Court No. - 51
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. APPLICATION U/S 372 CR.P.C (LEAVE TO APPEAL) No. - 357 of 2018
Applicant :- Chandrapal
Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And 5 Ors. Counsel for Applicant :- Abhishek Mayank Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Vipin Sinha,J. Hon'ble Ifaqat Ali Khan,J.
Heard Sri Abhishek Mayank, learned counsel for the applicant- appellant on the application seeking leave to appeal and perused the record.
The present criminal appeal has been filed along with an application for seeking leave to appeal against the judgment and order dated 07.08.2018 passed by Additional Sessions Judge-IIIrd, Bareilly in S.T. No. 491/2013 whereby accused-respondents, namely, Narendra Kumar, Vikki Sharma @ Dharmpal, Bintu Sharma and Karan Pal have been acquitted for the offences under Sections 364/34, 302/34, 201/34, 120B IPC, P.S. Bahedi, District Bareilly.
Learned counsel for the appellant has strongly pressed the application with the contention that the prosecution evidence has not been appreciated by the court concerned in its correct perspective. He has submitted that the finding of acquittal recorded by learned trial judge is against the evidence on record. He has next submitted that the learned trial judge has committed a patent error of law and ignored the material evidence on record while holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge against the accused respondents beyond the reasonable doubt.
We have perused the judgment and order dated 07.08.2018 and the findings as recorded therein.
The court concerned while returning the verdict of acquittal has recorded a number of findings and the relevant portion of which are being extracted herein as under:
“vfHk;qDrx.k ds c;ku vUrxZr /kkjk 313 tkCrk QkStnkjh vafdr fd;s x;s] ftleas mUgksusa dgk fd mUgas fdlh Hkh vkijkf/kd okn eas ltk ugha gqbZ gS] muds fo:) o lk{; >wBs gSA iqfyl us QthZ dk;Zokgh dj QthZ izi= o vkjksii= izsf"kr fd;k gSA oknh us e`rd dk dRy djk;k Fkk rFkk mldk , 0Vh0,e0 Nhu fy;kA e`rd dh iRuh ds tsy tkus ds ckn rhu ckj esa fofHkUu /kujkfl fudkyh x;h rFkk e`rd ds ?kj lkjk lkeku ywV fy;k rFkk e`rd ds fgLls dh tehu casp nhA bUgha dkj.kksa ls mUgsa >waBk Qlk;k x;k gSA rF; ds lHkh lk{khx.k us muds fo:) >waBk xokgh nh gSA oknh us e`rd ds edku o tehu ij uktk;t dCtk dj fy;k gSA vfHk;qDr ujsUnz dqekj us dgk fd oknh dh e`rd dh lEifRr ij cqjh utj Fkh] blfy, mls >waBk Qlk fn;k] tcfd oknh o e`rd muds lxs ekSlsjs HkkbZ Fks] muds firk mudh enn djrs FksA blh dkj.k oknh muls ukjkt jgrs FksA lk{kh uRFkw yky oknh dk fj'rsnkj gS vkSj nksukas us feydj >waBk dsl cuk;k gS vkSj mUgas >Bkaw Qlk;k gSA oknh us e`rd dh gR;k dh gS] mlus e`rd dh gR;k ugha dh gS vkSj u gh djk;h gS vkSj gh dksbZ lkft'k dh gSA mlus oknh ls viuk c;ku dcwy ugha fd;k vkSj u gh oknh mls vius lkFk yk'k dh txg ys x;s Fks vkSj u Fkkus ys x;s FksA iqfyl us mls ?kj ls idM+ fy;k ,oa mDr okn eas >wBka Qlk fn;kA vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo:) orZeku vkijkf/kd okn ds vfrfjDr vU; dksbZ vkijkf/kd okn yfEcr ugh gSA bl lk{kh dh izfri`PNk dh dh x;h] ftleas mUgksuas Lohdkj fd e`rd /kesZUnz nks lxs HkkbZ gS] ftlesa og cM+k HkkbZ gSA dqy tehu 20 ch?kk gSA /kesZUnz dsnks yM+fd;ak gS] ,d ikWp o"kZ dh o ,d nks o"kZ dh gsA muds ekrk fir ugha gSA /kesZUnz ?kj ij dke djrk FkkA xkSafV;k\ flag Fkkuk cgsMh eas gh jgdj dke djrk FkkA /kesZUnz gkbZLdwy ikl FkkA /keZsUnz ds dRy ls 10 lky iwoZ mldh 'kknh gqbZ FkhA mudh iRuh ehjk xzke [kkrk deykiqj Fkkuk nsofj;ka ftyk cjsyh dh gSA mUgksusa ehjk ds cnpyuh dh dksbZ f'kdk;r mlds ekW cki ls ugh dh FkhA mudh 'kknh gks x;h gS] rhu cPps gSA jiV mUgksus tks fy[kk;h gS] mlls igys yk'k fey x;h FkhA yk'k feyus dh lwpuk iqfyl Fkkuk cgsM+h us nh FkhA mUgsa iqfyl us ,d ;k Ms< fnu eas lpw uk nh FkhA ml le; os o muds iM+kslh uUgw o Hkwijke Fks ;g lwpuk lqudj os yksx ijs'kku gks x;s rFkk iSny gh Fkkus Hkkx dj x;s FksA muds ?kj ls Fkkuk Ms<+ fdeh0 nwj gS] Fkkus ij yk'k ugha FkhA yk'k fdPNk esa feyh FkhA Fkkus eas djhc 10 feuV ckn vk x;k FkkA Fkkus ij iqfyl njksxk] dksroky feys fks] muls dgk fd xkM+h ysdj vkvks fdPNk vk x;k FkkA Fkkus ij iqfyl njksxk] dksroky feys Fks] muls dgk fd xkM+h ysdj vkvks fdPNk pyuk gSA cgsM+h ls fdPNk 15 fdeh0 nwj gSA fdPNk okbZikl fcUnzk isVªy ls igys igqWpk Fkk ogkW ij dkQh HkhM+ Fkh] iqfyl f'kuk[r djk jgh Fkh] 15&20 yksxk FksA iqfyl ogkW ij igys ls FkhA ;g Hkh dgk e`rd /kesZUnz dh tehu mldh e`R;q ds ckn mldh iRuh o cPpkas ds uke ntZ gks pqdh gSA e`rd dh tehu rhu xkao eas gS] lHkh esa mldh iRuh dk uke vk x;k gS muds e`rd HkkbZ /kesZUnz us xzke [kkrk eas Lo;a tehu [kjhnh Fkh] ;g mldh llqjky eas gS] tks lk<s pkj ch?kk gSA nwljh tehu vyfl;k cks> eas gS] tks 09 ch?kk gS] tks iq'rSuh gS] ftlesa mudh o e`rd /keZsUnz dh vk/kh&vk/kh gSA flag xkSafV;k eas dqy ,d ch?kk tehu gSA ;g tehu Hkh mudh o e`rd /kesZUnz dh gSA bleas ikiqyj ds iMs + [kMs gSA flga xkSafV;k ds lHkh ikiqyj ds isM+ e`rd dh e`R;q ds ckn ,d yk[k :i;s esa casps fn;s gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd mUgksuas e`rd /keZsUnz dh fgLls dk Hkh Hkkx mUgkuss a cspa k gSA mUgkusas viuk vk/kk fgLlk bl tehu dk casp fn;k gSA ;g mUgkasus e`rd /kesZUn dh e`R;q ds ckn casPkk gSA ;g Hkh dgk fd e`rd /keZsUnz dh e`R;q ds Ms< lky ckn mUgksusa tehu viuh casph gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd /kesZUnz ds djus ds ckn flag xkSafV;k dh iwjh tehu 06 yk[k eas cpsa nh gS rFkk ijkw iSlk Hkh ys fy;k gS ,oa dCtk Hkh dj fy;k gSA ;g Hkh dgk ehjk nsoh bl le; e`rd /kesZUnz ds edku eas ugh jg jgh gS] cfYd vius ek;ds eas firk ds edku eas jg jgh gSA vfHk;qDr ujsUnz gqlSu uxyk dk jgus okyk gS] Fkkuk cgsM+h gS] flag xkSafV;k Hkh Vkmu ,sfj;k eas vk x;h gSA gqlSu uxyk muds xkao ls 16 fdeh0 nwj gSA ujsUnz mudk ekSlsjk lxk HkkbZ gSA ;g Hkh dgk e`rd /kesZUnz dh 'kknh ejus ls djhc 12&13 lky igys gqbZ FkhA e`rd /kesZUnz ds edku o mldh tehu ij dCtk dj j[kk Fkk] ;g dguk xyr gSA ;g Hkh dgk fd ehjk nsoh us okn la0 26@2013 ifjokj U;k;ky; eas muds fo:) cPpkas U;k;ky; eas ds fy, nk;j fd;k gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd mUgksusa ifjokj muds fo:) cPpksa ds fy, nk;j fd;k gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd mUgksusa ehjk ds cPps ehjk o mlds ukuk ls Nhu fy;s gsA ;g Hkh dgk fd iqfyl okys fnukad 31+-01-2013 dks ehjk ds cPps mudsk ns x;s Fks] dqN dkxt fy[kkdj ugha ys x;s FksA bl okn eas rF; ds rhu vfHk;kstu lk{khx.k gS] ftueas e`rd ds HkkbZ HkkHkh o nknh o e`rd ds ekek gSA mYys[kuh; gS fd bu rF; ds lk{khx.k ds vfrfjDr dksbZ Lora= lk{khx.k ugha gSA ih0MCyw01 oknh pUnziky us e`rd rFkk vfHk;qDr ujsUnz dks vfUre ckn lkFk tkrs gq, ns[kus dk dFku fd;k gS vkSj dgk gS fd vijk/k dkfjr djus dh ea'kk vfHk;qDr ujsUnz rFkk e`rd dh iRuh ds voS/k lEca/k Fks] ftlds pyrs mUgksasus feydj e`rd dh gR;k dkfjr djk;hA bl rF; dks ih0MCyw2 ehuk us lefFkZr djus dh dksf'k'k vius c;ku }kjk dh gS rFkk ih0MCyw03 uRFkw yky us Hkh vius c;ku esa bu dFkukas dks lefFkZr djus dh dksf'k'k dh gSA bu lk{khx.k us ;g dFku fd;k gS fd vfHkq;Dr ujsUnz rFkk vfHk;qDrk ehjk nsoh us feydj] lg vfHk;qDrx.k foDdh 'kekZ] cUVw 'kekZ o dju iky dks e`rd dks ekjus dh 25]000@ :i;s eas lqikjh nh vkSj vfxze /kujkf'k ds :i eas 25]000@ :i;s mUgas fn;sA ;g Lohd`rd rF; gS fd oknh dks e`rd dh iRuh rFkk vfHk;qDr ujsUnz ds voS/k lEca/kkas dh tkudkjh Fkh vkSj mUgkus sa bl lEca/k dh f'kdk;r xkao ds fofHkUu yksxkas ls dh FkhA ,slh fLFkfr eas dfFkr :i ls vfHk;qDr ujsUnz ds }kjk oknh dks ih0MCyw03 le{k bdcfy;k tqeZ ds c;ku djuk LokHkkfod o fo'oluh; ugh gS] D;kasfd ,d O;fDr ftls fdlh voS/k lEca/k dh tkudkjh gks vkSj mldk og fojks/k djrk gks] mldks dfFkr voS/k lEcaa/k dk O;fDr bdcfy;k tqeZ ds c;ku djsxk] ,slk iw.kZr% LokHkkfod o fo'oluh; ugha gSA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd bl bdcfy;k tqeZ ds c;ku ds mijkUr e`rd dk 'ko cjken gqvk] tcfd mlls igys gh Fkkuk fdPNk tuin m/keflag uxj dh iqfyl }kjk e`rd dk 'ko cjken gks pqdk Fkk vkSj mlds mijkUr gh izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ djk;h x;hA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd e`rd dh xqe'kqnxh ds mijkUr dksbZ Hkh rgjhj oknh lEcaf/kr Fkkus eas izLrqr ugha dh x;h vkSj u gh ,slk dksbZ dFku izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ eas fd;k x;k gSA rgjhj ds voyksdu ls Li"V gS fd rgjhj esa tks dFku fd;s x;s gS] og vfHk;qDr ujsUnz ds bdcfy;k tqeZ oknh ds le{k djus ds mijkUr fnukad 31-01-2013 dks Fkkuk cgsMh tuin cjsyh esa izLrqr dh x;h vkSj e`rd dh yk'k cjkenxh ds mijkUr Fkkuk tuin m/keflag uxj dh iqfyl ds le{k yk'k dh f'kuk[r ds mijkUr o iapk;rukek ds mijkUr rgjhj izLrqr dh x;hA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd vfHk;qDr ujsUnz ds bdcfy;k tqeZ ds vk/kkj ij ckdh lHkh lg vfHk;qDrx.k dks mijksDr vkijkf/kd okn eas va fHk;qDrx.k cuk;k x;k gS vkSj oknh ds }kjk vfUre ckj e`rd o vfHk;qDr ujsUnz dks lkFk ns[ks tkus ds vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo:) vkijkf/kd okn ntZ fd;k x;k gSA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd dfFkr voS/k lEca/k ds fojks/k eas dksbZ okn] ifjokn ;k rgjhj fdlh Fkkus ;k U;k;ky; esa ugha izLrqr dh x;hA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd vfHk;qDr ujsUnz }kjk bdcfy;k tqeZ] ih0MCyw03 ds tksj nokc ds mijkUr gh fd;k x;k] tSlk fd ih0MCyw03 us vius mijksDr c;ku eas Li"V fd;k gSA ;g Hkh egRoi.w kZ gS fd ih0MCyw02 us vius mijksDRk l'kiFk c;ku esa Li"V fd;k gS fd oknh o e`rd ds lEca/k vPNs ugha Fks vkSj muds ifjokkj eas dbZ o"kkZs ls vkuk tkuk ugha Fkk vkSj muds edku ds fgLls esa chp esa nhokj mBk nh x;h FkhA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls dksbZ dfFkr vijk/k dk p'enhn lk{kh izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA i=oyh ij izi= miyC/k gS] ftlls Li"V gksrk gS fd oknh us viuh iq'rSuh tehu r`rh; i{k dks fodz; dj nh gS rFkk e`rd dh vo;Ld iqf=;ksa dks laj{kd cuus gsrq U;k;ky; eas izkFkZuki= izLrqr fd;k gS] tks vo;Ld iqf=;kas ds 'kjhj o lEifRr dk laj{k cuus gsrq izkFkZuk i= gSA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd vfHk;qDr ehjk nsoh ?
kVuk ds mijkUr tekur Lohdkj gksus ds mijkUr vius ek;ds eas jg jgh gSA ftldks ih0MCyw01 oknh pUnziky us viu l'kiFk c;ku ds i`"B 11 esa Li"V fd;k gSA mYys[kuh; gS fd e`rd dh vo;Ld iqf=;ksa dks bl okn eas avfHk;ktus lk{khx.k ds :i esa izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSaA ih0MCyw1 oknh pUnziky us vius l'kiFk c;ku ds i`"B 19 esa Li"V fd;k gS fd e`rd ds dRy dh lwpuk ij muds ?kj ij mudh iRuh] iq= vkdk'k] iq= vatyh o iMkslh uUgw] nhiw] eqds'k o pUnzlsu mifLFkr Fks] ysfdu bu lHkh O;fDr;kas dks vfHk;ktus dh vkjs ls vfHk;kstu lk{khx.k ds :i eas izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA ih0MCy0w 2 us viuh eq[; ijh{kk ds c;ku ds i`"B&1 esa Li"V fd;k gS fd mUgksusa vfHk;qDr ujsUnz dks cqyk;k vkSj mls fgnk;r nh fd og e`rd dh iRuh ls voS/k lEca/k [kRe dj ys vkSj e`rd ds ?kj dHkh u tk,A mUgksus bl voS/k lEca/k dh f'kdk;r iz/kku eqUUkk yky ls dh Fkh] ysfdu og Hkh bl ok neas vfHk;kstu lk{kh ds :i eas izLrqr ugha fd;s x;s gSA ih0MCyw03 us vius l[rh dh] ftl ij mlus dfFkr bdckfy;k tqeZ dk c;ku mUgas rFkk oknh dks fn;kA ;g Hkh Li"V gS fd ih0MCyw03 Hkh bl dfFkr voS/k lEca/k ds f'kdk;rdrkZ Fks vkSj vfHk;qDr ujsUnz ls bl lEca/k eas ukjkt FkasA bl lk{kh u vius c;ku ds i`"B&8 eas dFku fd;k gS fd ipa k;rukek djus okys njksxk dks vfHk;qDr ujsUnz }kjk e`rd dh gR;k djus dh dgkuh iwjh crk;h rks ml le; og pk; ihus pyk x;k Fkk vkSj iwjh ckr mlds lkeus ugh dh x;hA bl lk{kh us vius c;ku ds i`"B &9 eas Li"V fd;k gS fd mUgkusas e`rd o vfHk;qDr ujsUnz dks ,d lkFk vfUre ckj eksVjlkbZfdy ij tkrs gq, ns[kk Fkk vkSj u gh 'kjkc fiykus okyh ckr ns[kh vkSj u gh iSlksa dk ysu&nsu muds lkeus gqvk FkkA ih0MCYkw04 mifujh{kd enuiky flag us viuh izfri`PNk eas Lohdkjk gS fd bl eqdneas eas igys ls xqe'kqnxh dh dksbZ fjiksVZ izkIr ugha gqbZ FkhA mijksDr fof/k O;oLFkkvksa ds fl)kUrkas ds vk/kkj ij rFkk mijkDrs vfHk;kstu lk{; ds vk/kkj ij ;g Lik"V gS fd vfHk;qDr ujsUnz ds }kjk oknh rFkk ih0MCyw3 ds le{k fn;s x;s dfFkr bdckfy;k tqeZ ds c;ku fo'oluh; rFkk Li"V ugha gS fd vfHk;qDr ujsUnz mudks bdckfy;k tqeZ dk c;ku nsxk rFkk ih0MCyw03 ds l'kiFk c;ku ds vk/kkj ij ;g Hkh Li"V gS fd tksj noko ds vk/kkj ij dfFkr c;ku fn;s x;s gkasxs vkSj muds Lo;a ds vk/kkj ij ;g fo'oluh; o LokHkkfod ugha gS fd vfHk;qDr ujsUnz] ftlls oknh o ih0MCYkw03 jaft'k j[krs gks] mudks og Looa= iw.kZ bdckfy;k tqeZ dk c;ku nsxkA bl mijksDRk ds vfrfjDr cpko lk{; eas lk{khx.k ds c;ku rFkk vfHkys[kh; lk{; izLrqr gS] ftlls Li"V gS fd oknh rFkk mlds ifjokj ;fn vfHk;qDr usjUnz rFkk e`rd dh iRuh dks e`rd dh gR;k eas vkjksfir djrs gS] rks lc ls T;knk ykHk oknh rFkk mlds ifjokj dks gksxk] tSlk fd oknh ds vkpj.k ls Li"V gS] tks mlus orZeku okn ds iathd`r gksus ds mijkUr mijksDrkuqlkj fd;kA mijksDRk foospu o lk{; ds vk/kkj ij rFkk mijksDr of.kZr fof/k O;oLFkkvkas ds vk/kkj ij vfHk;kstu vius lk{; }kjk vfHk;qDrx.k ujUnzs dqekj] foDdh 'kekZ mQZ /keZiky] cUVw 'kekZ] dju iky ,oa ehjk nsoh ds fo:) fojfpr vkjksi vUrxZr /kkjk 364@34 ] 302@34] 201@34] 120ch Hkk0na0la0 dks lansg ls ijs lkfcr djus eas i.w kr%Z foQy jgk gSA vr% lna gs dk YkkHk nsrs gq, vfHk;qDrx.k ujsUnz dqekj] foDdh 'kekZ mQZ /keZiky] cUVw 'kekZ] dju iky ,oa ehjk nsoh dks muds fo:) fojfpr vkjksi vUrxZr /kkjk 364@34 ] 302@34] 201@34] 120ch Hkk0na0la0 esa nks"keqDr fd;k tkuk U;k;ksfpr gSA”
Reference may be made to the recent judgment of the Apex Court rendered in the case of Bannareddy & Ors. vs. The State of Karnataka & Ors reported in 2018 (5) SCC 790 wherein the Apex Court has held as under:
11. Before we proceed further to peruse the finding of the High Court, it is relevant to discuss the power and jurisdiction of the High Court while interfering in an appeal against acquittal. It is well settled principle of law that the High Court should not interfere in the well reasoned order of the trial court which has been arrived at after proper appreciation of the evidence. The High Court should give due regard to the findings and the conclusions reached by the trial court unless strong and compelling reasons exist in the evidence itself which can dislodge the findings itself. This principle has further been elucidated in the case of Sambhaji Hindurao Deshmukh and Ors. vs. State of Maharashtra, (2008) 11 SCC 186, para 13, wherein this Court observed that: “The High Court will interfere in appeals against acquittals, only where the trial court makes wrong assumptions of material facts or fails to appreciate the evidence properly.
If two views are reasonably possible from the evidence on record, one favouring the accused and one against the accused, the High Court is not expected to reverse the acquittal merely because it would have taken the view against the accused had it tried the case. The very fact that two views are possible makes it clear that the prosecution has not proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and consequently the accused is entitled to benefit of doubt.
12. It is not in dispute that the presumption of innocence is further reinforced, reaffirmed and strengthened against the acquitted accused by the judgment in his favor. [Vide Rabindra Kumar Pal @ Dara Singh vs. Republic of India, (2011) 2 SCC 490 in para. 94].
27. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, we hold that the prosecution was not able to establish the guilt of the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt. Further, the High Court should not have re-appreciated evidences in its entirety, especially when there existed no grave infirmity in the findings of the trial court. There exists no justification behind setting aside the order of acquittal passed by the trial court, especially when the prosecution case suffers from several contradictions and infirmities. No specific assertion could be proved regarding the role and involvement of the accused persons. Further, certain actions of the victim-respondents themselves are dubious, for instance admitting themselves later in a Multi-speciality hospital without proper cause. It has further come to our notice that respondents have already compromised and have executed a compromise deed to that extent, though the same is not the basis for our conclusion.
Reference may also be made to the judgments of the Apex Court rendered in the cases of Sanmwat Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan reported in 1961 SC 715, Murlidhar @ Gidda & Anr. Vs. State of Karnataka decided on 09.04.2014 in Criminal Appeal No. 791 of 2011, Basappa Vs. State of Karnataka decided on 27.02.2014 passed in Criminal Appeal No. 512 of 2014, Ashok Rai Vs. State of U.P. & Ors. Decided on 15.04.2014 in Criminal Appeal No. 1508 of 2005, Ramesh Harijan vs. State of U.P. 2012 AIR SCW 2990 and Murugesan v. State through Inspector of Police reported in 2012 AIR SCW 5627.
Thus, in view of aforesaid consistent legal position as elaborated above and also in view of the fact that learned counsel for the appellant has failed to point out any illegality or perversity with the findings so recorded in the impugned order, no case for interference has been made out.
It is an established position of law that if the court below has taken a view which is a possible view in a reasonable manner, then the same shall not be interfered with moreso in view of the fact that more than 5 years have already elapsed as the incident is of the year 2013.
After perusal of the impugned judgment shows that the trial court after a thorough marshalling of the facts of the case and a microscopic scrutiny of the evidence on record has held that the prosecution has failed to prove the charge against the accused respondents and the findings recorded by the learned trial judge in the impugned judgment are based upon evidence and supported by cogent reasons.
No interference with the impugned judgment and order of acquittal is warranted. Accordingly leave to appeal is refused and application is rejected. Consequently, the appeal also stands dismissed.
Copy of the order be certified to the court concerned for consequential follow up action.
Order Date :- 26.09.2018 Anand