Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 1837 MP
Judgement Date : 21 July, 2025
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1 CRA-534-1996
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT JABALPUR
BEFORE
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE VIVEK AGARWAL
&
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE AVANINDRA KUMAR SINGH
ON THE 21st OF JULY, 2025
CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 534 of 1996
GHANSHYAM
Versus
STATE OF M.P.
Appearance:
Shri Jagat Kumar Dehariya - Amicus Curiae.
Shri Yash Soni - Deputy Advocate General and Shri Ajay Tamrakar, Government
Advocate for the respondent/State.
ORDER
Per: Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh
This appeal was finally heard on 10.7.2025. This jail appeal has been filed by appellant-Ghanshyam who has spent 9 years 1 day in jail custody in this case being aggrieved by the judgment dated 24.8.1995 passed in Sessions Trial No.64/1992 [State of M.P. through P.S.Tirodi, Tahsil Waraseoni, District Balaghat Vs. Ghanshyam and three others] by learned
First Sessions Judge, Balaghat, by which, appellant-Ghanshyam has been convicted under section 302 read with 149 of I.P.C. instead of charge of offence under section 302 of IPC and has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
2. Co-accused Mahadeo and Ashok were acquitted of the charge under section 302 r/w 149 of IPC by giving them benefit of doubt. Co-
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accused Gopi was convicted under section 323 IPC instead of section 302 read with 149 of IPC. All the accused have been acquitted of the charge under section 147, 323 of IPC.
3. As per prosecution on 14.1.1992 in village Bonakatta deceased- Pooranlal was sitting by the side of Egg Stall of Laxman. At that time, Mahadeo, Kailash, Basant, Ghanshyam came armed with lathi and abused & assaulted deceased-Pooranlal. Ramprasad, Subhash, Hiraman & Yashwant, came to intervene but they were also assaulted. All four persons were injured. The seriously injured (deceased) Pooranlal was taken to the Hospital where he died. Complainant-Hiraman PW1 lodged FIR Crime No.14/1992 (Exibit-P/1). After completing entire investigation charge-sheet was filed
against 6 persons. The accused denied the charges and sought trial. The prosecution led evidence. After evidence of prosecution in examination under Section 313 Cr.P.C appellant-Ghanshyam submitted that he is innocent.
4. The prosecution examined Hiraman (PW.1), Subhash (PW.2), Vijay (PW.3), Ramprasad (PW.4), Anand (PW.5), Ramkishore (PW.6), Hillichand (PW.7), Chhaganlal (PW.8), Ganpat (PW.9), Dr.Ramjit Singh (PW.10), Kadir (PW.11), Dr.Sanjay Dabadghav (PW.12), Dr.Laxmikant Tamade (PW.13) and Dr.Sanjay Shukla (PW.14).
5. The prosecution exhibited documents FIR (Ex.P/1), notices u/s 175 Cr.P.C. Ex.P/2, ' naksha panchayatnama' Ex.P/3, seizure memo from Heeraman (Ex.P/4), memo of Basant under section 27 of Evidence Act
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3 CRA-534-1996 Ex.P.5, similarly memorandum of Gopi Ex.P/6, memo of appellant (Ghanshyam) Ex.P/7, memorandum of Mahadeo (Ex.P/8), Memorandum of Kailash (Ex.P/9), memo of Ashok (Ex.P/10), seizure memo of wooden 'Ubhari' from Basant as Ex.P/11, seizure memo of wooden 'ubhari' from Gopi as Ex.P/12, seizure memo of 'Ubhari' from Ghanshaym as Ex.P/13, seizure memo of Ubhari from Mahadeo Exhibit-P/14, seizure memo of Ubhari from Kailash Ex.P/15, seizure memo of wooden ubhari from Ashok as Ex.P/16, Death intimation of Pooranlal (Ex.P/17), Marg intimation (Ex.P/18), spot map (Ex.P/19), application for postmortem Ex.P/20 and report of postmortem Ex.P/30A, duty certificate (Ex.P/21), Khulasa certificate (Ex.P/22), supradnama of dead body of deceased (Ex.P/23), query reports (Ex.P/24 & P/25), query reports (Ex.P/26, P/26A, P/27, P/27A, P/28, P/29 & P/29A), Panchnama (Ex.P/30), Memo to S.P.Balaghat with opinion and list of articles (Ex.P/31) and Memo of serological and chemical with list of articles (Ex.P/32).
6. Defence examined Mohd.Ismail (DW.1), Premlal (DW.2), Dr.Sharad Sahu (DW.3) and Dr.Smt.U.S.Vasnik (DW.4). The defence filed statements of Subhash as Ex.D/1, Vijay as Ex.D/2, Ramprasad as (Ex.D/3), Anand Ex.D/4, Hiraman as Ex.D/5, medical reports of Gopi Ex.D/6, Ghanshyam Ex.D/7, Ashok Ex.D/8 and Kailash Ex.D/9.
7. First Information Report (Exhibit-P/1) was lodged against total five persons, namely, Ghanshyam, Kailash, Mahadeo, Gopi and Basant.
After investigation charge-sheet was filed against six persons. Out of which,
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4 CRA-534-1996 during trial Basant expired on 25.121994 and, therefore, trial was terminated against him and Kailash was found to be juvenile on 22.07.1995 and accordingly, his matter was directed to be sent to the Juvenile Court and four persons were put to trial and judgment dated 24.8.1995 was passed by the trial Court.
8. As per appellant's jail appeal he is innocent. He has filed jail appeal but as counsel on behalf of the appellant did not appear therefore to do justice which is pertaining to year 1996, Shri Jagat Kumar Dehariya was appointed as Amicus Curiae .
9. Learned Amicus Curiae submitted that appellant is innocent. Prosecution has failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. It is further pointed that as per prosecution case on 06.2.1992 the Superintendent of Police, Balaghat vide letter No.72/92 had sent blood stained towel and two vests ('baniyan') of deceased-Pooran which were seized from complainant- Hiraman and one wooden 'Ubhari' of bullock cart stating that it carried blood stains of human origin. But earlier in this typed letter name of Kailash was mentioned but thereafter by cutting name of Kailash, the name of appellant- Ghanshyam has been mentioned by hand but there is no initial on this cutting. It is further pointed out that vide seizure memo (Exhibit-P/12) a wooden 'Ubhari' was seized from Gopi and vide Exhibit-P/13 a wooden 'Ubhari' was seized from appellant-Ghanshyam. In this seizure memo (Exhibit-P/13) it is mentioned that in centre there is red spot. Therefore, when it was not mentioned in the seizure memo (Exhibit-P/13) that there were spots like human blood then how in letter No.72/92 dated 06.2.1992 it
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was mentioned that there were spots of human blood origin. Therefore, investigation is either tainted and unfair or was in the hands of incompetent police team.
10. It is further submitted that as per F.S.L. report (Exhibit-P/31) a wooden article-A seized from appellant-Ghanshyam no blood has been found. It is submitted that although in F.I.R. (Exhibit-P/1) complainant- Hiraman PW1 named total five persons but he in his court statement dated 04.8.1992 in paragraph 11 of the cross-examination has mentioned that he had lodged report only against four persons, namely, Ghanshyam, Gopi, Kailash, Basant. He does not know how names of Mahadeo and Ashok crept therein. Similarly, he has not given any statement to Police against Mahadeo and Ashok. Therefore, learned Amicus Curiae submitted that this witness is adopting pick and choose policy, therefore, he is not reliable witness and hence, Court should discard his evidence. It is further submitted by learned Amicus Curiae that PW.10 -Dr.Ramjit Singh Sisodiya in paragraphs 4 & 5 has stated that on 05.2.1992 he examined three sealed wooden 'Ubhari' and all three were having blood like spot, therefore, he had advised for chemical examination. He was also asked in paragraph 6 whether from the seized wooden sticks/Ubhari injuries in the body of the deceased could have been caused and he had replied that it is not possible to say whether injuries on the body of deceased was caused by the 'Ubhari' wooden sticks. In paragraph 10 this witness has further stated that injuries received by deceased-Pooranlal could have been caused by such type of wooden sticks. Therefore, it is submitted that while in paragraph 6 this witness has stated that it was not
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possible to state whether injury on the body of the deceased Pooranlal could not have been caused by three sticks produced for inspection but in the same breath on the same day in paragraph 10 he has stated that injuries to deceased-Pooran could have been caused by type of the sticks seized. Thus, statement of this witness is contradictory on material point of weapon of assault. It is further submitted that when doctor (PW.10) opined that all the three wooden sticks should be sent for chemical examination then why Police choose to send only one stick for chemical examination by Letter No.72/92 dated 06.2.1992.
11. It is further submitted that PW.13-Dr.Laxmikant Tamde in paragraph 2 stated that on 15.1.1991 (it appears that it is typographical error as it should have been 15.2.1992) he had examined Subhash s/o Jeevan PW2 and found injuries in his body as mentioned in Exhibit-P/27. On the same day he examined Ramprasad PW4 and found injuries in the body as mentioned in Exhibit-P/28A on 15.1.1991 (it should have been 15.1.1992), he also examined Yashwant and found injuries as mentioned in report (Exhibit-P/29A). In paragraph 7 of cross-examination this witness has stated that injuries to Subhash could have been caused due to falling on hard surface. Regarding Yashwant, it is stated that injuries he had on the inner side of right leg could not have been caused by falling but other injuries could have been caused on account of falling on hard surface. In paragraph 8
this witness has stated that except injury no.3 to Ramprasad rest injuries could be caused due to fall on hard surface, injury no.3 to Ramprasad is not self inflicted. On the basis of aforesaid submissions learned Amicus Curiae
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7 CRA-534-1996 prays for acquittal of appellant-Ghanshyam.
12. On the other hand, learned Government Advocate for the respondent/State submitted that Defence Witness-Mohd.Ismail D.W.1 produced by defence in paragraph 2 stated that he has not seen the incident and also submits that prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, prayed for dismissal of appeal but fairly submitted that no appeal has been filed against judgment of the trial Court for acquitting Ashok & Mahadeo and no appeal has been filed for enhancement of sentence to accused-Gopi.
13. Defence Witness-Premlal D.W.2 has stated that on account of same incident Hirmani Sarpanch and Vijay were charged with section 307 of IPC and trial is going on. On the other hand learned Government Advocate Shri Ajay Tamrakar has stated that regarding the same incident Ghanshyam - appellant had filed a complaint which was registered as Crime No.15/92 R.T.No.138/92 under section 294 of IPC, 506, 323, 147, 148 & 506-B of IPC and the accused persons therein were acquitted by the learned JMFC, Waraseoni, District Balaghat on 23.9.1996.
14. Considered the arguments and perused the record. Prosecution has to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. In Criminal Appeal No.2446/2005 [Hari Narayan Vs. State of M.P.] Hon'ble Single Judge of this High Court in paragraph 18 of judgment dated 17.1.2024 regarding reading of un-exhibited documents of prosecution held as under:-
"18. It is well established principle of law that if an un-
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8 CRA-534-1996 exhibited document of prosecution is in favour of the accused, then it can be read in his favour but an un- exhibited document of prosecution cannot be read against the accused. Although the photocopies of bed head ticket of the deceased are available on record as un-exhibited documents, but unfortunately, this Court cannot look into the same."
15. Therefore, if we read letter of Police dated 06.2.1992 bearing No.72/92, which was sent to forensic science laboratory for examination of seized materials it is seen that investigation has not acted in fair manner. When doctor (PW-10) stated that he had recommended for sending three wooden sticks for chemical examination as they had blood like spots then why prosecution choose to send only one wooden stick (Ubhari) by letter No.72/1992, in which, there was cutting without initial regarding the name of accused from whom seized is not clear. Even otherwise, the report is not against appellant-Ghanshyam, therefore, fair investigation is lacking in the case under appeal.
16. Similarly, prosecution main witness PW.1-Hiraman who has lodged FIR (Exhibit-P/1) has adopted pick and choose policy in Court. Therefore, his evidence is not wholly reliable. When investigation is not fair and when all wooden sticks were not sent for chemical examination and prime witness-PW.1 (Hirmani) is adopting pick and choose policy and when there were more than one accused in this case, it is not possible to say with certainty as to which accused person or persons gave fatal blows by which death of the deceased Pooranlal was caused.
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17. In Balaram Vs. State of M.P. , 2023 Livelaw (SC) 980 Hon'ble Supreme Court has held that there are three types of witnesses. If the witness is wholly reliable, there is no difficulty inasmuch as relying on even the solitary testimony of such a witness conviction could be based. Again there is no difficulty in the case of wholly unreliable witnesses inasmuch as his/her testimony is to be totally discarded. It is only in the case of third category of witnesses which is partly reliable and partly unreliable that the Court faces the difficulty. The Court is required to separate the chaff from the grain to find out the true genesis of the incident.
18. In case of Yogesh Singh Vs. Mahabeer Singh and others, (2017) 11 SC 195 Hon'ble Supreme Court in paragraph 43 has held that in case of inconsistency between oral evidence and medical evidence, the evidentiary value of medical evidence is only corroborative and not conclusive and hence, in case of conflict between oral evidence and medical evidence, the former is to be preferred unless the medical evidence completely rules the oral evidence.
19. I n Mahendra Singh and others Vs. State of M.P. [Criminal Appeal No.764/2021] vide judgment dated 03.6.2022 Hon'ble Supreme Court in paragraph 12 regarding witnesses which are neither wholly reliable nor wholly unreliable referring to judgment in Vadivelu Thevar Vs. The State of Madras, (1957) SCR 981 has held in paragraph 13 that it is this category of witness that the court has to be circumspect and has to look for corroboration in material particulars by reliable testimony direct or
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10 CRA-534-1996 circumstantial.
20. Hiraman (PW.1) in paragraph 2 of his statement has deposed in Court that all accused persons were assaulting Pooranlal by 'lathi'. In paragraph 3 he stated that by 'lathi' means ' Ubhari' which is used in 'Gadde'. In paragraph 4 he stated that Pooran had four injuries on head. In paragraph 6 this witness has stated that after incident Pooranlal told him that Gopi, Kailash, Ghanshyam, Mahadeo and Basant had hit him. This witness further deposed in paragraph 6 that while taking Pooranlal to Police Station he was unconscious therefore, in examination-in-chief itself at one place PW.1 (Hiraman) is showing himself as an eye witness whereas in paragraph 6 he states that Pooranlal told him the name of assailants. Therefore if Hiraman had seen the incident then why he is saying that Pooranlal told him about the incident and also states that Pooranlal was unconscious while he was being taken by him to the Police Station. Therefore, examination-in- chief of this witness is self contradictory. Even otherwise, this is a witness who after mentioning the names of 05 persons in FIR (Ex.P/1) states in paragraph 11 of court statement that he has mentioned only 4 names to police.
21. PW.2-Subhash has stated in examination in chief that incident is
of about night 08 p.m. he saw accused assaulted Pooranlal with Lathi and in paragraph 7 of cross-examination he says that he has seen the incident from about 08-10 feet. He also admitted that there is counter report against the complainant party in this case under sections 147, 148, 294, 506-B and 323 of IPC. PW-3 Vijay says that he saw all accused assaulted Pooranlal with
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Lathi in paragraph 3 has admitted that regarding the same incident a case is also pending against him. He does not know how Ashok, Kailash and Ghanshyam sustained injuries. PW.-4 Ramprasad in paragraph 2 of examination-in-chief has stated that when accused persons were assaulting Pooranlal with Lathi then no person was present there . The first blow was given by Ghanshaym on the head of Pooranlal. Second blow was given by Ashok on head of Pooranlal and third blow was given by Mahadeo on the left temple and fourth blow was given by Kailash. While this assault was going one he ran away to the house of Mahesh Sarpanch but in paragraph 13 of cross-examination he states that he cannot say which person gave how many blows by 'lathi'. Therefore, presence of this witness is doubtful.
22. PW.5-Anand in paragraph 2 of examination-in-chief submits that Santosh had called him and told that Sarpanch is calling him and when he went there to the house of Sarpanch, there Pooranlal, Hiraman and Manik were sitting. Blood was oozing out from the head of Pooranlal and when he asked Pooranlal as to what had happened, then he replied that Gopi, Ghanshyam, Mahadeo, Kailash, Ashok and Basant had assaulted him with 'lathi' then he took Pooranlal, Hiraman and Nila on his motorcycle to Tirodi Police Station. Therefore, this person is not the eye witness.
23. PW.11-Kadir Head Constable in cross-examination in Paragraph 19 has admitted that regarding the same incident there is case pending against Pooranlal. On perusal of the record and judgment is seen that there was a counter case Crime No.15/92 R.T.No.138/92 against Hiraman and
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12 CRA-534-1996 others and therefore the learned trial Court should have ensured that case was committed to Sessions Court under section 323 of Cr.P.C. and both matters should have been disposed of by the same Court on the same date but by separate judgments but that has not been done, therefore, prejudice is caused to the appellant/accused. Considering the statements of defence witnesses and documents of defence is one thing but disposal of both cases i.e. main case and cross-case by the same court on the same day is something different. In State of M.P. Vs. Mishrilal , (2003) 9 SCC 426 Hon'ble Supreme Court held thus:-
"8........It would have been just, fair and proper to decide both the cases together by the same court in view of the guidelines devised by this Court in Nathi Lal case. The cross-cases should be tried together by the same court irrespective of the nature of the offence involved. The rational behind this is to be avoid the conflicting judgments over the same incident because if cross- cases are allowed to be tried by two courts separately there is likelihood of conflicting judgments. ........."
24. In Criminal M.C. No.3006/2023 [Laxmidhar and others Vs. State of Orissa and others] Hon'ble Orissa High Cout by judgment dated 08.9.2023 has referred to the judgment of Sudhir Vs. State of M.P. , (2001) 2
SCC 688:-
"8. It is a salutary practice, when two criminal cases relate to the same incident, they are tried and disposed of by the same court by pronouncing judgments on the same day. Such two different versions of the same incident resulting in two criminal cases are compendiously called "case and counter case" by some High Courts and "cross cases" by some other High Courts....."
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9. xxxx
10. xxxx
11. xxxx
12.......where one of the two cases (relating to the same incident) is charge-sheeted or complained of, involves offences or offence exclusively triable by a Court of Sessions, but none of the offences involved in the other case is exclusively triable by the Sessions Court. The magistrate before whom the former case reaches has no escape from committing the case to the Sessions Court as provided in Section 209 of the Code. .......................Though, the next case cannot be committed in accordance with Section 209 of the Code, the magistrate has, nevertheless, power to commit the case to the court of Sessions, albeit none of the offences involved therein is exclusively triable by the Sessions Court. Section 323 is incorporated in the Code to meet similar cases also. That section read thus:-
"323. If, in any inquiry into an offence or a trial before a Magistrate, it appears to him at any stage of the proceedings before signing the judgment that the case is one which ought to be tried by the Court of Session, he shall commit it to that court under the provisions hereinbefore contained and thereupon the provisions of ChapterXVIII shall apply to the commitment so made."
25. Although Doctor (PW.14-Dr.Sanjay Shukla) who has conducted the postmortem has opined that Pooranlal died due to injury on head but F.S.L. report (Ex.P/31) shows that wooden 'Ubhari' seized from Ghanshyam does not have human blood.
26. The learned trial Court has acquitted 2 persons giving them benefit of doubt and one person has been convicted only under section 323 of IPC. When prosecution case was against four persons while case of one
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14 CRA-534-1996 person was sent to Juvenile Court and one person died during trial, then question is whether prosecution or complainant had filed an appeal for enhancement of conviction and sentence of Gopi and whether the prosecution filed an appeal against acquittal of Mahadev and Ashok because looking to the prosecution case evidence of eye witnesses there is hardly any scope, in the considered view of this Court it splitting of evidence regarding two different accused Mahadev, Gopi and Ashok.
27. Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Yograni Vs. State by the Inspector of Police [Criminal Appeal No.477/2017 judgment dated 23.9.2024]
in paragraph 10 relied on the judgment of Javed Shaukat Ali Qureshi Vs. State of Gujarat, 2023 LiveLaw SC 782, wherein in paragraph 15, it was held:-
"15. When there is similar or identical evidence of eyewitnesses against two accused by ascribing them the same or similar role, the Court cannot convict one accused and acquit the other. In such a case, the cases of both the accused will be governed by the principle of parity. This principles means that the Criminal Court should decide like cases alike, and in such cases, the Court cannot make a distinction between the two accused, which will amount to discrimination."
Therefore, on the above principle Hon'ble Supreme Court acquitted the appellant-accused No.2 in Yograni case (supra) and on the basis of parity in Javed Shaukat Ali (supra) also by Hon'ble Supreme Court accused No.2- Amzad Khan was acquitted.
28. To sum up, in this case appeal of appellant-Ghanshyam has to
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15 CRA-534-1996
be allowed for the following reasons:-
(i) Prosecution has failed to send all seized wooden 'Ubharis' for chemical examination;
(ii) Wooden 'Ubhari' seized from appellant-Ghanshyam, which was sent for chemical examination did not have human blood, as per FSL report (Exhibit-P/32);
(iii) First Information Report has been lodged by Hiraman (PW.1) against 05 persons. He had signed the FIR but in Court statement he has adopted pick and choose policy, therefore, this witness is not reliable.
(iv) There is no other material evidence, direct or circumstantial, to co- relate the fatal injury or injuries on the head of deceased-Pooranlal by appellant-Ghanshyam only.
(v) There was counter case against complainant party but while appellant was put to trial alongwith other accused persons, who had filed cross case that was tried by learned JMFC, therefore, there was non-compliance of section 323 of Cr.P.C.
(vi) In the facts and circumstances of this case this appellate Court finds that there was hardly any difference regarding evidence of prosecution against appellant-Ghanshyam and against accused-Gopi and two persons, Mahadeo & Ashok. While Gopi was convicted under section 323 IPC and Mahadeo & Ashok have been acquitted by the trial Court and hence, in the light of judgment of Supreme Court in the case of Yograni (supra) the
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appellant is also entitled for acquittal.
(vii) State has not filed any appeal against the persons who have been acquitted, although evidence was same. Therefore, if same set of evidence was sufficient for acquittal of co-accused Mahadeo and Ashok, then on the basis of parity, Ghanshyam is also entitled for acquittal.
29. Accordingly, appeal of appellant-Ghanshyam is allowed. The impugned judgment of conviction is set aside. Appellant is acquitted of the charges levelled under section 302 read with section 149 of IPC. His bail bonds are discharged. Let properties seized in this case be destroyed as per paragraph 66 of the judgment of the trial Court.
30. Let a copy of this judgment alongwith original record of the trial Court be sent to the concerned Court.
(VIVEK AGARWAL) (AVANINDRA KUMAR SINGH)
JUDGE JUDGE
RM
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