loss and

shock. When confronted with MO1, MO2 series, and MO3 series weapons,

and after verifying the same, the doctor opined that the injuries noted in

the postmortem examination could be caused using the said weapons. A

conjoint reading of the evidence of PW15, and the postmortem certificate

issued by her clearly shows that the death of Pramod was certainly and

undoubtedly homicidal in nature.

27. While considering the question whether the prosecution has

succeeded in proving the occurrence as well as in proving the complicity of

the accused in the commission of the offence, first of all, it is to be noted

that it is a case in which there is direct evidence to prove the occurrence.

In addition to the ocular evidence of eyewitnesses, there exists evidence ​ ​ ​ ​

32​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

of an injured witness, which significantly strengthens the prosecution's

case in proving the occurrence. Now the crucial question is whether the

evidence of the injured witness as well as that of the eyewitnesses is

reliable to be acted upon. When the injured witness was examined as

PW2, on unequivocal terms he testified that he was brutally attacked by

the accused by using dangerous weapons. The evidence of PW2 further

shows that when he along with his friends including the deceased reached

the place of occurrence, Pramod, the deceased in this case was walking

ahead of him and it was then the accused Nos.1, 2, 3, and 11 approached

them by uttering "വെട്ടെടാ... കൊല്ലെടാ...". Then accused Nos. 4 to 10

incessantly hacked Pramod with swords and choppers. According to PW2,

on seeing the same, when he attempted to flee from the spot, he

accidentally stumbled and fell down, and in the meantime, the accused

mercilessly hacked him with weapons and inflicted grievous injuries on

him. It is pertinent to note that PW2 identified all the accused before the

court by their names and also deposed about the overt acts committed by

each and every accused while Pramod was under attack. However, it is

true that PW2 had not deposed about each and every overt act of the

accused while he was under attack, rather what he stated is that all the

accused who attacked Pramod also attacked him incessantly. The fact ​ ​ ​ ​

33​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

that all the accused were familiar to PW2 and other eyewitnesses in this

case is not disputed. More pertinently, the offence was committed in the

daylight. Therefore, we find no reason to suspect the identification of the

accused made by PW2 and other eyewitnesses before the court.

28.​ When the doctor who examined PW2 immediately after the

incident was examined as PW19, she deposed that on 16.08.2007 at 8.20

a.m., while she was working as a Casualty Medical Officer in Indira Gandi

Co-Operative Hospital, Thalassery, she examined PW2 and issued a wound

certificate. The wound certificate prepared by PW19 is marked as Ext.

P12. Referring to Ext. P12 wound certificate, PW19 deposed that the

alleged history was assault, and the following injuries were noted in the

medical examination of PW2;

1.​ Stab wound 3 x 1 cms in left chin;

2.​ Stab injury 5 x 3 cms behind the left ear lobe;

3.​ Bone deep lacerated wound with bleeding on the left occipital area;

4.​ Swelling of right forearm upper 3rd portion fracture present;

5.​ Clear cut stab injury dorsum of the left hand extending up to the ring finger. Tendon and vessels injured;

6.​ Bone cut stab wound 20 x 10 cms, above the left ankle with bleeding. Absence of left foot movement;

7.​ Bone cut stab wound 2 x 10 cms with bleeding lateral lower 3rd ​ ​ ​ ​

34​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

of right leg;

8.​ Abrasions over right knee creptus - Rt. ankle fracture noted;

9.​ Bone deep lacerated wound Rt. side of occipital area;

10.​ Stab injury over left chin with bleeding.

When MO1, MO2 series, and MO3 series weapons were shown to PW19,

after verifying the same she deposed that the injuries mentioned in

Ext.P12 could be caused with weapons of that nature. It is obvious that

the injuries sustained by PW2 in the incident are life-threatening in nature

and being an injured witness, the evidence of PW2 has to be accorded a

special status. Unless a compelling reason exists, his evidence is not liable

to be discarded. In Brahm Swaroop And Another v. State of Uttar

Pradesh [AIR 2011 SC 280] the Hon'ble Supreme Court held as

follows:

"Where a witness to the occurence has himself been injured in the incident, the testimony of such a witness is generally considered to be very reliable, as he is a witness that comes with a built-in guarantee of his presence at the scene of the crime and is unlikely to spare his actual assailants in order to falsely implicate someone. Convincing evidence is required to discredit an injured witness"

Thus, the evidence of an injured witness should be relied upon ​ ​ ​ ​

35​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

unless there are grounds for the rejection of his evidence on the basis of

major contradictions and discrepancies therein.

29.​ Therefore, the only conclusion that can be arrived on is that

the evidence of PW2 can indeed form a reliable basis for proving the

incident alleged in this case. Moreover, it is noteworthy that this is not a

case in which the prosecution is relying on the solitary evidence of PW2,

the injured witness, rather there is clinching evidence of PW3 and PW4 the

other eyewitnesses to the occurrence. As stated earlier, on examination

before the court PW3 and PW4 fully supported the case of the

prosecution. PW2, PW3, and PW4 consistently testified that the incident

occurred at 6:30 a.m. while they were on their way to catch a bus to go

for their regular work. All of them deposed that the deceased Pramod as

well as Pradeepan (CW3) were also with them. The fact that immediately

prior to the incident, PW3, PW4, and Pradeepan accompanied the

deceased and the injured in this case is further established by the

evidence of PW5, who resides near the place of occurrence and who

allegedly met all of them together before the incident. The evidence of

PW5 in the above regard remains unchallenged in the cross-examination.

Similarly, the evidence of PW2 to PW4 that prior to the incident, they met ​ ​ ​ ​

36​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

PW5 also remains unchallenged in the cross-examination. Therefore,

there is nothing to doubt that PW3 and PW4 were also with the injured

and deceased in this case at the time when the accused unleashed an

attack on the deceased and PW2. As already mentioned, on examination

before the court PW3 and PW4 had deposed in a convincing manner even

about the minute details of the incident. PW3 deposed that all the

accused approached them while they were almost crossing the Ayisha

Company road, and at that time, Pramod was walking ahead of all of them

and Prakashan was walking behind Pramod. According to PW3, he as well

as PW4 and Pradeepan were walking behind Prakashan and were 10 to 20

meters behind Prakashan. According to PW3, initially all the accused

encircled Pramod, and accused Nos.1, 2, 3, and 11 shouted

"വെട്ടെടാ...കുത്തെടാ...കൊല്ലെടാ...". PW3 deposed that the 4th accused then

hacked Pramod with a chopper, accused Nos.6, 7, and 8 hacked Pramod

with swords and accused Nos. 5, 9, and 10 hacked Pramod with choppers

incessantly. It was thereafter, the accused turned towards Prakashan.

When Prakashan attempted to take to his heels, he stumbled down, and

then the accused attacked Prakashan with dangerous weapons. According

to PW3, the accused Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 hacked PW2 with swords

and choppers repeatedly. Upon seeing the accused approaching him and ​ ​ ​ ​

37​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

the others, he and PW4 fled the scene through the cashew plantation

belonging to Ayisha Company. PW4, the other occurrence witness also

testified regarding the incident in similar lines as spoken by PW2 and PW3.

Although PW3 and PW4 were subjected to searching cross-examination,

nothing was brought out to discredit their evidence. Their evidence is

mutually corroborative and free from contradictions and improvements of

even minor nature. The medical evidence adduced in this case clearly

shows that injuries corresponding to the overt acts assigned to the

accused in the testimonies of PW2 to PW4 were noted in the postmortem

examination of the deceased as well as the medical examination of PW2,

the injured in this case.

​ 30.​ One of the main contention taken by the learned counsel for

the appellants to assail the identification of the accused made by PW2, the

injured witness is that if he could have identified the assailants, he would

have stated their names to his wife during the phone call made

immediately following the incident. While considering the said contention,

it is to be noted that, as rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the

appellants, PW2 admitted that immediately after the incident, he

contacted his wife over the phone. From his evidence it is further ​ ​ ​ ​

38​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

gatherable that he had not disclosed the names of the assailants to his

wife. As revealed from his evidence, what he stated to his wife was that

he had been assaulted. Moreover, he asked her to come urgently. His

evidence further reveals that immediately thereafter, he also contacted

one Shyju (PW7). However, PW2 had not deposed about the matters

which he had told Shyju, when he contacted him over the phone, before

the court. However, when the said Shyju was examined as PW7, what he

deposed is that, on 16.08.2007 at around 7.20 a.m. i.e, immediately after

the incident in this case PW2 contacted him over the phone and said that

"എന്നെ അടിച്ചു, വെട്ടി" and after saying so, PW2 disconnected the phone.

According to PW7 then he called back PW2 and PW2 told that "എനിക്കും

പ്രമോദിനും വെട്ടും അടിയും കിട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. പെട്ടെന്ന് വാ". Immediately then, PW7

disconnected the phone call and rushed towards the scene of occurrence.

Ofcourse, the evidence of PW2 clearly shows that other than informing his

wife that he had been attacked and asking her to come fast, he had not

disclosed who attacked him. Similarly, a conjoint reading of the evidence

of PW2 and PW7 shows that after the incident, PW2 also contacted PW7

and informed him that he was assaulted and asked PW7 to come fast.



​      31.​    According to the defence counsel, if PW2 had known the
 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          39​   ​   ​    2025:KER:30106
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Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


names of the assailants or had identified them at the scene, he would

have disclosed their names to his wife as well as to PW7 when he

contacted them. The learned counsel for the appellants urged that PW2's

failure to mention the names of the accused to his wife and PW7, whom

he contacted over the phone, shortly after the incident suggests that he

was unaware of their identity. While considering the above contention, we

cannot lose sight of the fact that, evidently PW2 had sustained several

serious injuries in the incident. The evidence of PW19, the Doctor, who

examined PW2 immediately after the incident, and the wound certificate

issued by her reveals that PW2 had sustained 10 serious injuries and

almost all of them were cut injuries that required immediate medical

attention. Given the traumatic nature of the attack, it is understandable

that PW2's primary concern was to seek medical assistance and ensure his

survival. Therefore, it is not prudent to expect PW2 to have provided a

detailed account of the incident, including the names of the assailants to

his wife or PW7 immediately after the attack. His failure to do so does not

necessarily imply that he was unable to identify the assailants. Rather, it

highlights the severity of his injuries and the urgency of his need for

medical attention. When viewed in the given circumstances, it can be

seen that he contacted his wife as well as PW7, his friend, with the sole ​ ​ ​ ​

40​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

intention of seeking their assistance. Therefore, the non-mentioning of

the names of the assailants by PW2 to his wife and PW7 is not a ground to

enter into an automatic inference that he could not identify the assailants,

especially when the conversations over the phone lasted for a few

seconds. At this juncture, it is noteworthy that none of the accused are

strangers to PW2 but rather acquaintances. Moreover, the offence was

committed in broad daylight. Therefore, we find no reason to suspect the

identification of the accused made by PW2 before the court.

​ 32.​ PW5 is the first person who allegedly arrived at the crime

scene, following the incident in this case. The evidence of PW5 shows

that he is residing near the place of occurrence and immediately prior to

the incident in this case he saw PW2 to PW4, CW3 (not examined), and

the deceased in this case heading to Vannathimoola Bhagam to catch a

bus by walking near to his house. He clarified that on seeing them he

made a casual talk with them and thereafter they proceeded. After a

short while, he heard an outcry, and upon hearing the same, he rushed to

the scene of the occurrence followed by his sister and one Dineshan. His

evidence further shows that on reaching there, he found Pramod, the

deceased in this case lying at the place of occurrence soaked in blood.

 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          41​   ​      ​      2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


Similarly, when he looked around, PW2 was found lying in a pool of blood,

a short distance away from the place where Pramod was found lying.

According to PW5, one Asokan who also reached by that time at the crime

scene had given water to Pramod and Prakashan. His evidence further

shows that it took around 10 minutes to take the injured to the hospital as

a vehicle could be brought only then. Furthermore, the wound certificate

prepared by PW19 and marked in evidence as Ext.P12 shows that it was

PW5 who brought PW2, the injured to the hospital. PW5 also admitted

the said fact.

33. The evidence of PW19, the Doctor who medically examined the

injured after the incident deposed that PW2 was brought to the hospital

with alleged history of assault. A perusal of the Ext.P12 wound certificate

shows that the alleged history was that "മുരിയാട് വച്ച് പ്രമോദുമായി വരുമ്പോൾ വെട്ടി

പരിക്കേൽപിച്ചു". However, during the examination before the court, PW19

did not state who provided her with the patient history. Moreover, to a

definite question put during the cross-examination, PW19 answered that

she is not duty bound to mention the name of the person who

provided/narrated the history and the alleged cause of injury. Anyhow, a

close scrutiny of the evidence of PW19 as well as the wound certificate ​ ​ ​ ​

42​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

prepared by her, shows that the patient was drowsy and not responding to

the questions. Therefore, commonsense is not comprehending to believe

that, it was the patient who stated the alleged history to the Doctor.

Therefore the non-mentioning of the names of the assailants by the

injured at the time of examination by the Doctor has no significance at all.

Now by a series of judicial pronouncements, it is trite that, when an

injured is brought before a doctor for urgent medical attention, his primary

concern is to save the life of the person brought to him and to inform the

matter to the police in medico-legal cases. Moreover, it is well settled that

the mere failure of the eyewitness to disclose the names of the assailants

to the Doctor would not discredit him as an eyewitness. Doctors are

primarily not concerned with the culprit but with medical aid to the

deceased. In the above regard, we are fortified by the decision in

Pattipati Venkaiah v. State of Andra Pradesh [1985 (4) SCC 80].

Therefore, if at all the injured was oriented, conscious, and capable of

speaking, the non-mentioning of the name of the assailants to the Doctor

is insignificant. Reverting back to the evidence in the case, it can be seen

that, PW2 was not in a position to answer the questions put to him.

Therefore, it is gatherable that the history was not stated by PW2, but

probably by the person who brought him to the hospital, who is none ​ ​ ​ ​

43​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

other than PW5.

​ 34.​ The learned counsel for the appellants contended that if PW2,

the injured had duly identified the assailants he would have naturally told

their name to PW5 who reached the place of the occurrence immediately

after the incident. Furthermore, the learned counsel urged that after

rushing to the spot on seeing PW2 in a pool of blood, the first question

that would have been asked by PW5 would be what happened or who did

it. According to him, the same is the thing that an ordinary human being

will do. The counsel further urged that PW5 spent around ten minutes at

the place of occurrence after the incident along with PW2, the injured. If

that is so, it is highly suspicious why PW2 did not disclose the names of

the assailants to PW5 and why PW5 did not ask PW2 who are the

assailants. Evidently, PW5 does not have a case that, PW2 had disclosed

the names of the assailants to him either when he reached the place of

occurrence or while he took PW2 to the hospital. While considering the

question whether the non-disclosure of the names of the accused by PW2

to PW5, the nature of the injuries sustained to PW2 and his health

condition, etc. cannot be overlooked. As already stated around 10 cut

injuries were inflicted on him. The injuries are certainly grievous and ​ ​ ​ ​

44​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

life-threatening in nature, though he survived luckily. The evidence of

PW19, the Doctor, who medically examined PW2 clearly shows that death

would have been caused unless proper and timely medical treatment had

been given to PW2. Absolutely, there is no evidence to show that PW2

was then in a condition to speak. We are cognizant of the fact that,

immediately after the incident, PW2 contacted his wife as well as PW7 to

secure their assistance. Moreover, the evidence clearly indicates that he

said only a few words to them. It was thereafter, that PW5 came to the

scene. There is absolutely no evidence to show that after the arrival of

PW5, PW2 had spoken anything to anyone. Moreover, the evidence of

PW19, the Doctor, clearly shows that when she examined PW2 after the

incident, PW2 was not in a position to respond to the questions put to him

and he was drowsy. The evidence further indicates that after giving first

aid from Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital, Thalassery, PW2 was

referred to Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode for better management.

The medical evidence adduced in this case further reveals that PW2

regained consciousness only on 17.08.2007. Therefore, it is apparent that

though immediately after the incident PW2 was in a position to make a

phone call with his wife and PW7, thereafter, his condition worsened with

the passage of time. It was after PW2 contacted his wife and PW7, PW5 ​ ​ ​ ​

45​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

came to the scene. Therefore, the fact that PW2 had not stated the

names of the assailants to PW5 is not a reason to conclude that PW2 was

unaware of the identity of the assailants who attacked him and the names

of the accused were incorporated later with ulterior motives due to

political reasons.

35.​ The evidence of PW2 is assailed by the learned counsel for

the appellants mainly on the ground that there are some improvements in

his evidence, to what he stated to the Police. According to the counsel,

the evidence of PW2 shows that, when he along with his friends reached

the place of occurrence, the accused encircled the deceased Pramod with

dangerous weapons and it was after hacking the deceased and inflicting

severe injuries on him, the accused turned towards PW2 and hacked him.

According to the counsel, quite contradictory to the said evidence, what

PW2 stated to the Police is that, the accused encircled all his friends

including him and Pramod. We do agree that such a contradiction was

proved when the investigating officer who recorded the statement of PW2

was examined. However, this contradiction is not of such significance as

to undermine the credibility of an injured witness's testimony. Some minor

contradictions are quite natural to occur. Moreover, merely because PW2, ​ ​ ​ ​

46​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

while interrogated by the Police, made a casual expression in colloquial

language that the assailants encircled all of them, the same does not

mean that they were all detained within a circle formed by them.

Moreover, the same is not a reason to disbelieve PW2's testimony before

the court that the accused initially encircled Pramod, the deceased in this

case alone. Moreover, the evidence of PW2 that Pramod was initially

encircled and attacked by the assailants and it was thereafter, that they

turned towards him when he attempted to flee from the spot is well

corroborated by the evidence of PW3 and PW4. The evidence of PW3 and

PW4 in the above regard remains unchallenged in the cross-examination

and their entire evidence is free from material contradictions and

omissions. Therefore, we are of the view that the minor contradictions in

the statement of PW2 will in no way affect the credibility of the evidence

of PW2. It is true that some omissions were also proven in the evidence

of PW2. But those omissions are insignificant omissions and are not with

respect to core matters of the incident. An omission is significant only

when the same is with respect to an important aspect of the incident,

which should have been stated by a witness at the time when the

statement was given to the Police. Moreover, such omissions must amount

to contradiction. Therefore, in the case at hand, none of the omissions ​ ​ ​ ​

47​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

highlighted from the side of the defence are with respect to the core

aspects of the incident and hence those omissions are only liable to be

discarded.

​ 36.​ Another contention taken by the learned counsel for the

accused is that, the evidence of PW2 as well as that of other eyewitnesses

that the deceased Pramod and PW2 were attacked not simultaneously, is

absolutely false. The counsel further urged that the evidence of PW2 and

other occurrence witnesses to the effect that PW2 was not attacked at the

same location, but a short distance away from the place where Pramod

was attacked is also false. In order to substantiate the above contentions

the learned counsel heavily relied on the evidence of the investigating

officer as well as the scene mahazar prepared by him in this case.

According to counsel, a bare perusal of the scene mahazar, along with the

evidence of the investigating officer who prepared it, clearly indicates that

bloodstains were found only in one location. Counsel argues that this fact

alone demonstrates the falsity of PW2, PW3, and PW4 evidence, which

suggests that PW2 sustained injuries at a location slightly distant from

where Pramod sustained injuries. We do agree that the evidence of PW5

and PW7, who came to the scene of occurrence after the commission of ​ ​ ​ ​

48​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

the offence, clearly shows that the deceased Pramod as well as PW2, the

injured were found lying in a pool of blood when they reached the place of

occurrence. If the evidence of PW5 and PW7 that the deceased and PW2

were found lying soaked in blood is believed, certainly blood stains could

have been detected from the places where they were found lying.

Similarly, if they had sustained injuries at different locations blood stains

could have been found in two locations. However, as rightly pointed out

by the learned defence counsel a bare perusal of Ext.P9 scene mahazar

shows that blood stains were found at two spots in the crime scene but

the distance between the two spots is only 30 cm. If that be so, the said

minimal distance necessarily leads to an inference that the blood stains are

found only in one spot. When the investigating officer was examined as

PW24 and when confronted with the Ext.P14 site plan prepared by a

village officer (PW20), he deposed that in the Ext.P14 site plan also, blood

stains were noted only in one spot. However, PW24 added that it was on

the basis of the scene mahazar, that the site plan was prepared.

Furthermore, PW24 admitted that in Ext.P9 Mahazar, though it is stated

that blood stains were found in two places, the distance between the said

places is only 30 cm.

 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          49​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


​      37.​   However, we are of the considered view that the evidence of

the investigating officer as well as the scene mahazar prepared by him

alone is not sufficient to enter into a conclusion that PW2 and the

deceased had sustained injuries at the same location. The ocular evidence

adduced in this case clearly shows that when the injured and the deceased

reached the place of occurrence, the accused first attacked the deceased;

and, upon PW2 seeing this and attempting to escape, he stumbled,

whereupon the accused attacked him. The evidence of the eyewitnesses in

the above regard is well corroborated by the evidence of PW5, the witness

who came to the scene immediately after the incident. The evidence of

PW5 shows that when he reached the crime scene, Pramod the deceased

was found lying there soaked in blood. Looking around, PW5 spotted PW2

lying a short distance away from the place where Pramod was found lying.

Likewise, the evidence of PW7 also shows that when he reached the place

of occurrence, PW2 was lying there soaked in blood, at approximately 7 to

8 meters away from there Pramod the deceased was found lying in a pool

of blood. Thus, evidence of PW5 and PW7 clearly indicates that there is a

short distance between the places where Pramod, the deceased, and PW2

sustained injuries. The evidence of PW5 and PW7 in the above regard is

not even challenged in the cross-examination. Therefore, the fact that ​ ​ ​ ​

50​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

blood stains were found by the investigating officer only at one location is

not sufficient to discredit the ocular evidence adduced in this case. Lapses

on the part of the investigating officer in preparing the scene mahazar do

not, by themselves, justify disbelieving the evidence of eyewitnesses to

the occurrence.

​ 38.​ The defence counsel has raised a further contention that even

in Ext.P17, the initial report submitted before the jurisdictional magistrate

subsequent to the First Information Report, the names of all the assailants

were not mentioned. The learned counsel further submitted that in Ext.

P17 report, though it is mentioned that accused Nos.1 to 3 entered into a

criminal conspiracy inside the house of the 3rd accused to murder Pramod

and Prakashan it is not mentioned that they also took part in the actual

perpetration of the offence. According to him, the omission of names of

the accused in the Ext.P7 report itself throws light on the fact that no one

had any idea about the identity of the actual assailants. While considering

the said contention, it is noteworthy that the FIR in this case is one

registered suo motu by the SHO, Kannavam Police Station. The said FIR

was not registered based on the statement of any occurrence witnesses.

Similarly, it is true that the Ext.P17 report was submitted on the next day ​ ​ ​ ​

51​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

of the incident, and in the said report, the names of all the accused were

not mentioned, although it did mention the names of accused Nos.1 to 3

as conspirators. However, it is pertinent to note that there is no evidence

to suggest that any of the occurrence witnesses were examined by the

time the Ext.P17 report was submitted. It is true that the statement of

PW2 was recorded on 17.08.2007 at 4 p.m. and the statement of the other

occurrence witnesses were recorded on 21.08.2007. While the report and

the examination of the occurrence witness occurred on the same day there

is no conclusive evidence to determine which one happened first.

However, a reading of Ext.P17, suggests that it was prepared by the

investigating officer prior to the recording of the statement of PW2 and

the occurrence witnesses. Had the witnesses been examined earlier, their

names would likely have been included in the Ext.P17 report, particularly

considering that the report only reached the court on 25.08.2007.

Moreover, a perusal of Ext.P18, report shows that, thereafter on

20.08.2007, the investigating officer filed a report before the court

incorporating the names and addresses of accused Nos.1 to 7. Therefore,

we are of the view that the non-mentioning of the names of all the

assailants in Ext. P17 report is immaterial particularly when there is no

evidence to show that the said report was prepared after recording the ​ ​ ​ ​

52​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

statement of occurrence witnesses by the investigating officer.

39. From the nature of contentions raised from the side of the

appellants, it is discernible that the attempt of the appellants is to

establish that the names of the accused happened to be not mentioned in

the FIR as well as in Ext. P17 report solely because of the reason that

neither the Police nor the occurrence witnesses had any knowledge of the

names or identities of the assailants. As already stated, the

aforementioned contention is unsustainable, as it has been established

that the FIR and Exhibit P17 report were not generated based on the

statements of the occurrence witnesses. None of the witnesses had been

examined by the time the said reports were prepared. Anyhow, the

action of the Sub Inspector of Police who registered the FIR in this case

and examined as PW1 raises serious suspicion regarding his bonafides. His

evidence shows that after getting the telephonic information, he initially

entered the said information in the general diary maintained in the police

station. Thereafter, he proceeded to the crime scene along with the police

party. Subsequently, he made enquiries but he could not find anyone who

witnessed the incident. Thereafter he rushed to the hospital where the

deceased as well as the injured were taken after the incident. It was only ​ ​ ​ ​

53​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

thereafter he returned to the police station and registered the FIR suo

motu. We are acknowledging the law that upon receiving information as

to the commission of a cognizable offence, it is incumbent upon the police

officer to register an FIR forthwith. However, in the case at hand, the

precipitate action of the police in registering a suo motu FIR, despite the

availability of an opportunity to record eyewitnesses' testimony prior to the

registration, raises concerns regarding the propriety of the process

particularly when it is a murder case motivated by political rivalry where

the accused are allegedly loyalists of the C.P.I.(M), the ruling party.

Therefore, no blame could be attributed if it is found that PW1 had an

interest in ensuring the assailants' names were not included in the FIR.

Similarly, if the investigating officer was quick in his action in recording the

statement of the occurrence witnesses and submitting the reports adding

the names of the accused before the jurisdictional Magistrate in time, the

contentions sticking on the identity of the accused and doubting their

participation in the commission of the offence raised from the side of the

defence would have been avoided. Anyhow, laches in the investigation

cannot be considered a ground to discard the convincing ocular evidence

tendered in this case. If laches in the investigation are given undue

importance, the same will create a situation where police rule the roster in ​ ​ ​ ​

54​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

the criminal justice delivery system.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Karnataka v. Yarappa

Reddi [1993 KLT 496 (SC)] held as follows:-

"Conclusion of the court in a case cannot be allowed to depend solely on the probity of investigation. It can be a guiding principle that, as investigation is not the solitary area for judicial scrutiny in a criminal trial, the conclusion of the court in the case cannot be allowed to depend solely on the probity of investigation".

It is well settled that, even if the investigation is illegal or even suspicious, the rest of evidence must be scrutinised independently of the impact of it. Otherwise criminal trial will plummet to the level of the investigating officers ruling the roost. The court must have predominance and pre-eminence in criminal trials over the action taken by investigating officers. Criminal justice should not be made the casually for the wrongs committed by the investigating officers in a case. In other words, if the court is convinced that the testimony of a witness to the occurrence is true the court is free to act on it albeit in investigating officer's suspicious role in the case."

Therefore, we are of the view that the faults and lapses in the

investigation that occurred in this case need not influence the mind of this

Court while acting on the overwhelming evidence adduced in this case.

40.​ Another important material relied on by the prosecution to

give corroboration to the ocular evidence adduced in this case is the

recovery of weapons allegedly effected on the strength of the disclosure ​ ​ ​ ​

55​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

statements made by the accused. When the investigating officer who

effected the recovery of the said weapon was examined as PW24, he

deposed that after obtaining the police custody of all the accused when he

interrogated them, accused Nos.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 had given separate

confession statements and on the strength of the disclosure statement

made by those accused and as led by them he reached a place called

Morolicham and recovered weapons used in the commission of the offence

which was found in a concealed state from different places in and around

the place of occurrence in this case. The mahazars prepared

contemporaneously with the said recovery were marked in evidence as

Ext.P2, Ext.P3, Ext.P4 Ext.P5, Ext.P7, and Ext.P8. The relevant portions of

the confession statements of the accused which led to the recovery and

proved through PW24 were separately marked as Ext.P2[a], Ext.P3[a],

Ext.P4[a], Ext.P5[a], Ext.P7[a], and Ext.P8[a]. The weapons allegedly

recovered on the strength of the disclosure statements made by the

accused were also identified by PW24 before the court.

41.​ The learned counsel for the appellant strenuously assailed the

above-said recovery by contending that the same is a fabricated one.

According to the learned counsel, the alleged recovery was artificial and ​ ​ ​ ​

56​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

not at all believable. Moreover, it is contended that the place of

concealment was not mentioned in any of the so-called disclosure

statements, and that itself indicates that the recovery was not effected on

the strength of the information gathered from the accused, but rather a

fabricated one. While considering the contention of the learned counsel

for the appellants in the above regard, first of all, it is to be noted that

there is no law that the place of concealment must be specifically

mentioned by the accused in the disclosure statement made by him. In

view of Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, it is not strictly necessary

for an accused to mention the exact place of concealment for the recovery

to be admissible in evidence. On the other hand, what is required is that

the discovery of a fact must exclusively be on the strength of the

disclosure statement given by the accused. Only when a fact is discovered

exclusively on the strength of the disclosure statement given by the

accused, the said statement can be proved against the accused. Reverting

back to the case at hand, it can be seen that, as rightly pointed out by the

learned counsel for the appellants, the exact place of concealment was not

mentioned by any of the accused. However, the evidence of PW24 reveals

that he effected recovery from the places to which he was led by the

accused, and it was the accused who took and handed over the weapons ​ ​ ​ ​

57​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

to him. In view of Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, the statement

given by an accused gets relevancy when the said statement gets

confirmation by the subsequent recovery. Therefore, the non-disclosure

regarding the exact place of concealment will definitely pale into

insignificance particularly when the recovery was effected from the places

to where the investigating officer was led by the accused and taken and

handed over to the investigating officer by the accused.

42.​ Another contention pressed into service by the learned

counsel for the appellants to assail the recovery is that the same is an

artificial one. According to the counsel, all the recoveries were effected

from places near to the place of occurrence and the same is not at all

believable. Moreover, the learned counsel urged that prior to the recovery,

the Sub Inspector of Police visited the crime scene and deputed a

Policeman for guard duty. Thereafter, PW24, the investigating officer also

visited the crime scene and prepared a scene mahazar. MO1 weapon

which was found at the crime scene was allegedly recovered by him after

describing it in Ext.P9 scene mahazar. Thereafter, on 01.09.2007, the

investigating officer again visited the scene of occurrence and allegedly

recovered a weapon on the strength of the disclosure statement given by ​ ​ ​ ​

58​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

the 4th accused. Hence highlighting the repeated presence of the Police

Officer at the scene of the crime, prior to the recovery, the learned counsel

submitted that there is every possibility of fabricating things, and

recoveries made thereafter from near the place of occurrence is highly

unbelievable. We do agree that prior to the effecting of the recoveries,

the presence of Police at the scene of occurrence was established.

Similarly, it is evident that the recoveries were effected from places near

the scene of the crime. However, it cannot be undermined that, the

weapons were recovered from a concealed state. Therefore, it could not

be said that the recovery is vitiated or is the result of some manipulations

and fabrications. Moreover, the FSL report which is marked in evidence as

Ext.P24 shows that the chopper recovered from the crime scene (MO1)

which is shown as item No.4 in the report, MO2 series swords which is

shown as item Nos.10, and 11 and MO3 series choppers shown as item

Nos.9, 12, and 13 contained human blood. Therefore, we have no

hesitation in holding that the recovery evidence, as well as the scientific

evidence adduced in this case, will lend sufficient corroboration to the

ocular evidence adduced in this case. Even otherwise, as stated earlier,

the substantive evidence of the eyewitnesses adduced in this case is

convincing and reliable. Therefore, the same can form the basis for a ​ ​ ​ ​

59​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

conviction in this case, even without corroboration from other sources.

43.​ The upshot of the above discussion is that the prosecution

has fully succeeded in proving the charge levelled against the accused by

the direct evidence of PW2 to PW4 who are the eyewitnesses to the

occurrence. Notably, PW2, being an injured witness, his evidence has to

be accorded a special weightage. He had given cogent and acceptable

evidence and had accounted for the death of the deceased as well as the

injuries found on him. The evidence of PW2 is well corroborated on

material aspects by the evidence of PW3 and PW4, the other

eyewitnesses. The medical as well as scientific evidence adduced in this

case also will lend support to the prosecution to a large extent.

44.​ Therefore, we have no hesitation in holding that the

prosecution has succeeded in proving the commission of the offences

punishable under Sections 143, 341, 307, 302 r/w 149 of the IPC against

accused Nos. 2 to 11, Section 147 r/w 149 of the IPC against accused Nos.

2, 3 & 11, and Section 148 r/w 149 of IPC against accused Nos. 4 to 10.

The sentences imposed in this case for the said offences are also in

consonance with the nature and gravity of the offence committed.

 ​       ​     ​      ​




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Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018


Resultantly, we confirm the finding, conviction, and sentence passed

by the learned Sessions Judge in S.C No. 421/2009 on the file of the

Sessions Court, Thalassery and hence, Criminal Appeal Nos. 685/2018,

722/2018, 740/2018, 775/2018, and 790/2018 stand dismissed.

        ​     ​      ​      ​      ​      ​     ​     ​


        ​     ​      ​      ​      ​      ​     ​     ​     Sd/-

​       ​     ​      ​      ​             ​     P.B. SURESH KUMAR
    ​   ​     ​      ​      ​      ​      ​               JUDGE




​       ​     ​      ​      ​      ​      ​     ​     ​    Sd/-
​       ​     ​      ​      ​      ​      ​         JOBIN SEBASTIAN
                                                        JUDGE
ncd/ANS
 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          61​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
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Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018






PETITIONER ANNEXURES

Annexure 1                    A TRUE COPY OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CARD DATED
                              30.07.2024 ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF
                              COMMISSIONER OF ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS

Annexure 2                    A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 03.11.2023 IN
                              CRL.M APPLN NO.3/2023 IN CRL.A 740/2018 OF
                              THIS HONOURABLE COURT

Annexure A1                   A TRUE COPY OF ALLOTMENT MEMO OF THE
                              APPLICANT DATED 11/10/2024
 ​      ​      ​      ​




                                          62​   ​   ​   2025:KER:30106
         ​
Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018



PETITIONER ANNEXURES

Annexure 3                    TRUE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF MARKS OF THE
                              PETITIONER IN MASTER OF ARTS (SOCIOLOGY)
                              DATED 06.05.2022 ISSUED BY THE INDIRA GANDHI
                              NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

Annexure 4                    TRUE COPY OF THE PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE
                              CERTIFYING THAT THE PETITIONER HAS
                              SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED MASTER OF ARTS
                              (SOCIOLOGY), DATED 06.05.2022 ISSUED BY THE
                              INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

Annexure 5                    TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NUMBERED
                              G2-17019/2023/PRHQ DATED 06.06.2023

Annexure 6                    TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED
                              13.07.2023 ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Annexure A7 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGE OF THE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION RESULT PERTAINING TO THE PETITIONER

Annexure A8 TRUE COPY OF THE FIRST PHASE ALLOTMENT 27.09.2023 ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS, KERALA

Annexure A9 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 12.09.2023 IN SLP (CRI) NO. 11688/2019 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ​ ​ ​ ​

63​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

PETITIONER ANNEXURES

Annexure-G THE TRUE COPY OF THE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLISHED BY NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY DATED 20-9-2022

Annexure-A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION FORM SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER FOR PH.D ENTRANCE EXAMINATION SEPTEMBER 2022 SESSIONS (APPLICATION NO.E22091201002) DATED 14/10/2022

Annexure-B TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION FOR PHD.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION 2022 DTD.17-9-2022 ISSUED BY UNIVERSITY OF KERALA

Annexure -A TRUE COPY OF THE PASS MEMO PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY OF KERALA DARTED 4-1-2023

Annexure-C TRUE COPY OF THE COVERING LETTER SENT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, CENTRAL PRISON AND CORRECTIONAL HOME, KANNUR

Annexure A1 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGE OF THE DISCHARGE SUMMARY DATED 19-5-2023 IS ISSUED IN THE NAME OF THE MOTHER OF THE PETITIONER

Annexure A2 TRUE COPY OF THE TEE REPORT ISSUED IN THE NAME OF THE WIFE OF THE PETITIONER FROM GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, KANNUR

Annexure A3 TRUE COPY OF THE OUT-PATIENT RECORD ISSUED IN THE NAME OF THE WIFE OF THE PETITIONER FROM GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, KANNUR

Annexure A4 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 15-5-2023 IN SLP(CRI).NO.1620-1621/2023 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT INDIA

Annexure- A1 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 15-05-2023 IN SLP (CRL)NO.1620-1621/2023 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ​ ​ ​ ​

64​ ​ ​ 2025:KER:30106 ​ Crl. A. No.685, 722, 740, 775 & 790 of 2018

Annexure -C COPY OF THE DISCHARGE CARD DATED 7-9-2023 ISSUED FROM GOVT.MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, KANNUR.

Annexure-D COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 13-9-2023 ISSUED FROM INDIANA INSTITUTE OF CARDIAC SCIENCES, MANGALURU.

 
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