(Judgment of the court was delivered by M.JEYAPAUL, J.) The sole accused, who was convicted for offence under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.1000/= in default to undergo one year rigorous imprisonment, moves the present appeal.
2. On the side of the prosecution, P.Ws.1 to 22 were examined and Exs.P1 to P25 and M.Os.1 to 5 were marked.
3. The sum and substance of the case of the prosecution as unfolded by the witnesses examined reads as follows:-
(i) The accused Abi alias Abimannan Pragash is none other than the husband of the deceased Edith. PW1 Emile is the father, PW2 Ashanthi and PW3 Aline are the children and PW4 is the brother of the deceased Edith. The accused married Edith having fallen in love with her. They were blessed with PW2 Ashanthi and PW3 Aline. The accused used to pick up quarrel after taking liquor. He often beat Edith and tortured her.
(ii) About three months prior to the occurrence, the accused attempted to commit murder of Edith by pouring kerosene and setting fire to her. The accused and the deceased, having compromised their dispute, started living together. Both of them alongwith the children lived in the house of PW1. On 25.10.2003, at about 10.00 pm, the accused came to the house fully drunk. He asked the deceased Edith to come alongwith him to St.Paulpet. The mother of the deceased asked them to go in the morning as it was night time. But, the accused took the deceased Edith and P.Ws.2 and 3 to Palaniraja Garden. P.Ws.2 and 3 were asked to take their seat on a stone in the garden and the accused took the deceased Edith for interaction. After taking her to a short distance, he put a towel around her neck and strangulated her to death. When he got back to P.Ws.2 and 3, they asked him as to the whereabouts of their mother. But, the accused threatened them that they would also be murdered like their mother. P.Ws.2 and 3 closed their eyes. The accused took P.Ws.2 and 3 in an autorickshaw and proceeded to the house of the mother of the accused. The accused informed his mother that he had murdered his wife. Therefore, the mother of the accused did not permit them to stay in her house. P.Ws.2 and 3 had to sleep in the neighbour's house. The next day morning, the accused took P.Ws.2 and 3 to Chennai by bus to the house of his sister.
(iii) PW5 Elango spotted the dead body of Edith at about 6.00 am on 26.10.2003 and asked PW6 to inform the family members of Edith.
(iv) At about 7.00 am on the said day, PW5 himself informed PW1 about the location of the dead body of Edith. PW1 and PW4 proceeded to Palaniraja Garden and found the dead body of Edith over there.
(v) PW1 proceeded to Dhanvandri Police Station at 8.00 am on 26.10.2003 and gave an oral complaint to PW20 K.L.Viravallabane, Sub Inspector of Police who recorded the statement, Ex.P1. PW20 registered a case in Crime No.221/2003 under
section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. He prepared printed FIR, Ex.P23 and despatched the same to the learned Judicial Magistrate concerned. He also sent a copy of the first information report to his higher officials.
(vi) PW21 K.D.George, Inspector of Police, having received a copy of the first information report, proceeded to the scene of occurrence at 9.00 am. He prepared rough sketch and crime details Ex.P25 in the presence of PW8 Michael and another witness by name Sakthivel.
(vii) PW15 Kannan, police photographer took photographs Exs.P13 to P17 at the scene of occurrence.
(viii) PW21 seized sample earth M.O.1 under mahazar, Ex.P2. He examined the witnesses present over there and recorded their statements. He held inquest in the presence of panchayatdars and prepared inquest report Ex.P7.
(ix) PW9 Dr.R.Balaraman, having received the requisition from PW21, commenced post mortem examination on the dead body of Edith on 27.10.2003 at 8.30 am. He found cold stiffness present all over the body. faeces was found passed. There was an ill defined abrasion measuring 5x1.5 cm in size transversely placed was present on right side of the neck at thyroid cartilage level. The hyoid bone was found in tact. There was a contusion of neck muscles on the right side corresponding to the external injury present Having examined the dead body and noted down the above features, PW9 Dr.R.Balaraman opined in his post mortem certificate, Ex.P3 that Edith died of asphyxia due to strangulation. The viscera was sent for chemical analysis and the chemical examiner's report was marked as Ex.P4. Based on the report, PW9 gave the final opinion, Ex.P5 that the deceased Edith died of asphyxia due to strangulation. M.O.2 saree, M.O.11 blouse and M.O.4 petticoat were seized from the dead body after post mortem was over. The aforesaid material objects were despatched for the custody of the court.
(x) PW21 K.D.George, Inspector of Police arrested the accused Abi alias Abimannan Pragash. at about 8.45 pm on 1.11.2003 at Choolaimedu Auto Stand in Chennai and produced him before PW21 at about 12.30 pm on the said day.
(xi) PW21 examined the accused who gave voluntary confession in the presence of PW13 Francolin and PW14 Palaniraja. on the basis of the admissible portion, Ex.P24 found in the confession statement of the accused, M.O.5 cotton towel was recovered from the house of the mother of the accused. The accused was sent for judicial remand. The material objects were despatched to the court for custody. PW21 submitted a requisition, Ex.P18 to the learned Judicial Magistrate to record the statements of P.Ws.2 and 3.
(xii) PW17 Swarnam Natarajan recorded the statements of P.Ws.2 and 3 under
section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
(xiii) PW22, K.Mohanraj, Circle Inspector, who took up the case for further investigation after the transfer of PW21, examined the witnesses and recorded their statements and filed final report as against the accused before the court on 19.4.2004.
(xiv) The incriminating portion found in the evidence of the witnesses examined on the side of the prosecution were put to the accused in the form of questionnaire under
section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The accused completely denied the incriminating circumstances spoken to by the witnesses. He has come out with a version that he himself went to the police station. He asked the police personnel as to why they had come to his house in search of him, but the police personnel arrested him after informing him that his father-in-law lodged a complaint on the death of his daughter. It is his submission that though he has not committed any crime alleged, a false case was foisted on him.
(xv) Neither oral nor documentary evidence was let in on the side of the defence.
4. That the accused strangulated his wife Edith to death between 10.00 pm on 25.10.2003 and 7.00 am on 26.10.2003 due to previous motive and committed murder punishable under
section 302 of the Indian Penal Code is the case of the prosecution.
5. Homicidal death:- PW9 Dr.R.Balaraman had conducted post mortem examination on the dead body of Edith. He had noted down ill defined abrasion measuring 5x1.5 cm size on the neck at thyroid cartilage level. There was also contusion of neck muscle on the right side of the neck corresponding to the external injury noted by him. He has opined in the final opinion, Ex.P3 that the deceased Edith died of asphyxia due to strangulation. The aforesaid medical evidence available on record would clinchingly establish that the deceased Edith died due to homicidal violence.
6. Motive for the crime of murder:- The prosecution has examined P.Ws.1 and 4 in order to establish the motive aspect of the case of the prosecution. PW1 has deposed that the accused used to torture his wife Edith after fully drunk. Just three months prior to the occurrence, there was an attempt made by the accused to murder Edith by pouring kerosene and setting fire to her.
7. PW4 who is none other than the brother of the deceased has also testified that the accused used to pick up quarrel often after fully drunk. About one month prior to the occurrence, the accused came out on bail in a case launched by the deceased Edith for the attempt made on the life of Edith by the accused by pouring kerosene and setting fire to her.
8. Mr.Shanmuga Velayutham, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant would submit that no document was produced to establish that there was any attempt made earlier on the life of the deceased Edith and on account of which a criminal case was booked as against him.
9. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would bring to the notice of this court that the accused had not denied such a factum during the course of cross-examination of the witnesses examined on the side of the prosecution. The investigating officer also has spoken to the fact that there was a case of attempt to murder pending as against the accused. Therefore, the non-production of the records relating to the case of attempting to murder pending as against the accused would not affect the case of the prosecution.
10. We are not happy with the lapse on the part of the investigating official in not producing the relevant criminal records to establish the fact that a case under
section 307 of the Indian Penal Code was booked as against the accused on the charge that he made an attempt on the life of the deceased Edith prior to the occurrence by pouring kerosene and setting fire to her. We are constrained to express our displeasure over the casual treatment given to the case of murder by the investigating officials.
11. The first information report launched by PW1 would disclose that the accused was sent earlier to jail in a case launched by the deceased Edith alleging an offence of attempt to commit murder. That was the motive which was attributed against the accused in the first information report. PW1 and PW4 have reiterated in their testimony the aforesaid motive for the murder. PW21, the investigating officer in this case would candidly admit during the course of cross examination that a case of attempt to commit murder of Edith as against the accused was pending in the very same police station. In such circumstances, we are surprised to note that the investigating official cared not to collect those criminal records to establish straightway the motive part of this case for the murder.
12. At any rate, we find that such a lapse on the part of the investigating agency does not affect the case of the prosecution inasmuch as the accused chose not to deny through cross-examination of the witnesses examined on the side of the prosecution that he was involved in a case of attempt to murder his wife. The accused has, in fact, come forward with a suggestion to PW21, when he disclosed the pendency of a criminal case for attempting to murder against the accused, that the accused was acquitted of the aforesaid criminal case. In view of the above facts and circumstances, we find that the prosecution has established with clinching evidence that the accused had a very strong motive to do away with the life of his wife Edith.
13. Ocular testimony of P.Ws.2 and 3:- PW2 Ashanthi was 9 years and PW3 Aline was 7 years old at the time of occurrence. PW2 has crossed 13 years and PW3 has crossed 10 years at the time when they were examined before the Trial Court. A witness, who has not crossed the age of 14 years, may not be sworn but, he is a competent person to testify provided the court considers after putting relevant questions to him and recording rational answers that he is competent to testify and that he has not been prevented from understanding the questions on account of tender age.
14. We find that PW2 has not crossed 14 years. In all fairness, the learned Trial Judge should have put relevant questions to PW2 and having elicited rational answers, should have expressed his satisfaction as to the competency of such a witness. Even in the case of PW3, who was just 10 years old at the time of examination, it appears that the learned Trial Judge has not put relevant questions to bringforth the rational answers in order to test as to whether she can distinguish truth and untruth.
15. On a careful perusal of the entire text of evidence of P.Ws.2 and 3, we find that both of them have given rational answers to the rigorous cross-examination done by the defence. They had the capacity to distinguish truth and untruth.
16. The question that arose for consideration is whether the absence of satisfaction recorded by the Trial Court as regards the competency of the child witness would lead to rejection of the entire evidence of a child witness. In this context, it is very relevant to refer to the ratio laid down by the Supreme Court in H.S.WAHURWAGH v. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA (2009(6) SCALE 627) wherein it has been held as follows:-
"It is true that the Additional Sessions Judge did not put any questions to Sanjay to ascertain his suitability as a witness. We, however, find from the evidence that he fully understood the implications of what he was saying and despite a stiff-cross-examination nothing to discredit him could be brought out. We endorse the finding of the High Court that Section 118 of the Evidence Act does not preclude a child from being a witness and the only test that is applicable is as to whether the witness understood the sanctity of an oath and the import of the questions that were being put to him."
17. In the light of the above proposition of law, we find that the evidence of PW2 and PW3 cannot be rejected on the mere ground that the Trial Judge failed to elicit rational answers from the child witnesses by putting questions beforeever commencing examination of the child witnesses.
18. Coming to the evidence of PW2, we find that she has categorically deposed that her father, the accused herein came down to their house at 10.00 pm on 25.10.2003 and asked the deceased to accompany him without minding the advice of the mother of the deceased. The accused took the deceased Edith alongwith P.Ws.2 and 3 to Palaniraja Garden located behind the temple and having asked P.Ws.2 and 3 to take their seat on a stone therein, took the deceased Edith for a short distance and strangulated her with a towel and came down and threatened P.Ws.2 and 3 that they would also meet the same fate of their mother and took them in an autorickshaw and proceeded to the house of his mother. As the mother of the accused did not permit them to enter into her house, P.Ws.2 and 3 had to sleep in the neighbour's house and proceed to Chennai to the house of the sister of the accused by bus in the morning.
19. PW3 on her part has testified that she woke up at 10.00 pm on the fateful day when the accused asked the deceased Edith to accompany him. The accused chose to beat on the cheek of the deceased and took her alongwith P.Ws.2 and 3 to a temple. Having asked P.Ws.2 and 3 to sit on a stone, took the deceased Edith and strangulated her to death with a towel. The accused took P.Ws.2 and 3 in an autorickshaw to the house of his mother and informed her that he had committed murder of his wife. The mother of the accused did not permit them to enter into her house and therefore, they had to sleep in another house and proceeded to Chennai in the morning.
20. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant would vehemently submit that P.Ws.2 and 3 have come out with a different story before the court taking a complete departure from the statement given before PW17 Mr.Swarnam Natarajan, the learned Judicial Magistrate, under
section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure .
21. As far as the evidence of PW2 is concerned, we find that there is a slight variation in her evidence from that of the statement given under
section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. There is a marked departure from the ocular version given before the learned Judicial Magistrate under
section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as far as the evidence of PW3 is concerned.
22. PW17 has categorically stated that PW2 has given a statement that the accused, having done his mother to death, brought her to the water-logged portion. She has also not stated that the accused threatened her with dire consequences and both PW2 and PW3 closed their eyes. PW17 would depose that PW3 gave a statement before him that the accused took PW2 and PW3 alongwith their mother to the temple. It is his evidence that PW3 has not stated that the accused strangulated the deceased Edith with a towel.
23. PW3 has lent corroboration to the evidence of PW2 to the effect that the accused took the deceased Edith, PW2 and PW3 alongwith him to the backside of the temple. The accused was found with the deceased lastly at 10.00 pm on 25.10.2003 as per the evidence of PW2 and PW3. PW2 has categorically deposed that it was only the accused, who committed murder of his wife at Palaniraja Garden. PW2 has also deposed that the accused informed his mother that he had already done his wife to death and therefore, she refused asylum in her house. The aforesaid portion of the evidence of PW2 squarely falls under the category of res gestae evidence as adumbrated under
section 6 of the Evidence Act and therefore, it is found admissible in evidence.
24. From the evidence of PW3, we find that the accused was last seen with the deceased prior to her death. The evidence of PW2 would categorically disclose that it was only the accused, who committed the murder of the deceased. Some minor variation in the evidence of PW2 from that of her statement under
section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is not sufficient to eschew her evidence from the records.
25. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant referred to the decision in NIRMAL KUMAR v. STATE OF UTTARPRADESH (1993 Supp. (1) SCC 510) wherein the Supreme Court has observed that the evidence of child witness should be examined cautiously and courts should find some corroboration. Firstly, that was a case where there was no motive established by the prosecution for the commission of murder by the accused. Secondly, the child witness aged seven years named only three accused out of six accused who were facing the trial. Thirdly, one Chandrasekaran, Advocate by profession, who was living in the neighbourhood rushed to the place of occurrence on hearing the cries and found five dead bodies. He proceeded to the police station and lodged a report to the Station House Officer who registered a case. Never had he mentioned that the child witness was present when he rushed to the scene of occurrence on hearing the cries. He had categorically stated that he found only the five dead bodies. Fourthly, the Trial Court has noted that inspite of sufficient time given to the child witness to identify the accused in the open court, the child witness, having identified only two accused, started blinking and stood silent. In the background of the aforesaid materials and infirmities found in the evidence of the said child witness, the Supreme Court chose to reject the evidence of such a child witness. In the aforesaid circumstances, the Supreme Court laid down the ratio that the evidence of the child witness should be examined cautiously and courts should seek for some corroboration.
26. In the decision in ARBIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR (1995 Supp. (4) SCC 416), the Supreme Court observed that it is a well settled proposition of law that a child witness is prone to tutoring and hence, the court should look for corroboration particularly when the evidence betrays the traces of tutoring.
27. That was a case where the entire case of the prosecution hinges on the evidence of the only child witness aged 5 years. Immediately after the incident, she was interrogated. As she was weeping, her statement was not recorded. Only thereafter, was her statement recorded. She came with prevaricating statement of murder of her mother. The Supreme Court also found that there was traces of tutoring on certain aspects of the case as she was very close to her maternal uncle, who happened to be a fairly important figure in that case. It appears that she also tried to involve all the family members. In such circumstances, the Supreme Court came to a decision that no implicit faith or reliance can be placed on her testimony since it was not corroborated by any independent and reliable evidence.
28. It is well laid down Supreme Court that the child witness is prone to tutoring. If the materials on record would indicate that some traces of tutoring, the court must look for corroboration.
29. In the instant case, immediately after the occurrence, the accused had taken PW2 and PW3 along with him to Chennai and stayed in his sister's house. The children were retrieved only on 1.11.2003 when he was arrested at Choolaimedu Auto Stand in Chennai. After his arrest and enquiry with PW2 and PW3, the latter were entrusted to PW1 who is none other than the grandfather. PW2 and PW3 would categorically depose before the court that they were not tutored by the police personnel or by their grandfather. They had to be handed over to PW1 out of necessity. Just because PW2 and PW3 had landed in the house of PW1, we cannot jump to a conclusion that PW2 and PW3 have been tutored by PW1 more especially when there is no traces for such tutoring on record.
30. PW2 and PW3 were examined on 1.11.2003 after retrieving them from the custody of the accused on his arrest. PW17, the learned Judicial Magistrate has examined PW2 and PW3 under
section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on 14.11.2003 itself. The statements of P.Ws.2 and 3 had reached the court only on 15.12.2004 when the final report was filed by PW22. Of course, there is a serious lapse on the part of PW22 in not sending the material statements of the witnesses recorded during the course of investigation without any loss of time to the court concerned. Considering the fact that PW2 and PW3 have already given statement under
section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before PW17 and the same is on record, the lapse on the part of the investigating agency in not sending the statements in time does not go to the root of the case.
31. In this case, it is found that the motive aspect of the case has been well established by the prosecuting agency. The accused had absconded immediately after the occurrence and he had to be arrested only on 1.11.2003 at Choolaimedu Auto Stand in Chennai. No explanation was offered by the accused for his abscondence immediately after the death of his wife. The accused was found in the company of the deceased prior to the death of the deceased. The accused has informed his mother about the crime authored by him. All these circumstances lend corroboration to the testimony of P.Ws.2 and 3. Further, the evidence of PW3 partly lends support to the evidence of PW2. In the above facts and circumstances, we find that P.Ws.2 and 3 had not been subjected to tutoring by PW1 as projected by the defence. The other corroborating materials are also there to sanctify the evidence of the child witnesses. In view of the above facts and circumstances, rejecting the plea made by the defence for discarding the evidence of P.Ws.2 and 3 child witnesses, we find that the evidence of the child witnesses P.Ws.2 and 3 in the back ground of the corroborating materials available on record, is found trustworthy and reliable.
32. The conviction recorded and sentence imposed by the Trial Court as against the accused is found to be proper. No interference with the aforesaid well considered judgment of the Trial Court is called for. Therefore, we confirm the judgment of conviction recorded and sentence imposed by the Trial Court and dismiss the appeal.
ssk.
To
1. The II Additional Sessions Judge, Pudhucherry.
2. The II Additional Sessions Judge, Pudhucherry. Through The Principal District Sessions Judge, Pudhucherry.
3. The Station House Officer, D.Nagar Police Station, Pudhucherry.
4. The Superintendent of Prisons, Central Prison, Kalapet, Pudhucherry.
5. The Director General of Police, Pudhucherry.
6. The Secretary to Government, Home Department, Union Territory of Pudhucherry, Pudhucherry.
7. The Senior Government Pleader cum Public Prosecutor for Pudhucherry, High Court, Madras.
8. The Section Officer, Criminal Side Section, High Court, Madras