IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.P.BALACHANDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 20TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 1ST PHALGUNA 1929 CRL.A.No.1133 of 2003 (C) ------------------------------- SC.59/2003 of SPL.COURT (NDPS ACT CASES), VADAKARA .................... APPELLANTS: ACCUSED 1 & 2: ------------------------------------ 1. KALLYANI, W/O. MUHAMMAD, VARANDAYIL, POONACHALA HOUSE, PANTHALAYANI AMSOM, KOTHAMANGALAM DESOM. 2. MUHAMMED, S/O. KUTTIASSAN, VARANDAYIL, POONACHALA HOUSE, PANTHALAYANI AMSOM, KOTHAMANGALAM DESOM. BY ADV. SRI.T.G.RAJENDRAN RESPONDENTS: COMPLAINANT & STATE: ------------------------------------------------ 1. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KOYILANDY. 2. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI.T.J.AMBOOKAN THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 20/02/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K.P.BALACHANDRAN, J. ------------------------------------------------ Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 ------------------------------------------------ Dated this the 20th day of February, 2008 JUDGMENT The appellants are the accused in S.C.59/03 on the file of the Special Judge (NDPS Act Cases), Vadakara who were convicted for offence under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the N.D.P.S Act read with Section 29 thereof and sentenced thereunder to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a term of one year and to pay a fine of Rs.15,000/- and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for a term of one year with however, right of set off. They challenge in this appeal the correctness and sustainability of the conviction and sentence so passed against them by the court below. 2. The prosecution case in brief is that the Sub Inspector of Police, Koyilandy Police Station received information at about 1.40 p.m. on 23/04/02 that ganja is being sold in the house of A1 and her husband A2 located on Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -2- the eastern side of the railway track on the north of Bappankadu railway gate in Koyilandy. After recording the said information in the general diary of the police station and after reporting the matter to the Circle Inspector of Police, Koyilandy the Sub Inspector along with police party consisting of one woman head constable proceeded to the said house. When they reached there at 2.00 p.m. on 23/04/02, the second appellant took to his heels on seeing the police party and he could not be apprehended though he was chased by the police. After complying with the legal formalities required to be complied with under Section 50 of the N.D.P.S Act, the Sub Inspector searched the house in the occupation of A1 in the presence of independent witnesses and also conducted the search of the body of A1 with the assistance of the Woman Police Head Constable. It is alleged that in the course of search of the house one white can Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -3- was found on the slab on the western end of the kitchen of the said house and on examination the contents of the said can was found to be ganja; and that beneath that can, was found an amount of Rs.1,020/-. According to the prosecution, the weight of the ganja was found to be 1.190 kg. Consequently, the first appellant was arrested at the spot with the assistance of the woman Head Constable. The other formalities of sampling, sealing of the packet containing the remaining ganja, the contraband article and the amount seized were recorded preparing a search list in that behalf; and after completing the formalities, A1 who was arrested and the contraband article and the samples which were taken into banthavast were taken to the police station where the case was registered as Crime No.221/02 of Koyilandy Police Station drawing up Ext.P4 FIR. The samples so taken were got subjected to chemical examination forwarding Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -4- the samples for chemical analysis under Ext.P10 forwarding note and Ext.P11 is the report of chemical analysis so obtained. The report of chemical analysis showed that the samples so taken from the contraband seizure of which was effected, was ganja. Subsequently, the second appellant surrendered before court. According to the prosecution, the investigation revealed that appellants 1 and 2 together illegally procured and kept ganja for sale at their house and they have thus, committed an offence punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the N.D.P.S Act, 1985 as amended by the amendment Act of 2001 read with Section 29 thereof. 3. When the appellants were questioned by the court below they pleaded not guilty to the charge and consequently, a trial of the case was conducted by the court below. On the side of the prosecution, PWs.1 to 6 were examined, Exts.P1 to P12 were got marked and MOs.1 to 5 Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -5- were got identified. On the prosecution closing their evidence, the accused were questioned under Section 313 Cr.P.C. Thereupon, they generally denied all incriminating circumstances appearing in evidence against them and maintained that they are innocent. According to the first appellant who has filed a detailed statement of defence, she is part time sweeper in Sub Jail, Koyilandy, she having got appointment under dying-in-harness scheme consequent on the death of her husband Kuttiraman that Leela, daughter of her husband in his first marriage had also tried for getting that job, but was not successful; that her husband had earlier worked as part time sweeper also in Koyilandy Police Station and there also application for appointment under the dying-in-harness scheme had been given both by her and the said Leela which applications were however, rejected for the reason that application can be filed only at Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -6- one place; that the police officials at the Koyilandy Police Station were entertaining animosity towards her in her getting employment in preference to the said Leela; that it is incorrect to say that she was arrested at 2.00 p.m. on 23/04/02; that in fact, she was engaged in her duty as part time sweeper at the Sub Jail, Koyilandy from 8.00 a.m on that day; that at 10.30 a.m. Vasantha Head Constable 5526 of Koyilandy Police Station and another Police Constable Naseer came over to the Koyilandy Sub Jail saying that the Sub Inspector and the Circle Inspector want her for being questioned and consequently, on the directions of the Superintendent of the Sub Jail, she gave an application for permission to relieve her from duty at 10.30 a.m and accordingly, she was taken to the Koyilandy Police Station and there, her signatures were obtained by the Sub Inspector and the Circle Inspector on several Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -7- papers and wanted her to trace out Muhammed the second appellant repeating that he is her husband and threatened that case will be registered against her also; that she has in fact, got no connection with ganja and ganja had not been recovered from her house and the case is falsely foisted against her. On the defence side DWs.1 and 2 were examined and Exts.D1 and D2 were got marked. 4. The court below considered the case in the light of the evidence so adduced; found that the appellants are guilty of offence punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the N.D.P.S Act as amended by the Amendment Act of 2001 read with Section 29 thereof; convicted them thereunder and sentenced them as already stated. Hence, this appeal by the aggrieved appellants. 5. When this appeal came up for hearing, it was reported by counsel for the appellants that the second appellant is no more. It was Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -8- got ascertained by the Public Prosecutor through the concerned Station House Officer that the second appellant passed away on 10/09/04. Counsel for the appellant submits that the appeal, in the circumstances, is not desired to be prosecuted by his legal representatives. The submission is recorded. Consequently, therefore, the appeal deserves to be considered only in relation to the first appellant. 6. It is vehemently urged before me by the counsel for the first appellant that the case is one falsely foisted against her probably for reason of some animosity which may be for the reasons stated by the first appellant in her statement or otherwise and however, that the evidence in the case would show that the defence set up by the first appellant that she was being taken into custody from the Sub Jail, Koyilandy where she was attending to duty as part time sweeper. He Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -9- has invited me to the evidence adduced on the side of the defence to contend that the truth of the defence case will be established from the evidence adduced on the side of the defence though however, it may appear prima facie from the evidence furnished by the prosecution that a case is established despite existence of several legal infirmities due to non-compliance of the procedure prescribed by the statute in a foolproof manner and on account of un- reliability of the prosecution witnesses as could be evidenced from their own testimonies. He has also contended that Police Head Constable No.5526 Vasantha who is cited as CW6 in the Final Report is a material witness going by the case of the prosecution and by the defence; and that she has not been examined by the prosecution despite she being a very vital witness in this case to prove the prosecution case alleged. Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -10- 7. I shall first discuss the defence evidence to appreciate the correctness or otherwise of the prosecution case as that course is justified in the circumstances of this case. 8. DW1 is Superintendent of Sub Jail at Ernakulam as on the date of his tendering evidence. He has given evidence that on 23/04/02 namely on the date of occurrence involved in this case, he was superintendent of Sub Jail, Koyilandy and at that time, A1 was working in Sub Jail, Koyilandy as part time sweeper; that on 23/04/02 A1 was on duty till 10.30 a.m.; that duty time of part time sweeper is from 7.00 a.m onwards and that A1 had marked attendance on 23/04/02. He has also proved Ext.D1 attendance register and Ext.D2 submission put in by Ext.A1 on 23/04/02 seeking permission to go over to the police station along with Head Constable Vasantha and Police Constable Naseer as the Sub Inspector Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -11- of Koyilandy Police Station wanted to question her in relation to some case and that he had granted permission to A1 allowing her application at 10.30 a.m. on 23/04/02 as per order under his signature and office seal. The said document is Ext.D2. Ext.D2 is not assailed at all by the prosecution in cross examination. The testimony of DW1 in chief examination that the first appellant had attended duty as part time sweeper on 23/04/02 from 7.00 a.m. till 10.30 a.m. marking her attendance on that day is not assailed at all in cross examination. Further, it has been brought out in cross examination of DW1 by the Prosecutor that Sub Jail and the Koyilandy Police Station are in adjacent compounds; that he saw A1 in the varandha of the police station at 10.00 a.m.; that he asked A1 as to why she is waiting there and then she told him that she was waiting there to ask the Sub Inspector about some case against her son; Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -12- that thereafter at 10.25 a.m., she came over to the Sub Jail and gave Ext.D2 submission and obtaining permission, she left at 10.30 a.m.; that he is not aware as to where she has gone and however, she did not come back for duty after 10.30 a.m. on that day and that by 3.00 p.m. he received report from the police station, Koyilandy that A1 is arrested in connection with ganja case and that she has been remanded to judicial custody. Thus, the case of the first appellant that she was taken by the police viz. Woman Head Constable 5526 Vasantha and police constable Naseer from the Sub Jail, Koyilandy where she was attending duty as part time sweeper is not at all assailed by the prosecution. The prosecution has no case at the same time, that she had been so taken to the police station and was let off at any time thereafter. On the other hand, their case is that at about 1.40 p.m. the Sub Inspector received information that Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -13- ganja is kept and sold in the house of A1 and her husband and consequently, after recording the information in the general diary and communicating the information to the Circle Inspector he proceeded along with the police party including the woman Head Constable Vasantha to the house of the first appellant; conducted search of the body of the first appellant and also conducted search in the house of the first appellant and effected seizure of about 1.190 kgs. of ganja kept in a can in the kitchen of that house. The question is as to whether without there being any evidence to show that the first appellant who had been at the police station at 10.30 a.m. was released from the police station the case of the prosecution that they received information at 1.40 p.m. that A1 is conducting sale of ganja at her house and pursuant thereto, they conducted search and seizure of ganja from her house can be believed. The Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -14- burden is very heavy on the prosecution in the circumstances of this case to establish that aspect. Unless the prosecution establishes that the first appellant was enlarged or released from the police station after she had been got over there, it can only be inferred that the case is one foisted against her by the police as her case that she was being got down to the police station and this case was being foisted against her stands highly probabilised in the light of the testimony of DW1 which stands un-assailed on the aspects on which he gave evidence. Hence, I disbelieve the prosecution case which is supported practically only by the testimonies of official witnesses namely PW2 the Sub Inspector of Koyilandy Police Station and of PW1 the head constable who accompanied PW2 in the detection and seizure, other than the evidence of PW3 an independent witness who has also given evidence to the effect that the Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -15- first appellant is a part time sweeper and when she goes for her work she returns only in the evening. His evidence also does not inspire confidence though he has corroborated the testimony of PWs.1 and 2 in the matter of detection and seizure. All the same, he has stated that he has never before seen ganja and that it was the police who told him that what is recovered is ganja. PW3 is also unable to say whether the residence of A1 is having sufficient locking facility and whether the said house is locked when the first appellant goes for work. On the whole, suspicion looms large on the prosecution case and I am not prepared to believe the case of the prosecution that seizure of ganja was effected from the residence of A1 as alleged namely on conduct of search conducted pursuant to information received at 1.40 p.m on 23/04/02 when admittedly the first appellant was in the Koyilandy Police Station at 10.25 a.m. on the Crl. Appeal No.1133 of 2003 -16- date of occurrence and there is no evidence that she was released and the prosecution witnesses namely the police officials examined as PW2 and PW1 do not speak anything about the presence of the first appellant having been got down at the police station from the Sub Jail where she was doing duty as part time sweeper which however, stands established on evidence. 9. In the result, reversing the conviction and sentence passed by the court below against the first appellant, I acquit the first appellant of the offence under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the N.D.P.S Act, 1985 as amended by Amendment Act of 2001 read with Section 29 thereof. Her bail bond is cancelled. K.P.BALACHANDRAN, JUDGE kns/-