IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.BHAVADASAN WEDNESDAY, THE 28TH OCTOBER 2009 / 6TH KARTHIKA 1931 CRL.A.No. 1857 of 2005() ------------------------ SC.138/2004 of ADDL.SESSIONS COURT,-I, MAVELIKKARA CP.18/2004 of JUDL.MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS, MAVELIKKARA .................... APPELLANT(S): --------------------- RAJAN @ KOCHU RAJAN KUTTY, S/O.KUTTY, CONVICT NO.9787, CENTRAL PRISON, TRIVANDRUM-12. BY ADV. ADV.T.K.KUNHABDULLA[STATE BRIEF] RESPONDENT(S): ----------------------- STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI. NOBLE MATHEW. THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 14/10/2009, THE COURT ON 28/10/2009 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K. BALAKRISHNAN NAIR & P. BHAVADASAN, JJ. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Crl. Appeal No. 1857 of 2005 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 28th day of October, 2009. JUDGMENT Bhavadasan, J, The accused was prosecuted for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for having caused the death of Suresh Babu and his wife Kamalasini. He was found guilty and accordingly he was convicted and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life. 2. P.W.1 is the neighbour of both the deceased and the accused. According to the prosecution allegation, the accused used to make unholy advances towards Kamalasini and that often gave rise to quarrel between the accused and Kamalasini and Suresh Babu. On 30.5.2003 at about 6.30 p.m. the accused repeated his pranks towards Kamalasini and that gave rise to a quarrel. It is stated that the accused beat Kamalasini. P.W.1 intervened and extricated Kamalasini from Crl.A. 1857/2005. 2 the hold of the accused. Kamalasini rushed to her husband, who was an autorickshaw driver and informed him about the incident. At that time, the accused was standing in the courtyard of P.W.1. Kamalasini returned with her husband Suresh Babu and Suresh Babu questioned the act of the accused. A quarrel again erupted. P.W.1 then pointed out that they may not continue their quarrel in his compound. The accused left the place so did Suresh Babu and Kamalasini. Kamalasini and her husband Suresh Babu were thinking about filing a complaint before the police and they were talking about the same. Suddenly the accused rushed towards Suresh Babu and stabbed him on his chest. Suresh Babu was about to fall when P.W.1 held him. Seeing that her husband had been stabbed, Kamalasini rushed towards him. The accused then stabbed Kamalasini on her chest. She fell down. The accused repeatedly stabbed her causing several injuries. When P.W.2 and others reached the place, the accused took to his heels. The injured persons were removed to the hospital by P.W.1 with the aid of Crl.A. 1857/2005. 3 others. The victims were first taken to Gems Hospital, Mavelikkara in an autorickshaw, which belonged to Suresh Babu. After reaching Gems hospital, finding that the injuries were serious, the doctors at Gems Hospital advised that they be taken to Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla. Ambulance service was made available to the injured. When the victims were taken to Pushpagiri hospital, the doctors examined them and pronounced them dead. 3. On getting intimation from the Pushpagiri Hospital at Thiruvalla, P.W.13, who was the Sub Inspector of Police attached to Kurathikadu police station went over to Pushpagiri Hospital and recorded the first information statement furnished by P.W.1, who was present there. He returned to the police station and registered crime No. 99 of 2003 of Kurathikadu Police Station for offence punishable under Section 302 Indian Penal Code as per Ext.P11 First Information Report. He informed his superiors about the incident. As directed by the Circle Inspector of Police, P.W.13 Crl.A. 1857/2005. 4 conducted inquest over the body of Kamalasini and prepared Ext.P7 report. He seized M.Os. 3 and 8 found on the body. P.W.14, Circle Inspector of Police took over the investigation. He conducted inquest over the body of Suresh Babu and prepared Ext.P2 report. He seized M.Os. 2 and 5 found on the body. He then had the bodies send for autopsy. P.W.6 Forensic Surgeon attached to Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha conducted autopsy over the body of Kamalasini and Suresh Babu. He furnished Exts.P3 and P4 postmortem certificates of Suresh Babu and Kamalasini respectively. Meanwhile, on 31.5.2003 at about 5.10 p.m., P.W.14 went to the site of occurrence and prepared Ext.P8 mahazar. M.Os. 9 and 10 were seized. Even though he conducted a search in the house of the accused, he was unable to locate any weapon. However, he was able to seize M.O.4 banyan and M.O.6 Lunki, which belonged to the accused as per Ext.P9 search list. On 1.6.2003, while P.W.14 was on petrol duty, he located the accused. He was arrested and Ext.P14 arrest memo was Crl.A. 1857/2005. 5 prepared. Ext.P15 is the inspection memo. When he searched the body of the accused, he came upon M.O.7 brown paper, which when unfolded revealed M.O.1 knife. That was seized as per Ext.P10 seizure mahazar in the presence of P.W.12 and another person. He had the site plan prepared and obtained various other documents, which were necessary for the case. He had the objects seized during investigation send for chemical examination and Ext.P23 is the FSL report. He recorded the statements of witnesses, completed investigation and laid charge before court. 4. JFCM, Mavelikkara took cognizance of the offence as C.P.18 of 2004. The accused was produced before the said court. After following the necessary procedures, since the learned Magistrate found that the case is one exclusively triable by a court of Sessions, the case was committed to Sessions Court, Alappuzha under Section 209 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The said court made over the case to Additional Sessions Court-I, Mavelikara for trial and disposal. The latter court issued Crl.A. 1857/2005. 6 production warrant and the accused was produced before the said court. The accused stated that he was unable to engage a counsel and therefore the court appointed Adv. Sri. Ramesh Chadra Kumar to defend the accused on State Brief. The court below thereafter framed charge for the offence punishable under Section 302 Indian Penal Code. It was read over to the accused. He pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. Prosecution had therefore P.Ws. 1 to 14 examined Exts.P1 to P24 marked. M.Os. 1 to 10 were identified and marked. After the close of the prosecution evidence, the accused was questioned under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code. He denied all the incriminating circumstances put to him and maintained that he is innocent. He claimed that he has not committed any act, which would constitute an offence and he was falsely implicated. Presumably the court below finding that the accused could not be acquitted under Section 232 Cr.P.C., asked him to enter on his defence. Except for having Ext.C1 marked through P.W.14 investigating officer, the Crl.A. 1857/2005. 7 accused chose to adduce no further evidence. On a consideration of the materials before it, the court below found that the prosecution has succeeded in establishing the case against the accused and accordingly convicted and sentenced him as already mentioned. The said conviction and sentence are assailed in this appeal. 5. The question that arises for consideration is whether any interference is called for with the findings of the court below. 6. That Kamalasini and Suresh Babu are no more is a fact not in dispute. The inquest reports, namely, Exts.P2 and P7 and postmortem certificates, Exts.P3 and P4 relating to Kamalasini and Suresh Babu show the injuries suffered by them and also that they had succumbed to the said injuries. Autopsy was conducted by P.W.6, the Forensic Surgeon attached to the Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha. Ext.P3 postmortem report relates to Suresh Babu. P.W.6 says that death of Suresh Babu was caused due to the injuries suffered by him on his chest. P.W.6 had also conducted Crl.A. 1857/2005. 8 autopsy over the body of Kamalasini and furnished Ext.P4 report. Postmortem report relating to her shows that she suffered as many as eleven incised injuries on various parts of her body. According to P.W.6 the death was caused due to the penetrating injuries sustained, namely, injury Nos. 1 and 2 shown in Ext.P4. P.W.6 had also stated that the injuries suffered by Suresh Babu and injury Nos. 1 and 2 suffered by Kamalasini are of grievous and fatal in nature and sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause the death of the person. He had also found that all the injuries found on the body of both the deceased could have been caused with M.O.1. One is left with no doubt that the deaths of Kamalasini and Suresh Babu were homicidal. 7. The crucial question that arises for consideration is whether the court below was justified in coming to the conclusion that it was the accused who had inflicted the injuries on the deceased. The court below was impressed by the testimony given by P.Ws.1 and 2 and the recovery evidence furnished by P.W.14. Crl.A. 1857/2005. 9 The court below had also placed reliance on the Forensic Lab report to come to the conclusion that the case has been made out. 8. Learned counsel for the appellant pointed out that the court below had omitted to note certain vital aspects in the case which has resulted in miscarriage of justice. According to learned counsel, a careful analysis of the evidence will show that the incident did not originate as stated by the prosecution, and if that be so, the benefit of doubt should go to the accused. Learned counsel went on to point out that if a close scrutiny of the evidence is undertaken, it could be seen that the accused was not the assailant and that he has been falsely implicated. Attention of this court was drawn to the fact that the closest resident to the place of the incident is one Chellappan and for reasons best known to the prosecution, he was withheld. It is strange to note that the investigating officer did not feel it necessary to question him and that he has sufficient information to show that at the time of the incident several persons in the locality were present. It is then Crl.A. 1857/2005. 10 contended that the postmortem report which indicated the contents of the stomach of the deceased would show that the incident had not taken place at the time mentioned by the prosecution. Learned counsel submitted that at any rate it could not be said that the prosecution has succeeded in establishing the case beyond reasonable doubt and if that be so, the accused is entitled to be acquitted. 9. Per contra, learned Public Prosecutor pointed out that the evidence of P.Ws.1 and 2 are consistent, cogent and convincing enough. The court below accepted the same. The court below also placed reliance on the recovery of M.Os. 3 and 4, which belonged to the accused and which as disclosed by the Forernsic Lab report contained blood stains of the blood group which belonged to the deceased. Learned Public Prosecutor contended that the court below has taken pains to consider the matter in great detail and considered all the items of evidence before it. The evidence unerringly establish that it was the Crl.A. 1857/2005. 11 accused, and the accused alone, who had committed the gruesome acts. 10. P.W.1, as already stated, resides in the neighbourhood of the accused and the deceased. He would depose that on 30.5.2003 at about 7.35 p.m. the incident started in the courtyard of his house. He stated that Suresh Babu was his distant relative. He returned home after work on the eventful day at about 5.45 p.m.. While he was about to take his food, he heard the wails of Kamalasini. He rushed to the place. He found the accused had caught hold of the hair of Kamalasini and was seen fisting her. He extricated the lady from the hold of the accused. He would say that then Kamalasini rushed to the autorickshaw stand to inform her husband about the incident. A short while thereafter they returned. When they had returned, the accused was still standing in the courtyard of his house. P.W.1 says that there was exchange of words and quarrel between Suresh Babu and the accused. Unable to bear it, P.W.1 told them to leave the place and not to Crl.A. 1857/2005. 12 create any problem in his house. The accused left the place and went towards the house of one Bhaskaran. Suresh Babu and his wife left for their house. They had to pass through the courtyard of the house of Bhaskaran to reach their house. When the deceased reached near the kitchen of the house of Bhaskaran, P.W.1 says that, he saw the accused stabbing Suresh Babu. The stab was inflicted below the left nipple of Suresh Babu. When Suresh Babu was about to fall, P.W.1 held him. He then claims to have seen the accused inflicting repeated stab injuries on Kamalasini. He would also say that at the time of the incident, his brother and other relatives were there. He goes on to depose that Suresh Babu and Kamalasini were removed to the hospital in the autorickshaw which belonged to Suresh Babu. He had accompanied the victims. He says that they were first taken to Gems Hospital. After giving first aid, the doctor advised him and others to take the victims to Pushpagiri Hospital for better management. Gems Hospital provided an ambulance for transport. Crl.A. 1857/2005. 13 He would depose that the victims were taken to Pushpagiri Hospital. When they reached the hospital, the doctors examined the victims and pronounced them dead. He informed the inmates of the house of the deceased. He would say that a short while thereafter the Sub Inspector of Police, Kurathikadu Police Station had come to the hospital. He had given a statement to him. He identified Ext.P1 as the statement given by him. He also identified M.O.1 as the knife, which was used by the accused to inflict the injuries. He was also able to identify the dress worn by the deceased. He identified them as M.Os. 3 and 4. 11. P.W.2 is another witness, who claims to have seen the incident. He deposed that the incident occurred on 30.5.2003 at about 7.30 p.m. He says that the incident occurred in the courtyard of Bhaskaran. He runs an STD booth at Pallarimangalam Junction. Usually he comes home to take bath in the evening. He comes home from the Booth after entrusting the booth to his brother. As usual by about 7.30 p.m. he came home Crl.A. 1857/2005. 14 for a bath. He heard a commotion from the southern side of his house and he came out to enquire about it. He found the accused, Suresh Babu and Kamalasini engaged in quarrel and exchange of words in the courtyard of P.W.1. He saw P.W.1 sending them away from his courtyard. The accused left first and the victims followed him. When the victims reached the courtyard of the house of Bhaskaran, accused came running from the southern side. He took out M.O.1 knife from his loin and stabbed Suresh Babu. The stab fell on the chest of Suresh Babu. When Kamalasini saw that and came to the aid of her husband, she was repeatedly stabbed by the accused. The first stab made her fall on the ground and thereafter she was repeatedly stabbed. P.W.2 says that he along with P.W.1 and others had picked up Suresh Babu. Rajamani, Rajasree and their mother helped Kamalasini. P.W.2 would say that he along with P.W.1 and others took the victims to Gems Hospital first. From there, they were directed to the Pushpagiri Hospital. On the way, Suresh Babu vomited blood. Crl.A. 1857/2005. 15 When they reached Pushpagiri Hospital, the doctors examined the victims and pronounced them dead. 12. P.W.3 is only a witness to Ext.P2 inquest report and P.W.4 is an autorickshaw driver by profession. P.W.5 identified M.O.4. P.W.6 is the doctor, who had conducted autopsy. P.Ws. 7 to 10 are official witnesses, whose evidence is not of much importance. Of course P.W.10 is the Village Officer, who had prepared Ext.P8 scene plan. P.W.11 is the witness in Ext.P9 search list. M.Os. 4 and 6 clothes were identified by P.W.11. P.W.12 is a witness to the seizure of M.O.1 from the accused when he was arrested and his body was searched by P.W.14. 13. It could thus be seen that the evidence regarding the incident is limited to P.Ws. 1 and 2. 14. The claim of the learned counsel for the appellant that Chellappan, who was residing next to the place of incident is the most competent person and his non-examination has caused prejudice to the accused has no substance. First of all there is Crl.A. 1857/2005. 16 nothing to show that Chellappan had witnessed the incident at all. Learned counsel placed reliance on the statement made by the witnesses that hearing about the incident people had gathered at the spot. But none of the witnesses say that Chellappan was present at the spot. The court is asked to presume that being a resident nearby, Chellappan must have come there. There is no justification for drawing such a presumption. 15. The lower court has noticed that the evidence disclosed that the victims and several others in the locality used to take food early in the evening. P.W.6, the doctor who had conducted autopsy has stated that the death might have occurred between one hour and four hours of taking food by the deceased persons. The possibility of deceased having taken food early in the evening cannot be ruled out, and merely because the stomach of the victims contained rice, cannot give rise to a conclusion that the incident was not as spoken to by the witnesses. One may recall the fact that the incident occurred by about 7.30 p.m. Even going by Crl.A. 1857/2005. 17 the doctors evidence, that assessment would be justified. 16. One cannot omit to note the recovery of M.O.1 and the Forensic Lab report which shows that the knife contained blood stains. So also M.Os.3 and 4, which have been identified by P.Ws. 1 and 2, contained blood stains of blood group A, which was in fact the blood group of the deceased. It was these items of evidence along with the oral testimony of P.Ws. 1 and 2 enabled the court below to reach the conclusion of guilt against the accused. Even though P.Ws. 1 and 2 were cross-examined at length, nothing favouring the accused could be brought out from their evidence. Of course, there are certain minor inconsistencies and contradictions regarding certain insignificant parts of the incident. As regards the quarrel prior to the incident and the stabbing by the accused, there is consistent, cogent, uniform and convincing evidence of P.W.1 and 2. No reasons whatsoever are shown by the accused as to why they should choose to speak against the accused. There is not even a suggestion as to why they Crl.A. 1857/2005. 18 should falsely implicate the accused. One must remember that they are all neighbours. There is no reason as to why P.Ws. 1 and 2 should ruse nurse any grudge against the deceased. So also it is rather difficult to believe that P.Ws. 1 and 2 would have deliberately and falsely implicated the accused letting the real culprit to escape. 17. Even though the learned counsel for the appellant tried to establish that the incident had not taken place as alleged by the prosecution, he was unable to establish the said fact. Prosecution has given convincing evidence regarding the cause of presence of the victim and witnesses at the place of the incident, and the plan Ext.P5 would justify the above findings of the court below. 18. The evidence clearly show that there was bitterness between Suresh Babu, Kamalasini and the accused. The accused has a case that on the date of the incident since Suresh Babu believed that his wife was maintaining unholy relationship with the Crl.A. 1857/2005. 19 accused, there used to be quarrel everyday and as usual on the date of the incident a quarrel ensued. According to the accused, it was Suresh Babu, who had tried to stab his wife Kamalasini. Kamalasini somehow managed to escape and ran towards the house of P.W.1. Suresh Babu caught her and stabbed her repeatedly. Then P.W.1 intervened and in the scuffle that followed Suresh Babu somehow suffered an injury on his chest. 19. One can only say that the above story remains as such without any proof. There is absolutely no reason as to why Suresh Babu should do so. The evidence of P.Ws. 1 and 2 is sufficient to show that the prosecution has succeeded in establishing the case against the accused. None of the grounds alleged by the appellant is sufficient to come to the conclusion that the prosecution case is not correct. At the risk of repetition, the evidence of P.Ws. 1 and 2, the recovery of M.Os. 3 and 4, the Forensic Lab report etc., are sufficient to show that, as rightly concluded by the court below , it was the accused, who was the Crl.A. 1857/2005. 20 perpetrator of the crime. The result is that this appeal is without merits and it is liable to be dismissed. We do so confirming the conviction and sentence passed by the court below. K. Balakrishnan Nair, Judge P. Bhavadasan, Judge sb. Crl.A. 1857/2005. 21 K. BALAKRISHNAN NAIR & P. BHAVADASAN, JJ. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Crl. Appeal No. 1857 of 2005 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JUDGMENT 28.10.2009.