BAIL SLIP The Appellant / Accused was directed to be released on Bail in and by the order of this Court dated 14.12.2006 made in Crl.M.P.No.4439/2006 in C.A.No.173/2006 on the file of the High Court, Madras - 104. IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 11.06.2008 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.DINAKARAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.N.BASHA Criminal Appeal No.173 of 2006 Kumar .. Appellant/Accused Vs. State rep. by Inspector of Police, Mettur Police Station, Salem District. Crime No.316 of 2004 .. Respondent/Comaplainant * * * Prayer : Criminal Appeal filed under Section 374 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure against the Judgment of conviction and sentenced passed by the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Salem, in S.C.No.148 of 2005 dated 18.11.2005. * * * For Appellant : Mr.K.Gandhi Kumar For Respondent : Mr.N.R.Elango Additional Public Prosecutor J U D G M E N T (Judgment of the court was delivered by K.N.BASHA, J.) The sole accused, Kumar, has come forward with this appeal challenging the Judgment of conviction and sentence passed by the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Salem, dated 18.11.2005 made in S.C.No.148 of 2005 convicting the appellant for the offence under Section 302 IPC and sentencing him to life imprisonment and also imposing a fine of Rs.1,000/-, in default, to undergo six months rigorous imprisonment and convicting him under Section 449 IPC and sentencing him to seven years rigorous imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs.1,000/-, in default, to undergo six months simple imprisonment. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2. The occurrence in this case is shown to have taken place on 21.07.2004 at about 9.15 a.m. at the house of the deceased as the accused is the paramour of the deceased and as the deceased left the accused along with her children to the house of P.W.1, the accused abusing the deceased that he has taken care of her and her children, but she has gone and joined with P.W.1 assaulted her with a cot frame, M.O.1, on her head and as such the deceased died on the same day at 4.20 p.m. in spite of the treatment given to her at the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Hospital. 3. The prosecution, in order to substantiate its case, examined P.Ws.1 to 15, filed Exs.P.1 to P.31 besides marking M.Os.1 to 8. 4. The facts of the case as unfolded through the evidence adduced by the prosecution during the course of trial are as follows : (i) P.W.1 is related to the accused as the accused is his cousin. The deceased was already married to one Annadurai and three children were born out of the wedlock. P.W.1 was already married to one Ramayee, but she died. Thereafter P.W.1 developed intimacy with the deceased and both of them were living together along with the children of the deceased, as husband and wife. As the accused is the cousin of P.W.1, he used to visit frequently to the house of P.W.1 and developed intimacy with the deceased, Kannagi. One day, P.W.1 saw the deceased and the accused in a compromising position in the bed. On seeing P.W.1, the accused ran away from that place. There was a quarrel between P.W.1 and the deceased. The deceased left with her children to Pallipalayam. P.W.1 used to go to meet her children and called the deceased once again to his place, but the deceased refused. Thereafter, they entered into an agreement to live separately as per Ex.P.1 stating that there will be no relationship between them. Thereafter, after four days P.W.1 had not met the deceased and once again he developed the relationship with the deceased and frequently used to meet her and the children and they were leading a life together at Mettur. P.W.1 admitted the son of the deceased in a school at Mettur after getting the Transfer Certificate from the old school. While P.W.1 along with the deceased left the house for admitting P.W.2, daughter of the deceased, with Transfer Certificate on 21.07.2004 at 9.15 a.m., the accused snatched the Transfer Certificate from the hands of the deceased and tore the same. P.W.1 questioned the conduct of the accused, for that, the accused stated that he has taken care of the deceased and the children for one year. The accused then pushed down P.W.2. The deceased raised hue and cry. The accused questioning the conduct of the deceased took a cot frame, M.O.1, which was lying on the spot and beat the deceased on her left fore-head and on the head and thereafter ran away from the scene with M.O.1. P.Ws.3 and 4 on hearing the hue and cry, rushed to the scene and took the injured along with P.W.1 in an auto to the Government Hospital, Mettur. (ii) The Doctor, P.W.7, attached to the Government Hospital, Mettur, examined the deceased on 21.07.2004 at 9.30 a.m. The doctor found the deceased was unconscious and found the following injuries, https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ as per Ex.P.14, Accident Register: (1)Lacerated injury right frontal region 4 X 2 cm. (2)Lacerated injury left parietal region 5 X 2 cm (3)Bleeding from left ear contusion, left eye lid 3 X 2 cm. (iii) On 21.07.2004 at 10.15 a.m, P.W.13, Sub Inspector of Police, received the intimation from the Government Hospital and went to the hospital. He found the deceased was unconscious and as such obtained a statement from P.W.1 under Ex.P.2. P.W.13 registered a case in Crime No.316 of 2004 for the offence under Section 307 IPC. Ex.P.27 is the Express First Information Report. He has sent the First Information Report to the Court and to the higher police officials. (iv) P.W.14, the Inspector of Police, received the First Information Report on 21.07.2004 and took up investigation. He received the death intimation, Ex.P.28. As per the death intimation, the deceased died on 21.07.2004 at 4.20 p.m. The death of the deceased was informed to P.W.1. P.W.14, thereafter, altered the offence under Section 302 IPC. Ex.P.29 is the Express First Information Report and he sent the same to the Court. (v) P.W.14 went to the Government Hospital and examined P.W.1. He held inquest on the dead body of the deceased on 22.07.2004 from 6.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Ex.P.30 is the inquest report. During inquest, he examined P.Ws.2, 3 and 4 and others. He also recorded further statement from P.W.1. He sent the body for post-mortem. (vi) The Doctor, P.W.10, conducted post-mortem on the dead body of the deceased on 22.07.2004 at 12.05 p.m. and found the following injuries : (1)A sutured wound over right forehead 2 xm X 1 cm bone deep. (2)Sutured wound over left occipital region 3 X 5 X bone deep. (3)Sutured wound over left occipital region 2 cm X 5 cm bone deep. (4)Sutured wound over left parietal region 1.5 X 0.5 cm X bone deep. (5)Sutured wound over left occipital region 1 cm X 0.5 cm X bone deep. (6)Contusion over left parietal region 5 cm X 3 cm DR (7)Contusion over left occipital region 6 cm X 3 cm DR (8)Contusion over right frontal region 3 X 3 cm DR (9)Fracture over left parietal 4 cm in length (10)Sub dural and sub arachnoid haemorrhage over the right frontal region. (11)Extra dural haemorrhage over the right frontal region. (12)Fracture base of the skull on right frontal region 6 cm in length. (13)Both eyes are back eye. All are anti-mortem in nature. Extremities: Finger and toe nails intact pale. Peritoneal https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ Cavity : Empty Fleura:Empty. Heart: Chambers and valves normal. Cavities contained minimized blood. Caronary Vessels : Patent Great Vessels : Normal. Lungs: C/s pale. Trachea: Intact. Hyoid bone: Intact. Stomach: Contained 200 ml of thick whitish fluid with no specific smell. Mucosa pale. Liver : c/s pale. Spleen : c/s pale. Kidneys : both on c/s pale. Small Intestine : yellowish chyme present no specific smell. Mucosa pale. Bladder : Empty. Uterus : Normal in size. Cavities empty. Pelvis : Intact. Brain : O/s Pale. Spinal column : Intact." The Doctor opined that the deceased would appear to have died of head injuries. Ex.P.19 is the Post-mortem Certificate. (vii) P.W.14 went to the scene of occurrence with P.W.3 and prepared the rough sketch, Ex.P.31 and the Observation Mahazar, Ex.P.6 in the presence of witnesses. He recovered the bloodstained earth, M.O.2 and sample earth, M.O.3, bloodstained coconut leaf, M.O.4 and piece of bloodstained admission sheet, M.O.5. He sent P.W.2 for medical examination. (viii) The Doctor, P.W.8, attached to the Government Hospital, Mettur, examined P.W.2 on 22.07.2004. He found the following injuries, as per Ex.P.16, Accident Register : (1)C/o pain left arm (2)C/o pain left forearm (ix) P.W.14 made arrangements to record the statement from the witnesses, P.Ws.1 to 4 and others under Section 164 Cr.P.C. by the Judicial Magistrate. On the same day, he arrested the accused in front of Sakthivel Medical Shop. In pursuance of the admissible portion of the confession of the accused, he recovered M.O.1, bloodstained wooden cot frame. He recovered the bloodstained shirt, M.O.6 and bloodstained pant, M.O.7 from the accused. He sent the accused with police memo for medical examination. (x) The Doctor, P.W.9, attached to the Government Hospital, Mettur, examined the accused brought by the police with police memo on 27.07.2004 at 9.45 a.m. and found the following injuries, as per Ex.P.17, Accident Register : (1)Contusion over forehead right side 1" X 1" (2)Abrasion over the lower neck 1 cm X 1/2 cm. Thereafter the accused was remanded to judicial custody. P.W.14 sent the material objects for chemical examination through the Court. (xi) P.W.15 took up further investigation and examined the photographer and other witnesses, namely, the Doctors, who have examined P.W.2 as well as the accused and the Doctor, who has conducted post-mortem. After receiving the post-mortem certificate, Ex.P.19, chemical examination report, Ex.P.24, Serologist report, Ex.P.26, grouping test report, Ex.P.25 and after completing the investigation, P.W.15 filed the charge sheet against the accused for the offence under Sections 449, 302 and 323 IPC. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 5. When the accused was questioned under Section 313 Cr.P.C. in respect of the incriminating circumstances appearing against him, the accused denied each and every circumstance as contrary to the facts and stated that he has been falsely implicated in this case. The accused has not chosen to examine any witness on his side. 6. Mr.Gandhikumar, learned counsel for the appellant contended that the prosecution has not come forward with clear and consistent evidence and there are several infirmities in the prosecution case. It is submitted that the eye-witness, P.W.1 lived with the deceased for a substantial time as husband and wife. P.W.2, eye-witness, is the daughter of the deceased, and as such they are the interested witnesses and there is no independent witness to speak about the actual occurrence. It is submitted that there are contradictions in material particulars between the witnesses, P.Ws.1 and 2. The learned counsel would further contend that the accused has also sustained injuries as per the medical evidence of the Doctor, P.W.9 and there is no explanation given by the prosecution for such injuries which raises a serious doubt about the origin of the occurrence. It is finally contended by the learned counsel that even assuming that the accused caused the death of the deceased, he could not have been imputed with the intention of causing the death of the deceased as only a wooden cot frame was used by the accused. 7. Per contra, Mr.N.R.Elango, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, contended that the prosecution has come forward with clear and cogent evidence through the eye-witnesses, P.W.s.1 and 2. It is submitted that the evidence of eye-witnesses, P.Ws.1 and 2 is also further corroborated by the medical evidence and P.Ws.3 and 4 as both of them have seen the accused immediately after the occurrence with wooden cot frame at the scene place and they have also spoken about the motive put forward by the prosecution. It is also submitted that the evidence of the eye-witnesses, P.Ws.1 and 2, is also corroborated by the medical evidence as there are corresponding injuries found on the deceased, as per the post-mortem certificate, Ex.P.19. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would further submit that the accused trespassed into the house of the deceased and as such the defence cannot raise a plea that the accused could not have had an intention to cause the death of the deceased. Therefore, it is contended that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in all aspects. 8. We have given our careful and anxious consideration to the rival contentions put forward by either side and also perused the impugned judgment of conviction. 9. The prosecution heavily placed reliance on the evidence of eye-witnesses, P.Ws.1 to 4. Though it is seen that P.Ws.1 and 2 are related to the deceased as P.W.1 was living with the deceased as husband and wife and P.W.2 is none else than the daughter of the deceased and as such she is an interested witness, on that score we cannot reject their evidence and the only requirement is to scrutinize their evidence with great care and caution. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 10. At the outset, we are not able to see any infirmity in the evidence of the eye-witnesses, P.Ws.1 and 2 and their evidence is natural and clear implicating the accused for attacking the deceased. 11. The evidence of the eye-witnesses, P.Ws.1 and 2 is further corroborated by the evidence of P.Ws.3 and 4, who have rushed to the scene house on hearing the hue and cry and found the accused at the scene with M.O.1, wooden cot frame and also abusing and scolding the deceased and their evidence is also not shattered by the defence during the course of their cross-examination. The evidence of P.Ws.1 and 2 is also corroborated by the medical evidence as there are corresponding injuries as per the post-mortem, Ex.P.19. The fact remains that even the motive is also proved by the prosecution as P.Ws.1 to 4 categorically stated about the accused scolding and abusing the deceased and as already pointed out, apart from the evidence of P.Ws.1 and 2, the witnesses, P.Ws.3 and 4 have also seen the accused immediately after the occurrence with wooden cot frame near the deceased at the scene house. Therefore, we have no hesitation to hold that the deceased died due to homicidal violence and that too at the hands of the accused. 12. We are also not able to appreciate the contention of the learned counsel for the appellant to the effect that the non- explanation of the injuries sustained by the accused. It is seen as per the Accident Register, Ex.P.17, the accused sustained only minor and superficial injuries. The Hon'ble Apex Court has held in Shajahan V. State of Kerala reported in 2007 AIR SCW 2123 as follows : "14. Non-explanation of injuries by the prosecution will not affect the prosecution case where injuries sustained by the accused are minor and superficial or where the evidence is so clear and cogent, so independent and disinterested, so probable, consistent and creditworthy, that it outweighs the effect of the omission on the part of prosecution to explain the injuries. As observed by this Court in Ramlagan Singh V. State of Bihar (AIR 1972 SC 2593) prosecution is not called upon in all cases to explain the injuries received by the accused persons." 13. Now, therefore, we are left with the consideration of the crucial question of nature of offence said to have been committed by the accused. 14. In order to consider the above said question we have to scrutinize the materials available on record through the evidence of eye-witnesses, P.Ws.1 and 2 carefully. It is pertinent to be noted that the undisputed fact remains that the accused went to the house of P.W.1 as unarmed. It is also seen from the materials that both the accused and the deceased were living as husband and wife for quite sometime and the accused has taken care of the deceased and her children and the deceased deserted the accused once again and joined with P.W.1 with whom she was living as husband and wife earlier, that https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ caused provocation to the accused and as such the accused went to the house of P.W.1. It is also seen that the accused has not even entered inside the house of P.W.1 and as per the evidence of P.Ws.1 and 2, while P.W.1 along with the deceased and P.W.2 came out of the house, the accused came there and quarreled with the deceased by tearing the Transfer Certificate, which was kept by the deceased in her hands and scolded her and while P.W.1 questioned the conduct of the accused, the accused stated that he was taking care of the deceased and children for one year, but she joined P.W.1. It is also pertinent to be noted that as per the Observation Mahazar, Ex.P.6, the occurrence took place in front of the house of P.W.1. It is seen that only thereafter he has taken M.O.1, wooden cot frame, which was lying on the spot and beat the deceased. Therefore, right from the accused proceeding towards the house of P.W.1 and abusing and scolding the deceased by snatching the Transfer Certificate and tearing the same and ultimately culminating into assaulting the deceased with M.O.1, wooden cot frame which was lying on the spot and taken by the accused, there is no time gap and happened within a short span of time which makes it crystal clear that the accused attacked the deceased without any premeditation or pre-plan and he attacked the deceased only on the spur of the moment. It is also pertinent to be noted that the accused dealt with the blows on the head of the deceased. Therefore, the sequence of events and the entire scenario of the occurrence clearly shows that the accused could have been imputed with the intention to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death and as such the offence committed by the accused is punishable under Section 304 (I) IPC. 15. For the aforesaid reasons, we are constrained to set aside the conviction and sentence imposed on the appellant for the offence under Section 302 IPC by the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Salem, in S.C.No.148 of 2005 dated 18.11.2005 and instead the appellant is convicted under Section 304 (I) IPC and sentenced to undergo seven years rigorous imprisonment. 16. In view of our findings to the effect that the occurrence as per the version of eye-witnesses, P.Ws.1 and 2, took place outside the house of P.W.1 and the prosecution has not proved that the accused trespassed into the house of P.W.1, the conviction and sentence of seven years rigorous imprisonment imposed on the accused for the offence under Section 449 IPC are also hereby set aside. With the above modification in conviction and sentence, this appeal is partly allowed. Sd/- Asst. Registrar. /true copy/ Sub Asst. Registrar. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ gg To 1. The Principal Sessions Judge, Salem. 2. The Judicial Magistrate, Mettur. 3. - do – thro" the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Salem. 4. The District Collector, Salem. 5.The Director General of Police, Chennai. 6. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Coimbatore. 7. The Inspector of Police, Mettur Police Station, Salem District. 8. The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Madras. Judgment in Crl.A.No.173 of 2006 MA(CO) SRA(07/07/2008) https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/