IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD MONDAY, THE TWENTY NINETH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TEN PRESENT THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE B.N.RAO NALLA CRIMINAL APPEAL NOS. 711, 811 AND 961 OF 2007 Between: Nakkirthy Yadaiah ..... Appellant in Crl.A.No. 711 of 2007 Talari Laxmi ..... Appellant in Crl.A.No. 811 of 2007 Md. Yousuf ..... Appellant in Crl.A.No. 961 of 2007 AND The State of A.P., Rep. by Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P., Hydeabad, Through P.S. Jinnaram .....Respondent in the Crl. Appeals. The Court made the following : COMMON JUDGMENT: (per THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH) All these three appeals arise out of the common judgment dated 15.6.2007 in Sessions Case No. 190 of 2006 on the file of the learned III Addl. District & Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), at Medak. The appellants herein are accused 1 to 3 in the Sessions Case. All of them were charge sheeted for the offence under Sec. 302 and 201 read with Sec. 34 IPC and the learned Sessions Judge, by the judgment impugned, found them guilty of the offence under Sec. 302 IPC, convicted and sentenced each of them to suffer imprisonment for life and pay a fine of Rs.500/- each, in default, to suffer simple imprisonment for one month. Accused 1 to 3 were, however, found not guilty of the offence under Sec. 201 IPC and were acquitted. Being aggrieved by the judgment dated 15.6.2007, Accused No. 1 preferred Crl. Appeal No. 811 of 2007, Accused No.2 preferred Crl. Appeal No. 711 of 2007 while Accused No.3 preferred Crl. Appeal No. 961 of 2007. It is case of the prosecution that all the three accused mixed pesticide poison into the toddy and in furtherance of their plan, made the deceased Balesh drink the poison mixed toddy, because of his addiction to vices and incapacity to participate in the sexual intercourse with his wife i.e. A-1. Thus A-1 and A-2 have killed the deceased with the aid and assistance of A-3 on 28.9.2005. Thus, the charge against the accused is that they have intentionally caused death of the deceased Balesh by mixing pesticide poison in the toddy and made the deceased consume the same and thereby they committed murder of the deceased punishable under Sec. 302 read with 34 IPC. To bring home the guilt of the accused, the prosecution has examined PWs 1 to 13 and got marked Exs. P-1 to P-17, apart from MO-1, a packet of white powder. The defence of the accused was one of total denial. Neither oral nor documentary evidence was adduced on their behalf. PW-1, mother of the deceased Balesh, is resident of Ootla village and a labour by avocation. She deposed that the deceased is his son and A-1 is wife of the deceased. She knows A-1 to A-3. The deceased was suffering from tuberculosis disease and was under medication. The deceased and his wife A-1 were tenants in the house of one Muslim person, which was a little away from her house. On the date of the death, by the time she went to the scene of offence, the deceased was shifted in an Auto and froath was coming out of his mouth. In the first instance, they went to Jinnaram Hospital and then to Hyderabad, but near Annaram village, her son died, as such, they returned to the village and A-1 lodged complaint. She was examined by the police and she stated to the police whatever she knows. PW-2, brother of the deceased, also lives in Ootla village. He knows the accused. The deceased had tuberculosis disease and he was taking treatment in the hospital for that disease. He deposed that the deceased came to their house on the date of incident and after taking tea, he left their house. A-1 and the deceased were residing in the house by the side of Yadaiah’s (A-2) house. When he came to know that the deceased was feeling uneasy, he went to the house of A-1 and he was informed that the deceased omitted and froath was coming out of his mouth and that he was shifted in an auto to the Hospital at Jinnaram, and as per the advice of the doctors, his brother was shifted to Hyderabad, but on the way at Annaram village, he breathed last. The deceased died because of the tuberculosis disease. Police examined him. PW-3, ex-sarpanch of the village, stated that the deceased died on 28.9.2005 and there was a rumour spread in the village among the public to the effect that accused 1 to 3 are responsible for his death, as such, he summoned A-1 to A-3 to the Gram Panchayath office to enquire in the presence of elders viz., Pratap Reddy (not examined), PW-8, PW-9 and Shivarju, MPTC Member (not examined) and several others in the village. On enquiry, A-1 is said to have revealed that she had an affair with A-2 for the past one year and A-2 also agreed to it. A-1 and A- 2, with the support of A-3, planned to eliminate the deceased, as he was considered to be blocking the continued illicit contacts. According to their plan, A-3 brought white powder (poison) and mixed it with the toddy and they offered the toddy to the deceased. A-1 and A-3 also consumed one bottle of toddy each. Immediately, the deceased started omitting and froath came out of his mouth. A-1 informed them that the deceased consumed poison as he had tuberculosis and also lodged complaint in the police station with the same information and after the confession of the accused, he informed the same to the police. The police examined him and recorded his statement. In the cross-examination by accused 1 and 3, PW-3 stated that he contested the Sarpanch election on CPI Party ticket. The accused were summoned on 16.10.2005. He also admitted that the deceased was suffering from tuberculosis and taking medicines. In the cross-examination by A-2, he stated that from the beginning, he belongs to Communist Party whereas A-2 is a supporter of Congress Party. He also accepted that there were many deaths in the village due to consumption of adulterated toddy. PW-4 and 5 are hostile witnesses and they did not support the prosecution case. According to PW-5, one day prior to the date of death of the deceased i.e. on 27.8.2005, A-3 came to his shop and asked him to give rats killing poison and he replied that he does not have such poison. Later, he came to know that the deceased died by consuming poisonous substance. He also accepted that the deceased was suffering from tuberculosis disease. PW-6, who is running a medical shop, stated that PW-3 came to his shop and purchased gemaxin powder. PW-7 is a witness for the inquest panchanama conducted over the dead body of the deceased in the Government hospital. He did not support the prosecution case with regard to conducting of panchanama, under Exs. P-3 and P-2. PW-8, is said to be one of the persons present when the Sarpanch called the accused persons to Gram Panchayath while the accused were making confessional statements in their presence. He stated that while he was proceeding to his house through gram panchayath office, people gathered there and the police were also present. The police called him along with PW-9 to act as a panch witness. A-1 to A-3 were also present by that time in the gram panchayat office. At the request of the police, they have enquired with A-1, who confessed that the deceased had tuberculosis and was hospitalized at Sangareddy and she was disgusted with his health. A-1 and A-3 planned to do away with the life of the deceased, as such, A-1 asked A-3 to bring poisonous powder two days prior to the incident with a view to killing the deceased, A-3 took Rs.50/- from A-1 to bring gemaxin powder from Patancheru, they mixed the powder in one of the toddy bottles brought by A-3 and the bottle mixed with the powder was given to the deceased Balesh and the other two bottles were consumed by A-1 and A-3. After half an hour of the consumption of the toddy, the deceased began emitting froath, as such, A-1, her mother-in-law PW-1 and one Chakali Shivaiah shifted the deceased in the auto of A-2 to Jinnaram Hospital, where the doctor advised them to take the deceased to Gandhi Hospital and when they reached Annaram village, the deceased died and they came back with the dead body. It is stated that A-1 confessed that she concealed the remaining powder in a cover and kept it in the roof of the rented house. The police seized the powder under cover of panchanama. MO-1 is the powder packet, Ex.P-5 is the confession panchanama of A-3 and Ex.P-6 is the seizure report. In the cross-examination, he admitted that A-1 is presently residing at Rathaipally and A-2 is residing at Ootla village. A-3 is not residing at Ootla village. The police called him at 12.30 noon and by the time he was called, the police obtained five signatures. The police never read out the contents of the panchanama. He stated that himself and PW-9 never affixed the signatures together. PW-9, who is another panch witness before whom confessional statement is said to have been made, stated that on that day when confession was said to have been made in the Gram Panchayath office by the accused, A-1 produced a packet from her house in his presence which was seized under cover of panchanama. He stated that panchanama was prepared in his presence in the gram panchayath office and after the meals, he came back and affixed about five to six signatures on the papers that were already prepared by the police. PW-8’s signature was already appearing on the confession and seizure. He stated that after his arrival, he affixed his signature and the S.I. of Police stated that it was panchanama of recovery. Ex.P-9 is the signature on the confession of A-1 and Ex.P- 10 is his signature on the confession of A-2. Ex.P-11 is his signature on the confession of A-3. He was declared as a hostile witness. In the cross-examination by the learned Public Prosecutor, he stated that he studied upto second class and cannot properly read Telugu and did not ask the police to readout the contents of the confession and seizure, but with the trust in police, he affixed his signature. The police informed him that the panchanama pertains to seizure. All the signatures were taken in the Gram Panchayath office on full scape or A-4 size paper. PW-10 is the Sub-Inspector of Police, who conducted the scene of offence panchanama, and PW-11 is the Inspector of Police. He stated that the deceased died on 28.9.2005 and eighteen days thereafter on 16.10.2005, on credible information about the involvement of Accused 1 to 3, he took A-1 to A-3 into custody and on interrogation, they have admitted that they have mixed gamexin powder in the toddy and made the deceased consume, as they planned to eliminate the deceased, since A1 was having illicit intimacy with A-2 and A-3 cooperated with them in killing the deceased. On the said information, he proceeded to Jinnaram, gone through the investigation done by PW-10, interrogated accused 1 to 3 separately, admitted to have killed the deceased by mixing gemaxin which was brought from Patancheru from the shop of PW-6 and made the deceased consume it, as the deceased was unable to work and also unfit to participate in sexual intercourse with A-1, as such, A-1 developed illicit intimacy with A-2. The seized material was sent to FSL. The viscera was preserved and later obtained the report from the Director, FSL wherein it was opined that the contents were Benzene Hexacholoride commonly known as gemaxine. In the cross-examination, he admitted that as per the statement made by the complainant, the deceased committed suicide due to illness, as such, the FIR was already registered under Sec. 174 Cr.P.C. and he has also examined the family members in relation to the death of the deceased and after going through the statements only, the statement of the complainant was recorded. He further deposed that PW-6 never told before him about the name of the poison. PW-12, Assistant Civil Surgeon, who conducted autopsy over the dead body of the deceased, deposed that he did not find any external injuries over the dead body of the deceased. He has sent the viscera for chemical analysis and on receipt thereof, he opined that the cause of the death was due to asphyxia as a result of organophosphate insecticide poison. Ex.P-13 is the report of chemical analysis. Ex.P-14 is the post mortem report and Ex.P-15 is the final opinion issued by him. According to Ex.P-13, the cause of the death was due to asphyxia as a result of organophosphate insecticide poison, whereas the remaining part of the powder that was seized from A-1 is benzene hexacholoride commonly known as gemaxine insecticide poison. Ex.P-13, report from the FSL, shows that on analysis of stomach and piece of intestine and piece of liver and kidney, organophosphate insecticide poison was found in both the articles. But admittedly, what was found in the stomach contents, intestine, liver and piece of kidney is not the poisonous substance of gemaxine but the poisonous substance of organophosphate insecticide poison, which is not the substance seized from the house of A-1. Therefore, what was seized from A-1 is not mixed with the toddy, which is alleged to have been consumed by the deceased and thus there is variation in the poisonous substance resulting in the cause of the death of the deceased. It is case of the prosecution that there was illicit intimacy between A-1 and A-2. PW-1, the mother of the deceased, did not say anything about the illicit intimacy of A-1 with A-2. Thus, the motive for causing the death of the deceased is not at all spoken by either PW-1 or PW-2 mother and brother of the deceased. Apart from PWs 1 and 2, none of the prosecution witnesses spoke as to the allegation of illicit intimacy of A-1 with A-2. Admittedly, the whole case was reopened and the investigation was based on the so called confessional statement said to have been recorded in the presence of PWs 3, 8 and 9. Admittedly, PW-3 is ex-sarpanch and he belongs to Community Party of India whereas A-2 belongs to Congress Party. Even according to the Investigating Officer, there are four groups in the village. PW-3 belongs to the group of Communist Party and A-2 belongs to the group of Congress Party. When the motive is not established and the case was reinvestigated only after eighteen days based on the so-called confessional statements at the instance of ex-sarpanch of the village, even the so-called confessional statements are not supported by PWs 8 and 9, as they were made in the presence of the police and were said to have been signed afterwards, it cannot be said that the prosecution has brought home guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. It is further noticed that what was sold by PW-6 and what was seized from the house of A-1 is gemaxine, but what was found on chemical analysis by the FSL in the viscera is organophosphate insecticide poison. The Investigation Officer admitted that several deaths were caused by consuming adulterated toddy. Admittedly, when there are no direct eyewitnesses to the incident, motive plays a vital role. In the instant case, motive is also not established muchless. The confessional statements do not inspire confidence and does not appear to have been made voluntarily immediately after the incident and, therefore, it is not possible to believe the so-called confessional statement said to have been made after eighteen days of the incident. The Supreme Court in Ajay Singh Vs. State of Maharashtra ([1]) has categorically held that the extra judicial confession can form the basis of conviction if persons before whom it is sated to be made appear to be unbiased and not even remotely inimical to the accused. Where there is material to show animosity, court has to proceed cautiously and find out whether the confession just like any other evidence depends on veracity of witness to whom it is made. Reliance is also placed on a decision of the Apex Court in Maghar Singh v. State of Punjab ([2]); wherein the Supreme Court has observed that the evidence furnished by the extra-judicial confession made by the accused to witnesses cannot be termed as tainted evidence and if corroboration is required it is only by way of abundant caution. If the court believes the witnesses before whom the confession is made and it is satisfied that the confession was voluntary, then in such a case conviction can be founded on such evidence alone. Reliance is also sought to be placed on another decision in Baldev Raj Vs. State of Haryana ([3]) to the same effect. Paragraphs 8 and 9 of the said judgment, which are relevant, are herewith reproduced: 8. The confessional statement is not a long narration. The substance of the statement is that the appellant killed his wife and threw the dead body in the drain. PW 4 is the Lambardar of village Urlana Khurd and PW 5 the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat of village Raison. The fact that a panchayat was held at village Urlana Khurd is admitted even by the hostile witness Nand Lal (DW 1). Ishar Dass when informed by Hakam Chand at his village that Raj Kumari was found missing entertained suspicion. He met his villagers and proceeded to the appellant’s village the next day, along with the Sarpanch and other persons. The panchayat was held there on February 16, 1975. The appellant and his father were brought before the panchayat. The appellant was questioned and was asked to speak the truth and then the appellant with folded hands said that he murdered his wife in the wheat field when she came there with meals and later threw the dead body in the drain. The prompting by the panchayat does not amount to inducement or threat and the circumstances under which the statement was made leave no room for doubt that the confession was voluntary. 9. An extra-judicial confession, if voluntary, can be relied upon by the court along with other evidence in convicting the accused. The value of the evidence as to the confession depends upon the veracity of the witnesses to whom it is made. It is true that the court requires the witness to give the actual words used by the accused as nearly as possible but it is not an invariable rule that the court should not accept the evidence, if not the actual words but the substance were given. It is for the court having regard to the credibility of the witness to accept the evidence or not. When the court believes the witness before whom the confession is made and it is satisfied that the confession was voluntary, conviction can be founded on such evidence. Keeping these principles in mind, we find that the confession has been properly accepted and acted upon by the courts below and there is no scope for any doubt regarding the complicity of the appellant in the crime. The confession of the appellant was voluntary. The testimony of PW 4 and PW 5 being responsible persons could not be doubted in the absence of any material to show that they had been motivated to falsely implicate the appellant. The very presence of the appellant and his father with the party of Ishar Dass throughout the operation up to lodging of complaint at the police station dispel any suspicion against the prosecution case and clearly point to the truthfulness of the same. We are, therefore, unable to find any infirmity in the confession which has been accepted and relied upon by the courts below. Reliance is further sought to be placed on yet another judgment of the Apex Court in Narayan Singh and Others Vs. State of M.P.([4]) wherein the Apex Court has categorically held that it is not open to any court to start with a presumption that extra judicial confession is a weak type of evidence. It would depend on the nature of the circumstances, the time when the confession was made and the credibility of the witnesses who speak to such a confession. When the so-called confessional statements said to have been made before the Sarpanch, who belongs to some other political party and those confessional statements have not been corroborated by PWs. 8 and 9, it can hardly be believed. In view of the variation of evidence of PWs 3, 8 and 9, we are of the opinion that the confessional statements do not inspire confidence to act upon in the absence of any corroboration and the only evidence available on record is the evidence of PW-3. For the reasons aforestated, if the evidence of PW-3 is eschewed from consideration, practically there is no evidence available on record to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we hold that the prosecution has miserably failed to bring home guilt of any of accused 1 to 3 for the offence alleged against them. Consequently, the accused are found not guilty of the charge for which they were convicted. In the result, Criminal Appeal Nos. 811 of 2007, 711 of 2007 and 961 of 2007 filed by accused 1 to 3 respectively, in S.C. No. 190 of 2006 on the file of the learned III Addl. District & Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Medak, are allowed setting aside the conviction and sentence recorded against the appellants herein and they are acquitted of the charge. They are directed to be released forthwith, if they are not required in any other case. The fine amount paid by each of the appellants shall be refunded to them. ________________ Justice V.Eswaraiah __________________ Justice B.N.Rao Nalla Dated:29.11.2010 MAS [1] 2007(2) ALD (Crl.) 449 (SC) [2] AIR 1975 SC. 1320 [3] AIR 1991 SC 37 [4] AIR 1985 S.C. 1678