Court No. - 51
Case :- GOVERNMENT APPEAL No. - 3065 of 1998 Appellant :- State Of U.P.
Respondent :- Ved Ram Counsel for Appellant :- Govt.Advocate
Hon'ble Vipin Sinha,J. Hon'ble Ifaqat Ali Khan,J.
Heard Sri Rajesh Mishra, learned AGA appearing for the State on the application seeking leave to appeal against the judgment and order dated 07.09.1998, passed by Additional Session Judge, Court No.3, Bulandshshar, in Session Trial No. 453 of 1985, connected with Session Trial Nos.275 of 1990 and 617 of 1990, Police Station Arnia, District Bulandshshar, by means of which the present accused-respondent namely Vedram has been acquitted of the offence under Sections 302/34, 376, 394, IPC.
We have heard Sri Rajesh Mishra appearing for the State at length and have perused the record also. We have gone through the entire judgment evaluate as to whether the finds recorded by the trial court are based on evidence on record or not.
Keeping in the contention as has been raised at the Bar of this Court and the grounds taken in the memo of appeal we finds that the trial court has given cogent reasons based upon material on record and it was only thereafter the verdict of acquittal has been returned. At the very outset it may be attributed that it is a case of circumstantial evidence and there is no direct evidence which may show the participation of the accused-respondents in the alleged crime. In support of the findings based upon which the order has been passed, the court has observed herein as under:-
^^------------?kVuk ds rqjUr ckn vfHk;qDrx.k osnjke] vkseizdk'k o they dks vfHk;kstu lkf{k;ksa }kjk ifjoknh ih0MCyw01 eaq[kh [kkW ds ?kj ls fudyrs ns[kk tkukA bl ifjfLFkfr dks fl) djus ds fy, vfHk;sktu i{k dh rjQ ls ih0MCyw&1 eaq[kh [kkW] ih0MCYkw0&2 Jherh gehnu o ih0MCyw04 gjh'kadj dks ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gSA -----------izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa fyf[kr rF;ksa ls ;g iw.kZr;k fl} gS fd ih0MCyw&1 eaq[kh us vfHk;qDrx.k dks ?kVuk ds rqjUr ckn vius ?kj ls fudyrs ugha ns[kk vU;Fkk og izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa vfHk;qDrx.k ,oa lk{khx.k dk uke vo'; fy[krkA fyf[kr fjiksVZ izn'kZ d&1 eaas ;g Li"V fy[kk x;k gS fd tc esjh iM+slu ckcw dh iRuh xqy'ku esjs ?kj MUMk okil djus x;h rks mlus ns[kk fd esjs yMds fu;ker dh vkSjr vdhyk e`r tSlh voLFkk esa fuoZL= iMh gqbZ gS ftlusg vkSj iMksf;ksa dks crk;k ftUgksus Hkh ns[kk fd vdhyk ej pqdh gS ftldh [kcj mls nhA eSus ?kj vkdj ns[kk fd esjs yMds dh vkSjr ds lkFk fdlh vkneh us cykRdkj fd;k gS&&&&&&&&&**A -----------bl izdkj fyf[kr fjiksVZ izn'kZ d&1 ds voyksdu ls ;g Li"V gS fd bl lk{kh us ?kVuk Lo;a ugha ns[kh vkSj u gh vfHk;qDrx.k dks vius ?kj ls fudyrs ns[kk cfYd iMksfl;ksa }kjk ?kVuk dh lwpuk fn;s tkus ij mls ?kVuk ds fo"k; esa crk;k ;gkW ;g dguk Hkh lehphu gksxk fd ftu iMksfl;ksa us bl lk{kh dks ?kVuk dh lwpuk nh x;h Fkh mUgksusa Hkh vfHk;qDrx.k dks mlds edku ls fudyrs gq, ?kVuk ds rqjUr ckn ugh ns[kk FkkA bl lk{kh us U;k;ky; ds le{k vius c;ku esa ;g dgk gS fd ?kVuk dh lwpuk ikdj mldh vkSjr ?kj ij x;h rks mlus okil vk dj crk;k fd tc og ?kj vk;h rks mlus vkseizdk'k] osnjke o they dks ?kj ls fudydj Hkkxrs ns[kk FkkA** bl lk{kh dk mijksDr dFku fo'oluh; ugh gS D;ksafd bl lk{kh ds Lo;a ds dFkukuqlkj njksxk th ?kVuk okys fnu gh xkWo esa vk x;s Fks vkSj mUgksusa mldk] mldh iRuh o osnjke dk c;ku fy;k FkkA bl izdkj bl lk{kh us foospuk vf/kdkjh dks Hkh ;g ckr ugh crk;h fd mldh vkSjr us mls crk;k Fkk fd mlus vfHk;qDrx.k dks ?kj ls fudyrs ns[kk FkkA ih0MCyw0&7 t; izdk'k R;kxh foospukf/kdkjh us vius c;ku ds i`"B&6 ij ;g dgk gS fd eq'akh [kkW xokg us mls ugh crk;k Fkk fd esjh ? kjokyh us crk;k Fkk fd tc og ?kj vk;k rks mlus they] vkseizdk'k o osnjke dks ? kj ls fudydj Hkkxrs gq, ns[kkA** ;fn bl lk{kh dh iRuh ih0MCyw&2 Jherh gehnu us mls vfHk;qDrx.k dks ?kj ls fudyrs gq, ns[kus dh ckr crk;h gksrh rks og bl rF; dks izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa fy[kok nsrk rFkk foospukf/kdkjh tc ekSds ij ?kVuk ds fnu vk;s rks mUgs crk;k fdUrq mlus ,slk ugh fd;k tks ;g fl) djrk gS fd bl lk{kh us mijksDr rF; dkuwuh lykg e'kojk ds ckn lk{; ds le; vius c;ku esa dgs gsA blds vfrfjDr fyf[kr fjiksVZ izn'kZ d&1 ds voyksdu ls ;g Hkh Li"V gS fd tc bl lk{kh dks iMksfl;ksa }kjk ?kVuk dh lwpuk nh Fkh rks og vdsyk ?kj ij [ksrksa ls okil vk;k Fkk] mldh iRuh Jherh gehnu ds lkFk ugh vk;k Fkk D;ksafd fyf[kr fjiksVZ esa bl ckr dks dksbZ ftdz ugh gS fd og o mldh iRuh nksuksa ?kj ij okil vk;sA bl izdkj bl lk{kh lEiw.kZ c;ku ls ;g fl) gS fd bl lk[kh us vfHk;qDrx.k dks ?kj ls fudyrs ?kVuk ds rqjUr ckn ugh ns[kkA -----------ih0MCYkw&2 Jherh gehnu ifjoknh ih0MCyww&1 fd eq'kh[kkW dh iRuh gSA bl lk{kh us viuh eq[; i`PNk esa ;g dgk gS fd mlus vdhyk dk 'kksj lquk FkkA ?kj ij vdhyk dks vdsyh gh NksM x;h FkhA tehu osnjke o vkse izdk'k ?kj l fudydj Hkkxs FksA bl lk{kh us ;g Hkh dgk gS fd mlds 'kksj ij vyh eksgEen] dju flag] eghiky] o bZnk vkfn Hkh x;s FksA bl lk{kh us vius c;ku ds i`"B7 ij ;g dgk gS fd tc og vius ?kj igqWph rks mlus ns[kk fd vkl&iMksl ds O;fDr bdVBk Fks tc mlus 'kksj epk;k rks xkao ds cgqr ls yksx vk x;sA vkl&ikl ds O;fDr tks edku ij [ksMs Fks mUgksusa dgk fd eqfYteku ekjdj pys x;s gS tc og edku ds vUnj ?kqlh rks vdhyk dksBs esa ijh iMh FkhA bl izdkj bl lk[kh ds mijksDRk c;ku ls ;g Li"V gS fd mlus vfHk;qDrx.k dks ?kj ls fudyrs ugh ns[kk cfYd xkWo ds O;fDRk tks edku ij ,dVBk Fks] mUgksusa mldks lwpuk nh fd vfHk;qDrx.k ekjdj pys x;s gSA tc og lk{kh vius ?kj igqprh rks mls le; vfHk;qdrx.k ogkW ugh FksA cfYd mlds igqpus ds iwoZ gh ekSds ls tk pqds FksA bl lk{kh u vius c;ku ds i`"B 8 IJ ;g dgk gS fd njksxk th ?kVuk okys fnu gh ekSds ij x;s Fks vkSj mldk c;ku fy;k FkkA mlus vius c;ku esa crk;k Fkk eSus they] osnjke o vkse izdk'k dks ?kj ls fudydj Hkkxrs gq, ns[kk Fkk] vkSj ;g Hkh crk fn;k Fkk fd mldh lyokj mrjh iMh FkhA ih0MCyw0&7 Jh t;izdk'k R;kxh foospukf/kdkjh us vius c;ku ds i`"B 7 ij ;g dgk gS fd mls lk{kh gehnu us ;g ugh crk;k Fkk eSus tehy] vkseizdk'k osnjke dks Hkkxrs gq, ns[kkA bl izdkj ;g Li"V gS fd ;fn bl lk{kh us vfHk;qDrx.k dks ?kj ls fudydj ?kVuk ds rqjUr ckn fudyrs gq, ns[kk gksrk rks mudk uke foospukf/kdkjh tks ?kVukLFky ij ?kVuk ds fnu gh vk x;s Fks] dks vo'; crkrh fdUrq mlus ugha crk;sA bl izdkj bl lk{kh }kjk foospukf/kdkjh dks vfHk;qDrx.k dk uke u crkuk ,d lkjoku yksi gS tks vfHk;kstu i{k dh dgkuh ds fy, ?kkrd gSA foospukf/kdkjh }kjk vfHk;qDr vkse izdk'k ds fo:) U;k;ky; esa vkjksi i= fnukad 3-
6-85 dks nkf[ky fd;k x;k tc rd muds fdlh Hkh xokg us vfHk;qDrx.k they] osnjke dk uke ugha crk;k FkkA bl izdkj mlls Hkh ;g Li"V gks x;k gS fd fdlh Hkh xokg us vfHk;qDrx.k dks ?kVuk ds rqjUr ckn ifjoknh ds edku ls fudyrs ugh ns[kkA -----------ih0MCyw0&4 gjh'kadj us ;g dgk gS fd ?kVuk ds le; og ?kj ij FkkA 'kksj lqudj eq'kh[kkW ds ?kj ij x;k rks ns[kk fd osnjke] they] o vkseizdk'k eqa'kh [kk ds ?kj ls fudydj tk jgs FksA rRi'pkr og eqa'kh [kkW ds ?kj ds vUnj x;k rks ns[kk fd vdhyk uaxh iMh gSA bl lk{kh us vius c;ku ds i`"B 7 ij ;g dgk gS fd mlds xkWo dh vkcknh djhc 4000 gSA gehnu dh edku xkao dh vkcknh ds mRrj if'pe dksus ij gSA mlds edku ls feyk gqvk rkykc vkSj fQj txay gS rFkk mldk Lo;a dk edku xkWo esa vkoknh esa mRrjh iwohZ dksus ij gS vkSj mlds edku ds ckgj taxy gSA bl izdkj bl lk{kh ds bl dFku ls ;g fl) gS fd xkWo dh vkoknh ds ,d dksus ij gehnu dk edku gSA vkSj nwljs vksj ij bl lk{kh dk edku gSA ;fn ;g eku Hkh fy;k tk;s fd bl lk{kh us 'kksj lquk vkSj 'kksj lqudj gehnu ds edku rd igqpdj vfHk;qDrx.k dks mlds edku ls fudyrs ns[kuk] bl Lkk{kh ds fy, lEHko ugh FkkA bl lk{kh us vius c;ku ds i`"B 9 ij ;g dgk gS fd og 'kksj lqudj gehnu ds edku ij igqpus ls iwoZ 40&50 O;fDr igys ls gh ekStwn FksA vr% bl lk{kh }kjk vfHk;qDrx.k gehnu edku ls fudyrs gq, ns[kuk vlEHkkO; izrhr gksrk gSA D;ksafd ;fn okLro esa vfHk;qDrx.k us ?kVuk dkfjr dh rks xkWo ds O;fDr;ksa ds bdVBk gksus ls iwoZ Hkh Hkkx x;s gksaxs vkSj muds fy, Hkkxus dk i;kZIr volj FkkA bl lk{kh ds dFku esa ;g ugh vk;k gS fdtks 40&50 O;fDr gehnu ds ?kj ij mlls iwoZ ls ekStwn Fks] mUgksusa mls ;g crk;k gks fd mUgksus vfHk;qDrx.k dks gehnu ds ?kj ls fudyrs gq, ns[kkA bl lk{kh us vius c;ku ds i`"B 11 ij ;g dgk gS fd lcls igyh ckj mlus fnukad 16-5-86 dks ?kVuk ds ckjs esa eftLVzsV ds ;gkW c;ku fn;k Fkkl vkSj eqfYteku ds uke crk;s FksA bl izdkj fnukad 16-5-86 ls iwoZ bl lk{kh us ?kVuk ds fo"k; esa u rks c;ku fn;k vkSj u gh vfHk;qDrx.k dk uke crk;kA ih0MCYkw0& eq'kh [kkW us vius c;ku ds i`"B 10 ij ;g dgk gS fd njksxk th thi ls 4&5 iqfyl okykas ds lkFk ? kVuk LFky ij vk;s Fks] mls le; lk{khx.k gfj'kadj] ckcw vyh] eksgEen bZnk] eghiky] dju flag] cqUnw o cgqr ls xkWo okys ekStwn FksA ;fn okLro esa ;g lk{kh vfHk;qDrx.k dks ifjoknh ds ?kj ls fudyrs ns[kk gksrk rks og njksxk th dks tks ?kVuk ds fnu gh ekSds ij vk x;s Fks] vfHk;qDrx.k dk uke crkrsA bl izdkj bl lk{kh dk vkpj.k lafnX/k izrhr gksrk gS vkSj mldk c;ku Hkh lR; ds djhc ugha gSA -----------mijksDRk fopkj foe'kZ ds vk/kkj ij ge bl fu"d"kZ ij igqWprs gS fd vfHk;kstu i{k izFke ifjfLFkfr dks fl) djus esa iw.kZr;k vlQy jgk gSA -----------vfHk;kstu i{k ds vuqlkj vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo:) f}rh; ifjfLFkfr ;g gS fd ?kVuk ds nwljs rhljs fnu xkWo esa iapk;r gqbZ Fkh] mlesa rhuks vfHk;qDrx.kksa xyrh Lohdkj djrs gq, ekQh ekxh FkhA ih0MCYkw01 eq'kha [kkW o ih0MCYkw02 Jherh gehnu us iapk;r ds fo"k; esa dksbZ ckr ugha dgh gSA bl izdkj buds c;ku iapk;r ds lEcU/k esa egRoghu gSA -----------ih0MCYkw0&4 gjh'kadj ogh ,d ,sls lk{kh gS] ftUgksusa iapk;r ds fo"k; esa c;ku fn;k gSA bl Lkk{kh us ;g dgk gS fd ?kVuk d nwljs rhljs fnu iapk;r gqbZ Fkh] mlesa rhuksa vfHk;qDrx.k us viuh xyrh Lohdkj djrs gq, ekQh ekaxh FkhA bl lk{kh us ;g Hkh dgk gS fd bl iapk;r esa eghiky iz/kku] bZnk o dju flag Hkh 'kkfey FksA vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk eghiky flag] bZnk o dju flag dks lk{; esa ijhf{kr ugha fd;k x;k gSA vr% bZnk o dju flag dks lk{; esa ijhf{kr ugha fd;k x;k gSA vr% vfHk;kstu i{k d fo:) Hkkjrh; lk{; vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 114 ds vUrxZr ;g izfrdwy fu"d"kZ fudkyk tk ldrk gS fd ;fn mijksDR lk{khx.k lk{; esa ijhf{kr fd;s x;s gksrs rks os vfHk;kstu i{k ds izfrdwy lk{; nsrsA bl lk{kh us vius c;ku ds i`"B 9 Ikj ;g dgk gS fd mlus vius c;ku vUrxZr /kkjk 202 na0 iz0 la0 essa ;g crk fn;k Fkk fd iapk;r nwljs rhljs fnu gqbZ Fkh** tc bl lk{kh ls iwNk x;k fd mlds c;ku esa nwljs rhljs fnu okyh ckr ugh fy[kh gS rks bl lk{kh us dgk fd og mldk dksbZ dkj.k ugh crk ldrkA bl lk{kh us vkxs ;g dgk gS fd vius c;ku esa mlus ;g Hkh crk;k Fkk fd iapk;r esa cqUnw] eghiky] dju flag] jkefuokl o f'ko jru Hkh 'kkfey FksA tc bl lk{kh ls ;g iwNk x;k fd mlus mijksDr O;fDr;ksa dk uke vius c;ku vUrxZr /kkjk 202 na0 iz0 la0 esa D;ksa ugha crk;s rks mlus crk;k fd mlus t:jh ugha le>kA blls Hkh ;g Li"V gS fd ;fn ,slh dksbZ iapk;r ugh gqbZ tSlh dh ;g lk{kh crk;k gSA bl izdkj iapk;r dk gksuk o mlesa vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk viuk vijk/k dks Lohdkj djuk] vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk fl) ugha fd;k x;k gSA -----------vfHk;qDr osnjke dk ?kVuk ds i'pkr vkpj.k tks Hkkjrh; lk{; vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 8 ds vUrxZr lqlaxr gS] ;g fl) djrk gs fd okLro esa ;g vfHk;qDrx.k ? kVuk esa lfEefyr ugh FksA ih0MCYkw01 eaq'kh [kkW us vius c;ku ds i`"B 5 ij ;g dgk gS fd tc ?kVuk ds fnu njksxk th xkWo esa vk;s Fks rks mUgksusa osnjke dk c;ku fy;k FkkA osnjke iapk;rukek ds Hkh xokg gSa tSlk fd ih0MCYkw0&7 t; izdk'k R;kxh foospukf/kdkjh us vius c;ku ds i`"B 4 ij dgk gS fd ;fn okLro esa vfHk;qDr osnjke ?kVuk esa lfEefyr gksrk vkSj mls lkf{k;ksa }kjk ?kVuk ds rqjUr ckn eq'kh [kkW ds ?kj ls fudyrs gq, ns[kk tkrk rks ;g ekSds ij ugh jgrk vkSj mldk LokHkkfod vkpj.k ;g Fkk fd og ?kVuk LFky ls Hkkx tkrkA -----------vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo}ku vf/koDrk us ;g Hkh rdZ fd;k fd vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk LorU= lk{khx.k dks lk{; esa ijhf{kr ugh fd;k x;k gS tcfd LorU= lk{kh vfHk;kstu i{k ds Lo;a ds dFkukuqlkj miyC/k Fks] vr% LorU= lk{Khx.k dks lk{; esa ijhf{kr u fd;k tkuk vfHk;kstu i{k ds izfrdwy tkrk gSA vkSj vfHk;kstu i{k dh dgkuh dks lafnX/k cukrk gSA** And based upon the aforesaid observation/findings the court has concluded herein as under:-
^^-----------vfHk;kstu i{k ds vuqlkj e`rdk ds lkFk mldh gR;k djus ls iwoZ cykRdkj Hkh fd;k x;k Fkk fdUrq Mk0 ih0 MCyw0&8 ch0lh0 ik.Ms; ds c;ku ls ;g fl) gksrk gS fd okLro esa e`rdk ds lkFk cykRdkj ugha fd;k x;kA bl lk{kh us ;g Li"V fd;k gS fd mlus ostkbuy Leh;j ijh{k.k gsrq fy;k FkkA dk0 tks yk'k ysdj vk;s Fks] mUgsa ns fn;k x;k FkkA ml ostkbuy Leh;j dk ijh{k.k fd;k x;k rks mlesa 'kqdzk.kq ugha ik;s x;sA fyf[kr fjiksVZ izn'kZd&1 esa ;g ckr fy[kh x;h gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k e`rdk dh lksus dh glyh] dq.My] ukd dh yksax o pkaWnh dh rksfM+;k Hkh ywV dj ys x;s Fks fdUrq i=koyh ij mijksDr rF;ksa dks fl) djus ds fy, dksbZ lk{; vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk nkf[ky ugh fd;k x;k gS vkSj u gh vfHk;qDrx.k ls mijksDr lkeku dh dksbZ cjkenxh gqbZ gSA bl izdkj ywV dk tks vkjksi vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk yxk;k x;k gS] og fl) ugh gksrk gSA** The Court has clearly held that the present case is of circumstantial evidence and the important links and the chains are missing and thus, the Court has exercised the option of returning the verdict of acquittal.
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 respondent and the findings recorded by the learned trial judge in the impugned judgment are based upon evidence and supported by cogent reasons.
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.
It is one of the established principles of law that a witness may lie but not the circumstances. However, the court must adopt a cautious approach while basing its conviction purely on circumstantial evidence. The standard of proof required to convict a person on circumstantial evidence is well established by a series of decisions of Supreme Court.
According to that standard the circumstances relied upon in support of the conviction must be fully established and the chain of evidence furnished by those circumstances must be so far complete as not to leave any reasonable ground for a conclusion consistent with the innocence of the accused and further it must be such as to show that within all human probability the act must have been done by the accused.
There is this basic rule of criminal jurisprudence that if two views are possible on the evidence adduced in a case of circumstantial evidence, one pointing to the guilt of the accused and the other to his innocence, the court should adopt view which is favorable to the accused.
In reference to cases where there is no direct evidence and the decision has to rest on circumstantial evidence, the Supreme Court in a line of decisions has consistently held that such evidence must satisfied the following tests:-
“(a) the circumstances from which an inference of guilt is sought to be drawn, must be cogently and firmly established;
(b) those circumstances should be of a definite tendency unerringly pointing towards guilt of the accused;
(c) the circumstances, taken cumulatively should form a chain so complete that there is no escape from the conclusion that within all human probability the crime was committed by the accused and none else; and
(d) the circumstantial evidence in order to sustain conviction must be complete and incapable of explanation on any other hypothesis than that of the guilt of the accused and such evidence should not only be consistent with the guilt of the accused but should be inconsistent with his innocence."
Reference, may also be made to the judgment of the Apex Court rendered in the cases of Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra reported in AIR 1984 SC 1622.
Thus, in view of aforesaid consistent legal position as elaborated above and also in view of the fact that learned A.G.A. 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.
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 :- 26.10.2018/VKG