IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.K.MOHANAN FRIDAY, THE 20TH MARCH, 2009 / 29TH PHALGUNA, 1930 CRL.A.No. 470 of 2008 (SC.353/2003 of III ADDL.SESSIONS COURT, KOLLAM CP.85/2001 of JUDL.MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS-I, KOLLAM) .................... APPELLANTS/ACCUSED NOS. 1 TO 3: ---------------------------------------------------- 1. DEVASTHY, C.NO.2491, S/O.THOMAS, MUTHIRAVILA VEEDU, CHERUMOODU CHERY, PERINAD VILLAGE, KOLLAM. 2. VARADARAJAN, C.NO.2498, S/O.GOPALAN, KOCHUVILA VEEDU, NEAR IDAKKARA CHURCH CHERUMOOD CHERY, PERINAD VILLAGE. 3. MADHUSUDANAN PILLAI, C.NO.2499, S/O.VASU PILLAI, VIDHU BHAVAN, - D0 - BY ADV. SRI.C.MOIDEENKUTTY (STATE BRIEF) FOR APPELLANTS 1 AND 2 BY ADV. SRI.S.GIRISH FOR 3RD APPELLANT. RESPONDENT: --------------------- STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY A PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI.C.M.NAZAR. THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 20/3/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V.K.MOHANAN, J. --------------------------------------------- Crl.A.No. 470 of 2008 --------------------------------------------- Dated this the 20th day of March, 2009 J U D G M E N T This is an appeal preferred from the jail by the accused, three in numbers who are undergoing imprisonment in pursuance of the judgment dated 9.1.2008 in S.C.No.353 of 2003 on the file of the IIIrd Additional Sessions Court, Kollam Division, as they are aggrieved by the conviction and sentence imposed on them by the above judgment for the offence punishable under Section 55(a) and (g) of the Abkari Act. 2. The prosecution case is that all the accused were jointly found in possession of wash and implements for distilling arrack in an uninhabited property of one Pathrose at Vellimon Jharakkadavu lake side within the Kundara Police Station limit at 11.30 p.m.on 23.3.2001 and consequently, the accused were taken into custody while they were engaged in the course of distilling arrack and thus they have committed the offence punishable under Sections 55(a) and (g) of the Abkari Act. On the basis of the above allegation, Crime No.177 of 2001 was registered in the Kundara Police Station CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-2-: for the said offences. The accused were produced before the committal court on 24.3.2001 and by order dated 24.3.2001 in the remand report, the learned Magistrate remanded the accused to judicial custody. Accordingly, investigation was undertaken and during the course of the investigation, a final report was filed before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Kollam whereupon C.P.No.85 of 2001 was instituted and by order dated 18.6.2002 in the above proceedings, the learned Magistrate committed the case to the Sessions Court from where the same was made over to the trial court for disposal. 3. When the accused appeared before the court, a formal charge was framed against them for the offences punishable under Sections 55(a) and (g) of the Abkari Act and when the charge was read over and explained to them, they denied the same and pleaded not guilty. As the first accused was in judicial custody, a legal aid counsel was appointed by the court to defend him and the other two accused were on bail and they were defended by the counsel of their own choice. During the course of trial, from the side of the prosecution, Pws.1 to 5 were examined and Exts.P1 to P7 were marked. Besides the above, material objects such as Mos.1 to 8 were produced, identified and CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-3-: marked. The defence set up by the accused is total denial and all of them specifically pleaded that none of them were arrested from the spot at the time of the alleged detection of the crime and the seizure of the contraband article. The trial court, after considering the entire materials and evidence on record and after hearing the arguments advanced by the defence as well as the prosecution, came into a conclusion that the accused have committed the offences which were charged against them. Further, on the basis of the finding of guilt, each of the accused was separately sentenced for offences punishable under Sections 55(a) and (g) of the Abkari Act to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years and to pay a fine of Rs.1 lakh, in default of payment of which they are further directed to undergo rigorous imprisonment for another period of six months. Set off was also allowed under Section 428 of Cr.P.C. It is the above order of conviction and sentence challenged in this appeal. 4. All the three accused preferred this joint appeal from the jail. When the appeal is pending, the third appellant, namely the third accused engaged an Advocate of his own choice, Sri.S.Girish, who thereafter preferred Crl.M.A.No.12577 of 2008, on the basis of which this Court suspended the sentence and CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-4-: released him on bail by order dated 19.12.2008. Advocate Sri.C.Moideen Kutty of this Court is appointed as State Brief to prosecute the appeal for and on behalf of first and second appellants/accused Nos.1 and 2 in this appeal. Thus, I have heard Sri.C.Moideen Kutty, State Brief, Sri.S.Girish, counsel for the third accused and also the learned Public Prosecutor Sri.C.M.Nazar. 5. To substantiate the prosecution case, the prosecution mainly depends upon the oral evidence of Pws.3 and 4, the official witnesses who conducted the raid and detected the crime and effected the seizure and also the documentary evidences such as Ext.P1 seizure mahazar, Ext.P2 F.I.R., Exts.P3 to P5 arrest memos with respect to the arrest of accused Nos.1 to 3, Ext.P6 thondi list and Ext.P7 chemical analysis report. PW3 was the then additional Sub Inspector of Police, Kundara Police Station and he was the leading officer of the raiding party. The evidence of PW3 is fully corroborated by the evidence of PW4 , the Police Constable who was one among the members of the raiding party and accompanied PW3. When Pws.3 and 4 were examined, they have deposed in terms of the prosecution case. From the evidence of Pws.3 and 4, it can be seen that CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-5-: PW3 obtained secret information that the accused were engaged in distilling arrack in a private holding of one Pathrose near Jnarakkadu lake side in a place called Vellimon and pursuant to such information, the raiding party proceeded to the place of occurrence in their official jeep and reached at a place called Chamakkada Mukku which is a place 200 metres away from the place of occurrence. After stationing the jeep at there, the party walked down to the place of occurrence and found all the accused sitting around a temporary oven specially arranged for distilling arrack from wash keeping in possession of necessary implements. The oven is set up in an area, where bushes are around and the place, where they were sitting, were also protected by a deep mud cutting so as to screen their presence from the strangers from any distance. According to Pws.3 and 4, they found heavy fire and smoke arising from the oven and thus, they located the place and they came near the accused and though they were tried to escape, they were intercepted and arrested at the spot itself. 6. According to Pws.3 and 4, MO1 aluminium jar measuring 50 litres kept over the oven contained ¾ of wash and another aluminium jar identified as MO2 was kept above MO1. It CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-6-: was having a rubber tube connected from inside and MO3 which is another aluminium jar of 25 litres containing cool water was kept over MO2. MO5 is a 50 litres of can which was found by Pws.3 and 4 kept close nearby the oven in which wash for distillation had been kept. MO6 is a 10 litres can which is stated to have contained hot arrack. They have identified an aluminium bucket which was seen in the place as MO7 which was kept in the place containing cool water. They have also found that the rubber tube connected from MO2 was seen conveying hot arrack into MO8 bottle of 750 ml. which was kept nearby. All these material objects were taken into custody after destroying wash from MO1 and cool water from Mos.2,3 and 7. All these seizure and destruction of wash etc. were specifically stated in Ext.P1 mahazar. It is also clear from the evidence of Pws.3 and 4 that 180 ml. of sample of arrack was taken in 375 ml. of bottle from MO8 and another sample of 750 ml. of wash was taken from MO5 50 litres of can containing wash. The sample bottles were sealed and labelled along with Mos.5 and 8. On the basis of this seizure and arrest of the accused, PW3 and party returned to the Police Station and registered Ext.P2 F.I.R. 7. Pws.1 and 2 are the two independent witnesses cited CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-7-: and examined by the prosecution to prove the seizure of the contraband articles and the arrest of the accused. Their evidence was not worthwhile for the prosecution as they have turned hostile and they have admitted their signature in Ext.P1. According to them, they did not witness the seizure and their signatures were obtained in Ext.P1 subsequently. Further investigation was undertaken by PW5. Ext.P6 thondi list was proved through PW5. Exts.P3 to P5 arrest memos of accused Nos.1 to 3 are respectively proved through PW5 the investigating officer. The thondi articles were produced before the committal court. Ext.P2 F.I.R. also is filed before the court below on 24.3.2001. When PW5 produced the thondi list, a request was made for sending the sample for chemical analysis on the basis of which Ext.P7 report was obtained. As per Ext.P7 report, the sample of 180 ml.arrack contained 52.91% of ethyl alcohol and sample of 750 ml. wash contained 8.50% of ethyl alcohol. On the basis of the above evidence and materials, the trial court found that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing the charge against the accused beyond reasonable doubt and accordingly, they were convicted and sentenced. 8. Learned counsel for the appellants submits that the CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-8-: conviction and sentence imposed against the appellants/accused are incorrect and illegal and the same is liable to be set aside. In support of the above position, it is pointed out that the accused were implicated in a false case and they have absolutely no connection with the seizure alleged to have been made by PW3. Their case is that the Police Party, after making the seizure and having failed to trace out the real culprits, subsequently arrested the accused and allegations were raised against them without any basis. The specific plea raised by the first accused is to the effect that his actual name is Sebastian and not Davasthy. According to him, he was taken from his house at night while he was asleep. The second accused pleaded that his arrest was from Vellimon Junction while he was returning through the public road after seeing a film. Similarly, according to A3, he was arrested from his house in the early morning of 24.3.2001. It is also the case of counsel that no seizure was effected as claimed by the prosecution and it is for that reason, there was delay in reaching the material objects in the committal court. It is also argued that regarding the seizure and arrest of the accused, except the interested version of PWs.3 and 4, there is no independent witness to give assurance for the correctness or CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-9-: otherwise of the evidence of PWs.3 and 4 who are highly interested official witnesses. Thus, it is argued that at any rate the finding of the court below is without the support of the legal and admissible evidence and therefore, the conviction is liable to be set aside. 9. Per contra, learned Public Prosecutor submits that the entire seizure and arrest of the accused were done in pursuance of the raid conducted by PW3 and party based upon prior information received by him. Regarding the prior information, the entry would be seen in the general diary kept in the Police Station. It is also pointed by the learned Public Prosecutor that though PWs.3 and 4 were cross-examined extensively, nothing was brought to create any doubt about their version. The evidence of PWs.3 and 4 are further corroborated by the contemporaneous documents such as Exts.P1,P2 arrest memo and Exts.P3 to P5 and the remand report etc. The learned Public Prosecutor also pointed out that the seizure was effected at about 11.30 p.m. on 23.3.2001 from a remote area and the implements for the distillation were found in possession of the accused who were physically engaged in the distillation process. Nothing was brought on record at the instance of the defence to show that the CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-10-: official witnesses namely, PWs.3 and 4 are in inimical terms to the accused or official witnesses had got some prior acquaintance with the accused so as to drag them into a false case out of personal animosity. On the basis of the above materials, it is submitted that no interference is warranted with the order of conviction of the trial court. 10. I have carefully considered the contentions advanced by both the counsel appearing for the appellants as well as the submission of the learned Public Prosecutor. 11. I have already indicated the evidence and materials on record on the basis of which the court below found the guilt of the accused. Going by the evidence of PWs.3 and 4, the officials who actually detected the crime and effected the seizure and arrest of the accused, I see no infirmities or contradictions so as to doubt the veracity of their evidence. In fact, these witnesses were thoroughly cross-examined for and on behalf of the accused, but nothing was brought to discredit their version. Not even an effective suggestion was put to the witnesses. The only point strongly raised by the defence is to the effect that there is no independent evidence to corroborate the interested version of PWs.3 and 4. Of course, the above submission has some CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-11-: bearing if the evidence of PWs.3 and 4 is unacceptable due to some doubt or contradiction or other infirmities. As I have indicated earlier though PWs.3 and 4 are subjected to lengthy cross examination, nothing was brought to discredit their version. It is not a rule that unless and until the evidence of official witnesses corroborated from independent sources, their evidence cannot be relied. Of course, the court will in search of evidence from independent sources if there are some infirmities or contradictions in the case of evidence of official witnesses. But, in the present case, as indicated above, absolutely there is nothing to discredit the version of PWs.3 and 4. It is also relevant to note that it is not a case where the prosecution has not attempted to adduce independent evidence. In fact PWs.1 and 2 were cited and examined who put their signature in Ext.P1 seizure mahazar. While they were examined in the court, except the admission of their signature in Ext.P1, with respect to other case of prosecution, they turned hostile. Still then, the evidence of PWs.3 and 4 are remained intact and there is no illegality in acting upon their evidence. Therefore, I find that the approach of the court below in accepting the evidence of PWs.3 and 4 is absolutely correct, especially when their evidence is corroborated CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-12-: by contemporaneous documents such as Exts.P1,P2,P3 to P5 and the remand report dated 24.3.2001. 12. It is also relevant to note that though regarding the name of the first accused, there is some mistake, the identity of the accused is fully established by the prosecution through the evidence of PWs.3 and 4. Even, according to PWs.3 and 4, as discernible from Ext.P1 mahazar, the name and address of the accused were given by the accused themselves when they were questioned at the spot. It is true that the materials objects were reached in the committal court only on 28.3.2001 and there is a delay of 4 days since the seizure was on.23.3.2001. In this juncture, it is relevant to see that though the material objects were reached in the court on 28.3.2001, the F.I.R. the remand report, Ex.P1 mahazar etc. were reached in the court when the accused were produced in the committal court on 24.3.2001. So, the delay occurred in reaching the material objects before the committal court is no way helpful for the defence. Therefore,the contentions regarding the identity of the accused and the delay in reaching the material objects in the court below are liable to be rejected. 13. In the light of the above discussion and the materials CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-13-: on record as referred above, I am of the view that the trial court is absolutely correct in its conclusion that the accused are guilty of the charges levelled against them and accordingly, the conviction is confirmed. 14. Regarding the sentence, learned counsel for the appellants/accused Nos.1 to 3 submits that a lenient view may be taken. In support of the above submission, it is pointed out that the appellants are belonging to poor family and the prolonged detention of appellants 1 and 2, who are now in prison, will affect their entire family. It is also pointed out the quantity involved is comparatively a small quantity. 15. I have carefully considered the above submission of the learned counsel. By the impugned judgment, while awarding separate sentence for offence punishable under Section 55(a) and (g) of the Abkari Act to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years and to pay a fine of Rs.1 lakh, nothing was ordered by the trial court as to how the sentence should run. Going by the evidence and pleadings of the prosecution, it appears to me that the prosecution has no specific case regarding the quantity of arrack involved in this case. The quantity of wash involved is 50 litres. If that be so, I am of the view that separate sentence CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-14-: awarded by the court below can be reduced to one year and the same shall be ordered to run concurrently. As the fine amount fixed is only a statutory minimum, no interference is called for. But the default sentence fixed by the court below can be refixed as one month instead of six months. Set off as ordered by the court below is allowed under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 16. In the result, each of the appellants is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year both under Section 55(a) and (g) of the Abkari Act and each of them is sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.1 lakh under each head and the default sentence is fixed as one month. Set off is allowed under Section 428 of the Cr.P.C. It is brought to my notice that from the date of the impugned judgment, the first and second appellants had already completed one year, two months and ten days whereas the third appellant/third accused is ordered to be released on bail with effect from 19.12.2008 and thus in his case, he had already completed 11 months and ten days. As the set off is allowed and the default sentence is refixed as one month, as per the records, the appellants 1 and 2 are entitled to get release. Therefore, there will be a direction to release appellants 1 and 2/accused 1 CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-15-: and 2 from the jail forthwith if they are not required in any other case. With respect to the third accused, as he had already completed the revised sentence both substantial and default, he is set at liberty. The bail bond executed by him will stand cancelled. 17. In the result, the Criminal Appeal is disposed of confirming the conviction awarded by the court below, but subject to the modification with respect to the sentence as indicated above. V.K.Mohanan, Judge MBS/ CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-16-: V.K.MOHANAN, JJ. -------------------------------------------- Crl.A.NO. 470 OF 2008 -------------------------------------------- J U D G M E N T DATED: 20-3-2009 CRL.A.NO.470 OF 2008 :-17-: