[2011] 9 S.C.R. 101

MUSTKEEM @ SIRAJUDEEN !

A v.

STATE OF RAJASTHAN (Criminal Appeal No.1327 of 2008)

JULY 13, 2011 8

: . ._

[ASOK KUMAR GANGULY AND DEEPAK VERMA, JJ.]

Penal Code, 1860:

s. 302134 - Murder - Circumstantial evidence - c Conviction by trial court - Upheld by High Court - HELD: Where the case rests squarely on circumstantial evidence, the inference of guilt can be justified only when all the incriminating facts and circumstances are found to be incompatible with the innocence of the accused or the guilt D of any other person - In the instant case, the eye-witnesses and one of the recovery witness, having retracted their statements uls 161CrPC, were not believed bY courts below

- As regards other witnesses, there are several discrepancies and contradictions in their statements - Their evidence that E the accused had one day prior to the incident intimated them to eliminate the deceased is not trustworthy - No enmity could be established between the accused and the deceased, and there was nothing on record which warranted them to eliminate the deceased - Recovery witnesses were not local F persons - Overwriting on the recovery memos was not explained by the /. 0. - The blood found on the weapon recovered at the instance of the accused was not sufficient for test as it had already disintegrated - Thus, looking to the matter from all angles, it would not be safe and proper to hold the accused guilty of the offence - They are accordingly G acquitted- Evidence Act, 1872s.27 - Constitution of India,

1950 - Article 226 - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - s. 162 - Explanation - "Contradictions':

101 H

A Evidence Act, 1872:

s. 27 - Information received from accused - On the disclosure statement made by the accused, weapons recovered - HELD: With regard to s.27 what is important is

8 discovery of the material object at the disclosure of the accused but such disclosure alone would not automatically lead to the conclusion that the offence was also committed by the accused - In fact, thereafter, burden lies on the prosecution to establish a close link between discovery of the material objects and its use in the commission of the offence C - What is admissible u/s 27 is the information leading to discovery and not any opinion formed on it by the prosecution

- One recovery witness was declared hostile and the other stated that recovery memos were prepared in the Police Station - Thus, the recovery of the weapons on disclosure of D the appellants itself becomes doubtful - Penal Code, 1860

-s.304134.

Constitution of India, 1950:

E Article 136 - Interference with concurrent findings of the courts below - In the instant case, the entire evidence, is vitiated by serious errors and if the appellant's conviction is upheld then it would amount to miscarriage of justice - Therefore, the conviction as recorded by trial court and confirmed by High Court cannot be sustained in law and, F therefore, set aside.

The appellant along with four others was prosecuted for committing the murder of one 'RY'. The prosecution case was that on 24.07.2003 at 5.45 p.m., the SHO P.W.

G 16 received telephonic information about murder of a person. He rushed to the spot with police squad and found a person lying dead in a pool of blood. On inquiries being made, P.W.3 present there informed him that the murder was committed by A-1, A-2 and one other person, H who was later identified as A-3, by inflicting injuries on

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the victim with sword and knife. The SHO recorded the A Parcha Bayan of P.W.3 and registered the case. In all there were five accused. One of them was declared absconder. Out of the remaining four, the trial court acquitted one and convicted the three accusedappellants u/s 302/34 IPC and s.4/25 of the Arms Act. Their B appeals were dismissed by the High Court. Aggrieved, the accused filed the three separate appeals.

Allowing the appeals, the Court

HELD: 1.1 In the light of the Post Mortem Report and C the evidence of the doctor (PW-13), it is evident that deceased had met with homicidal death. [para 8] [110-C]

1.2 It is pertinent to mention that the solitary star witness of the prosecution, namely, P.W.3, and the main 0 material witnesses were declared hostile. The trial court observed in this context that P.W.1 (recovery witness), P.W.3 and P.W.2 (both eye-witnesses) had retracted their statements made u/s 161 Cr.P.C. during examination.

Furthermore, it has also refused to attach much credence E to the deposition of P .W.19, owing to the clear contradictions in his statement and deposition regarding his presence at the scene of crime. Thus, the trial court had also found them unreliable and has not based the appellants; conviction on the basis of their statements.

Similarly, the High Court has not taken their evidence into consideration. The trial court had recorded a finding that the case is without any eye witness and is based on circumstantial evidence. (para 11) [110-F-H; 111-A]

2.1 As per the statement of P.W. 10, in whose house G the deceased was residing as a tenant for the last 5-6 years, appellants (A-1) and (A-3) had met him a day before the occurrence, and told him that, that day it would be the last visit of 'RY' and he would not come to his house again. Similar is the evidence of P.W.9, the wife of P.W.10.

A P.W.8 deposed that the three accused-appellants used to visit the deceased regularly as all of them were dealing in Illicit liquor trade. On coming to know from P. W. 9 that the accused were keen to eliminate the deceased, she had telephonically asked him to meet her at the earliest. s When the deceased met her, she informed him about the intentions of the accused. From an appraisal of the evidence of P.W.8, P.W.9 and P.W.10, the trial court and the Division Bench of the High Court ruled that the prosecution has been able to establish that the deceased c and the appellants were all involved in illegal trade of

liquor and a day prior .to the date of incident, A-1 and A- 3 had expressed to P.W.9 and P.W.10 their intentions to eliminate the deceased. But, in fact, the omissions on the part of all three witnesses, namely, P.Ws.8 to 10 to state

0 certain material facts in the course of making their statements before the police, which they have categorically admitted in their depositions may even be considered as "contradictions" as per the Explanation to s. 162 Cr.P.C. Their evidence, that the accused had intimated P.W.8 a day prior to the date of incident, that E they would eliminate the deceased is also not trustworthy. There are several discrepancies appearing in their evidence. Further, P.W.8 is absolutely an hearsay witness. [para 14-16, 21 and 22) [111-D-H; 112-A-B; 113-

B-D] F 2.2 The other circumstance found against the appellants by High Court was that, on the basis of the disclosure statements made by them, weapons alleged to have been used in the commission of the offence and G clothes stained with human blood were recovered. In

fact, the recovery of the weapons on disclosure of the appellants itself becomes doubtful. P.W.1, the witness of Recovery Memo, was declared hostile and another witness P.W.10 admitted that signatures were obtained on the memos and annexures at the Police Station. If the H

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recovery memos were prepared at the Police Station A itself, then the same would lose its sanctity. It is also pertinent to mention that P.W.1 was residing 4 Kms. away and P.W.10 was residing 8 Kms. away from the place of recovery and both were also declared hostile. The prosecution failed to establish as to why none of the local B persons were called to be the witnesses. The conduct of the prosecution appears to be extremely doubtful and renders the case as concocted, to falsely implicate the appellants. The recovery Memos also reflect that there were overwriting on the same which has not been c explained by P.W.16, the Investigating Officer. [para 18,24 and 28) [112-D; 113-G-H; 114-A-D; 115-GH]

Varun Chaudhary Vs.

State of Rajasthan 2010 SCR 296 =AIR 2011 SCC 72 - relied on.

D 2.3 With regard to s.27 of the Evidence Act, what is important is discovery of the material object at the disclosure of the accused but such disclosure alone would not automatically lead to the conclusion that the offence was also committed by the accused. In fact, E thereafter, burden lies on the prosecution to establish a close link between discovery of the material objects and its use in the commission of the offence. What is admissible u/s 27 of the Act is the information leading to discovery and not any opinion formed on it by the F prosecution. [para 27] [115-E-G]

Anter Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan, 2004 (2) SCR 123 = 2004 (1 O) sec 657 - relied on.

Pu/ukuri Kotayya & Ors. Vs. Emperor AIR 1947 PC 67 • G referred to.

2.4 On the basis of the report of the serologist, it has come on record that traces of 'AB' blood group were found on the pants and baniyan of the deceased. The prosecution has also averred that sword and clothes H

A stained with human blood of group 'AB' were also recovered at the instance of the appellants, from the places shown by them and known only to them and none others. The High Court was of the opinion that the chain of circumstances was complete and it pointed the finger B for commission of the said offence only to the appellants.

However, it is significant to note that the 'AB' blood group which was found on the clothes of the deceased does not by itself establish the guilt of the appellants unless the same was connected with the murder of the deceased c by the appellants. None of the witnesses examined by the prosecution could establish that fact. The blood found on the sword recovered at the instance of A-1 was not sufficient for test as the same had already disintegrated. [para 19 and 23) [112-E-F; 113-E-F]

D 2.5 As regards the motive (if any) behind the homicide, on review of the relevant deposition of the witnesses, one of the circumstances found against the appellants, that the deceased and the appellants indulged in illegal trade of liquor and thus were having enmity with E each other, is not based on any cogent and reliable

evidence much less on the evidence of P.W.8, P.W.9 and P.W.10. This could not have been the motive for killing the deceased. The evidence of P.Ws.9 and 10 does not establish the intention on the part of the accused to F murder the deceased. Since no enmity could be established on record between them there was nothing which warranted to eliminate the deceased. [para 20 and

22) [112-G-H; 113-A-C-D]

2.6 It is too well settled in law that where the case rests G squarely on circumstantial evidence, the inference of guilt can be justified only when all the incriminating facts and circumstances are found to be incompatible with the innocence of the accused or the guilt of any other person. No doubt, it is true that conviction can be based H solely on circumstantial evidence but it should be

MUSTKEEM @ SIRAJUDEEN v. STATE OF

RAJAS THAN

decided on the touchstone of law relating to A . circumstantial evidence, which has been well settled by law by this Court. In the instant case, looking to the matter from all angles it would not be safe and proper to hold the appellants guilty of commission of the offence. [paras

24- 25] [114-0-F] B

Sharad Birdhichand Sarda Vs. State of Maharashtra 1985 (1) SCR 88 =1984 (4) SCC 116; and Sattatiya @Satish Rajanna Karla/la Vs. State of Maharashtra 2008 (3) sec 210 - relied on. c

3. As regards scope of interference against concurrent findings of fact, there is no doubt that in the instant case, the entire evidence is vitiated by serious errors and if the appellant's conviction is upheld then it would amount to miscarriage of justice. Therefore, the o judgment and order of conviction as recorded by trial court and confirmed by High Court cannot be sustained in law. The same are, therefore, set aside and quashed.

The appellants are acquitted of the charges levelled against them. [para 31-33] [117-8-G] E

Case Law Reference:

1985 (1) SCR88 relied on para 26

2010 SCR 296 relied on para 28 F

AIR 1947 PC 67 referred to para 28

2004 (2) SCR 123 relied on para 28

2008 (3) sec 21 o relied on para 28

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal G No. 1327 of 2008.

From the Judgment and Order dated 03.12.2007 of the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan Bench at jaipur in D.B.

Criminal Appeal No. 210 of 2005.

WITH

Criminal Appeal No. 1369 of 2008

Criminal Appeal No. 1370 of 2008.

B R.K. Kapoor, Shweta Kapoor, Reetu Sharma, Anis Ahmed

Khan, Dr. Monika Gusain, Hariom Yaduvanshi and R.K. Kapoor (Amicus Curiae) for the Appellant.

lmtiaz Ahmed, Naghma lmtiaz, Milind Kumar, Archana Pathak Dave and Milind Kumar for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

DEEPAK VERMA, J. 1. This judgment and order shall govern disposal of Crl. A. No. 1369 of 2008 Nandu Singh@

0 Vikram Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan and Crl. A.No. 1370 of 2008 Arun Joseph Vs. State of Rajasthan as they arise out of the common judgment and order recorded by Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Bench at Jaipur in D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 125/2005, 210/2005 and 1176/ E 2005 decided on 03.12.2007, arising out of judgment and order of conviction recorded by Special Judge SC/ST (PA Cases) Jaipur in Sessions Case No. 02/2004 decided on 10.02.2005.

2. The trial court vide its judgment and order held the F Appellants guilty for commission of offence under Section 302/

34 of the Indian Penal Code (in short 'IPC') and awarded life imprisonment with fine of Rs. 1000/- and in default of payment of fine further three months simple imprisonment and under Section 4/25 of the Arms Act one year R.I. and fine of Rs. 500/ G - and in default of payment of fine to further suffer one month imprisonment. The sentences were directed to run concurrently.

3. Feeling aggrieved by the said judgment, Appellants had preferred three appeals as mentioned hereinabove before the Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan H

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RAJASTHAN [DEEPAK VERMA, J.]

at Jaipur Bench. The High Court, after considering the matter A from all angles also came to the conclusion that no interference was called for against the said judgment of the trial Court and dismissed the appeals. In all, there were five accused out of which one Abrar was declared absconder and Abdul Wahid -, was acquitted by the Trial Court. Thus these appeals by the B three convicted accused.

4. We have, accordingly, heard learned Counsel Mr. R.K.

Kapoor, Ms. Shweta Kapoor, Mrs. Mansi Dhiman for the Appellants and Mr. Milind Kumar, Mr. lmtiaz Ahmeda and Ms.

Archana Pathak Dave for the Respondent State and perused c

the record.

5. Facts giving rise to the prosecution story, ultimately resulting in conviction of the Appellants, are as under:-

On 24.07.2003 at 5.45 p.m. Diwakar Chaturvedi SHO D Police Station Vidhan Sabha, Jaipur received telephonic information about murder of a person in Kathputli Colony. After recording the said information in Rojnamcha, SHO rushed to the spot with police squad and found a person lying dead in a pool of blood.

6. On inquiries being made P.W.3 - Ashok Kumar, present at the place of occurrence informed Diwakar that the name of the deceased was Ram Pal Yadav. He further

'"' informed that the murder of Ram Pal Yadav has been caused by Mustkeem, Nandu and one other person by inflicting injuries F

on his person with sword and knife. The third person was later identified as Arun Joseph. On receiving the said information SHO recorded the Parcha Bayan of P .W.3 -Ashok Kumar and registered a case under Section 302/1208 of the IPC. Thus the investigation machinery was set into motion. Dead body was G sent for autopsy, necessary memos were drawn, statements of witnesses were recorded, accused were arrested and on completion of investigation charge sheet was filed.

7. Charges under Section 302/149 IPC and Section 4/25 H

A of the Arms Act were framed against the accused. They denied the charges and prayed for being tried. The prosecution in support of its case examined 19 witnesses. The statements of the Appellants under Section 31'3 of Cr. P.C. were recorded, who claimed innocence and prayed for their acquittal.

8. As per the post mortem report Ex. P.34, deceased Ram Pal Yadav had received 38 ante mortem injuries and from the evidence of P.W.13 - Dr. Sumant Dutta, cause of death was stated to be due to hemorrhagic shock as a result of injuries to chest, lungs and skull and on account of excessive bleeding.

C In the light of the Post Mortem Report and the evidence of P.W.13 - Dr. Sumant Dutta, it cannot be disputed nor has been disputed before us that deceased had met with homicidal death.

9. Now the question that arises for our consideration in this and the connected appeals is as to who were the perpetrators of the crime and whether the trial Court and High Court were justified in holding the appellants guilty for commission of the said offences.

10. Before we proceed to do so it is necessary to point out that the solitary star witness of the prosecution P.W.3 - Ashok Kumar had turned hostile and was declared as such.

11. In fact, it is pertinent to mention here that the main material witnesses were declared hostile. The Trial Court F ebserved in this context that P.W.1 Mohd. Ayub (recovery witness), P.W.3 Ashok Kumar and P.W.2 Prakash (both eyewitnesses) had retracted their statements made under Section 161 Cr.P.C. during examination.

Furthermore, it has also refused to attach much credence to the deposition of P.W.19 G Yogesh Kumar, owing to the clear contradictions in his statement and aforesaid deposition regarding his presence at the scene of crime. Thus, in a nutshell, Trial Court had also found them unreliable and has not based the Appellants conviction on the basis of their statements. Similarly High Court H has not taken their evidence into consideration. Thus, it is

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neither required nor is necessary to deal with their evidence.

A' Trial Court had recorded a finding that the case is without any eye witness and is based on circumstantial evidence.

12. It is therefore necessary to discuss the evidence of P.W.8 -Smt. Supyar Kanwar, P.W.9- Lali Devi and P.W.10

- Chittar so as to find out the element of truth in the same-iand 8 .. " to discern any motive behind the commission of the offence.

•·-

13. It is fully established that the prosecution case. is.based on circumstantial evidence. In this view of the matter, we have to see if the chain of circumstances was so complete so as to' :. C unerringly point the finger only at the Appellants as perpetrators of crime. Before delving into the legal analysis, however, we would like to examine the statements of P.W.8 a11d P.\IY.10 in brief. ,.

14. As per the prosecution story, Appellants Mustkeem and Arun had met P.W.10 - Chittar a day before the occurrence, in whose house deceased Ram Pal Yadav, was residing as a tenant, for last 5 to 6 years and h~ deposed that Appellants Mustkeem and Arun had told him that, that day it E would be the last visit of Ram Pal and he will not come to his house again. Similar is the evidence of P.W.9- Lali Devi, wife of P.W.10. She has repeated the same version as had been deposed by P.W.10- Chittar.

15. P.W.8 - Smt. Supyar deposed that Mustkeem, Arun F and Nandu used to visit Ram Pal Yadav regularly as all of them were dealing in illicit liquor trade. On coming to know from Lali Devi that Arun, Mustkeem and Nandu were keen to eliminate Ram Pal Yadav, she had telephonically asked him to meet her at the earliest. When deceased Ram Pal Yadav met Smt. G Supyar, she informed him about the intentions of the accused.

She also told him that Arun and Mustkeem both had said that it would be the last visit of Ram Pal Yadav to her house as they were planning to eliminate him.

16. Thus, from an appraisal of the evidence of P.W.8, P.W.9 and P.W.10, the Trial Court and the Division Bench of the High Court ruled that prosecution has been able to establish that deceased Ram Pal Yadav and Appellants were all involved in illegal trade of liquor and a day prior to the date of incident, B Arun and Mustkeem had expressed their intentions to eliminate Ram Pal to P.W.9 and P.W.10.

17. High Court while considering the Appellants' appeal found this factor as one of the incriminating circumstances to C eventually hold the Appellants guilty for the aforesaid offence.

18. The other circumstance found against the Appellants by High Court was that, on the basis of the disclosure statements of the Appellants, weapons alleged to be used in the commission of offence and clothes stained with human D blood were recovered. In its Judgment, the High Court has discussed in extenso the effect of Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act (hereinafter sall be referred to as 'Act') and subsequent discovery of the material objects thereafter.

19. On the basis of the report of the serologist, it has come on record that traces of AB blood group were found on the pants and baniyan of the deceased. The prosecution has also averred that Sword and clothes stained with human blood group AB were also recovered at the instance of Appellants, from the F places shown by them and known only to them and none others. " On account of aforesaid circumstances, the High Court was of the opinion that the chain of circumstances was complete and the completed chain of circumstances pointed the finger for commission of the said offence only by the Appellants.

20. As regards the motive (if any) behind the homicide, on review of the relevant deposition of the witnesses, we are of the opinion that one of the circumstances found against the present Appellants, that deceased and Appellants indulged in illegal trade of liquor and thus were having enmity with each H other, is not based on any cogent and reliable evidence much

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less on the evidence of P.W.8, P.W.9 and P.W.10. This could A not have been the motive of killing Ram Pal.

21. In fact, the omissions on the part of all three witnesses namely, P.W.8, P.W.9 and P.W. 10 to state certain material facts in the course of making their statements before the police, 8 -, which they have categorically admitted in their depositions may even be considered as "contradictions" as per the Explanation to Section 162 of the Cr.P.C.

22. Their evidence, that they had intimated P.W.8 a day prior to the date of incident, that they would eliminate Ram Pal C is also not trustworthy. On account of several discrepancies appearing in their evidence, P.W.8 is absolutely an hearsay witness which is borne out from their evidence. Similarly the evidence of P.W.9 and P.W.10 does not establish the intention on the part of the accused to murder Ram Prasad. Since no D enmity could be established on record between them there was nothing which warranted to eliminate Ram Pal.

23. The AB blood group which was found on the clothes of the deceased does not by itself establish the guilt of the E Appellant unless the same was connected with the murder of deceased by the Appellants. None of the witnesses examined by the prosecution could establish that fact. The blood found on the sword recovered at the instance of the Mustkeem was not sufficient for test as the same had already disintegrated.

At any rate, due to the reasons elaborated in the following paragraphs, the fact that the traces of blood found on the deceased matched those found on the recovered weapons cannot ipso facto enable us to arrive at the conclusion that the latter were used for the murder.

24. In fact, the recovery of the weapons on disclosure of

the Appellants itself becomes doubtful. The witness of Recovery Memo P.W.1 - Mohd. Ayub Khan was declared hostile and another witness P .W.10 - Chittar admitted that signatures were obtained on the memos and annexures at the Police H

A Station itself. It is also pertinent to mention here that P.W.1 - Mohd. Ayub Khan was residing 4 Kms. away from the place of recovery and P.W.10- Chittar was residing 8 Kms. away from the pla~ of recovery and were also declared hostile.

Prosecution failed to establish as to why none of the local • B persons were called to be the witnesses. The conduct of the prosecution appears to be extremely doubtful and renders the case as concocted, to falsely implicate the Appellants.

Recovery Memos also reflect that there were overwriting on the same which has not been explained by P.W.16 - Diwakar C Chaturvedi (Investigating Officer). He admitted that memos and annexures were prepared in his own handwriting but also admitted in his cross examination that the same were in a different handwriting. This lacuna should have been explained by the prosecution more so when the whole case rested only

0 on circumstantial evidence. Thus looking to the matter from all angles we are of the considered opinion that it would not be safe and proper to hold the Appellants guilty for commission of offence.

25. It is too well settled in law that where the case rests E squarely on circumstantial evidence the inference of guilt can be justified only when all the incriminating facts and circumstances are found to be incompatible with the innocence of the accused or the guilt of any other person. No doubt, it is true that conviction can be based solely on circumstantial F evidence but it should be decided on the touchstone of law relating to circumstantial evidence, which has been well settled by law by this Court.

26. In a most celebrated case of this Court reported in G 1984 (4) SCC 116 Sharad Birdhichand Sarda Vs. State of Maharashtra in para 153, some cardinal principles regarding the appreciation of circumstantial evidence have been postulated. Whenever the case is based on circumstantial evidence following features are required to be complied with.

It would be beneficial to repeat the same salient features once H

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RAJASTHAN [DEEPAK VERMA, J.] • again which are as under:- A

"(i) The circumstances from which the conclusion of guilt

is to be drawn must or should be and not merely 'may be' fully established,

(ii) The facts so established should be consistent only with 8

the hypothesis of the guilt of the accused, that is to say, they should not be explainable on any other hypothesis except that the accused is guilty, ..

(iii) The circumstances should be of a conclusive nature c and tendency,

(iv) They should exclude every possible hypothesis except the one to be proved, and

(v) There must be a chain of evidence so complete as not D to leave any reasonable gro_und for the conclusion consistentwith the innocence of the accused and must show that in all human probability the act must have been done by the accused".

27. With regard to Section 27 of the Act, what is important is disovery of the material object at the disclosure of the accused but such disclosure alone would not automatically lead to the conclusion that the offence was also committed by the .. accused. In fact, thereafter, burden lies on the prosecution to F establish a close link between discovery of the material objects and its use in the commission of the offence. What is admissible under Section 27 of the Act is the information leading to discovery and not any opinion formed on it by the prosecution.

28. If the recovery memos were prepared at the Police Station itself then the same would lose its sanctity as held by this Court in Varun Chaudhary Vs. State of Rajasthan reported in AIR 2011 sec 12.

29. The scope and ambit of Section 27 were also illuminatingly stated in AIR 1947 PC 67 Pulukuri Kotayya & Ors.

Vs. Emperor reproduced hereinbelow:-

" ... it is fallacious to treat the 'fact discovered' within the section as equivalent to the object produced; the fact discovered embraces the place from which the object is produced and the knowledge of the accused as to this, and the information given must relate distinctly to this fact.

Information as to past user, or the past history, of the object produced is not related to its discovery in the setting in which it is discovered. Information supplied by a person in custody that 'I will produce a k11ife concealed in the roof of my house' does not lead to the discovery of a knife; knives were discovered many years ago. It leads to the discovery of the fact that a knife is concealed in the house of the informant to his knowledge, and if the knife is proved to have been used in the commission of the offence, the fact discovered is very relevant. But if to the statement the words be added 'with which I stabbed A' these words are inadmissible since they do not relate to the discovery of the knife in the house of the informant."

The same were thereafter restated in another judgment of this Court reported in 2004 (10) SCC 657 Anter Singh Vs.

State of Rajasthan.

30. The doctrine of circumstantial evidence was once again discussed and summarised in 2008 (3) sec 210 Sattatiya @Satish Rajanna Karla/la Vs. State of Maharashtra in the following terms:

"10 ... It is settled law that an offence can be proved not only by direct evidence but also by circumstantial evidence where there is no direct evidence. The court can draw an inference of guilt when all the incriminating facts and circumstances are found to be totally incompatible with the innocence of the accused. Of course, the circumstance

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from which an inference as to the guilt is drawn have to A be proved beyond reasonable doubt and have to be shown to be closely connected with the principal fact sought to be inferred from those circumstances".

31. As regards scope of interference against concurrent 8 findings of fact, powers under Article 136 of the Constitution can be exercised, in the manner described in para 14 of the aforesaid judgment reprod.uced hereinbelow:-

"14. At this stage, we also deem it proper to observe that in exercise of power under Article 136 of the Constitution, C this Court will be extremely loath to upset the judgment of conviction which is confirmed in appeal. However, if it is found that the appreciation of evidence in a case, which is entirely based on circumstantial evidence, is vitiated by serious errors and on that account miscarriage of justice D has been occasioned, then the Court will certainly interfere even with the concurrent findings recorded by the trial court and the High Court. [Bharat Vs. State of MP. 2003 (3) sec 106)

32. After having discussed the entire evidence, we have no doubt in our mind that the same is vitiated by serious errors and if Appellant's conviction is upheld then it would amount to miscarriage of justice.

33. In the light of the aforesaid well settled principles of law F by several authorities of this Court, we are of the opinion that the judgment and order of conviction as recorded by Trial Court and confirmed by High Court in Appellants appeal cannot be sustained in law. The same are, therefore, hereby set aside and quashed. Appeals are allowed. Appellants are acquitted of the G charges levelled against them. The Appellants be set at liberty, if not required in any other criminal case~.

R.P.

Appeals allowed.