1. By way of present revision application, the applicants have prayed to quash and set aside the common judgment and order dated 28th June, 2011 passed by the learned 6th (Ad-hoc) Additional Sessions Judge, Junagadh in Criminal Appeal No.18 of 2010 confirming the common judgment and order dated 23rd October, 2008 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Junagadh in Criminal Case Nos.290 of 2008 and Criminal Case No.294 of 2008 whereby the applicants were ordered to undergo SI for three years and to pay fine Rs.10,000/-, in default, to suffer further three months imprisonment in each case.
2. Mrs.Kapadia, learned counsel for the applicants, states that applicant Nos.1 to 4 have already been released from jail as they have completed their sentence and therefore, she is not pressing the present application qua applicant Nos.1 to 4.
3. In view of above, present revision application is disposed of as having become infructuous qua applicant Nos.1 to 4.
4. The facts in short are that two complaints being FIR Nos.2 and 3 of 2007 were registered against the applicants with Babaria Range Police Station for the offences punishable under Secs.2(1), 2(14), 2(16), 2(20), 2(25), 2(26), 2(35), 2(36), 2(37), 9, 27, 29, 31, 52, 2(18), 11, 27(1)(A), 27(1)(B), 27(2), 27(4), 30, 32, 39(B), 40(1)(2), 43(1)(B), 49(A), 49(B) of the Wildlife Protection Act and also under Secs.429, 120-B of Indian Penal Code. As the main accused were arrested on 13-4-2007 and 17-4-2007, based on the statements of the main accused, the applicant No.5 was arrested on 4-10-2007 implicating him with the alleged offences and investigation started and at the end of investigation, charge sheet was submitted in the Court of learned J.M.F.C., Junagadh. The charge was framed against the accused and plea of accused was recorded. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and prayed for trial.
5. To prove the charge, prosecution examined 35 witnesses and also relied and produced 90 documentary evidences. At the end of trial, upon hearing the learned advocates appearing for the respective parties delivered the judgment convicting the applicants for the offences punishable under Secs.2(1), 2(14), 2(16), 2(20), 2(25), 2(26), 2(35), 2(36), 2(37), 9, 27, 29, 31 and 52 of the Wildlife Protection Act and sentenced to suffer SI for three years and to pay fine of Rs.10,000/- in each case.
6. The appeal being Criminal Appeals No.18 of 2010 preferred before the learned 6th (Ad-hoc) Additional Sessions Judge, Junagadh was rejected vide judgment and order dated 28-6-2011. Hence, the present revisions by the petitioner.
7. Heard Mrs.Rekha Kapadia, learned counsel for the applicants and Mr.H.L. Jani, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondent-State.
8. It is submitted by Ms.Kapadia that she presses this revision only qua applicant No.5. She has read the oral evidence of the Investigating Officer, Prosecution Witness No.35, and contended that it clearly established that nothing is recovered from the possession of the present applicant. She has contended that from the cross-examination of the said Witness No.35 it also clearly established that present applicant No.5 is not in any way connected with other accused, who are arrested for the offence in question. There is no nexus between the present applicant and other applicants. She has also contended that only because of statements of co-accused, the present applicant came to be arrested. She has contended that she is not arguing the matter on merits, but simply praying for quantum purpose. She has contended that the applicant is 40 years of age and is in jail since more than five years. The family members are totally dependent upon the present applicant. The present applicant is convicted for three years in two different offence; out of which he has already undergone five-years-and- five-months behind the bars. She, therefore, contended that looking to the overall situation, present applicant No.5 may kindly be released considering his jail Period.
9. As against this, Mr.H.L. Jani, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1-State, states that there are serious allegations against the present applicant No.5. He has read the charge and oral as well as documentary evidence and contended that both the lower Courts have passed absolutely just and proper and orders and is not required to be interfered with.
10. This Court has gone through the judgments and orders passed by both the courts. It is true that other co-accused have released from the jail, but it is only due to their completion of sentence and not otherwise. I have also perused oral evidence of P.W. No.35, Investigating Officer. It is also true that nothing is recovered from him. No doubt the learned counsel for the applicants is not arguing the matter on merits, but for justification only, I have to state that there are certain evidences against the present applicant No.5. It also appears that the applicant No.5 is arrested afterwords and therefore, he is still in jail and others are released. I have considered the prayer made by learned counsel for the applicant No.5 and when she is not arguing the matter on merits and when the applicant No.5 is behind the bars for almost five-and-half-years, I am of the opinion that the said prayer can be considered.
11. In view of above, present revision is accordingly partly allowed. The judgment and order for conviction dated 28th June, 2011 passed by the learned 6th (Ad-hoc) Additional Sessions Judge, Junagadh in Criminal Appeal No.18 of 2010 confirming the common judgment and order dated 23rd October, 2008 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Junagadh in Criminal Case Nos.290 of 2008 and Criminal Case No.294 of 2008, is hereby confirmed. The judgment and order of sentence dated 28th June, 2011 is hereby reduced and modified to the extent of sentence which the applicant No.5 has already undergone. Rest of the judgment and order dated 28th June, 2011 shall remain unaltered. The applicant No.5 is ordered to be set at liberty forthwith, if not required in any other offence. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent only. Record and Proceedings, if any, be sent back to the trial Court concerned, forthwith.
(Z. K. Saiyed, J) Anup