Krishan v. State of Haryana

o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-1-o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABo&oHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o 109o o o o o ooooooooooo o o o o o o Reservedoon:oo 17.07.2026.o Pronouncedoon:oo 20.08.2026.o Uploadedoon:o 20.08.2026.o o o o o Whethero onlyo operativeo parto ofo theo o judgmento iso pronouncedo oro theo fullo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo judgmentoisopronounced.oo Operativeopart/fullojudgmentoo o o o

(1)o o o Krishano o o o o ...Appellant(s)o ooo VERSUSo StateoofoHaryanaoo o o ooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ...Respondent(s)ooo o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-2-o o

(2)o o o CRA-D-880-DB-2004o(O&M)o o RajbiroSinghoandoothersooo o o o oo o ...Appellant(s)o ooo VERSUSo StateoofoHaryanaoo o o ooo ooooooooooooooooooooooo o ...Respondent(s)oooo o

(3)o o o BhoopoSinghoo o o o o oooooo...Petitioner(s)oooo VERSUSo RajbiroSinghoandoothersooo o ooo ooooooooooooooooooooooo ...Respondent(s)oooooo o o o CORAMo:ooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEooVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o HON'BLEoMS.oJUSTICEoSUKHVINDERoKAURo o o Presento:-o Mr.oAkashdeepoSingh,oAdvocateoo o o forotheoappellant(s)oinoCRA-D-848-DB-2004.oo o o o Mr.oR.S.oCheema,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oSumanjeetoKaur,oAdvocate;o o o Mr.oSatishoSharma,oAdvocate;o o o Mr.oPrinceoBharol,oAdvocate;oo o o forotheoappellant(s)oNo.o1,o2,o4oando5oo o o inoCRA-D-880-DB-2004.oo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-3-o o o o o Mr.oAnkuroGoyat,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCRR-608-2005oandoo o o forocomplainantoinoCRA-D-848-DB-2004oandoo o o CRA-D-880-DB-2004.oo o o o Mr.oNayandeepoRana,oAmicusoCuriaeoo o o foroappellantoNo.3oinoCRA-D-880-DB-2004oandoo o o fororespondentoNo.5oinoCRR-608-2005.oo o o o Mr.oDhruvoDayal,oAddl.oAG,oHaryana.o o o o ooooo o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(ORAL)o o o

1.o o CRA-D-848-DB-2004otitledoaso'KrishanoVs.oStateoofoHaryana';o CRA-D-880-DB-2004otitledoaso'RajbiroSinghoandoothersoVs.oStateoofoHaryana'o asowelloasoCRR-608-2005otitledoaso'BhoopoSinghoVs.oRajbiroSinghoandoothers',o alloariseofromotheojudgmentoofoconvictionodatedo11.10.2004oandoorderoofo sentenceoofoevenodateoinoSessionsoCaseoNo.22odatedo09.04.2004,oinocaseoFIRo bearingoNo.11odatedo11.01.2004,ounderoSection(s)o148,o149,o302oando323oofo theoIndianoPenaloCode,o1860,o(foroshorto'IPC'),oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationo Meham,orenderedobyotheoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oRohtak.oHence,otheyoareo beingodecidedobyothisocommonojudgment.o

2.o o CRA-D-848-DB-2004ohasobeenofiledobyoKrishan,owhoowasofoundo innocentoduringoinvestigationobutowasosubsequentlyosummonedounderoSectiono 319oCr.P.C.oandoconvicted.oCRA-D-880-DB-2004ohasobeenofiledobyoRajbiro Singhoandootheroconvictedoaccusedoassailingotheiroconvictionoandosentence.o CRR-608-2005ohasobeenofiledobyotheocomplainanto-oBhoopoSinghoagainstotheo acquittaloofotwooaccusedoviz.oAjmeroSinghosonoofoBalwanoSinghoandoSuresho sonoofoGugan,oagainstowhomoallegationsoofohavingoinflictedoinjuriesouponotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-4-o o deceased,oDharamoPal,owereolevelled.o FACTSo

3.o o Briefly,otheocaseoofotheoprosecutionoisothatoonotheointerveningonighto ofo 10/11.01.2004,o ao telephonico messageo waso receivedo fromo Policeo Post,o PGIMS,oRohtak,oinformingothatoBhoopoSingho(PW-4),oAshoko(PW-5)oando MangaloSingho(PW-10)ohadobeenoadmittedotootheohospitalowithoinjuriesoando thatotheodeadobodyoofotheirofather,oDharamoPal,ohadoalsoobeenobroughtotootheo hospital.o Ono receipto ofo theo saido information,o ASIo Mahao Singho (PW-12),o Incharge,o Policeo Posto Lakhano Majrao reachedo theo Hospitalo ando collectedo medicaloruqao(Ex.PD)oforwardedobyotheoattendingoDoctor,oato12.30oa.m.oando receivedoatoPoliceoPost,oPGIMSoRohtakoato12.50oa.m.oHeoalsooobtainedocopieso ofotheomedico-legaloreportso(Ex.oPAotooEx.oPC)opertainingotootheoinjurieso sustainedobyotheoaforesaidoinjuredopersons.oThereafter,oASIoMahaoSinghometo BhoopoSingho(PW-4)oinotheoemergencyowardoandorecordedohisostatemento(Ex.o PE).oBhoopoSinghostatedothatoheohasofourobrothers,onamely,oAshok,oMangal,o JasbiroandoRanbir.oJasbiroSinghowasorunningoaogroceryoshopoinotheovillage.oOno

10.01.2004,oatoabouto6:00op.m.,oJasbiroSinghowasoreturningohomeofromohiso shopocarryingogroceryoarticlesowhenoheoencounteredoSurinderosonoofoBalwan.o AnoaltercationoensuedobetweenothemobutotheyowereoseparatedobyoAshoko(PW-5).oo

4.o o Theocomplainantoallegedothatoharbouringoresentmentooverotheo aforesaidoincident,oatoabouto10:30op.m.oonotheosameoday,oSurinderoandotheoothero accused,osharingoaocommonoobject,oformedoanounlawfuloassemblyoandocameoino fronto ofo theo complainant'so house.o Theyo startedo hurlingo filthyo abuseso ando o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-5-o o challengedotheocomplainantoandohisofamilyomembersotoocomeooutoifotheyohado theocourageotoofaceothem.oHearingotheonoise,oDharamoPal,otheoseventy-year-oldofatheroofotheocomplainant,ocameooutoofotheohouseoandorequestedotheoaccusedo nototoouseoabusiveolanguageoandotoobehave.oAnoelectricobulboinstalledooutsideo theohouseoilluminatedotheoplaceoofooccurrence.oOnohearingotheonoise,oBhoopo Singh,oalongowithohisobrothersoAshokoandoMangal,oalsoocameooutoofotheohouse.o TheyosawoRajbir,oAjmer,oKrishanoandoSurinder,oallosonsoofoBalwan,oarmedo withoaomussalo(pestle),ojaili,ojailioandolathi,orespectively.oSureshoaliasoMalaosono ofoGuganowasoarmedowithoaojaili;oKaranosonoofoBajjeoandoDilbaghoaliasoBedaro sonoofoPaleoRamowereocarryingoaolathioandoaojailiorespectively;owhileoKrishano sonoofoRandhirowasoarmedowithoaogandasi.oItowasofurtheroallegedothatoallotheo accusedowereoexhortingooneoanotherotootakeorevengeoandotooeliminateotheo complainant'so family.o Consequento too theo aforesaido exhortation,o Rajbiro inflictedoaomussaloblowoonotheoheadoofoDharamoPal.oAjmerodealtoaojailioblowo onotheoleftoarmoofoDharamoPal,owhileoSureshoaliasoMalaoinflictedoaojailioblowo onotheofingersoofohisoleftohand.oKrishanocausedoaojailioblowoonotheoleftohandoofo BhoopoSinghowhereasoRajbirostruckohimowithoaomussalonearohisoleftoelbow.o WhenoAshokoandoMangalointervenedotoorescueotheirofatheroandobrother,otheyo tooowereoassaultedoandosustainedoinjuriesoatotheohandsoofotheoaccused.oOnoalarmo beingoraised,oJugtiosonoofoMatuoRamoandoVinodosonoofoChander,oreachedoato theospotoandointervened.oTheoaccusedofledofromotheospot.oDharamoPal,ohavingo sustainedogrievousoinjuries,ofelloonotheoground.oThereafter,otheoinjuredowereo transportedotooPGIMS,oRohtakowhereoDharamoPalowasodeclaredobroughtodead.o ooo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-6-o o

5.o o Theomedico-legaloexaminationoofotheocomplainantoasowelloasotheo othero injuredo waso carriedo out.o Theo prosecutiono allegedo thato Dharamo Palo succumbedo too theo injurieso inflictedo upono himo byo theo accusedo duringo theo occurrence.oAnoFIRo(Ex.oPF)owasoaccordinglyoregisteredoono11.01.2004oato9.10o A.M.oforooffenseounderoSectionso148,o149,o302,o323oofotheoIndianoPenaloCode,o 1860oatoPoliceoStationoMeham.oAfterotheoregistrationoofotheoFIR,oASIoMahao SinghoreachedotheomortuaryoatoPGIMSoRohtakoandoconductedotheoinquesto proceedingsoandopreparedotheoinquestoreporto(Ex.oPM/3).oThereafter,otheodeado bodyo ofo Dharamo Palo waso sento foro post-mortemo examination,o whicho waso conductedobyoDr.oGirioRajo(PW-11).oInotheopost-mortemoreporto(Ex.oPN/1),otheo attendingoDoctoronotedotheofollowingoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofotheodeceased:o-o o "1.oo Ao laceratedo woundo 6o xo lo cmo ono posterioro parto ofo lefto parietaloregion,ohorizontallyoplaced,o7cmoleftotoomidlineo ando10ocmofromoleftopinna,ounderlyingoskulloboneowasoseen.o Ecchymosiso waso present.o Ono furthero dissection,o ecchymosisowasoalsooseenoonoleftotemporaloregion,ofractureo ofoleftotemporaloboneowasopresentoandoitowasoextendingo backwardsoupotooposterioropartoofoleftoparietalobone,ouptoo junctionoofooccipitalobone.oUnderlyingobrainohaemorrhageo present,obrainohaemorrhageoalsoopresentoatotheooppositeo side.o

2.oo Abrasedocontusiono3x2cm.oPresentoonotheoupperopartoofo rightoforehead,ounderlyingoecchymosisopresent.o

3.oo Abrasiono3x2cm.oOnoleftofaceobelowoeye,owithoecchymosiso

4.oo Abrasiono3xti.5cm.oOnorightomidoshin,owithoecchymosis.o

5.o Abrasiono 1x1cm.o Ono anterioro aspecto ofo lefto kneeo witho ecchymosis."o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-7-o o o

6.o o InotheoopinionoofotheoDoctor,otheocauseoofodeathowasoinjuriesotoo theovitaloorganoi.e.otheobrain,owhichowereosufficientoinotheoordinaryocourseoofo natureotoocauseodeath.oTheoinjuriesowereofurtheroopinedotoobeoante-mortemoino nature.ooAfterotheopost-mortemoexamination,otheoDoctorohandedooverotootheo Policeoaosealedoparcelocontainingoclotheso(Ex.oP13otooEx.oP15)oofotheodeceased,o whichowasotakenointoopossessionobyotheoPoliceovideorecoveryomemoo(Ex.oPR)o attestedobyoHCoSatbiroSingh.o

7.o o Dr.o Ashao Sehrawat,o PW-1,o hado medico-legallyo examinedo theo injuredoBhoop,oAshokoandoMangaloatoabouto11.35op.m.oono10.01.2004oando notedotheofollowingotwooinjuriesoonotheopersonoofoBhoopo(PW-4):o "i)o Thereowasotendernessoandoswellingoonohisoleftoforearm.o AdvisedoX-rayoandoOrthooSurgeonoopiniono

ii)o Thereowasoabrasionoofoti.5cmoonodorsaloaspectoofolefto palm,oatotheobaseoofolittleofinger.o Injuryono.1owasokeptounderoobservationoandoinjuryono.2o wasodeclaredosimpleoinonatureoBothotheoinjuriesowereocausedobyo bluntoweapon."o o

8.o o InoMLRo (Ex.PB),o Doctoro notedo theo followingo injurieso ono theo personoofoAshoko(PW-5):-o "i)oo Thereowasoabrasionoofoti.5cmoonodorsaloaspectoofomiddleo fingerowithofreshobleeding.oX-rayowasoadvisedo

ii)oo Thereowasolaceratedowoundoofo1xti.5cmoonodorsaloaspecto ofolittleofingeroX-rayowasoadvised.o

iii)oo Tendernessowasopresentoonoleftohand,owithoswellingoX-rayo andoOrthooSurgeonoopinionowereoadvised.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-8-o o o

9.o o InoMLRo(Ex.oPC),oDoctoronotedotheofollowingoinjuriesoonotheo personoofoMangalo(PW-10):o "i)oo Laceratedowoundoofosizeo1xti.5cmolinearoonoforeheadolefto sideowithofreshobleedingoonotheowound.oSurgeonoopinionowaso advised,o

ii)oo Tendernessoandoswellingowasopresentoonoleftoforearmowitho restrictedomovements.oX-rayoleftofore-armowasoadvised.o

iii)oo Tendernessoonopalpationoofoleftoleg.oX-rayowasoadvised.oo Allotheoinjuriesowereocausedobyobluntoweaponoandowereokepto underoobservation."o o

10.o o ASIoMahaoSingho(PW-12)oalsooinspectedotheoplaceoofooccurrence.o HeogototheosceneoofocrimeophotographedobyotheoofficialophotographeroSurindero Singho(PW-9),opreparedotheoroughositeoplano(Ex.oPQ)oandoalsoocollectedoblood-stainedoearthofromotheoplaceoofooccurrence.oTheoblood-stainedoearthowasosealedo intooaoparceloandotakenointoopossessionovideorecoveryomemoo(Ex.oPH),oattestedo byoAshoko(PW-5)oandoMangaloSingho(PW-10).oFurtheroinvestigationowaso takenooverobyoInspectoro(SHO)oInderoSingho(PW-13).o

11.o o Ono16.01.2004,oaccusedoSurinder,oKrishan,oKaranoandoDilbagho wereoproducedobeforeotheoInvestigatingoOfficeroInspectoroInderoSingho(PW-13),obyooneoGuganoSingh,owhereuponotheyowereoarrested.oFollowingotheiro arrest,oSurinderoproducedoaolathio(Ex.oP16),oKrishanoproducedoaojailio(Ex.oP17),o Karanoproducedoaolathio(Ex.oP18)oandoDilbaghoproducedoaojailio(Ex.oP19).oTheo aforesaidoweaponsowereotakenointoopoliceopossessionovideorecoveryomemoo(Ex.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-9-o o PS),oafteropreparationoofotheirorespectiveosketcheso(Ex.oPS/1otooEx.oPS/4).oTheo recoveryomemoowasoattestedobyoJasbiroandoASIoMahaoSingho(PW-12).o

12.o o Onotheofollowingodayoi.e.o17.01.2004,oaccused-appellant/oAjmer,o RajbiroandoSureshowereoalsooproducedobyosaidoGuganoSinghoandotheyowereo alsooformallyoarrested.oPursuantotootheirorespectiveodisclosureostatementso(Ex.o PT,oEx.oPUoandoEx.oPV),oAjmerogotorecoveredoaojailio(Ex.oP20),oRajbiroao mussalo(Ex.oP21)oandoSureshoaojailio(Ex.oP22)ofromotheirorespectiveoresidences.o TheoaforesaidorecoveriesowereoeffectedovideorecoveryomemosoEx.oPT/1,oEx.o PU/1oandoEx.oPV/1,orespectively.oTheoInvestigatingoOfficeroalsoopreparedo siteoplansoofotheorespectiveoplacesooforecovery,omarkedoasoEx.oPT/2,oEx.oPU/2o andoEx.oPV/2,oalongowithoroughosketchesoofotheorecoveredoweapons,omarkedo asoEx.oPT/3,oEx.oPU/3oandoEx.oPV/3.oAllotheoaforesaidorecoveriesowereo attestedobyoWaziroSinghosonoofoShrioMaujioRamo(whoowasonotoexaminedo duringotrial)oandoASIoOmoParkasho(PW-14).oThereafter,otheosealedoparcelso containingotheorecoveredoweaponsowereodepositedowithoMHCoRamoBhagato (PW-6).o

13.o o Theorecoveredoweaponsoofooffence,otheoclothesoofotheodeceasedo seizedoduringotheoinvestigationoandotheoblood-stainedoeartholiftedofromotheo placeo ofo occurrenceo wereo thereaftero forwardedo too theo Forensico Scienceo Laboratory,o Madhuban,o througho Constableo Sukhbiro (PW-7)o foro forensico examination.oAsoperotheoreportoofotheoSerologist,onoobloodowasodetectedoonotheo jailio(Ex.oP20)orecoveredoatotheoinstanceoofoaccusedoAjmer.oHumanoblood,o however,o waso detectedo ono theo threeo articleso ofo clothingo belongingo too theo deceased.oInsofaroasotheoremainingoexhibitsowereoconcerned,otheoreportorecordso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-10-o o thatotheooriginoofotheobloodostainsocouldonotobeodeterminedoasotheobiologicalo materialohadodisintegrated.o

14.o o Afterocompletionoofoinvestigation,otheoPoliceosubmittedoitsofinalo reportoagainstoallotheonominatedoaccusedoexceptoKrishanosonoofoRandhir,owhoo wasofoundoinnocent.o

15.o o Findingothatotheooffencesoallegedowereoexclusivelyotriableobyotheo Courto ofo Sessions,o theo Illaqao Magistrateo committedo theo caseo foro trialo ino accordanceowitholaw.oChargesowereoinitiallyoframedoagainstoallotheoaccused,o exceptoKrishanosonoofoRandhir.oAfteroexamination-in-chiefoofoAshoko(PW-5),ooneoofotheoinjuredowitnesses,otheoprosecutionomovedoanoapplicationoundero Sectiono319oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973,oseekingosummoningo ofoKrishanosonoofoRandhir,oasoanoadditionaloaccused.oTheosaidoapplicationo wasoallowedobyotheotrialoCourtovideoorderodatedo07.05.2004oandoKrishanowaso summonedotoofaceotrialoalongowithotheootheroaccused.oThereafter,ochargeso underoSectionso323,o302oando148,oeachoreadowithoSectiono149oofotheoIndiano Penalo Code,o 1860,o wereo framedo againsto allo theo accused,o includingo theo summonedoadditionaloaccused,oKrishanosonoofoRandhirotoowhichotheyopleadedo notoguiltyoandoclaimedotrial.o

16.o o Too proveo theo charges,o prosecutiono examinedo theo followingo witnesses:o-o S.oNo.o Nameo Descriptiono PW-1o Dr.oAshaoSehrawato MedicaloWitnesso PW-2o ASIoBhupoSingho PoliceoWitnesso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-11-o o PW-3o ConstableoSumito OfficialoDraftsmano Kumaro PW-4o BhupoSingh.o InjuredoComplainanto PW-5o Ashoko InjuredoWitnesso PW-6o ASIoRamoBhagato PoliceoWitnesso PW-7o HCoSatbiroSingho PoliceoWitnesso PW-8o ConstableoKaramo PoliceoWitnesso Singho PW-9o SurinderoSingho PoliceoPhotographero PW-MangaloSingho InjuredoWitnesso 10o PW-Dr.oGirioRajo Medicalo Experto (Posto 11o mortem)o PW-ASIoMahaoSingho InvestigatingoOfficero 12o PW-Inspectoro SHOo Indero InvestigatingoOfficero 13o Singho PW-ASIoOmoParkasho PoliceoWitnesso 14o o o o o Thereafter,otheoprosecutionogaveoupoJugti,oRambir,oVinod,oSilako Ramo ando HCo Satbiro Singho aso unnecessaryo witnesses,o whereupono theo prosecutionoevidenceowasoclosed.o

17.o o Uponoconclusionoofotheoprosecutionoevidence,otheostatementsoofo allotheoaccusedowereorecordedounderoSectiono313oofotheoCodeoofoCriminalo Procedure,o1973.oTheoincriminatingocircumstancesoappearingoagainstothemoino theoprosecutionoevidenceowereoputotoothem,owhichotheyodenied,owhileoassertingo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-12-o o theiroinnocenceoandoallegingofalseoimplication.o

18.o o AccusedoRajbir,oinoadditionotoodenyingotheoprosecutionocase,oseto upoaospecificopleaoofoalibioandostatedothatoatotheorelevantotimeoheowasoservingo asoaoSecurityoGuardoinotheoMinistryoofoHomeoAffairs,oNewoDelhioandoonotheo dateoofotheooccurrence,oheoremainedoonodutyofromo1:00op.m.otoo7:00op.m.oato Loko Nayako Bhawan,o Newo Delhio ando hado thereaftero returnedo too hiso Government-allottedoaccommodationoatoMandiroMarg,oNewoDelhi.oHeofurthero statedothatoConstableoNaseeboSingho(DW-3),owhoowasopostedoinotheosameo department,owasoresidingowithohimoinotheosaidoquarter.oItowasohisocaseothatoheo reachedotheoquarteroatoabouto9:00op.m.,ohadohisodinneroatoaroundo10:00op.m.,o retiredoforotheonightoandoreportedoforodutyoonotheofollowingoday.oHeothuso assertedothatoheowasonotopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoandohadobeenofalselyo implicatedoinotheopresentocase.o

19.o o AccusedoSurinder,oinohisostatementounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.oseto upoaodefenceotootheoeffectothatoono10.01.2004oatoabouto7:00op.m.,onearoBario Chopal,oheofoundoBhoopoSinghoinoanointoxicatedoconditionoaccompaniedobyo hisobrotheroMangaloSingh.oHeostatedotoohaveotauntedothemoandoadvisedoMangalo SinghotootakeoBhoopoSinghobackohomeowhichooffendedoMangaloSingh,owhoo thenocalledohisobrotheroAshokowhoowasoarmedowithoaolathi.oHeoallegedothato Ashokoinflictedoaolathioblowoonohisohead,oJasbirodealtoaolathioblowoonohisolefto elbowoandoMangaloSinghocausedoaolathioblowoonohisoleftoknee.oSurinderofurthero statedothatouponohisoraisingoanoalarm,oKaranoSinghosonoofoBajjeoSinghoando DilbaghosonoofoPaleoRamoreachedotheospotoandorescuedohim.oItowasohisocaseo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-13-o o thatoanyoinjuriesocausedobyohimotooDharamoPaloorotheootheromembersoofotheo complainantopartyowereoinflictedoinotheoexerciseoofohisorightoofoprivateodefence.o HeofurtheroassertedothatoheohadopromptlyoreportedotheoincidentoatoPoliceoPosto LakhanoMajra,owhereuponoaoDailyoDiaryoReporto(Ex.oDC)owasorecordedoando hisomedico-legaloexaminationowasoconducted.oAccordingotooSurinder,oafterotheo deathoofoDharamoPal,otheocomplainantoparty,oinoconnivanceowithotheopolice,o fabricatedoaofalseoversionoofotheooccurrenceoandofalselyoimplicatedoallotheo accusedopersons.oHeofurtheroassertedothatoRajbirowasonotopresentoatotheoplaceo ofooccurrenceoandowas,oatotheorelevantotime,oatohisoplaceoofopostingoinoNewo Delhi.o

20.o o Accusedo Krishano sono ofo Randhir,o deniedo theo prosecutiono allegationsoinoentiretyoandopleadedofalseoimplication.oHeostatedothatoduringo investigation,oheohadobeenofoundoinnocentoandoconsequentlyowasonotosentoupo forotrial.oHowever,oheowasosubsequentlyosummonedotoofaceotrialowithoutoanyo justifiableobasis.oo

21.o o Theo remainingo accusedo alsoo deniedo theo prosecutiono caseo ando assertedothatoitowasoSurinderowhoohadobeenoassaultedobyotheocomplainantoparty.o TheyoallegedothatodespiteotheoinjuriesosustainedobyoSurinder,onooactionowaso takenoagainstotheomembersoofotheocomplainantoside.oItowasofurtherotheirocaseo thatotheyohadobeenofalselyoimplicatedoinotheopresentocaseoandothatotheorecoverieso ofoweaponsoatotheiroinstanceohadobeenoplantedobyotheoinvestigatingoagency.o Theyoalsooclaimedothatotheyohadobeenoillegallyodetainedoatotheopoliceostationo muchopriorotootheodateoshownobyotheoprosecutionoasotheodateoofotheiroformalo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-14-o o arrest.o

22.o o Inosupportoofotheirodefence,otheoaccusedoexaminedofiveowitnesses,o namely,oSureshoKumaro(DW-1),oLaxmanoManjhi,oCommandantoofoPlatoono No.o 17o (DW-2),o Constableo Naseebo Singho (DW-3),o Omo Parkash,o Sub-Inspector,oFoodoandoSuppliesoDepartmento(DW-4),oandoDr.oSharanjitoSingho (DW-5).o

23.o o Ono considerationo ofo theo evidenceo aso wello aso theo respectiveo argumentsoofotheorespectiveoparties,otheotrialoCourtovideoitsojudgmentodatedo

11.10.2004oconcludedothatotheoprosecutionohadosucceededoinoestablishingoitso caseobeyondoreasonableodoubtoagainstoallotheoaccusedoexceptoAjmer,osonoofo BalwanoSingh,oandoSureshoaliasoMalaosonoofoGugan.oConsequently,owhileotheo remainingoaccusedowereoconvictedoforotheooffencesoforowhichotheyohadobeeno charged,oAjmeroandoSureshoaliasoMalaowereoacquittedoofoallotheocharges.o Aggrievedobyotheojudgmentoofoconvictionoandotheoorderoofosentence,oKrishano haso preferredo CRA-D-848-DB-2004,o whereaso Rajbiro Singho ando theo othero convictedoaccusedohaveoinstitutedoCRA-D-880-DB-2004.oTheocomplainant,o BhoopoSingh,obeingodissatisfiedowithotheoacquittaloofoAjmeroandoSureshoaliaso Mala,ohasofiledoCRR-608-2005ochallengingotheosaidoacquittal.o ARGUMENTSoBYoTHEoAPPELLANT(S)oINoCRA-D-848-DB-2004oANDo CRA-D-880-DB-2004o o o

24.o o LearnedoSenioroCounseloforotheoappellant(s)ocontendsothatotheo trialoCourtocommittedoanoerroroinoappreciatingotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo theopresentocaseoandotheoevidenceoadducedobeforeoitobyotheorespectiveoparties.oo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-15-o o ItoisosubmittedothatotheoconclusionsodrawnobyotheotrialoCourtoareobasedoono conjectures,osurmisesoandopreponderanceoofoprobabilities.oHeocontendsothato theo obligationo casto upono theo prosecutiono iso too establisho itso caseo beyondo reasonableodoubt,ohowever,otheotrialoCourtorecordedotheoconvictionoonotheobasiso ofoassumption,oratherothanoonoanoobjectiveoevaluationoofotheoevidenceoono record.oItoisocontendedothatotheoimpugnedojudgmentois,otherefore,ocontraryotoo theosettledoprinciplesoofocriminalojurisprudenceoandoisoliableotoobeosetoaside.ooo

25.o o LearnedoSenioroCounselohasoprimarilyoraisedotheoargumentothato theoentireocaseoofotheoprosecutionorestsouponotheoallegationothatotheofataloinjuryo tootheodeceased,oDharamoPal,owasoinflictedobyoRajbirobyousingoaomussalo(pestle)o onotheohead.oItoisosubmittedothatoaccused-appellant/Rajbirowasoundisputedlyo servingoasoaosecurityoguardoinotheoSecretariatoSecurityoForceounderotheoMinistryo ofoHomeoAffairsoandoatotheorelevantotime,oheowasoonodutyoatoLokoNayako Bhawan,oDelhi.oTheodutyorosteroofotheoconcernedodateowasoprovedoonorecordo byoappellant-accused/Rajbiroandoinosupportoofotheopleaoofoalibi,ohisoSupervisoro asowelloasoCommandantosteppedointootheowitnessoboxoandodeposedothatoRajbiro wasoonoSentryodutyoatoLokoNayakoBhawan,oDelhiofromo1.00op.m.otoo7.00op.mo onotheodateoofooccurrence.oItoisofurtherocontendedothatoafterocompletingohisodutyo ato7:00op.m.,oRajbiroreturnedotoohisoGovernment-allottedoresidentialoquarteroato MandiroMarg,oNewoDelhi,owhereoheoresidedowithoConstableoNaseeboSinghoando afterotakingodinneroatoabouto9.30oP.M,oheohadogoneotoosleepoandoreportedoforo dutyoonotheofollowingoday.oItoisocontendedothatotheotrialoCourtospecificallyo admittedotheopleaoofoalibiotootheoextentoofoRajbir'sopresenceoatohisoplaceoofodutyo tillo7:00op.m.,ohowever,otheotrialoCourtocommittedoaomanifestoerroroinofailingo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-16-o o tooexamineowhetherotheoprosecutionoversionoregardingoRajbir'sopresenceoatotheo placeoofooccurrenceoatoabouto10:30op.m.owasoeitheroprobableoorophysicallyo possible.oInothisoregard,oitoisosubmittedothatoasoperotheotestimonyoofoDW-3otheo distanceo betweeno Delhio ando villageo Kharanti,o theo placeo ofo occurrence,o iso approximatelyo120okm.oCounselosubmitsothatohavingoregardotootheoprevailingo trafficoconditionsoinoDelhioandotheocongestedorouteorequiredotoobeotraversed,o theojourneyowouldoordinarilyoconsumeomoreothano3o½ohoursothus,orenderingo theoprosecutionoversionoinherentlyoimprobable.o

26.o o Itoisofurtheroarguedothatotheoprosecutionohasoalsoofailedotooestablisho orosatisfactorilyoexplainotheofollowing:o-o o i.e Asotoowhatowasotheomodeoandomannerobyowhichoappellant-accused/Rajbirohadobeenoinformedoaboutotheoscuffleothatotooko placeo ino theiro villageo thuso promptingo himo too leaveo Delhio immediatelyoandotoocomeotoohisovillageoKharanti;o ii.e Thereo iso neithero anyo evidenceo ono recordo noro anyo explanationo aso too theo modeo ofo transporto usedo byo Rajbiro foro travellingofromoDelhiotooreachotheoplaceoofooccurrence;oandoo iii.e ItoremainsoundisputedothatoRajbiroreportedoforodutyoonotheo dayoimmediatelyosucceedingotheoincidentoandohisoabsenceofromo dutyowasorecordedoforotheofirstotimeoonlyoono13.01.2004.oSinceo Rajbirowasoonodutyoono10.01.2004,otheoprosecutionohasoofferedonoo explanationoasotoohowoheoreachedobackotooDelhioafterohavingo participatedo ino allegedo incidento thato tooko placeo aroundo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-17-o o 10:30/11:00oP.M.o o oo o Itoisosubmittedothatoinoviewoofoaboveounansweredoissues,opresenceo ofoRajbiroatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoisodoubtfuloandoinherentlyoimprobable.oooo

27.o o LearnedoSenioroCounselocontendsothatoattributionoofotheofatalo blowotooappellantoRajbiroisoactuatedobyomaliceoandohasobeenoaodeliberatedo attempto too implicateo theo earningo persono ino theo family,o employedo ino Governmentoandowhoowouldohaveotheomeansotooeffectivelyodefendohimselfoando supportotheolitigationoonobehalfoofotheootheroaccused.oHeocontendsothatohavingo acceptedotheodefenceoevidenceoandoalibioestablishingoRajbir'sopresenceoono officialodutyoatoLokoNayakoBhawan,oNewoDelhi,ountilo7:00op.m.oonotheodateo ofo theo occurrence,o theo trialo Courto gravelyo erredo ino proceedingo ono mereo conjecturesoandoinopresumingothatoheotravelledobackoandoforthofromoNewoDelhio tootheoplaceoofooccurrenceoduringotheonightoandoparticipatedoinotheoassault.o

28.o o Counselosubmitsothatotheoprosecutionohasodeliberatelyosuppressedo andodistortedotheotrueogenesisoofotheooccurrenceoandotheoactualosequenceoofo eventsotoocarryooutodeliberationsoandotooattributeoinjuriesotooeachoofothem.oItoiso submittedothatotheoinjuryoattributionocontainedoinotheoFIRo(Ex.oPF)oco-relateso withotheoinquestoproceedingsoandoasonoticedobyotheoInvestigatingoOfficeroatotheo timeoofopreparingotheoinquestoreport.oItoisocontendedothatotheoexuberanceoofotheo prosecutiono ino attributingo specifico injurieso too eacho accusedo hereino iso corroboratedofromodetailedospecificoattributionowithospecificorolesoassignedotoo eachoaccused,onotwithstandingothatosuchoinjuriesowereoactuallyonotopresentoono theodeceasedoasoperotheopost-mortemoreport.oCounselothusosubmitsothatotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-18-o o ocularounderstandingoofotheoInvestigatingoOfficeroMahaoSingh,oatotheotimeoofo preparationoofotheoinquestoreport,ohasotranslatedointooaotailoredoattributionoofo injuriesobyotheoprosecutionowitnesses.o

29.o o HeosubmitsothatothreeoinjuriesowereoattributedobyoPW-4/Bhoopoono theopersonoofotheodeceased/DharamoPal,oofowhichotheofataloblowowithotheo mussal/pestleohasobeenoattributedotooRajbir,owhileotheootherotwooinjuriesohaveo beenoattributedotooAjmeroandoSuresh.oHeodrawsotheoattentionoofothisoCourtotoo theostatementoofotheocomplainantoasowelloasotheoinquestoreportoEx.oPM/3oando juxtaposesotheoinjuriesorecordedothereinowithotheoinjuriesoasorecordedoinotheo post-mortemoreportoofotheodeceasedoandocontendsothatononocorroborationoofo theoinjuriesomentionedoinotheoinquestoreportofromotheopost-mortemoreporto rendersotheoprosecutionoversionoregardingotheoattributionoofoinjuriesodoubtful.o Itoisofurtheroarguedothat,owithoaoviewotoofalselyoimplicateotheoaccused,otheo InvestigatingoOfficeronotoonlyoarrestedoAjmeroandoSuresh,otheotwooaccusedotoo whomotheoaforesaidoinjuriesohadobeenoattributed,obutoalsooeffectedorecoverieso ofo jailies,o allegedlyo usedo ino causingo thoseo injuries,o ato theiro respectiveo disclosure.oo

30.o o Heocontendsothatoevenootherwise,otheoinjuriesofoundoonotheoinjuredo witnessesowereomostlyosuperficialoinonatureoandowereoincapableoofobeingo causedobyotheoweaponsorecoveredofromoaccused.oHeofurtheropointsooutothatotheo post-mortemoreportoofotheodeceasedorevealsothatoInjuryoNo.o1ocomprisedoao laceratedowoundomeasuringo6ocmo?o1ocmoonotheoposterioroaspectoofotheolefto parietaloregion,oplacedohorizontally,o7ocmotootheoleftoofotheomidlineoando10ocmo aboveotheoleftopinna,owhereasotheoremainingoinjuriesowereomerelyocontusionso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-19-o o ando abrasionso (ecchymoses).o Ito iso furthero pointedo outo thato theo attendingo Doctor,o whoo conductedo theo posto -o mortemo examination,o specificallyo acknowledgedothatoinjuriesoNos.o2otoo5ocouldohaveobeenosufferedobyotheo deceasedoonoaccountoofoaofalloafteroreceiptoofoinjuryoNo.1oifoheohadofallenofaceo downwards.ooItoisocontendedothatosinceononeoofotheoaforesaidoinjuriesocouldo reasonablyobeocausedobyoaojaili,oasoallegedobyotheoprosecution,oitoclearlyo demonstratesothatotheoprosecutionohasoindulgedoinoover-implicationoandofalseo attributionoofoinjuriesotootheoaccused.oItowasoinosuchocircumstancesothatotheo benefitohasobeenoextendedotooAjmeroandoSureshoandotheyowereoacquittedoofotheo chargesoframedoagainstothem.o

31.o o Heofurtheroarguesothatoundisputedlyoanoincident/scuffleohadotakeno placeobetweenoaccused/SurinderosonoofoBalwanoandoJasbiroSingh.oTheoscuffleo escalatedoresultingoinoSurinderoexercisingohisorightoofoprivateodefenceoando inflictingo theo injuryo whicho ultimatelyo provedo fatalo too Dharamo Pal.o Ito iso submittedothatotheodefenceoversionowasoneverofairlyoverifiedooroinvestigatedo into.oRather,otheoInvestigatingoOfficeromadeoaodeliberateoattemptotoosuppresso theodefenceoversionodespiteothatoDDRoNo.o17ohavingoalreadyobeenorecordedoato PoliceoPostoLakhanoMajraoatoabouto2:05oa.m.oono11.01.2004owhereinoSurindero specificallyoreportedoofotheoscuffleothatohadotakenoplaceoatoabouto7:00op.m.oando submittedo thato injurieso hado beeno causedo byo himo too memberso ofo theo complainanto party,o includingo Dharamo Pal.o Ito iso furthero contendedo thato notwithstandingothatotheoprosecutionoacknowledgedothatoanoaltercationohado earlierotakenoplaceobetweenoSurinderoandoJasbiroSingh,oyet,oJasbiroSingh,owhoo wasotheoprincipaloparticipantoinotheoincidentoandotheomostomaterialowitnessotoo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-20-o o explainotheogenesisoofotheooccurrenceoandotheocircumstancesoleadingotootheo subsequentoconfrontation,owasowithheldoandowasonotoexaminedoduringotrial.o

32.o o Heo furthero submitso thato wheno theo Investigatingo Officer,o ASIo MahaoSingh,oappearedoasoPW-12,oheoinitiallyodeniedonotoonlyohisopresenceoato theopoliceostationobutoalsootheorecordingoofoDDRoNo.o17oatotheoinstanceoofo Surinder.oHowever,ouponobeingoconfrontedowithoDDRoNo.o17oasowelloasotheo Roznamchaoentries,owhichoreflectedohisopresenceoatotheopoliceostationoatotheo relevantotime,oheowasoconstrainedotooadmitobothohisopresenceoasowelloasotheo factumooforecordingoofotheosaidoDDR.oHeofurtherocontendsothatoimmediatelyo afterotheorecordingoofoDDRoNo.o17oatoabouto2:05oa.m.oono11.01.2004,oSurindero wasotakenoforomedico-legaloexamination,owhichowasoconductedoato3:30oa.m.o ono theo sameo day.o Counselo argueso thato ino thiso backdrop,o theo caseo ofo theo prosecutionobecomesosuspect,osinceotheoprosecutionoitselfoallegesothatotheo occurrenceotookoplaceoatoabouto10:30op.m.oono10.01.2004oandothatotheoinjuredo wereothereafteroshiftedotooPGIMS,oRohtak.oTheomedico-legaloexaminationoofo theoinjuredowitnessesocommencedoatoabouto11:45op.m.,ofollowingowhichotheo attendingo doctoro forwardedo theo medicalo ruqao ato 12:30o a.m.,o whicho waso receivedoatotheoPoliceoPost,oPGIMS,oRohtak,oato12:50oa.m.oHowever,oitowaso pointedooutothatotheoinquestoreportorecordsotheoreceiptoofoinformationobyotheo policeo onlyo ato abouto 6:00o a.m.o ono 11.01.2004.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo prosecutionohasofailedotoofurnishoanyosatisfactoryoexplanationoforotheodelayoino settingotheocriminalolawointoomotion,oespeciallyowhenotheoconcernedoPoliceo PostoLakhanoMajraowasosituatedoatoaodistanceoofomerelyoabouto2½okilometreso fromotheoplaceoofooccurrence.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-21-o o

33.o o Heofurtherosubmitsothatoevenothoughomedico-legaloexaminationoofo PW-4/Bhoop,oPW-5/AshokoandoPW-10/Mangalohadobeenoconductedoandotheo attendingodoctorohadoalsooforwardedotheomedicaloruqa,ohowever,otheosaidoruqao makesonooreferenceoofotheodeceased,oDharamoPal.oTheopost-mortemoreporto ratherorecordsothatoDharamoPalohadobeenobroughtodeadotooPGIMS,oRohtak,oato abouto12:30oa.m.oSuchoomissionorendersotheocaseoofoprosecutionosuspect.oItoiso furtheroarguedothatoinohisostatemento(Ex.oPE),oPW-4oBhoopoSinghostatedothato upono reachingo PGIMS,o Rohtak,o ando aftero undergoingo medico-legalo examination,oheoandohisobrothersowentotootheoresidenceoofotheirorelativesoato Rohtakoandostayedothereoovernightoandotheyoreturnedotootheohospitaloonlyoono theofollowingomorning,owhenotheyoinformedotheopoliceoaboutotheooccurrenceo thatohadotakenoplaceoduringotheopreviousonight.oLearnedoSenioroCounseloargueso thatotheoconductoisounnaturaloandoitoisoinconceivableothatotheosonsoofoaoperson,o whoohadosuccumbedotoohomicidaloinjuries,owouldochooseotoospendotheonighto atoaorelative'soresidenceoinsteadoofoimmediatelyoreportingotheomatterotootheo policeoandopursuingotheoinvestigation.o

34.o o Heo contendso thato theo prosecutiono subsequentlyo attemptedo too improveoitsoversionoduringotrialobyoassertingothatoafterotheomedicaloruqaohado beenosent,otheocomplainantopartyohadobeenoinformedothatotheopoliceowouldo arriveoatotheohospitalotoorecordotheirostatements,ohence,otheyowaitedothere.o Accordingotootheorevisedoversion,owhenonoopoliceoofficialoarrived,otheyowento tooPoliceoPostoLakhanoMajra,owhereotheyowereoinformedothatotheopoliceohado alreadyoleftoforoPGIMS,oRohtak.oTheyothenoreturnedotootheohospital,owhereo theirostatementowasoultimatelyorecorded.oLearnedoSeniorocounselocontendedo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-22-o o thato theo aforesaido explanationo iso buto ano afterthoughto devisedo byo theo investigatingoagencyotoocoveroupotheodelayoinorecordingotheostatementoofotheo complainant.oo

35.o o ItoisofurtherosubmittedothatotheotrialoCourtocondonedotheodelayoofo nearlyo9½ohoursoinoreportingotheoincidentotootheoPoliceobyorecordingothatosinceo theooccurrenceohadotakenoplaceoonoaowinteronight,otheopoliceoofficialsodidonoto considero ito necessaryo too proceedo immediatelyo too PGIMS,o Rohtak,o foro recordingotheostatementsoasonoosignificantodevelopmentowasoexpectedotoooccuro duringotheointerveningonight.oHeocontendsothatosuchoaoconclusionoisomisplaced.o TheoprosecutionohasoevenofailedotooestablishotheotimeoatowhichotheoVT/ruqao waso forwardedo fromo theo Policeo Post,o PGIMSoRohtakotoo theo Policeo Post,o LakhanoMajra.ooHeocontendsothatotheoprosecutionocaseoitselfoisothatotheopoliceo receivedoinformationothroughoaotelephonicomessageoonlyoatoabouto6:00oa.m.o ono11.01.2004.oItoisosubmittedothatotheoexplanationoofferedoandotheoconclusiono soodrawnobyotheotrialoCourtofailotooinspireoconfidenceosinceotheoPoliceowaso demonstrablyoactiveothroughoutotheonightoandotheoaccused/Surinderowasogoto medico-legallyoexaminedoato3:00oA.M.oThereowasothusonoooccasionoforothemo noto too haveo immediatelyo proceededo too PGIMS,o Rohtak,o too recordo theo statementsoofotheocomplainantopartyoandocommenceotheoinvestigationowithouto delay,oifoanyosuchomatterowouldohaveobeenoreported.o

36.o o Counselofurtherocontendsothatotheocaseoofotheoprosecutionoheavilyo reliesouponotheotestimoniesoofotheothreeoinjuredoeye-witnesses,onamely,oPW-4o BhoopoSingh,oPW-5oAshokoandoPW-10oMangaloSingh.oHeosubmitsothatoao carefuloscrutinyoofotheomedico-legaloevidenceodemonstratesothatotheoinjurieso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-23-o o sustainedo byo theseo witnesseso areo largelyo ino theo natureo ofo abrasionso ando tenderness.o Theyo doo noto supporto theo prosecution'so versiono regardingo theo injuriesotoohaveobeenocausedobyotheoweaponsowieldedobyotheoaccused.oInvitingo theoattentionoofotheoCourtotootheomedico-legaloreportoofoPW-4oBhoopoSingh,o learnedoseniorocounselosubmittedothatoonlyotwooinjuriesowereofoundoonohiso person.o Injuryo No.o 1,o describedo aso tendernesso ando swellingo overo theo lefto forearmo withouto anyo measurableo dimensions,o waso opinedo byo Dr.o Ashao Sehrawato(PW-1)otoobeosimpleoinonature.oItowasopointedooutothatothisoinjuryo hadobeenoattributedobyotheoprosecutionotooAjmer,owhoohasosinceobeenoacquittedo byotheotrialocourt.oInjuryoNo.o2owasodescribedoasoanoabrasionomeasuringoti.5o cmoonotheodorsaloaspectoofotheoleftopalm,owhichotheoprosecutionoattributedotoo KrishanosonoofoBalwan,oallegedlyocausedobyoaojaili.ooHeocontendsothat,oasopero theoopinionoofotheoDoctor,otheoaforesaidoabrasionowasomerelyosuperficialoino natureoandocouldonotoreasonablyohaveobeenocausedobyoaoweaponosuchoasoaojaili.o Learnedoseniorocounsel,othus,oarguesothatotheoinjuriesofoundoonotheopersonoofo PW-4oareomoreoconsistentowithothoseoordinarilyosustainedoduringoaoscuffle,o grapplingo oro ao fall,o rathero thano witho ano assaulto byo theo deadlyo weaponso attributedotootheoaccusedobyotheoprosecution.ooo

37.o o LearnedoSenioroCounselofurtherosubmittedothatotheomedico-legalo evidenceorelatingotooPW-5oAshokoalsoobeliesotheoprosecutionoversion.oItowaso pointedooutothatoAshokowasofoundotoohaveosustainedofouroinjuries.oInjuryoNo.o 1,odescribedoasoanoabrasionomeasuringo1o?oti.05ocmoonotheodorsaloaspectoofotheo rightoelbow,owasoattributedobyotheoprosecutionotooSurinder,owhoowasoallegedo toohaveoinflictedotheosameowithoaolathi.oInjuryoNo.o2,oanoabrasionomeasuringo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-24-o o

0.5ocmoonotheodorsaloaspectoofotheomiddleofinger,oandoInjuryoNo.o3,oaolaceratedo woundomeasuringo1o?oti.5ocmoonotheodorsaloaspectoofotheolittleofinger,owereo attributedotooKrishanosonoofoRandhir,oallegedlyocausedowithoaogandasi.oItowaso contendedothatotheomedicaloopinionoofoDr.oAshaoSehrawato(PW-1)owasotootheo effectothatoInjuryoNos.o1otoo3ocouldohaveobeenosustainedoasoaoresultoofoaofalloono aohardosurface.oLearnedoSenioroCounseloarguedothatosaidoopinionodemolisheso theoprosecutionocaseoofotheoinjuriesobeingoinflictedobyowayoofoaolathioandoao gandasi.oAsoregardsoInjuryoNo.o4,odescribedoasotendernessoandoswellingoonotheo leftohand,oitowasosubmittedothatotheoprosecutionoattributedotheosameotooKarano Singh,oallegedlyocausedowithoaolathi.oHowever,otheoinjuryowasonotoassignedo anyomeasurableodimensionsonorowasoanyoopinionoelicitedofromotheodoctorotoo establishothatosuchoanoinjuryocouldohaveobeenocausedobyotheoallegedoweapon.o TheosameohavingonotobeenoputotootheoDoctor,otheoprosecutionohasofailedotoo dischargeoitsoburden.o

38.o o AdvertingotootheoinjuriesosufferedobyoPW-10/Mangal,olearnedo SenioroCounselosubmittedothatoheowasofoundotoohaveosufferedothreeoinjuries.o InjuryoNo.o1owasoaolaceratedowoundomeasuringo1o?oti.5ocmoonotheoleftosideoofo theoforeheadowithofreshobleeding,owhereasoInjuryoNos.o2oando3owereodescribedo asotendernessoandoswellingoonotheoleftoforearmoandotendernessoonopalpationo overotheoleftoleg,orespectively.oItowasopointedooutothatoInjuryoNos.o2oando3owereo attributedobyotheoprosecutionotooDilbaghoSingh,oallegedlyoinflictedowithoaojaili,o whileoInjuryoNo.o1owasoattributedotooKrishan,oallegedlyoarmedowithoaojaili.oHeo submitsothatoaccordingotootheomedicaloopinion,oInjuryoNos.o2oando3ocouldohaveo beenosustainedobyoaofalloonoaohardosurface.oItowasofurtheroarguedothatotheonatureo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-25-o o ofo Injuryo No.o 1,o beingo ao laceratedo wound,o iso itselfo inconsistentowitho theo prosecutiono allegationo thato ito waso causedo byo ao jailio aso ito iso ao prongedo implement.ooo

39.o o LearnedoSenioroCounselocontendsothatosinceotheoinjuriesosustainedo byo theo complainanto partyo cannoto beo correlatedo too theo weaponso allegedlyo recoveredoatotheoinstanceoofotheoappellantso(notwithstandingothatotheorecoveryo hasonotobeenoprovedobyotheoprosecution),otheoprosecutionoversionothatotheo injuriesowereoactuallyocausedoinotheomanneroasosuggestedooroallegedobecomeso whollyounreliableoandotheoversionoasogivenobyotheoappellantsohereinodeserveso toobeotakenointooconsideration.o

40.o o Itoisovehementlyocontendedothatotheoversionoofotheoincident,oputo forthobyotheoappellants,oisotheofirstoaccountoofotheooccurrence,ohavingobeeno recordedovideoDDRoNo.17.oInosuchocircumstances,otheoInvestigatingoOfficero wasounderoaolegaloobligationotoofairlyoinvestigateotheoallegationsocontainedo thereinobeforeosubmittingotheofinaloreport.oHowever,oinsteadoofoconductingoano impartialoinvestigationointootheodefenceoversion,otheoInvestigatingoOfficero deliberatelyoignoredotheosameoandoattemptedotoosuppressoit.oHeoacknowledgedo itsoexistenceoonlyowhenoheowasoconfrontedowithotheorelevantorecordoduringohiso cross-examination.o

41.o o Heocontendsothatotheodefenceoversionoremainedoconsistentothatotheo occurrenceohadoitsogenesisoinoaosuddenoquarrelobetweenoaccused/Surinderoando sonsoofoDharamoPalo(sinceodeceased)oowingotooaotauntomadeobyoSurinderowhicho escalatedointooaophysicaloscuffle.ooHeocontendsothatotheoevidenceoonorecordo alsooshowsothatoSurinderowasoabouto19oyearsoofoageoandowasoaowrestlerobyo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-26-o o professionoandohadoreturnedofromotheowrestlingogroundoshortlyobeforeotheo occurrence.oHeo waso physicallyo robusto ando ino theo courseo ofo theo ensuingo grappling,ocouldohaveocausedotheoinjuriesosuchoasotenderness,oswellingoando otherosuperficialoabrasionoinjuriesonoticedoonotheopersonsoofotheocomplainanto witnesses,oandowithoutotheouseoofotheoweaponsoattributedobyotheoprosecution.oo o42o o Counselocontendsothatotheoprosecutionohasoalsoofailedotooofferoanyo explanationowhatsoeveroforotheoinjuriesofoundoonotheopersonoofoSurinder.oIno supportoofothisosubmission,olearnedoSenioroCounseloplacedorelianceouponotheo testimonyo ofo DW-5,o Dr.o Sharanjito Singh.o Theo injurieso ono theo persono ofo Surinderoareoextractedoasounder:o-o o "1)o Aolaceratedowoundoinotheoscalporightofrontaloregion,o1ocmo fromotheomidolineoandoobliquelyoplaced,osizeo2ocmoxo5ocm.o Clottedo bloodo waso present.o Noo historyo ofo vomittingo vertigoo there.o Advisedo x-rayo ofo theo skullo ando Surgeono opinion.o o2)o Aocontusedoabrasionowithoswellingowithodeformityoofotheo leftoelbowoincludingoforearm,olateraloside.oAdvisedox-rayo ofotheopartoandoorthooSurgeonoOpinion.o o3)o Generaloswellingowithoreddishocolourocontusionoofolefto shoulderojoint,osizeo4x2.5cmoonotheoanterioolateraloaspect.o Advisedox-rayoofotheoleftoshoulder.o o4)o Ao swellingo witho contusiono lefto kneeo jointo sizeo 5x3cm.o Advisedox-rayoofopartoandoorthooSurgeonoopinion."o o o

43.o o Heocontendsothatotheonature,odimensionsoandoseatoofotheoinjurieso sustainedobyoSurinderoprobabiliseotheodefenceopleaothatoinjuriesocausedobyohimo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-27-o o tootheocomplainantopartyocouldohaveobeenoinflictedoinotheoexerciseoofohisorighto ofoprivateodefence.oo

44.oo o Heoalsoosubmitsothatotheomostocredibleowitnessowhoocouldohaveo testifiedoaboutotheomanneroinowhichotheoincidentoflaredoupowasoJasbiroando despiteohimobeingooriginallyocitedoasoaowitnessoinotheofinaloreportoasowelloasotheo listoofowitnessesopreparedobyotheoprosecution,oheowasogivenoupowithoutoanyo explanation.oLearnedoSenioroCounseloarguedothatotheonon-examinationoofosucho aovitalowitnessogivesoriseotooanoadverseoinferenceoagainstotheoprosecution.oo

45.oo o Heofurtherocontendsothatotheootheroindependentowitnessesotootheo recoveriesoviz.oJugtioandoVinodosonoofoChander,oasowelloasoWazir,ohaveoalsoo notobeenoexaminedoinotheopresentocase.oTheotrialoCourtorecordedoaospecifico findingothatotheorecoveryoinothisocaseowasonotoproved.oOnceotheorecoveriesoareo heldo too beo doubtful,o thereo cano beo noo assumptiono thato theo weaponso wereo recoveredoatotheoinstanceoofotheoappellantsoorousedoinotheocommissionoofotheo offence.oTheoexistenceoofoanyostainsooromarksoonotheosaidoweaponsothusoiso inconsequentialoandocannotobeoreliedouponotooconnectotheoappellantsowithotheo allegedoassault.oItowasofurtherosubmittedothatotheoprosecutionowasounderoaolegalo obligationotooestablishonotoonlyotheorecoveryobutoalsootheochainoofocustodyoando theopreservationoofotheorecoveredoarticles.oMereoassertionoofotheoprosecutiono thato theo weaponso wereo recoveredo ato theo disclosureo ofo theo appellantso iso unacceptableowhenotheorecoveriesohaveoneitherobeenoprovedoasoperolawonoro acceptedo byo theo trialo Court.o Theo findingso regardingo theo failureo ofo theo prosecutionotooproveotheorecoveriesohaveoremainedounchallengedoandohaveo thusoattainedofinality.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-28-o o

46.o o LearnedoSenioroCounselofurtheroarguesothatoevenootherwise,otheo prosecutionocaseosuffersofromoseriousoinfirmities.oHeocontendsothatotheoblood-stainedoearthowasoliftedofromoinsideotheohouseoofotheocomplainantoevenothougho itoisoundisputedothatotheooccurrenceodidonototakeoplaceoinsideotheohouseobuto outside.oTheoInvestigatingoOfficerofailedotooconductoanoinvestigationointootheo defenceo versiono ofo theo occurrence.o Noo efforto waso madeo too verifyo theo circumstancesopleadedobyotheoappellantsoregardingotheogenesisoofotheoincidento orotheoplaceowhereotheoinitialoaltercationohadotakenoplace.oItois,othus,ocontendedo that,oinotheoabsenceoofoanyomeaningfuloinvestigationointootheodefenceocase,o thereowasonoolegitimateobasisoforotheoprosecutionotoodiscardotheoversionoputo forthobyotheoappellantsoorotooexcludeotheopossibilityothatotheooccurrenceohadoino factotranspiredoinotheomannerosuggestedobyotheodefence.o

47.o o ItoisoarguedowithovehemenceothatotheoconductoofotheoInvestigatingo Officerodemonstratesoaoclearobiasoinofavouroofotheocomplainantoparty.oItoiso submittedothat,odespiteoadmittingoduringohisodepositionothatoheowasoawareoofo theofactothatoRajbirowasoemployedowithotheoMinistryoofoHomeoAffairs,owaso postedoatoNewoDelhioandohadoremainedoonoofficialodutyountilo7:00op.m.oono

10.01.2004,o theo Investigatingo Officero madeo noo endeavouro whatsoevero too independentlyoverifyowhetheroRajbirocouldohaveobeenopresentoatotheoplaceoofo occurrenceo ato theo relevanto time.o Instead,o heo reliedo exclusivelyo upono theo statementsoofotheoprosecutionowitnesses,owithoutoundertakingoanyoobjectiveo investigationointootheopleaoofoalibi.oItohasoevenocomeoforthoinotheoevidenceothato PoliceoofficialsodidocontactoConstableoNaseeboSingho(DW-3),oi.e.oaocolleagueo whoowasostayingoalongowithoRajbiroatotheoresidentialoquarteroatoMandiroMarg,o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-29-o o NewoDelhi,obutoevenohisostatementowasonotorecorded.oItoisoarguedothatotheotrialo CourtoalsoofailedotooappreciateotheotestimonyoofoDW-3oandodiscardedotheosameo solelyoonotheogroundothatotheoresidentialoquarterohadonotobeenojointlyoallottedo inotheonamesoofoRajbiroandoNaseeboSingh.oLearnedoSenioroCounselosubmittedo thato sucho reasoningo iso legallyountenableoando factuallyo unrealistic.o Merelyo becauseo Naseebo Singho waso noto theo formalo allotteeo ofo theo Governmento accommodationowouldonot,obyoitself,oleadotooaoconclusionothatoheowasonoto residingothere.oItowasoarguedothatothereoisonoolegaloimpedimentothatoonlyoano allotteeoofoaoGovernmentoquarterocanooccupyoitoandoheocannotoshareoitowithohiso familyomembers,ofriendsoorocolleaguesotemporarily.oCounselosubmitsothatotheo trialoCourtoobservedothatoasoNaseeboSinghowasodrawingoHouseoRentoAllowanceo andohadodisclosedohisoresidentialoaddressoasoNajafgarh,oNewoDelhi,ohence,oheo wasounlikelyotoobeoresidingowithoRajbir.oItoisosubmittedothatosuchoanoinferenceo isobasedoonoconjectureoratherothanoappreciatingoevidence.oHavingoregardotootheo natureoofodutiesoperformedobyosentry-levelopersonneloinotheoMinistryoofoHomeo Affairs,owhichoareooftenoatooddohoursoandoonorotationaloshifts,oitoisoneithero uncommononoroimprobableoforocolleaguesotoostayotogetheroinoGovernmento accommodationofororeasonsoofoconvenienceoinsteadoofocommutingoonodailyo basisocrossotheocityoandoespeciallyoaocityolikeoDelhi.oo

48.o o LearnedoSenioroCounselofurtherocontendsothatowhileoJasbir,owhoo wasotheoactualoeyewitnessotootheocommencementoofotheoincident,ohasonoto steppedointootheowitnessobox.oItoisoarguedothatoinotheirostatementsorecordedobyo theopoliceoneitheroPW.4oBhoopoSinghonoroPW.5oAshokooroPW.10oMangalo statedoofohavingocausedoanyoinjuryotooSurinder,ohowever,oinotheirodepositiono o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-30-o o beforeo theo Court,o theyo madeo ano improvemento ando statedo thato Surindero sustainedoinjuriesoinotheoscuffleowithoJasbir.oPW.10oMangal,ohowever,ostatedo thatotheoscuffleodidonototakeoplaceoinohisopresenceoandothatoevenowhenotheo accusedocameotootheospotoandoraisedoaolalkara,otheyocameooutoemptyohandedo andodidonotobringoanyoweaponsotoosaveotheirofather.oItoisocontendedothatoeveryo prosecutionowitnessooriginallyodeniedohavingocausedoanyoinjuryotooSurinder.o Theoprosecutionothusofailedotooexplainohowoandounderowhatocircumstanceso Surinderosustainedotheoinjuriesofoundoonohisoperson.oLearnedoSenioroCounselo submitsothatowhereotheoprosecutionosuppressesoorofailsotooexplainotheoinjurieso sustainedobyotheoaccusedoduringotheosameooccurrence,otheoprosecutionoversiono requireso prudento examination.o Ino sucho circumstances,o Surindero couldo reasonablyohaveoentertainedoaogenuineoapprehensionotoohisolifeooropersonalo safetyoheocouldowellohaveoinflictedoinotheoexerciseoofohisorightoofoprivateo defence.o

49.o o Learnedo Senioro counselo thereaftero advertedo too theo finding(s)o recordedobyotheotrialoCourtoonodifferentoaspectsoandotheomanneroinowhichotheo sameohaveobeenodealtowith.oWhileoreferringotootheopleaoofoalibioraisedobyoRajbir,o learnedoseniorocounselosubmitsothatotheotrialoCourtoerroneouslyocastoaoburdeno ofoproofoonohimothatoheocouldonotohaveobeenopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceo underoanyocircumstancesowhatsoever.oItoisocontendedothat,oinodoingoso,otheotrialo Courto virtuallyo placedo ao burdeno equivalento too thato restingo upono theo prosecution,onamely,otooestablishotheofactobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oLearnedo seniorocounseloarguesothatotheopleaoofoalibioisonotoaogeneraloexceptionounderotheo IndianoPenaloCode,o1860,obutoisomerelyoaoruleoofoevidence.oItois,othus,osubmittedo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-31-o o thatosuchoaopleaoisonotorequiredotoobeoestablishedobeyondoreasonableodoubtobyo theoaccusedoandoif,oonoaopreponderanceoofoprobabilitiesoemergingofromotheo evidenceoono record,otheo accusedo succeedso ino creatingo ao reasonableodoubto regardingohisopresenceoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoatotheorelevantotime,otheo benefitoofosuchodoubtonecessarilyoenuresotoohim.oInosupportoofohisoaforesaido submissions,oheoplacedorelianceoonotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtoinotheomatteroofo'DharamoSinghoandoothersoVs.oStateoofoPunjab',o reportedoaso1993oSuppo(3)oSCCo532.oTheorelevantoextractothereoforeadsothus:o -o o "8.oInoanyoeventothereoisooneootheroaspectonamelyotheoalibiosetoupo byoA-1oandoA-2.oA-1oDharamoSinghohavingodeniedotheooffenceoando alsootheovariousocircumstancesoputoagainstohimounderoSectiono 313oCrPCostatementofinallyostatedothatoheoattendedohisoofficeotillo

7.30op.m.oonoDecembero2,o1978oatoChandigarh.oInosupportoofohiso alibi,oheoexaminedoDWso1,o2oando4.oDWo1oAmarjitoSinghoGill,oiso theoExecutiveoEngineer,oPunjaboIrrigationoDepartment,oCentralo DesignoOffice,oChandigarh.oHeodeposedothatoA-1oDharamoSingho isoemployedoasoaodraftsmanoinotheoSectionoofoDesignoOfficeoando headquartersobeingoatoChandigarhoA-1'soofficeoisohousedoinotheo sameo buildingo whereo DWo 1o sits.o Theo Punjabo Irrigationo DepartmentosubmittedoaocompositeoirrigationoprojectoforoWorldo Bankoassistance.oAoWorldoBankoteamocameotooChandigarhoduringo Novembero1978oforore-appraisaloofotheoproject.oDWo1oandoothero officialsofromotheoIrrigationoDepartmentowereodeputedotooprocesso theonecessaryoinformationoforoansweringotheoqueriesomadeobyotheo teamoofotheoWorldoBank.oTheoWorldoBankoteamowasoexpectedotoo goobackoono8thooro9thoDecember,o1978.oThereforeotheoIrrigationo DepartmentoOfficersowereoaskedotoofinaliseotheocompilationoofotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-32-o o reportsowithoregardotootheoqueriesomadeobyotheoWorldoBankoteamo andotheyowereoaskedotoomakeotheosameoreadyobyo5thoDecember.o DWo1odeputedoAssistantoEngineeroMroMalik,oDWo2otooensureotheo finalisationoofotheoreportsoandocompleteotheoworkoandotheoofficerso wereoalsooaskedotoodooovertimeowork.oThenoweohaveotheoevidenceo ofoDWo2oS.R.oMalikowhichoisoveryoimportant.oHeodeposedothatoheo wasoworkingoasoanoAssistantoEngineeroandothatoonoDecembero2,o 1978oallotheoemployeesoofohisoofficeoattendedotootheirodutiesoando inoconnectionowithotheoimpendingovisitoofotheoWorldoBankoteamo andoinoviewoofotheourgencyoofotheomatterotheyohadotoocompleteotheo necessaryocompilationocontainingotheoinformationoneeded.oDWo2o furtherodeposedothatoDWo1oinstructedohimotooseeothatotheoreporto wasocompleteoinoallorespectsoonothatodayonamelyoDecembero2,o 1978.oPursuantotoothisoorderoofoDWo1,oDWo2ostayedoinohisoofficeo alongowithoA-1oandoBhupinderoSinghoandoBalrajotilloabouto7.30o p.m.oonoDecembero2,o1978oatowhichotimeotheyocompletedotheo report.oDWo2ocategoricallyostatedothatoA-1oremainedoinohisoofficeo tillo7.30op.m.oDWo4oBhupinderoSinghowasoanotheroofficeroworkingo inotheosameoDepartment.oHisoevidenceoisoalsootootheoeffectothatoA-1oandootheroofficersoalongowithoDWo2oworkedoinotheiroofficeotillo

7.30op.m.oonoDecembero2,o1978oforotheopurposeoofotheocompletiono ofotheopapersoincludingotheomaps.oDWso2oando4owhooareoimportanto witnesses,o wereo cross-examinedo buto theyo assertedo thato A-1o workedoinotheoofficeotillo7.30op.m.oonoDecembero2,o1978.oTheoHigho Court,ohowever,owasonotopreparedotooacceptothisoevidenceoando observedothatohavingoworkedotillo7.30op.m.oA-1ocouldohaveocomeo tootheosceneoofooccurrenceowhichoisoabouto10omilesoawayoando participatedo ino theo occurrence.o Thougho thereo iso ao remoteo possibilityobutounderotheocircumstancesoitodoesonotoappearotoouso toobeonaturaloforoA-1otoohaveoleftohisoofficeoato7.30op.m.ohavingo workedoovertimeoandobeoatotheosceneoofooccurrenceosomeotimeo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-33-o o roundo abouto 7o p.m.o Ino theo FIRo theo timeo ofo occurrenceo iso mentionedoaso7op.m.oIfothatoisoso,oitowouldonotohaveobeenopossibleo foroA-1otoobeopresentoatotheosceneoofooccurrence.oTheoHighoCourt,o however,o explainedo thiso awayo byo sayingo thato PWo 18o aso ano illiterateocouldonotohaveogivenotheocorrectotime.oButoPWo18ostatedo thatoheohasostudiedoupotoomatric.oThereforeoweocannotopresumeo thatoheodidonotoknowotheotime.oThatoapart,oifoitowasosuchoaopre-plannedomurderooneowouldonotohaveoexpectedoA-1otooremainoino theoofficeoandoitowasoalsooaochanceothatoheowasomadeotooworkotillo

7.30op.m.oonothatodayoinoviewoofotheourgency.oDWso2oando4oareo responsibleoofficersoandorespectableowitnessesoandowhenotheyosayo thatoA-1owasowithothemotillo7.30op.m.othereoisonooneedotoodoubtotheo sameoinotheocircumstancesoofotheocase.oTherefore,oinoouroviewoA-1ohasobeenofalselyoimplicated.oThisofalseoimplicationoagainoaffectso theoveracityoofotheoallegedoeyewitnesses.oItoonlyoshowsothatotheyo beingointerestedowitnessesowereobentouponotooimplicateoA-1owhoo hadosomeodisputeowithotheodeceased'sofamily.oFromotheoevidenceo ofoPWo22oitoappearsothatoheowasoalsooinimicalotowardsoA-1oando A-2oandoadmittedlyoheowasowithoPWo18othroughoutoandoespeciallyo atotheotimeoofogivingotheoFIRobeforeotheopolice.oo o

9.oA-2oGurdevoSinghowhooisonoootherothanotheobrotheroofoA-1o Dharamo Singho alsoo pleadedo alibi.o Admittedlyo heo iso alsoo ano employeeo ofo theo Punjabo Irrigationo Departmento ato Patiala.o Havingopleadedonotoguiltyoheofurtherostatedoinohisostatementoundero Sectiono313oCrPCothatoheohadobeenofalselyoimplicatedoatotheo instanceoofoPWo22oandoJoginderoSinghowhoowereohostileotoohimo andotootheomembersoofohisofamily.oA-2ofurtherostatedothatoheowaso onodutyoatoPatialaofromo10oa.m.otoo5op.m.oandoevenoafteroofficeo hoursoheoremainedoatoPatialaoonlyoandoduringotheosubsequento daysoalsooheohadobeenoattendingotoohisoduties.oNoodoubtoheohaso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-34-o o notoexaminedoanyowitnessoinosupportoofohisoalibiobutoPWo25otheo Investigatingo Officero admittedo thato heo haso verifiedo theo officeo recordsowhichoshowothatobothoA-1oandoA-2oattendedotheiroofficeso ono Decembero 2,o 1978.o Ito thereforeo emergeso thato A-2o waso ato Patialaoandoattendedohisoofficeoatoleastotillo5op.m.oandoPatialaoiso abouto40omilesoawayofromotheosceneoofooccurrence.oInosuchoao situationohisopresenceoatotheosceneoofooccurrenceoatoabouto7op.m.o becomeso highlyo doubtful.o Thiso circumstanceo alsoo renderso theo evidenceoofotheoallegedoeyewitnessesounreliable."o o

50.o o HeoalsooreliesouponotheojudgmentopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtoinotheomatteroofo'BinayoKumaroSinghoVs.oStateoofoBihar'oreportedoaso

(1997)o1oSCCo283:o-o o "22.oWeomustobearoinomindothatoanoalibioisonotoanoexceptiono (specialoorogeneral)oenvisagedoinotheoPenaloCode,o1860ooroanyo otherolaw.oItoisoonlyoaoruleoofoevidenceorecognisedoinoSectiono11o ofotheoEvidenceoActothatofactsowhichoareoinconsistentowithotheofacto inoissueoareorelevant.oIllustrationo(a)ogivenounderotheoprovisionoiso worthoreproducingoinothisocontext:o-o o "TheoquestionoisowhetheroAocommittedoaocrimeoatoCalcuttao onoaocertainodate;otheofactothatoonothatodate,oAowasoato Lahoreoisorelevant."o o

23.oTheoLatinowordoalibiomeanso"elsewhere"oandothatowordoiso usedo foro convenienceo wheno ano accusedo takeso recourseo too ao defenceolineothatowhenotheooccurrenceotookoplaceoheowasosoofaro awayo fromo theo placeo ofo occurrenceo thato ito iso extremelyo improbableothatoheowouldohaveoparticipatedoinotheocrime.oItoisoao basicolawothatoinoaocriminalocase,oinowhichotheoaccusedoisoallegedo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-35-o o toohaveoinflictedophysicaloinjuryotooanotheroperson,otheoburdenoiso onotheoprosecutionotooproveothatotheoaccusedowasopresentoatotheo sceneoandohasoparticipatedoinotheocrime.oTheoburdenowouldonoto beolessenedobyotheomereofactothatotheoaccusedohasoadoptedotheo defenceoofoalibi.oTheopleaoofotheoaccusedoinosuchocasesoneedobeo consideredoonlyowhenotheoburdenohasobeenodischargedobyotheo prosecutionosatisfactorily.oButoonceotheoprosecutionosucceedsoino dischargingo theo burdeno ito iso incumbento ono theo accused,o whoo adoptsotheopleaoofoalibi,otooproveoitowithoabsoluteocertaintyosooaso too excludeo theo possibilityo ofo hiso presenceo ato theo placeo ofo occurrence.oWhenotheopresenceoofotheoaccusedoatotheosceneoofo occurrenceohasobeenoestablishedosatisfactorilyobyotheoprosecutiono throughoreliableoevidence,onormallyotheocourtowouldobeoslowotoo believeoanyocounter-evidenceotootheoeffectothatoheowasoelsewhereo whenotheooccurrenceohappened.oButoifotheoevidenceoadducedobyo theoaccusedoisoofosuchoaoqualityoandoofosuchoaostandardothatotheo courto mayo entertaino someo reasonableo doubto regardingo hiso presenceo ato theo sceneo wheno theo occurrenceo tooko place,o theo accusedo would,o noo doubt,o beo entitledo too theo benefito ofo thato reasonableodoubt.oo (emphasisosupplied)oo o

51.o o FurtherorelianceoisoalsooplacedoonotheojudgmentoofotheoSupremeo Courtoinotheomatteroofo'StateoofoHaryanaoVs.oPrabhuoandoothers'oreportedoaso

(1979)o4oSCCo189.oTheorelevantopartoofotheojudgmentoisoextractedohereunder:o -oo o "ThereoareonineorespondentsoinothisoappealofiledobyotheoStateoofo HaryanaoonograntoofospecialoleaveobyothisoCourt.oTheotrialocourto convictedoeachoofotheosaidorespondentsounderoSectiono302oreado witho Sectiono 149o ofo theo Penalo Code,o 1860o ando awardedo lifeo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-36-o o imprisonmentotooeach.oTheyowereofurtheroconvictedounderoSectiono 325oreadowithoSectiono149oandoforotheooffenceooforioting.oTheoHigho CourtoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaohasoacquittedoPrabhu,oRespondento 1oandoHoshiar,oRespondento6ofoallotheochargesoacceptingotheiro pleaoofoalibi.oItohasomaintainedotheoconvictionoofosevenoothero respondentsoonlyounderoSectiono325oreadowithoSectiono149oofotheo PenaloCodeoandonotounderoSectiono302oreadowithoSectiono149.oAo sentenceo ofo seveno years'o rigorouso imprisonmento haso beeno awardedotooSheoramoplusoaofineoofoRso2000oandotheoothersohaveo beenogivenoaosentenceoofothreeoyears*origorousoimprisonmento plusoRso1000ofineoeach.oTheyodidonotochallengeotheiroconvictiono inothisoCourtofilingoanyoappeal.oWeowereoinformedoatotheoBarothato allotheoconvictedorespondentsohaveoservedooutotheirosentences.o TheoStateohadopresentedothisoappealoforosettingoasideotheoacquittalo ofoPrabhuoandoHoshiaroandoforoconvictingothemoalongowithoothero respondentsounderSectiono302oreadowithoSectiono149oofotheoPenalo Code.o xxxo

7.oInohisostatementounderoSectiono342oCr.P.C.,o1898,oPrabhuo stated:-o Onotheodayoofooccurrence,oIowasoadmittedoinoCiviloHospitalo Rewarioasoindooro(patient)oHospital?.oAgainosaid,oIowaso admittedoinoGohanaoHospital.o o InoSessionsoCourtoheosaid:o Iowasonotopresentoatotheospotoandowasoadmittedoinotheo BawanaodispensaryoofoMunicipaloCorporationoDelhioatotheo timeoofotheoallegedooccurrence.oDroAshokoNagpaloprovedo certainorecordsoofotheoBawanaodispensaryobutotheyowereo noto trustworthyo aso heldo byo theo trialo courto foro cogento reasons.o Theo Higho Courto waso noto justifiedo ino brushingo asideoallotheseoinfirmitiesoinotheodefenceopleaoofoalibioeveno o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-37-o o tooprobabiliseothisopleaoandoinoacceptingotheoevidenceoofoDro AshokoNagpaloonoitsoface.oBeothatoasoitomay,otheoprosecutiono caseocannotobeosaidotoohaveobeenoprovedoagainstoPrabhuo merelyo becauseo heo cameo outo witho ao pleao ofo alibi,o theo evidenceoinosupportoofowhichowasountrustworthy.oHavingo examinedotheoevidenceoofotheoprosecutionowitnessesowhoo gaveotheoocularoversionoofotheooccurrenceoinotheolightoofotheo FirstoInformationoReportolodgedobyoPWoMoharoSinghoweo haveocomeotootheoconclusionothatotheocaseoagainstohimoiso doubtful.o.Heowasoaosarpanchoofotheovillageoandoatotheotimeo ofotheooccurrenceoheowasonotolessothano60oyearsoofoage.oIto wasonotonecessaryoforohimotoohaveohimselfoparticipatedoino theooccurrence.oTheopartoofoassaultoattributedotoohimowaso notospecificoino'theoFirstoInformationoReportonorowasotheo storyo ofo theo Lalkarao mentionedo therein.o Hiso brothero Harphool,oitoseems,owasofalselyoimplicatedoandoalthougho thatowasonotosufficientotoocastoaodoubtoonotheoprosecutiono storyoasoaowhole,oitoisosufficientotoocastoaodoubtoinoouromindo aso too theo participationo ofo respondento Prabhuo ino theo occurrence.o Accordingo too theo evidenceo ofo PWo Moharo Singh,orespondentoPrabhuogaveoaolathioblowoonotheoheadoofo KaluoandorespondentoSohanogaveooneolathioblowoonotheo rightotempleoofoKaluoandooneolathioblowoonohisoleftoleg.o Apartofromotheoinjuryofoundoonohisoleftoleg,oapparentlyotwoo injuriesowereofoundotowardsotheorightotempleosideoofoKaluo ando theyo wereo veryo closeo too theo righto pinna.o Ino allo probabilityotheyocouldonotohaveobeenocausedobyotwooblowso onotheoheadoorotheotempleopartoofotheoheadoofoKalu.oTheyo seemotoohaveobeenocausedoonlyobyooneolathioblowowhichowaso giveno byo Sohan.o Thuso ono thiso groundo alsoo Prabhu'so participationoinotheoassaultobecomesodoubtful.oWeodoonoto o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-38-o o thinkothatojusticeorequiresotheosettingoasideoofotheoorderoofo acquittaloinohisofavouroandosendingohimotoojailonow.o

8.oHoshiar'sopleaoofoalibioofohavingobeenoadmittedoinotheo RewarioHospitalowasoconsistent.oAlthoughotheorecordsoofo theoHospitaloprovedobyoDroMohinderoKumar,oDWowereonoto veryo reliable,o theo suggestiono ino cross-examinationo ono behalfoofotheoprosecutionoseemsotoobeothatoHoshiarohado goneooutoofotheoHospitaloonotheonightoofotheooccurrenceoando takeno parto ino it.o Sucho ao suggestiono postulateso thato theo prosecutionowasonotoseriouslyochallengingohisoadmissionoino theoRewarioHospital.oWeodoonotothinkothatoweoshallobeo justifiedoinodifferingofromotheoHighoCourtothatoheohadolefto theoHospitalowithoutoleaveoofotheodoctoroinotheonightoofotheo occurrenceotootakeopartoinoit.oWe,otherefore,omaintainohiso acquittaloalsoobyotheoHighoCourt."o o

52.o o Referringo too theo aforesaido findings,o learnedo Senioro Counselo contendsothatoonceotheodefenceosucceedsoinoprobabilisingothatoRajbirocouldonoto haveobeenopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoatotheorelevantotime,otheoburdeno shiftsotootheoprosecutionotooestablishoaffirmativelyothatoheowas,oinofact,opresento atotheospotowhenotheoincidentotookoplace.oItoisosubmittedothatotheopleaoofoalibio needo onlyo createo ao reasonableo probabilityo regardingo theo absenceo ofo theo accused,o whereupono theo prosecutiono iso requiredo too dispelo sucho doubto byo leadingocogentoandoreliableoevidence.oLearnedoSenioroCounselofurtheroargueso thatotheotrueotestoisowhetherotheorelevantofactsoareobroughtotootheonoticeoofotheo investigatingoagencyoatotheoearliestopointoofotime.oItoisocontendedothat,oinotheo presentocase,otheofactothatoRajbirowasoonoofficialodutyoatoNewoDelhioonotheodateo ofotheooccurrenceostoododisclosedoduringotheoinvestigationoitselfoi.e.omuchoprioro o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-39-o o tootheofilingoofotheofinaloreport.oInosuchocircumstances,otheoburdenolayouponotheo investigatingoagencyoand,oconsequently,otheoprosecution,otooundertakeoaofairo investigationointootheosaidopleaoandotooestablishoconclusivelyothatoRajbirowaso presentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoonly.oItoisofurtherocontendedothatotheotrialo Courtothusofellointooerrorobyoacceptingotheopleaoofoalibiopartiallyoandoyeto assumingoRajbir'sopresenceoatotheoplaceoofooccurrence.o

53.o o Heo furthero contendso thato theotrialo Courto adoptedoanoincorrecto approacho ino assumingo involvemento ofo theo appellant-accused/Surinder.o Heo contendsothatowhileotheoburdenolayouponotheoprosecutionotooexplainotheoinjurieso sustainedobyoSurinder,otheotrialoCourtousedotheoexistenceoofoinjuriesoonohiso personotooassumeoasoaoproofoofohisoparticipationoinotheocommissionoofotheo offence.ooo

54.o o Itoisofurtherocontendedothatotheoprosecutionofailedotooestablishotheo recoveriesoofotheoweaponsousedoinotheocommissionoofotheooffence.oFurther,otheo medicaloevidenceodoesonotosupportotheoprosecutionoversion.oLearnedoSenioro Counseloarguesothatohadotheoassaultoinofactobeenocarriedooutousingoweaponso sucho aso ao gandasi,o jaili,o mussalo ando lathis,o theo injuredo witnesseso wouldo ordinarilyo haveo sustainedo injurieso correspondingo too theo natureo ofo sucho weapons,oincludingoincisedowounds,opuncturedowounds,olaceratedowoundsooro othero characteristico markso ofo theiro impact.o However,o theo medico-legalo evidenceodoesonotodiscloseotheoexistenceoofoanyosuchoinjuries.oRather,otheo injuriesofoundoonotheocomplainantowitnessesoareopredominantlyosuperficialoino nature,o comprisingo abrasions,o tenderness,o swellingo ando minoro lacerationso whichoareowhollyoinconsistentowithotheoprosecutionoallegationoregardingotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-40-o o useo ofo deadlyo weapons.o Ito iso thuso contendedo thato theo medicalo evidenceo completelyorulesooutotheopossibilityoofotheoinjuriesohavingobeenocausedoinotheo manneroallegedobyotheoprosecution.o

55.oo o Itoisofurtheroalternativelyoarguedothatoinoanyocase,oitoatoworsto appearsotoobeoaocaseoofofreeofightoandoinosuchocircumstances,otheopersonsocouldo notobeoheldoliableoforoanyoinjuryobeyondowhatoisospecificallyoattributedoando proved.oHeosubmitsothatoasoperoexceptionsotooSectiono300oIPC,oinoaocaseoofofreeo fight,oitodoesonotocountoasotoowhichopartyoinitiatedotheofightoorogaveotheofirsto blowoandofurther,otheocaseowouldonotochangeoitsoflavouroonoasotoowhoosustainedo numericallyohigheroinjuries.ooSuchoaomeasuredomethodologyoisoinapplicable.o TheoCourtoofolawowouldomereotakeonoteoofoaofactoasotoowhetheroanyopartyohaso takenoundueoadvantageooroactedowithocruelty.oInosuchoanoeventuality,otheopartyo wouldonotobeoentitledotootheosaidobenefitoandooffenceowouldostandoculminated.oooooo

56.o o Itoisohenceocontendedothatotheoprosecutionohasosuppressedotheotrueo genesisoofotheooccurrenceoandofailedotoopresentoaocompleteoandotruthfuloaccounto ofotheoincidentoandotheocumulativeoeffectoofotheoaforesaidoinfirmitiesocreatesoao seriousoandoreasonableodoubtoregardingotheoprosecutionoversionoand,othus,otheo benefitoofosuchodoubtobeoextendedotootheoappellants.o ARGUMENTSo BYo THEo STATEo ANDo COUNSELo FORo THEo PETITIONERoINoCRR-608-2005oANDoFORoTHEoCOMPLAINANToINo CRA-D-848-DB-2004oANDoCRA-D-880-DB-2004o o

57.o o Respondingotootheoabove,olearnedoStateocounseloasowelloasocounselo forotheopetitioneroinoCRR-608-2005oandoforotheocomplainantoinoCRA-D-848-DB-2004o&oCRA-D-880-DB-2004,ocontendothatotheosubmissionsoadvancedoono o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-41-o o behalfoofotheoappellantsoproceedoonoaomisplacedopremiseoandoareoanoattemptotoo divertotheoattentionoofotheoCourtofromotheocoreoevidenceoavailableoonorecord.oIto isosubmittedothatotheoprosecutionocaseorestsouponotheotestimoniesoofothreeo injuredoeyewitnesses,oalloofowhomohaveoconsistentlyonarratedotheodetailedo accountoofotheooccurrenceoandotheoinjuriesocausedobyotheorespectiveoaccused.o Theoocularoaccountofurnishedobyotheoinjuredowitnessesoisoalsoocorroboratedobyo theo medicalo recordo aso wello aso theo recoverieso ofo weaponso effectedo duringo investigation.o

58.o o Theyosubmitothatothereowasonooinordinateodelayoinoreportingotheo incidento too theo Police.o Theo incidento tooko placeo ato abouto 10.30o p.m.o ono

10.01.2004owhereafterotheoinjuredoreachedoPGIMSoRohtakoato11.45op.m.owheno theiromedico-legaloexaminationocommenced.ooAfteroconclusionoofotheomedicalo examination,otheoattendingodoctorodispatchedotheoruqaoato12:30oa.m.,owhicho wasoreceivedoatoPoliceoPost,oPGIMS,oRohtak,oato12:50oa.m.ooItoisocontendedo thatoanyodelayothereafteroinoforwardingotheoruqaotootheojurisdictionalopoliceo stationooroinotheoarrivaloofotheopoliceoofficialsofromoPoliceoPostoLakhanoMajrao oroPoliceoStationoMehamoshouldonotobeoreadoagainstotheocomplainantoparty.o Counseloforotheocomplainantocontendsothatoinotheoimmediateoaftermathoofotheo occurrence,otheoforemostoconcernoofotheocomplainantopartyowouldonotobeotoo approachotheopoliceobutotoosecureourgentomedicalotreatmentoforoDharamoPal,o whoohadosustainedogrievousoinjuries.oItois,othus,ocontendedothatonooadverseo inferenceobeodrawnoagainstotheoprosecutionoonoaccountoofotheotimeotakenoinotheo registrationoofotheoFIR,oandotheodelay,oifoany,odoesonotodetractotheocredibilityo ofotheoprosecutionocase.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-42-o o

59.o o Learnedocounseloforotheocomplainantofurtherocontendsothatotheo trialo Courto haso rightlyo disbelievedo theo defenceo versiono aso arguedo byo theo accused-appellantsothat,oafterotheomedico-legaloexamination,otheomembersoofo theocomplainantopartyohadogoneotootheoresidenceoofotheirorelativesoatoRohtak,o holdingothatosuchoanoexplanationowasoaodeviceoadoptedobyotheoInvestigatingo Officerotoojustifyoandocoveroupotheodelayoattributableotoohimoinocarryingotheo investigationoforward.oItoisostatedothatoduringotheirodepositionsobeforeotheotrialo Court,o PW-4o Bhoopo Singh,o PW-5o Ashoko ando PW-10o Mangalo Singho consistentlyostatedothatotheyoremainedopresentoatoPGIMS,oRohtakothroughouto andohadonotogoneotootheoresidenceoofoanyoofotheirorelatives.oLearnedocounselo arguesothatonoomaterialowhatsoeverohasocomeoforthoduringotheoinvestigationotoo discloseotheoidentityoororesidenceoofoanyosuchorelative,othusorenderingotheo defenceopleaowhollyospeculative.oLearnedocounselofurtherosubmitsothatotheo complainantopartyohadobeenoinformedothatotheopoliceoofficialsowouldoreachotheo hospitalobyoabouto6:00/6:30oa.m.otoorecordotheirostatementsoandoaccordinglyo theyowaitedoatotheohospitaloforotheoarrivaloofotheopolice.oHowever,owhenonoo policeoofficialoarrived,osomeoofothemoproceededotooLakhanoMajra,owhereotheyo wereoinformedothatotheopoliceopersonnelohadoalreadyoleftoforoPGIMS,oRohtak.o Theyothereafteroreturnedotootheohospital,owhileoPW-4oBhoopoSinghocontinuedo tooremainopresentothereothroughout.oItoisothusocontendedothatothereowasonoodelayo orolapseoonotheopartoofotheocomplainantopartyoinoreportingotheooccurrenceotootheo competentoauthorities.oAnyodelayothatosubsequentlyooccurredowasoentirelyo beyondotheirocontroloandocouldonotobeoattributedotoothem.oTheosame,othus,o wouldonotoconstituteoaocircumstanceoadverseotootheoprosecutionoorobeousedotoo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-43-o o discreditotheoprosecutionocase.o

60.o o Itoisofurtheroarguedothatotheoocularoevidenceoinotheopresentocaseo standsofullyocorroboratedobyotheomedicaloevidenceoandotheoinjuriesoareoupono theopersonoofotheoinjuredoareoconsistentlyoreflectedoinotheirorespectiveoMLR.ooIto iso thuso contendedo thato theo prosecutiono succeededo ino establishingo itso caseo beyondodoubtoagainstotheoappellant-accusedoandothatothereoexistsonoojustifiableo reasonotoodisbelieveotheoprosecutionoversion.ooLearnedocounselofurtherocontendo thato theo occurrenceo undisputedlyo tooko placeo ino fronto ofo theo houseo ofo theo complainanto partyo ando theo appellantso haveo failedo too offero anyo plausibleo explanationoasotoowhyotheyohadocomeotootheoplaceoofooccurrence,oifotheyowereo notoinvolvedoinotheoincident.oItoisovehementlyoarguedothatoifotheoversionoofotheo defenceo iso too beo accepted,o theo incidento ino questiono tooko placeo nearo Badio Chopal,ohowever,onooindependentoororeliableoevidenceohasobeenoadducedobyo theodefenceotooestablishothatoanyosuchooccurrenceohad,oinofact,otakenoplaceoato theotimeoandoplaceoalleged.oLearnedocounselocontendsothat,oinotheoabsenceoofo anyoevidenceosubstantiatingotheoallegedofirstoincident,otheodefenceoversiono regardingo theo genesiso ofo theo occurrenceo remainso whollyo unproved.o Consequently,o theo pleao thato theo occurrenceo commencedo ino theo mannero suggestedobyotheodefenceowouldonotomeritoacceptance,oandotheoprosecutiono version,obeingosupportedobyotheotestimoniesoofotheoinjuredoeyewitnessesoaso welloasotheomedicaloevidence,odeservesotoobeoaccepted.o

61.o o Learnedo counselo alsoo arguedo thato theo defenceo seto upo byo theo appellantsoisoinconsistentoevenowithoregardotootheotimeoofotheooccurrence.oItoiso submittedothat,oinoDDRoNo.o17,owhichowasorecordedoato2:05oa.m.,oSurindero o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-44-o o Singho statedo thato theo incidento hado takeno placeo ato abouto 7:00o p.m.o ono

10.01.2004.o However,o duringo theo courseo ofo cross-examinationo ando ino theo statementsorecordedounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.,otheodefenceoshiftedoitsostando byosuggestingothatotheooccurrenceohadotakenoplaceoatoabouto8:00op.m.oItoiso contendedothatotheoappellantsohaveofailedotooexplainothat,oifoSurinderohado indeedosustainedoinjuriesoatoabouto8:00op.m.,owhereowasoheofromo8:00op.m.o untilo2:05oa.m.,owhenoheofirstoapproachedotheopolice,oandowhyoheowasomedico-legallyoexaminedoonlyoato3:15oa.m.oono11.01.2004.oItoisothusoapparentothato sufficiento timeo waso availableo too theo appellantso too deliberateo ando consulto amongstothemselvesoinosettingoupoaodefenceoandogainingoanoadvantageooverotheo prosecution.oLearnedocounselocontendothat,oinsteadoofoattendingotootheoinjured,o theoappellantsochoseotooapproachotheopoliceotoocreateoaodefenceoinotheirofavour,o whereasotheocomplainantopartyoprioritisedosecuringomedicalotreatmentoforotheo injuredo persons.o Ito iso thuso contendedo thato theo appellantso shouldo noto beo permittedotooderiveoanyoadvantageomerelyobecauseotheyoattemptedotoostealoao marchooverotheocomplainantopartyobyoapproachingotheopoliceowithoaoversiono devisedoafterodeliberation.o

62.o o Learnedocounselofurtherocontendothatotheopleaoofoalibioraisedoono behalfoofoRajbiroisowhollyountenableoandodoesonotomeritoacceptance.oItoiso submittedothat,oaccordingotootheoprosecutionoversion,otheooccurrenceoresultingo inotheoinjuriesohadotakenoplaceoatoabouto10:30op.m.,oasoisoreflectedoinotheoruqao asowelloasotheomedico-legaloreportsoofoPW-4oBhoopoSinghoandotheootheroinjuredo witnesses.ooItoisoarguedothatotheocomplainantopartyohadonoooccasionotooknowo theodutyohoursooroplaceoofopostingoofoRajbirosooasotoodeliberatelyoprojectotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-45-o o timeoofooccurrenceoato10:30op.m.oonlyotoonullifyohisopleaoofoalibi.oHeocontendso thatotheosameoisoofovitalosignificanceoconsideringothatoundisputedlyotheopartieso hadonoopreviousodisputeooroenmityoamongstothem.ooItoisothusocontendedothatotheo complainantopartyohadonoomotiveoororeasonotoofalselyoimplicateoRajbirooroanyo otheroappellantobyoattributingotoothemoaoroleowhichotheyohadonotoplayed.o Learnedocounselofurtherocontendothat,oinosoofaroasoInjuryoNo.o1osustainedobyo theodeceasedoDharamoPaloisoconcerned,otheomedicaloevidenceosupportsotheo prosecutionocase.oItoisosubmittedothatotheodoctoroopinedothatotheosaidoinjuryo couldohaveobeenocausedobyoaoweaponosuchoasoaomussalo(pestle).oItoisofurthero arguedo thato theo saido weapono waso recoveredo pursuanto too theo disclosureo statementomadeobyoRajbir.oLearnedocounselothusocontendothatothereoexistsonoo validoreasonotooignoreoorodiscardothisocircumstanceowhileoappreciatingotheo prosecutionoevidence,oasotheosameolendsoassuranceotootheoprosecutionoversiono regardingotheoroleoattributedotooRajbir.o

63.o o Counselohasofurtheropointedooutothatobloodstainsowereodetectedoono theoweaponsorecoveredoduringotheocourseoofoinvestigationoasowelloasotheoblood-stainedoeartholiftedofromotheoplaceoofooccurrence.oItoisosubmittedothat,oeveno thougho theo bloodstainso couldo noto ultimatelyo beo serologicallyo matchedo ono accountoofodisintegrationoofotheomaterial,osuchoaocircumstance,obyoitself,owouldo notoruleooutotheouseoofotheosaidoweaponsoinotheocommissionoofotheooffenceoino theomanneroallegedobyotheoprosecutionoandoacceptedobyotheotrialoCourt.oItoiso furtherocontendedothatotheoprosecutionoevidence,obothoocularoandomedical,o remainso consistento throughouto ando inspireso confidence.o Thereo iso thuso noo reasonotoodiscardoevidenceoofosuchosterlingoquality.oTheofindingoofoconvictiono o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-46-o o hasothusorightlyobeenorecordedobyotheotrialoCourtoagainstotheoappellant(s)o herein.o o Heo haso alsoo referredo too theo judgmento ino theo mattero ofo 'Solankio ChimanbhaioUkabhaiov.oStateoofoGujarat,oreportedoaso(1983)o2oSCCo174,o whereino theo Supremeo Courto heldo thato ito wouldo noto beo propero too discardo testimonyo ofo eyeo witnesses,o ifo theiro depositiono iso otherwiseo satisfactory,o merelyoonotheogroundothatothereoareocertainoconflictsowithotheoocularoando medicaloevidenceoonorecord.o

64.o o Heo contendsothato theo suggestionso ono behalfo ofotheo appellantso regardingotheoincapabilityoofotheoinjuriesobeingocausedowithotheoweaponsoiso basedoonoanoerror.oItoisosubmittedothatothereoisoaomaterialodistinctionobetweeno anoinjuryonotobeingotheoprobableoresultoofoaoparticularoweaponoandoanoinjuryo notobeingocapableoofobeingocausedobyosuchoaoweaponoatoall.oTheomedicalo evidenceoinotheopresentocaseodoesonotoconclusivelyoexcludeotheopossibilityoofo theoinjuriesohavingobeenocausedobyotheoweaponsoattributedotootheoappellants.o Heothusocontendsothatowhereotwooviewsoareoreasonablyopossibleoonotheobasiso ofotheomedicaloevidence,otheoconsistentoandoreliableoocularoaccountofurnishedo byotheoinjuredoeyewitnessesodeservesotoobeoaccepted.oTheotestimonyoofoano injuredoeyewitnessocarriesogreatoevidentiaryovalueoand,ounlessoshownotoobeo inherentlyoimprobableoorounreliable,ooughtotooprevail.oItoisosubmittedowitho vehemenceothatomedicaloevidenceoisoessentiallyocorroborativeoinonatureoandoiso nototheoprimaryoevidenceoonotheobasisoofowhichotheoveracityoofoaoconsistento ocularoaccountoisotoobeotested.oHence,otheomedicaloopinionowouldonotoassumeo primacyooverotheodirectotestimonyoofoinjuredoeyewitnesses.oHeocontendsothato undisputedly,otheorecordsoofoPGIMS,oRohtak,oasowelloasotheopost-mortemo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-47-o o report,o establisho thato Dharamo Palo (sinceo deceased)o hado beeno broughto too PGIMS,oRohtak.oTheomereoomissionotoomentionotheosaidofactoinotheoruqao dispatchedobyotheoattendingodoctorowouldonot,obyoitself,oconstituteoaosuspiciouso circumstanceotoocastoanyodoubtouponotheoprosecutionocase.oSuchoanoomissiono isoatobestoanoinadvertentolapseoandowouldonotodiluteotheootherwiseoconsistento prosecutionoevidence.ooo

65.o o Heo furthero contendso thato theo appellantso haveo takeno mutuallyo contradictoryostandsoinotheirodefenceoasowelloasoinotheostatementsorecordedo underoSectiono313oCr.P.C.ooHeocontendsothatonotoonlyoisothereoaomaterialo inconsistencyoregardingotheotimeoofotheofirstooccurrenceobetweenoSurinderoando Jasbir,oSurinderohavingostatedoinoDDRoNo.o17othatotheoincidentohadotakenoplaceo atoabouto7:00op.m.,owhereasotheodefenceosubsequentlyosuggestedothatoitohado takenoplaceoatoabouto8:00op.m.,obutoalsoothatotheodefenceoversionoalsoosufferso fromo furthero inherento contradictions.o Ito iso arguedo that,o ino DDRo No.o 17,o SurinderostatedothatoKaranoandoDilbaghohadoreachedotheospotoafteronoticingothato heo hado sustainedo injurieso ando hado thuso citedo themo aso witnesseso too theo occurrence.o However,o Karano ando Dilbagh,o ino theiro respectiveo statementso recordedounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.,odeniedoevenobeingopresentoinotheovillageo onotheodateoofotheooccurrence.oHeocontendsothatoaosimilarostandoofoalibiohado alsoobeenotakenobyoKrishan.oHowever,odespiteotakingosuchoaostand,ononeoofotheo appellantsowhoo claimo toobeo awayo fromo theoplaceoofooccurrenceo leadoanyo evidenceoinosupportothereof.oThusotheodefenceoisoriddledowithoinconsistencieso andothatotheoappellantsohaveorepeatedlyocontradictedooneoanotheroasowelloaso theiroownoearlieroversions.oo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-48-o o

66.o o Itoisoarguedowithovehemenceothatorightoofoprivateodefenceowouldo notobeoavailableotootheoappellantsosinceotheodeceasedowasonotoarmedowithoanyo weaponoduringotheoincidentoandothatoevenoDDRoNo.o17odoesonotocontainoanyo allegationothatoDharamoPalohadothreatenedoSurinderoorohadoactedoinoaomannero givingo riseo too ao reasonableo apprehensiono ofo deatho oro grievouso hurt.o Consequently,oitoisocontendedothatothereoexistedonoocircumstanceofromowhicho Surinderocouldohaveoentertainedoaoreasonableoapprehensiononecessitatingotheo exerciseoofotheorightoofoprivateodefence.oTheopleaoofoprivateodefence,othus,o wouldonotobeoavailableotootheoappellantsoinotheoabsenceoofoanyorealooroimminento threatotootheopersonoofoSurinder.oInosupportoofohisosubmission,oheoreliedoupono theojudgmentoofotheoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofoJamesoMartinov.oStateo ofoKerala,oreportedoaso(2004)o2oSCCo203.o

67.o o LearnedoStateocounselofurtherocontendsothat,oevenootherwise,otheo conductoofotheoappellantsoisowhollyoinconsistentowithotheodefenceonowosoughto toobeoprojected.oItoisosubmittedothatonoocomplaintowasoeveromadeobyoanyoofotheo appellantsobeforeoanyocompetentoauthorityoallegingofalseoimplicationobyotheo investigatingoagency.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatonoocomplaintoorocross-caseo wasoeveroinstitutedoatotheiroinstanceochallengingotheoprosecutionoversionoorotheo manneroinowhichotheoinvestigationohadobeenoconducted.oLearnedoStateocounselo argueso thato theo appellants,o havingo nevero questionedo theo fairnesso ofo theo investigationobeforeoanyocompetentoforum,oareonowoprecludedofromoraisingo suchoaopleaoforotheofirstotimeoinoappeal.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatotheoconducto ofo theoappellantsoclearlyo indicatesotheirocomplicityo inotheo occurrenceoando demonstratesothatoDDRoNo.o17owasolodgedomerelyoasoaopre-emptiveomeasureo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-49-o o toocreateoaodefenceoandotoostealoaomarchooverotheoprosecution.oTheosaidoDDRo wasonotoaogenuineoaccountoofotheooccurrenceobutowasoaocalculatedoattemptotoo layotheofoundationoforotheodefenceotoobeosubsequentlyoraisedobyotheoappellants.o

68.o o Inoviewoofotheoaforesaidosubmissions,olearnedoStateocounseloando learnedocounseloappearingoforotheocomplainantocontendothatotheoprosecutiono hasosucceededoinoestablishingotheoguiltoofotheoappellantsobeyondoalloreasonableo doubto througho theo consistento ando cogento testimonieso ofo theo injuredo eyewitnessesowhichoisoalsoocorroboratedobyotheomedicaloandootheroevidenceoono record.oItoisosubmittedothatotheodefenceosoughtotoobeoprojectedobyotheoappellantso isoinherentlyocontradictory,ounsupportedobyoreliableoevidenceoandoincapableoofo creatingoanyoreasonableodoubtoinotheoprosecutionocase.oTheyothusocontendothato theotrialoCourtohasocorrectlyoappreciatedotheooraloasowelloasodocumentaryo evidence,o rightlyo rejectedo theo defenceo pleaso ando recordedo well-reasonedo findingso ofo convictiono whicho doeso noto suffero fromo anyo legalo oro factualo infirmityowarrantingointerferenceobyothisoCourt.o

69.o o Weo haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo foro theo respectiveo partiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoandotheoevidenceoreferredotooando reliedouponoonobehalfoofotheorespectiveoparties.o CONSIDERATIONo

70.o o Theorivalosubmissionsoadvancedoonobehalfoofotheopartiesorevealo thatothereoisonooseriousodisputeowithoregardotootheobroadosequenceoofoeventso precedingo theo occurrence.o Theo prosecutiono aso wello aso theo defenceo acknowledgeothatoanoaltercationohadotakenoplaceoearlieroinotheoeveningoofo

10.01.2004o betweeno Surindero ando Jasbiro Singho sono ofo Dharamo Pal.o Theo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-50-o o dispute,ohowever,oliesoinotheogenesisoofotheosubsequentooccurrence,otheomannero inowhichoitounfoldedoandotheoroleoattributedotootheorespectiveoaccused.o

71.o o Accordingotootheoprosecution,otheoearlieroaltercationofurnishedotheo immediateomotiveoforotheooccurrenceothatofollowed.oItoisoallegedothat,owithoao viewotooavengeotheosaidoincident,otheoappellants-accusedoassembledoatotheo residenceoofotheocomplainantopartyoatoabouto10:00/10:30op.m.oono10.01.2004.o Uponoreachingothere,otheyostartedohurlingoabusesoandowhenoDharamoPal,oalongo withohisosonsoandootherofamilyomembers,ocameooutoofotheohouseotoorestrainotheo appellantsofromomisbehaving,otheoappellantsolaunchedoaoconcertedoassaulto uponothemowithotheoweaponsocarriedobyothem.o

72.o o Theogravamenoofotheoprosecutionocaseoisothat,oduringotheoassault,o Rajbirodealtoaoblowowithoaomussalo(pestle)oonotheoheadoofoDharamoPal,owhoo wasothenoabouto70oyearsoofoage.oTheopost-mortemoexaminationorevealedoao laceratedowoundomeasuringo6o?o1ocmooverotheoposterioroaspectoofotheolefto parietaloregion,oplacedohorizontally,oapproximatelyo7ocmotootheoleftoofotheo midlineoando10ocmoaboveotheoleftopinna.oTheosaidoinjuryowasoopinedobyotheo doctorotoobeosufficientoinotheoordinaryocourseoofonatureotoocauseodeathoandowaso foundotoobeotheocauseoofoDharamoPal'sodemise.oApartofromotheofataloinjuryo sufferedobyoDharamoPal,otheoprosecutionoalsooreliesouponotheoinjuriesosustainedo byoPW-4oBhoopoSingh,oPW-5oAshokoandoPW-10oMangaloSingh,oalloofowhomo claimotoobeoinjuredoeyewitnessesotootheooccurrence.oAsoperotheoprosecution,o theo appellantso wereo variouslyo armedo witho jailies,o lathis,o gandasiso ando ao mussal,oandotheoinjuriesosustainedobyotheodeceasedoandotheoinjuredowitnesseso wereoinflictedobyotheoappellantsowithotheosaidoweapons.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-51-o o

73.o o Theodefence,ohowever,oprojectsoanoentirelyodifferentoversionoofo theooccurrence.oAccordingotootheoappellants,otheoprosecutionohasoartificiallyo bifurcatedo whato was,o ino reality,o ao singleo continuouso occurrenceo intoo twoo distinctoincidents.oItoisotheiroconsistentostandothatotheooccurrenceocommencedo ato abouto 7:00/8:00o p.m.o witho ano altercationo betweeno Jasbiro Singho ando appellant-Surindero Singho ando thato theo subsequento incidento allegedo byo theo prosecutionoatoabouto10:30op.m.oneverotookoplaceoinotheomanneroalleged.oTheo defenceo versiono iso that,o duringo theo altercationo witho Jasbiro Singho ando theo membersoofotheocomplainantoparty,oSurinderoSinghosustainedoinjuriesoonovitalo partsoofohisobody,otherebyogivingoriseotooaoreasonableoapprehensionoofodangero toohisolifeoandopersonalosafetyoandocauseoinjuriesoinoselfodefence.oItoisofurthero theirocaseothatoSurinderoSingh,owhoowasothenoabouto19oyearsoofoageoandowaso activelyoengagedoinowrestling,oapproachedotheopoliceoduringotheointerveningo nightoofo10/11.01.2004oandogotohisoversionorecordedovideoDDRoNo.o17oatoabouto 2:05o a.m.o Theo appellantso contendo thato theo saido DDRo constitutesotheo firsto accounto ofo theo occurrenceo and,o thus,o deservedo dueo considerationo duringo investigation.o o o Theoprincipaloquestionsothatoariseoforodeterminationoare:o-o

(i)e whetherotheoinvestigationosuffersofromosuchoinfirmitiesoaso materiallyoaffectotheocredibilityoofotheoprosecutionocase;o

(ii)e owhethero theo pleao ofo alibio raisedo byo Rajbiro standso probabilised;o

(iii)e owhetherotheoprosecutionohasoestablishedotheopresenceoando specificoroleoofoeachoappellantobeyondoreasonableodoubt;o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-52-o o

(iv)e whetherotheoappellantsoareoentitledotootheobenefitoofotheo rightoofoprivateodefence;oando

(v)e whetherotheofindingsorecordedobyotheotrialoCourtowarranto interference.o o oo Itoisowithoaoviewotooansweringotheseoquestionsothatotheoevidenceo adducedobyotheopartiesonowofallsoforoconsideration.o

74.o o Theo positiono ino lawo needso noo reiterationo thato theo burdeno ofo provingotheoguiltoofoanoaccusedobeyondoreasonableodoubtorestsoentirelyoupono theoprosecutionoandocontinuesotooremainouponoitothroughoutotheotrial.oTheo accusedoisopresumedotoobeoinnocentounlessosuchopresumptionostandsodisplacedo byocogent,oreliableoandolegallyoadmissibleoevidenceoledobyotheoprosecution.o Thereo iso noo correspondingo obligationo upono theo accusedo too establisho hiso innocenceoorotooproveohisodefenceobeyondoreasonableodoubt.o

75.o o Theopositionoinolawowithoregardotoopleaoofoalibiostandsosettledo throughoconsistentojudgments.oWhereoanoaccusedosetsoupoaospecificodefence,o suchoasoaopleaoofoalibiooroaopleaoofoprivateodefence,otheostandardorequiredotoobeo dischargedoisonotothatoapplicableotootheoprosecution.oItowouldosufficeoifotheo accusedo succeedso ino probabilisingo hiso defenceo ono ao preponderanceo ofo probabilitiesooroisoableotoobringoonorecordosuchomaterial,oeitherothroughotheo prosecutionoevidenceoorotheodefenceoevidence,oasocreatesoaoreasonableodoubto regardingotheotruthfulnessoofotheoprosecutionoversion.oo

76.o o Itoisoequallyowellosettledothatoeveryoreasonableodoubtoarisingofromo theoevidenceomustoenureotootheobenefitoofotheoaccused.oSuchodoubt,ohowever,o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-53-o o mustobeoaorealoandosubstantialoone,ofoundedouponotheoevidenceoonorecordoando noto upono conjectureso oro fancifulo hypotheses.o Thus,o whereo theo evidenceo adducedo byo theo prosecutiono leaveso theo Courto witho ao reasonableo doubto regardingotheogenesisoofotheooccurrence,otheoparticipationoofotheoaccusedoorotheo correctnessoofotheoprosecutionoversion,otheoaccusedobecomesoentitledotootheo benefitoofosuchodoubt.oConversely,oifotheoprosecutionosucceedsoinoestablishingo itso caseo byo reliableo ando convincingo evidence,o theo accusedo cannoto claimo acquittalomerelyobecauseoanoalternativeohypothesisoisoremotelyopossibleooro becauseo someoinsignificantodiscrepancyo appearsoino theo evidenceo whichoiso otherwiseolargelyoconsistent.o IssueoNo.o(i)o—oFairnessoandoCompletenessoofotheoInvestigationo

77.o o WeofirstotakeoupoQuestionoNo.(i),oi.e.owhetherotheoinvestigationoino theopresentocaseosuffersofromoinfirmitiesothatomateriallyoaffectotheocredibilityo ofotheoprosecutionocase.oTheodeterminationoofothisoissueoalsoohasoaodirecto bearingouponotheoevidentiaryovalueoofotheoocularoaccountoreliedouponobyotheo prosecution.oWhileoitoisosettledothatolapsesooroirregularitiesoinoinvestigationodoo not,o byo themselves,o necessarilyo resulto ino theo acquittalo ofo ano accused,o theo positionoisoequallyowellosettledothatowhereosucholapsesogootootheorootoofotheo prosecutionocaseoandocreateoaoreasonableodoubtoregardingotheogenesisoofotheo occurrence,otheofairnessoofotheoinvestigationoorotheocredibilityoofotheoversiono projectedo beforeo theo Court,o theyo assumeo considerableo importanceo ino theo appreciationoofoevidence.oInothisoregard,otheofollowingoaspectsoofoinvestigationo areobeingoexamined.oo o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-54-o o

(a)oConductoofotheoInvestigatingoOfficero

78.o o Ato theo outset,o thiso courto noticeso thato theo conducto ofo theo InvestigatingoOfficerodoesonotoinspireoconfidenceoasoregardsoitsofairnessoando impartiality.oTheoInvestigatingoOfficeroinitiallyodeniedohavingoreceivedoanyo complaintoduringotheointerveningonightoofo10/11oJanuary,o2004.oHeowentotootheo extentoofodenyingohisopresenceoatotheoPoliceoStationoduringotheosaidoperiod.oIto wasoonlyowhenoheowasoconfrontedowithotheoRoznamchaomaintainedoatotheo PoliceoStation,owhichoestablishedohisopresenceoandobeingofurtheroconfrontedo withoDDRoNo.o17orecordedoato2:05oa.m.,othatoheoadmittedotheosaidofacts.oAno InvestigatingoOfficeroisoexpectedotooconductoaofair,oimpartialoandoobjectiveo investigationoandothereafterodrawoappropriateoconclusionsoonotheobasisoofotheo materialocollected.oInotheopresentocase,ohowever,otheoInvestigatingoOfficero appearsotoohaveoadoptedotheoeasierocourseoofodenyingoandowithholdingoofotheo evidenceowhichocouldohaveothrownobetterolightoonotheocase.oSuchoconductocastso aoseriousodoubtoonoitsoimpartiality.o

(b)oDelayoinoSettingotheoCriminaloLawoinoMotiono

79.o o Anotheroissueothatohasobeenoarguedowithoconsiderableovehemenceo pertainsotootheodelayoinotheoregistrationoofotheoFIR.oLearnedoSenioroCounselo appearingoforotheoappellantsocontendedothatothereowasoanounexplainedodelayoofo moreothano9½ohoursoinotheoregistrationoofotheoFIR,oafterosendingooforuqaoato 10:00oa.m.oono11.01.2004,odespiteotheooccurrenceohavingotakenoplaceoaroundo 12o hourso earlier.o Counselo submitso thato sucho delayo affordedo sufficiento opportunityo foro deliberationo ando consultation.o Pero contra,o learnedo Stateo counseloasowelloasolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheocomplainantocontendedo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-55-o o thatotheoappellantsothemselvesowereoequallyoguiltyoofodelayoinoreportingotheo matterotootheopolice.oItoisoarguedothat,oaccordingotootheodefenceoversion,otheo earlieroincidentobetweenoSurinderoSinghoandoJasbiroSinghohadotakenoplaceoato abouto 8:00o p.m.,o yeto theo DDRo waso recordedo onlyo ato 2:05o a.m.,o therebyo reflectingoaogapoofonearlyosixohoursoinoapproachingotheopolice.oItois,othus,o contendedothatotheoappellantsocouldonotoderiveoanyoadvantageofromotheoallegedo delayoinotheoregistrationoofotheoFIRowhenotheiroownoconductoinoreportingotheo occurrenceowasoalsoodelayed.o

80.o o Weohaveogoneothroughotheoruqa,otheomedico-legalorecordoasowello asotheopost-mortemoreport.oTheoprosecutionoseeksotooexplainotheodelayoonotheo groundo thato theo injuredo wereo immediatelyo takeno too PGIMS,o Rohtak,o ando reachedotheohospitalowithinoaboutoanohouroofotheooccurrence.oItohasobeeno pointedooutothatotheomedico-legaloexaminationocommencedoato11:35op.m.,o whereafteroaomedicaloruqaowasodispatchedoato12:30oa.m.,owhichowasoreceivedo atotheoPoliceoPost,oPGIMSoRohtakoato12:50oa.m.oItoisocontendedothat,othereafter,o theomatterowasobeyondotheocontroloofotheocomplainantoparty.oItohasofurtherobeeno arguedothatotheocircumstancesoprevailingoatotheorelevantotimeojustifiedosucho delay,oinasmuchoasotheoimmediateopriorityoofotheocomplainantopartyowasotoo takeotheiroinjuredofatherotootheohospitaloforotreatmentoratherothanotooproceedotoo theoPoliceoStationotoolodgeoaoreport.o

81.o o Aospecificoqueryowas,ohowever,oputotootheolearnedoStateocounselo asowelloasolearnedocounseloforotheocomplainantoasotoowhy,oalthoughotheomedico-legaloreportsoofoPW-4oBhoopoSingh,oPW-5oAshokoKumaroandoPW-10oMangalo Singhorecordotheiroarrivaloatotheohospitaloandoshowothatotheiromedico-legalo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-56-o o examinationocommencedoatoabouto11:30op.m.,otheomedicaloruqaomakesonoo referenceowhatsoeverotooDharampalohavingobeenobroughtotooPGIMS,oRohtak.o Theopost-mortemoreporto(Ex.oPN/1),oonotheocontrary,orecordsothatoDharampalo wasobroughtodeadotootheoCasualtyoDepartmentoofoPGIMS,oRohtakoato12:30oa.m.o ono11.01.2004,oi.e.omoreothanoanohouroafteroPW-4oBhoopoSingh,oPW-5oAshoko KumaroandoPW-10oMangaloSinghohadoalreadyobeenomedicallyoexamined.oTheo post-mortemoreportofurtherorecordsothatotheodeadobodyoofoDharampalowaso identifiedobyoRanbiroSingh,osonoofoDharampal,oandoTilakoRam,osonoofoDariyao Singh,owhoowasotheobrother-in-lawo(Jija)oofotheodeceased.oSignificantly,otheo medico-legalorecordopertainingotootheoinjuredowitnessesoalsoodoesonotoreflecto theo presenceo ofo Jasbiro Singh.o Ito appearso highlyo improbableo that,o ifo theo occurrenceohadotakenoplaceoinotheomannerosuggestedobyotheoprosecution,oando threeobrothersohadosustainedoinjuriesowhileotheirofatherohadosuccumbedotootheo injuries,otheofourthosonowouldoneitheroaccompanyotheoinjuredonorotheodeceasedo tootheohospital.oEqually,othereoisonooexplanationoasotoowhyoJasbiroSinghodidonoto proceedotootheoPoliceoStationotooreportotheooccurrence,oespeciallyowhenoheowaso admittedlyonotoaccompanyingotheoinjuredoorotheodeceased.o

82.o o Whato iso equallyo strikingo iso thato theo inquesto proceedingso (Ex.o PN/3)orecordothatotheoPoliceoStationowasosituatedoatoaodistanceoofoabouto3o kilometreso fromotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoando furtherostateo thato theopoliceo receivedoinformationoregardingotheodeathoonlyoato6:00oa.m.oono11.01.2004.oTheo saidorecital,oprimaofacie,oappearsotoobeoinconsistentowithotheoprosecutionorecordo itself,oinasmuchoasoSurinderoSinghohadoadmittedlyoreportedotheooccurrenceobyo wayoofoDDRoNo.o17oato2:05oa.m.oonotheosameoday.oAdditionally,oevenotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-57-o o inquestoproceedingsodoonotorecordotheopresenceoofoJasbiroSingh.o

83.o o LearnedoSenioroCounselohasoarguedoatoconsiderableolengthothato theoinvestigationoinotheopresentocaseowasoinquest-driven,oandothatoitoisoinothiso backdropothatotheodelayoinorecordingotheostatementoofotheocomplainantoassumeso significance.oItoisoevidentothatotheocomplainantomadeospecificoattributionso againsto accusedoAjmero Singho ando Suresho regardingotheoinjurieso allegedlyo inflictedouponotheodeceased,oandothatosuchoattributionsoappearedotoocorrespondo witho theo ocularo assessmento madeo byo theo Investigatingo Officero whileo conductingotheoinquestoproceedings.oHowever,otheopost-mortemoexaminationo revealedothatotheoinjuriesoattributedotooAjmeroSinghoandoSureshodidonotoexisto onotheobodyoofotheodeceased.oTheoocularoversionocomesounderoscrutinyoonceo theoinjuriesoattributedotooAjmeroSinghoandoSureshoareofoundotoobeonon-existento althougho theo similaro injurieso hado alsoo foundo mentiono ino theo inquesto proceedingsopreparedobyotheoInvestigatingoOfficer.oTheosaidocircumstanceo lendsosupportotootheocontentionothatotheoinvestigationowasoguidedobyotheoinquesto proceedingsoinsteadoofoaotruthfulorecitationoofotheoincident.o

(c)oFailureotooEstablishotheoRecoveryoofoWeaponso

84.o o Theoprosecutionohasofailedoevenotooproveotheorecoveryoofotheo weapons.oTheotrialocourtohasorecordedoaospecificofindingothatotheorecoverieso allegedlyoeffectedoatotheodisclosureoofotheorespectiveoaccusedopersonsoremainedo unproved.o Significantly,o theo saido findingo haso noto beeno assailedo byo theo complainant,odespiteohavingopreferredoseparateopetition.oTheosaidofindingohas,o thus,o attainedo finality.o Thiso circumstanceo furthero castso ao doubto upono theo prosecutiono caseo ando satisfactoryo dischargeo ofo theo burdeno ofo provingotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-58-o o chargesobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oWhereotheofactumooforecoveryoitselfoisonoto proved,otheodisclosureostatementolosesoitsoevidentiaryoutilityounderoSectiono27o ofotheoIndianoEvidenceoAct,o1872.oTheoweaponorecoveredothusocannotobeoreliedo uponoeitherotooplaceotheoaccusedoatotheosceneoorotoolinkoaoparticularoweapono withoanyospecificoaccused.oo

(d)oSuppressionoofotheoTrueoGenesisoofotheoOccurrenceo—oDDRoNo.17oando theoNon-ExaminationoofoJasbiroSingho o

85.o o TheowitnessesohaveoprovedoonorecordoDDRoNo.o17,orecordedoato 2:05oa.m.oono11.01.2004,olodgedobyoSurinderoSinghoregardingotheoinjurieso sustainedobyotheodeceasedoDharamoPaloinoanoincidentothatoallegedlyotookoplaceo betweenohimoandoJasbiroSinghoatoabouto7:00op.m.oInotheosaidoDDRo(Ex.oDC),o SurinderoSinghostatedothatowhileoheowasostandingonearotheoChaupal,oheonoticedo BhoopoSingh,owhoowasoinoanoinebriatedocondition,oaccompaniedobyohisobrothero Mangalo Singh.o Upono seeingo them,o heo crackedo ao joke,o whicho waso takeno offensiveobyoMangaloSingho(PW-10)owhoocalledohisobrotheroAshokoKumaro (PW-5)otoobringoaolathiofromotheohouseoandoinitiatedoaofightowithoSurindero Singh.oAshokoKumaroimmediatelyoarrivedoatotheospotoandoinflictedoaolathioblowo onotheoheadoofoSurinderoSingh.oThereafter,oanotherolathiowasobroughtobyoJasbiro Singh,owhooalsooinflictedoanoinjuryoonotheoleftoelbowoofoSurinderoSingh.o MangaloSinghotooobroughtoaolathiofromotheohouseoandostruckoaoblowoonotheo kneeoofoSurinderoSingh.oTheoaforesaidoversionoalsooindicatesothatotheohouseoofo theocomplainantopartyowasoatoaoshortodistanceofromotheoplaceoofooccurrenceo sinceoMangaloSinghowasoableotoosummonoAshokoKumaromerelyobyocallingohimo loudly.oThisocircumstanceoalsoofindsosomeocorroborationofromotheodistanceso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-59-o o reflectedoinotheositeoplan.o

86.o o Evenothoughoanoattemptohasobeenomadeobyotheoprosecutionotoo contendothatotheoBadioChaupalowasosituatedoatoaoconsiderableodistanceofromo theohouseoofotheocomplainantoand,otherefore,otheoappellant-accusedowereotheo aggressorsowhoohadocomeoallotheowayotootheoplaceoofooccurrence,ohowever,onoo evidenceo haso beeno pointedo outo fromo theo recordo too substantiateo sucho ao contention.oTheoprosecutionohasofailedotooreferotooanyomaterialoonotheobasiso whereofo sucho ano aspecto couldo beo establishedo oro haso beeno provedo byo theo prosecution.o

87.o o Itohasofurtheroemergedofromotheotestimoniesoofotheoprosecutiono witnessesothat,owhenoquestionedoregardingotheoinjuriesosustainedobyoSurindero Singh,otheyoremainedoevasiveoinotheiroresponses.oPW-4oBhoopoSinghostatedo thatoheohadonotocausedoanyoinjuryotooSurinderoSinghoandoaddedothatohisobrotherso mightohaveocausedotheoinjuries.oHowever,oPW-5oAshokoKumarocategoricallyo deniedohavingocausedoanyoinjuryoandostatedothat,oonohearingotheoexhortation,o theyohadocomeooutoempty-handed.oAnoimprovementowasosoughtotoobeoadded.o Likewise,oPW-10oMangaloSinghoalsoofailedotooofferoanyoexplanationoregardingo theoinjuriesofoundoonotheopersonoofoSurinderoSinghoandoclaimedothatoheocameo tootheospotolater.ooo

88.o o Theofailureoofotheoprosecutionowitnessesotooexplainotheoinjurieso sustainedobyotheoallegedoassailant,oespeciallyowhenosuchoinjuriesoareolocatedo onovitalopartsoofotheobodyoandoareoofoconsiderableodimensions,oraisesoaoseriouso doubtoregardingotheogenesisoofotheooccurrenceoasoprojectedobyotheoprosecution.o TheoCourtoisounderoanoobligationotooobjectivelyoevaluateotheoevidenceoono o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-60-o o record,oandowhereotheoevidenceofailsotoofurnishoaosatisfactoryoexplanationoforo theocircumstancesothatoemergeotherefrom,otheoprosecutionoversiononecessarilyo suffersoaodent.oThisoassumesogreaterosignificanceowhenoallotheoprosecutiono witnessesodenyohavingocausedoanyoinjuryotooSurinderoSingh.o

89.o o Itoisoalsoonototheocaseoofotheoprosecutionothatotheoinjuriesowereoself-inflictedoorohadobeenocausedobyoaofriendlyohand.oTheomedico-legaloreportoofo SurinderoSinghohasoneitherobeenodisputedonorochallenged.oConsequently,otheo authenticityoandocredibilityoofotheomedico-legaloreportoremainounimpeached.o

90.o o Consideringothatotheodefenceocaseoisothatotheooccurrenceohadoitso genesisoinoaominoroaltercationobetweenoJasbiroSinghoandoSurinderoSingh,oito becameorelevant,oandoindeedoincumbentouponotheoprosecution,otooexamineo JasbiroSingh,oespeciallyowhenoheowasocitedoasoaoprosecutionowitness.oHowever,o Jasbiro Singho waso noto examinedo ando nooexplanationo whatsoevero haso beeno offeredoforosuchoomission.oThis,otoo,oconstitutesoanotherocircumstanceowhicho persuadesotheoCourtotooinferothatotheotrueogenesisoofotheooccurrenceohasobeeno withheldoandothatotheonarrativeoprojectedobeforeotheoCourtohasobeenotailoredotoo conformotootheoprosecutionoversion.o

(e)oErrorsoinotheoTrialoCourt'soOwnoAppreciationoofotheoInvestigationo

91.o o TheotrialoCourtodiscardedoDDRoNo.o17o(Ex.oDC)oonotheoreasoningo thatoitowasoanoattemptobyoSurinderoSinghotoocreateoaodefenceoforohimselfoandotoo saveo theo remainingo accusedo withouto discussiono ando withouto eveno anyo investigationoofotheosame.oIfosuchoaotestoisotoobeoapplied,oitohasotoooperateo uniformlyowhileoappreciatingotheoevidenceoofobothosides.oTheoCourtowouldonoto presumeothatoeveryoversionoputoforthobyotheoaccusedoisoinherentlyofalseomerelyo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-61-o o becauseoitosupportsotheodefence.oSuchoreasoning,oinoeffect,oreflectsothatoano adverseopresumptionohadoalreadyobeenodrawnoagainstotheoaccusedomerelyo becauseotheyostoodochargedowithotheocommissionoofoanooffence.o

92.o o TheotrialoCourtoalsooappearsotoohaveoproceededoonoanoassumptiono thatothereowereotwoodistinctooccurrencesoi.e.ooneoasonarratedoinotheoFIRo(Ex.oP-8)oandotheootheroasoreflectedoinoDDRoNo.o17o(Ex.oDC).oInoarrivingoatosuchoao conclusion,o theo trialo courto completelyo overlookedo theo conducto ofo theo investigatingoagencyoinowithholdingofromotheoCourtotheoexistenceoofoDDRoNo.o 17oandotheomedico-legaloreportoofoSurinderoSingh,oandotreatedotheoomissionoaso aobonaofideolapse.oSuchoaoconclusion,oinotheoopinionoofothisoCourt,oisofoundedo moreoonoconjectureothanoonotheoevidenceoavailableoonorecord.oSignificantly,oito wasoneverotheodefenceocaseothatotwooseparateoincidentsohadotakenoplace.oOnotheo contrary,otheoconsistentostandoofotheoappellantsothroughoutohasobeenothatothereo wasoonlyooneooccurrence,oduringowhichobothosidesosustainedoinjuries.oo

93.o o Theotrialocourtoalsooignoredotheomaterialocontradictionsoinotheo testimoniesoofotheoprosecutionowitnessesoregardingotheoplaceowhereotheyohado stayedoovernightobeforeoreportingotheooccurrence.oInsteadoofoappreciatingotheo effectoofosuchoinconsistencies,otheotrialocourtoattributedotheodiscrepancyotooano attemptoonotheopartoofotheoInvestigatingoOfficerotooexplainoawayotheodelayoino theo investigation,o althougho sucho waso noto theo caseo seto upo eithero byo theo prosecutionoorobyotheodefence.oTheoconclusionorecordedobyotheotrialoCourtoiso henceofoundedouponoitsoownoassumptions.o

94.o o Theotrialocourtofurtheroproceededotoodrawoanoadverseoinferenceo againstotheoappellantsomerelyobecauseoblood-stainedoearthohadobeenorecovered,o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-62-o o withoutoassigningodueosignificanceotootheoplaceofromowhereosuchoblood-stainedo earthohadoadmittedlyobeenolifted.oTheotrialoCourtospecificallyorecordedothatonoo blood-stainedoearthohadobeenocollectedofromotheoplaceowhereotheoprosecutiono allegedotheooccurrenceotoohaveotakenoplaceoandothatotheoblood-stainedoeartho had,oinofact,obeenoliftedofromoPointo'B',osituatedoinsideotheohouse.oItoheldothato absenceoofobloodoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoisoofonooconsequence.o

95.o o Suchoaofinding,oinotheoopinionoofothisoCourt,oisomisplaced.oTheo determinationoofotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoconstitutesoaovitalocircumstanceoinoao criminalotrial,oespeciallyowhereorivaloversionsoregardingotheogenesisoofotheo incidentoandoplaceoofooccurrenceoareoputoforth.oTheolocationofromowhichoblood-stainedoearthoisorecoveredomayohaveoaodirectobearingouponotheodeterminationo ofotheoactualoplaceoofooccurrence,otheosequenceoofoevents,oandotheoquestionoaso toowhichopartyowasotheoaggressor.oTheocircumstance,otherefore,ocouldonotohaveo beenobrushedoasideoasobeingoimmaterial,oespeciallyowhenotheodefenceoassertedo thatotheooccurrenceohadotakenoplaceoatoaodifferentolocationoandonotoatotheoplaceo whereotheoprosecutionosooclaims.o

96.o o Weoareoofotheoopinionothatothatotheoinvestigationocarriedooutointoo theoincidentodoesonotoinspireoconfidenceoasobeingofair,ocompleteoandoobjective.o Theomaterialobroughtoonorecordoindicatesothatoseveralocrucialoaspects,owhicho hadoaodirectobearingoonotheorivaloversionsoputoforthobyotheoparties,owereoeithero leftounexploredoorowereoconsciouslyoignoredobyotheoInvestigatingoOfficer.oSucho omissionsohaveomateriallyoimpairedotheoabilityoofotheoprosecutionotooestablisho itsocaseobeyondoreasonableodoubt.o

97.o o Accordingly,oQuestionoNo.o(i)oisoansweredoinotheoaffirmativeoando o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-63-o o againstotheoprosecution/State.oWeoareoofotheoopinionothatotheoinvestigationo suffersofromoseriousoinfirmitiesowhichoareonotomerelyoproceduraloirregularities.o TheosuppressionoofoDDRoNo.o17oandotheomedico-legaloreportoofoSurindero Singh,otheofailureotooinvestigateotheopleaoofoalibioraisedobyoRajbiroSinghoatotheo veryoinceptionoofotheoinvestigationo(whichoisodealtowithowhileoconsideringo Questiono No.o (ii)),o theo unexplainedonon-examinationoofo Jasbiro Singh,o theo failureoofotheoprosecutionotooestablishotheorecoveriesoallegedlyoeffectedofromo theoaccused,oandotheoattributionoofoinjuriesoduringotheoinquestoproceedingso findingonoosupportofromotheopost-mortemoreport,ocumulativelyodemonstrateo thatotheoinvestigationowasonotocomprehensive.oTheoaforesaidodeficienciesoareo notoofosuchoaonatureoasotoobeoviewedoinoisolationobutotakenotogether,otheyo discloseoaopatternoofoinvestigationothatofailedotooexploreomaterialocircumstanceso favourableotootheodefenceoandoomittedotooplaceobeforeotheoCourtotheocompleteo pictureo relatingo too theo genesiso ofo theo occurrence.o Sucho omissionso haveo materiallyoaffectedotheocredibilityoofotheoprosecutionocaseoandohaveorenderedo itounsafeotooacceptotheoprosecutionoversionowithoutoindependentoandocarefulo scrutiny.oo IssueoNo.o(ii)o—oPleaoofoAlibioRaisedobyoRajbiroSingho

98.o o Sinceotheoprosecutionoattributesotheofataloblowoonotheoheadoofo DharamoPalotooRajbiroSingh,otheodeterminationoofohisopresenceoatotheoplaceoofo occurrenceoassumesoconsiderableosignificanceoandoisotakenouponext.o

99.o o Theo evidenceo ono recordo undisputedlyo establisheso thato Rajbiro SinghowasoservingowithotheoMinistryoofoHomeoAffairsoandowasopostedowithotheo 17oBattalion.oTheodocumentaryoevidenceoproducedobyotheodefence,oincludingo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-64-o o theodutyoroster,oshowsothatoheowasodeputedoforosentryodutyoatoLokoNayako Bhawan,oNewoDelhi,ofromo1:00op.m.otoo7:00op.m.oono10.01.2004.oDuringo cross-examination,otheoprosecutionosuggestedothatocertainoentriesoinotheodutyo rosterohadobeenomadeoinohandwriting.oHowever,onoosuggestionowasoputotootheo officialo witnesso thato theo recordo waso fabricated,o manipulatedo oro otherwiseo forged.oTheogenuinenessoofotheoofficialorecord,othus,oremainedounchallenged.o TheotrialocourtoalsooacceptedotheodefenceoevidenceotootheoextentothatoRajbiro Singhohad,oinofact,oremainedoonoofficialodutyoatoLokoNayakoBhawan,oNewo Delhi,ofromo1:00op.m.otillo7:00op.m.oono10.01.2004.o

100.o o Theorealoquestion,ohowever,oisonotowhetheroRajbiroSinghoremainedo onodutyotillo7:00op.m.,obutowhether,oafterocompletionoofohisoofficialoduty,oitowaso reasonablyopossibleoforohimotootravelofromoNewoDelhiotooVillageoKharantioando beopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoatoabouto10:30op.m.oTheotrialoCourtoplacedo muchorelianceouponotheotestimoniesoofoPW-4oBhoopoSingh,oPW-5oAshokoando PW-10oMangaloSingh,oalloofowhomoattributeotheofataloblowotooRajbiroSingh.o However,o theo Courto dido noto undertakeo anyo detailedo examinationo ofo theo practicalofeasibilityoofoRajbiroSinghoreachingotheoplaceoofooccurrenceowithino theoavailableotime.oTheojudgmentodoesonotoadvertotootheoimplicationsoarisingo fromotheoadmittedofactothatoRajbiroSinghoremainedoonoofficialodutyotillo7:00o p.m.oatoNewoDelhi,onorodoesoitoanalyseowhetherotheointerveningoperiodoofo approximatelyothreeoandoaohalfohoursowasosufficientoforohimotoocoveroaodistanceo ofonearlyo120okilometresoandoreachoVillageoKharantiobyoabouto10:30op.m.o

101.o o Theopleaoofoalibiocouldonotobeoacceptedoororejectedoinoisolationo merelyoonotheobasisoofotheooralotestimonyoofotheoprosecutionowitnessesoorotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-65-o o defenceowitnesses.oItonecessarilyorequiresoaoholisticoappreciationoofoallotheo attendantocircumstances.oOnceotheoprosecutionoitselfodoesonotodisputeothato RajbiroSinghoremainedoonoofficialodutyotillo7:00op.m.oonotheodateoofooccurrence,o itowasoincumbentouponotheotrialoCourtotooexamineowhetherohisopresenceoatotheo placeo ofo occurrenceo ato theo relevanto timeo waso reasonablyo probableo ino theo ordinaryocourseoofohumanoconductoandoasoperotheoevidenceoavailableoonorecord.o

102.o o Theolawogoverningoaopleaoofoalibioisoequallyowellosettled.oAopleao ofoalibioisonotooneoofotheogeneraloexceptionsoembodiedoinotheoIndianoPenalo Code,o1860.oItoisoaoruleoofoevidenceorecognisedounderoSectiono11oofotheoIndiano EvidenceoAct,o1872,oandoisofoundedoonotheoprincipleothatotheopresenceoofotheo accusedoatoanotheroplace,oifoestablished,orendersohisopresenceoatotheoplaceoofo occurrenceohighlyoimprobableooroimpossible.oUnlikeotheoburdenocastouponoano accusedowhileoinvokingoaogeneraloexceptionounderotheoIndianoPenaloCode,otheo burdenorestingouponoanoaccusedosettingoupoaopleaoofoalibioisonototooestablishotheo sameobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oItoisosufficientoifotheoaccusedoisoableotooplaceo beforeotheoCourtosuchomaterialoasoprobabilisesohisoabsenceofromotheoplaceoofo occurrenceo ando createso ao reasonableo doubto regardingo theo prosecutiono allegationoofohisopresence.oTheostandardoapplicableoisothatoofopreponderanceoofo probabilitieso ando noto proofo beyondo reasonableo doubt.o Onceo theo accusedo succeedsoinoprobabilisingotheopleaoofoalibiotootheosatisfactionoofotheoCourt,otheo evidentiaryoburdenoshiftsobackotootheoprosecution.oSinceotheolegaloburdenoofo provingo theo guilto ofo theo accusedo nevero departso fromo theo prosecution,o ito continuesotooremainounderoanoobligationotooestablishothatonotwithstandingotheo circumstancesoreliedouponobyotheoaccused,oheowasoinofactopresentoatotheoplaceo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-66-o o ofo occurrenceo ando participatedo ino theo commissiono ofo theo offence.o Theo prosecutionomust,othus,odispelotheodoubtoarisingofromotheopleaoofoalibioando excludeotheoreasonableopossibilityoofotheoaccusedohavingobeenoelsewhereoatotheo relevantotime.o

103.o o Theo essentialo aspectso ofo theo presento caseo whicho remaino unansweredoandounexplainedoareoasounder:o-o o

(a)eOnceoitostandsoacceptedothatoRajbiroSinghowasoanoemployeeoofotheo MinistryoofoHomeoAffairsoandowasoonoofficialodutyoonotheorelevanto date,o ito becameo incumbento upono theo Investigatingo Officero too investigateo hiso locationo ando whereabouts.o Sucho ano obligationo assumesogreaterosignificanceowhenoaospecificoplea,othatotheoaccusedo wasonotopresentoinotheovillageoandowasoinsteadoonodutyoatoNewo Delhi,owasoraisedoatotheoveryoinceptionoofotheoinvestigationoandowaso withino theo knowledgeo ofo theo Investigatingo Officer.o Theo InvestigatingoOfficerohimselfoadmittedothatoheohadocomeotooknowo thatoRajbiroSinghowasoemployedowithotheoMinistryoofoHomeoAffairso atotheorelevantotime.oDespiteotheosame,otheoprosecutionohasonotoledo anyoevidenceotooestablishothatoanyoinvestigationowhatsoeverowaso conductedointootheoclaimomadeobyoappellant-accusedoRajbiroSingh.o ItoisosignificantotoonoteothatotheoentryopertainingotooRajbir'sosentryo dutyoappearsoinotheomiddleoofotheodutyorosteroandodoesonotoreflecto anyointerpolation,ooverwritingoorointerlineation.oTheoSupervisoroaso welloasotheoCommandantoofotheo17oBattalionospecificallyodeposedo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-67-o o regardingo theo presenceo ofo Rajbiro Singho ono sentryo dutyo ono

10.01.2004.oo

(b)eTheoprosecutionocaseoisothatoRajbiroSinghowasoinformedoaboutotheo earlieroincidentobetweenoSurinderoSinghoandoJasbiroSinghoandothat,o upono receivingo sucho information,o heo immediatelyo proceededo towardsohisovillage.oHowever,othereoisonooexplanationowhatsoevero asotoowhooinformedoRajbiroSinghoofotheosaidoincidentoorobyowhato modeosuchoinformationowasoconveyedotoohim.oThereoisonothingoono recordotoosuggestothatoeitherotheoappellant-accusedooroRajbiroSingho hadoaccessotooanyotelephoneofacilityoatotheorelevantotime.oNeithero anyolandlineonumberonoroanyomobileonumberohasobeenobroughtoono record.oTheosaidoaspectoisocrucialoconsideringothatotheooccurrenceo tookoplaceoinotheoyearo2004,owhenotheouseoofomobileophonesowaso stilloatoaonascentostageoandohadonotopermeatedotheoruralohinterlando inotheomanneroitohasotoday.oTheouseoofomobileotelephonyowaso limited,oandocommunicationoordinarilyotookoplaceothrougholandlineo oroSTDofacilities.oThereoisonooevidenceotooshowothatotheoappellantso hadoanyosuchotelecommunicationofacilityoeitheroatotheiroresidenceo oroelsewhereoinotheovillageofromowhereoRajbiroSinghocouldohaveo beeno informed.o Likewise,o noo telephoneo numberso haveo beeno disclosedoeitheroatotheoplaceowhereoRajbirowasopostedooroatoanyo othero placeo fromo whereo sucho informationo couldo haveo beeno transmitted.oInosuchocircumstances,otheomanneroinowhichoRajbiro o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-68-o o Singho allegedlyo receivedo informationo regardingo theo incidento remainsowhollyounexplained.oo

(c)eTheocomplainantohasoraisedoanoargumentothatotheoincidentobetweeno JasbiroandoSurinderoSinghohadotakenoplaceoatoaroundo6:00oP.M.o however,othereoisonooevidenceotooestablishotheosame.oo

(d)eApartotherefrom,oDW-3oNaseeboSingh,owhoowasoresidingowitho Rajbiro Singho ato theo Government-allottedo accommodationo ato MandiroMarg,oNewoDelhi,ospecificallyodeposedothatocertainopoliceo officialsohadovisitedotheosaidoaccommodationotooenquireoaboutotheo whereaboutsoofoRajbiroSinghoandothatoheohadoinformedothemothato RajbiroSinghohadoremainedoatotheoallottedoquarterothroughoutotheo night.oDespiteosuchoevidence,otheoInvestigatingoOfficerodidonoto conducto anyo inquiryo intoo theosaido aspect.o Too theo contrary,otheo investigationo remainedo completelyo dismissiveo ofo everyo claimo raisedobyoRajbiroSinghoinosupportoofohisopleaoofoalibi.o

(e)eoTheoprosecutionohasoalsoofailedotooexplainotheomodeoofotransporto allegedlyousedobyoRajbiroSinghotooreachotheovillage.oItoneedsonoo elaborationothatotrafficoconditionsoinoDelhioinotheoyearo2004owereo farofromoideal.oAssumingothatoRajbiroSinghohadoleftoimmediatelyo afterotheocompletionoofohisodutyoato7:00op.m.oandohadotravelledobyo publicotransport,oitowouldoordinarilyohaveotakenohimoaboutooneoando aohalfohoursomerelyotooreachotheooutskirtsoofoDelhi.oWhetherotheo routeocommencedofromotheoInter-StateoBusoTerminus,oKashmereo Gate,oorothroughoRingoRoadoviaoWazirabad,oBurari,oKarnaloBye-o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-69-o o pass,oRohini,oPeeragarhioChowkoandothereafterothroughotheooldo RohtakoRoad,otheojourneyonecessarilyoinvolvedopassingothrougho heavilyocongestedoareasosuchoasoNangloioandoJ.J.oColony.oPublico transportoinosuchoareasowasooftenodelayedoonoaccountoofotraffico congestion.oTheotravelotimeofromotheooutskirtsoofoDelhiotooRohtako would,oinotheoordinaryocourse,onotohaveobeenolessothanothreeohourso ando theo journeyo fromo Rohtako too Villageo Kharantio wouldo haveo requiredoanoadditionalo45ominutes.oTheseoareotheocontemporaneouso realitiesoandoaoCourtoofolawodoesonotoremainoobliviousotootheosocialo ando situationalo realities.o Disregardingo theo sameo merelyo ono technicalitiesomayoleadotooaotravestyoofojusticeosinceopeopleoino contemporaneousotimeoexpectoawarenessobyotheoCourtoofotheosameo andodoonotofeelotheoneedotooproveoaofactowelloknown.oTwoodecadeso later,oevenotheoappellateoCourtomayobeoexpectedotookeeponoteoofotheo contemporaryorealityoandosocialocircumstances.ooooo

(f)e ThereoisoalsoonooexplanationoasotoohowoRajbiroSinghotravelledofromo Rohtako too Villageo Kharantio aftero reachingo Rohtak.o Theo onlyo inferenceo thato flowso iso thato ao regularo transporto waso availableo betweeno Rohtako ando theo village.o However,o theo saido assertiono remainsowhollyouncorroborated.oMerelyobecauseotransportomayo haveobeenoavailableofromotheovillageotootheocityoduringodaytimeo wouldonotonecessarilyoimplyothatosimilarotransportofacilitiesowereo availableofromotheocityotootheovillageoatolateohoursoofotheonight.oItoiso notoevenotheoprosecutionocaseothatoRajbiroSinghohadoanyoprivateo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-70-o o vehicleooropersonalomodeoofotransportoatohisodisposal,oatoRohtak.o Publicotransportotooruraloareasoordinarilyoremainsolimitedoduringo lateohoursounlessotheovillageoisosituatedoonoaoStateoHighwayooro Nationalo Highway.o Theo burdeno layo upono theo prosecutiono too establishotheomeansoofoconnectivityoandotheofeasibilityoofosucho travel.oHowever,onooevidenceohasobeenoledoinothatoregard.o

(g)eWhileotheocomplainantoassertsothatotheoearlieroaltercationohadotakeno placeo ato abouto 6:00o p.m.,o theo evidenceo ono recordo doeso noto corroborateosuchoaotime.oTheoearliestoversionoofotheooccurrenceoiso reflectedo ino DDRo No.o 17o recordedo ato 2:05o a.m.o duringo theo interveningonightoofo10/11.01.2004,owhereinoSurinderoSinghostatedo thatotheoearlieroincidentohadotakenoplaceoatoabouto7:00op.m.oInotheo suggestionsoputotootheoprosecutionowitnessesoasowelloasoinotheo defenceo takeno ino theo statementso recordedo undero Sectiono 313o Cr.P.C.,otheooccurrenceobetweenoJasbiroSinghoandoSurinderoSingho wasostatedotoohaveotakenoplaceoatoabouto8:00op.m.oThus,oeveno accordingotootheodefence,otheofirstoincidentocouldohaveotakenoplaceo sometimeoaftero7:00op.m.oItowasoonlyothereafter,othatoanooccasiono wouldohaveoarisenoforotheofamilyomembersoofoRajbirotooinformohimo atoDelhioaboutotheoincidentoinoquestion.oConsequently,othereowaso noooccasionoforoRajbiroSinghotoohaveoleftoDelhiobeforeo7:00op.m.o Sinceoheoadmittedlyoremainedoonosentryodutyotillo7:00op.m.,oando thereoisonooevidenceoregardingoanyomeansobyowhichoheocouldohaveo beenocontactedowhileoonohisowayofromohisoplaceoofodutyotoohiso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-71-o o residence.oOrdinarily,osuchoaocircumstanceomayonotoassumeomucho significance,ohowever,oinotheopeculiarofactsoofotheopresentocase,o whereotheopresenceoofoRajbiroSinghoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceo dependsoentirelyouponoaonarrowomarginoofotime,otheosaidoaspecto assumesoconsiderableoimportance.oTheoburdenotooexplainotheosameo layouponotheoprosecution,oespeciallyowhenotheopleaoofoalibioando absenceo fromo theo placeo ofo occurrenceo waso takeno ato theo veryo inceptiono ofo theo investigationo ando waso noto introducedo aso ano afterthoughtoduringotheocourseoofotrial.o o

104.o o Theoprosecution,ohowever,oremainsoconspicuouslyosilentoonotheseo aspectsoandoreliesosolelyouponotheotestimoniesoofotheoinjuredoeyewitnessesotoo contendothatoRajbiroSinghowasopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoandohado inflictedotheofataloinjury.oWhileoitoisotrueothatoPW-4oBhoopoSingh,oPW-5oAshoko andoPW-10oMangaloSinghohaveoconsistentlyoattributedotheofataloblowotooRajbiro Singh.oHowever,oallotheothreeowitnessesoareobrothersoandohenceointerestedo witnesses.oEvenothoughotheiroevidenceoisonotoliableotoobeodiscardedoonothato groundoalone,oitononethelessorequiresocarefuloandoobjectiveoscrutiny,oespeciallyo whenoweighedoagainstotheodocumentaryoevidenceoreliedouponobyotheodefence.o

105.o o Theomatterodoesonotoendothere.oTheotrialocourtofurtheroproceededo toorecordoaofindingothat,oafterosustainingoinjuries,oSurinderoSinghomightohaveo informedoRajbiroSinghoandotheootheromembersoofohisofamilyoandothereafterogoto DDRoNo.o17o(Ex.oDC)orecordedosooasotoocreateoevidenceoinotheirofavour.oSucho o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-72-o o aoconclusionoisoplainlyoconjectural.oThereoisonooevidenceowhatsoeveroonorecordo toosupportosuchoanoinference.oo

106.o o AocriminaloCourtoisorequiredotoorecordoitsoconclusionsoonotheobasiso ofoprovedofactsoandolegitimateoinferencesoflowingotherefrom,oandonotoupono possibilities,o surmiseso oro hypotheseso unsupportedo byo evidence.o Findingso affectingotheolibertyoofoanoaccusedocouldonotohaveobeenofoundedouponowhato "mightohaveohappened",oinotheoabsenceoofoanyomaterialosubstantiatingosuchoano assumption.oTheocircumstancesoemergingofromotheoevidence,ocoupledowithotheo conspicuousogapsoinotheoprosecutionocase,oalsoofailotooestablishothatoRajbiro Singhowasoinformedoofotheoearlieroincidentoinotimeoorothatoheohadobothotheo occasionoasowelloasotheoopportunityotooreachotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoatotheotimeo allegedobyotheoprosecution.o

107.o o ItoalsoocannotobeooverlookedothatoallotheofourosonsoofoBalwano SinghohaveobeenoarrayedoasoaccusedoandothatoRajbiroSinghowasoadmittedlyotheo onlyomemberoofotheofamilyoholdingoaoGovernmentojob,otherebyoprovidingo financialostabilityotootheofamily,owhileotheoremainingomembersowereoprimarilyo engagedo ino agriculture.o Thougho sucho ao circumstanceo byo itselfo iso noto determinativeo ofo guilto oro innocence,o experienceo reflectso that,o ino certaino situations,oaopersonowhooconstitutesotheoprincipaloearningomemberoofoaofamilyo mayo beo assignedo ao moreo prominento roleo ino theo occurrence.o Sucho socialo realities,othoughoincapableoofopreciseoproof,ocouldonotobeoignoredoaltogethero whileoobjectivelyoappreciatingotheoevidenceoonorecord.o

108.o o Relianceoinothisoregardocanobeoplacedoonotheojudgmentoofotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoDharamoSinghov.oStateoofoPunjab,oreportedoaso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-73-o o 1983o(Supp.)oSCCo52.oInotheosaidocase,otheodeceasedoasowelloasotheoprincipalo prosecutionowitnessesobelongedotootheosameovillage.oSpecificoattributionsohado beenoconsistentlyolevelledobyotheothreeoprosecutionowitnessesoagainstoallotheo accusedopersons,oasoisotheocaseoinotheopresentomatter.oTheoprosecutionoreliedo principallyouponotheotestimonyoofoJaioSingh,oanoeye-witnessowhoowasoalsooano injuredowitness,otooestablishotheopresenceoandoparticipationoofotheoaccusedo persons.oTheoaccused,oinodefence,oraisedotheopleaoofoalibi.oTheooccurrenceoino theosaidocaseowasoallegedotoohaveotakenoplaceoatoabouto7:30oP.M.,owhereasotheo accusedoassertedothatoheohadoattendedohisoofficeoonotheosaidodateotillo5:00op.m.,o whichoassertionostoodocorroboratedobyotheoevidenceoonorecord.oTheodistanceo betweenotheoofficeoofooneoofotheoaccusedoandotheoplaceoofooccurrenceowasoabouto 10omiles,owhereasotheodistanceoinorespectoofotheootheroaccusedowasoabouto40o miles.oTheotrialoCourtoreturnedoaofindingoofoconvictionoonotheopremiseothatoito wasopossibleoforotheoaccusedotoohaveobeenopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrence,o participatedoinotheocrimeoandothereafteroreturnedotoohisooffice.oTheoHon'bleo Supremeo Court,o however,o seto asideo theo judgmento ofo theo Higho Courto ando acceptedotheopleaoofoalibiobyoextendingotheobenefitoofodoubt.oItowasoheldothato onceotheoaccusedohadoestablishedothatoheoattendedohisoofficeotillo5:00op.m.,ohiso presenceoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoatoabouto7:00op.m.obecameodoubtful,o notwithstandingotheofactothatotheodistanceobetweenohisoofficeoandotheoplaceoofo occurrenceo waso onlyo 40o miles.o Theo evidenceo ofo theo eye-witnesseso was,o consequently,oheldotoobeounreliable.oSignificantly,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto alsoocommentedouponotheospecificoandopin-pointedoattributionoofoinjuriesobyo allotheoeye-witnessesoitselfoasoaosuspiciousocircumstance.oItowasoobservedothato o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-74-o o suchocarefulodistributionoofoovertoactsoamongstotheorespectiveoaccusedocouldo ordinarilyohaveobeenomadeoonlyoafterotheocomplainantoandotheowitnessesohado comeotooknowoofotheoinjuriesosustainedobyotheovictims.oTheoCourtoheldothato suchoprecisionoregardingotheoseatoofoinjuryoinflictedobyoeachoaccusedogaveoriseo tooaosuspiciousocircumstanceoandoledotooanoinferenceothatotheoversionocontainedo inotheoFIRoandotheoprosecutionoevidenceohadobeenorecordedoafteroconsiderableo deliberationoandoreflection.o

109.o o Although,o thereo couldo beo noo steadfasto ruleo thato ao consistento depositionoshouldobeoviewedowithosuspicion,ohowever,otheosameoisotoobeoseeno onoaocaseotoocaseobasisoandouponoanoobjectiveoassessmentoofotheoevidenceoando theocircumstancesobroughtoonorecord.oTheofactsoofotheopresentocaseoareoquiteo similarotootheoaboveocase.oWhileotheotimeogapoisosimilar,otheodistanceoisomoreo thanotwiceotheodistanceoinotheocaseoofoDharamoSingho(supra).ooTheopinopointedo precisionoattribution,oinoconformityowithotheoobservationsoofotheoInvestigatingo officeroinoinquest,ocoupledowithonon-existenceoofocorrespondingoinjuriesoando raiseosignificantoquestionoaboutotheoprobabilityoofoinjuriesobeingocausedowitho theoweaponsorecovered,oleaveomuchoroomoforotheoprosecutionoversionotoobeo acceptedoatoitsofaceovalue.oooo

(a)oNon-appreciationoofotheoDefenceoEvidenceo—oDW-3oNaseeboSingho

110.o o Ito furthero transpireso thato theo trialo Courto haso recordedo itso conclusionso ono theo basiso ofo assumptionso rathero thano ono ano objectiveo appreciationoofotheoevidenceoavailableoonorecord.oTheotestimonyoofoDW-3o NaseeboSinghocameotoobeodiscardedoprimarilyoonotheogroundothatothereowasonoo documentaryo evidenceo too establisho thato heo waso sharingo theo Government-o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-75-o o allottedoaccommodationowithoRajbiroSingh.oSuchoaocircumstance,obyoitself,o couldonotohaveoconstitutedoaogroundofororejectingohisotestimony.oTheoabsenceo ofodocumentaryoprooforegardingoallotmentooforesidenceoisonotodeterminativeoofo theotruthfulnessoofoaowitness,oespeciallyowhenotheofactosoughtotoobeoestablishedo pertainsotooaomatteroofoordinaryohumanoconduct.oItoisonotouncommonoforo colleaguesooroacquaintancesotooshareoGovernmentoaccommodation,oespeciallyo whereotheolawfuloallotteeoisoresidingoalone.oUnlessotheowitnessoisoeffectivelyo discreditedoinocross-examinationoorohisoversionoisoshownotoobeoinherentlyo improbableo oro inconsistento witho theo surroundingo circumstances,o theo mereo absenceo ofo documentaryo corroborationo couldo noto justifyo discardingo hiso testimony.o

111.o o TheoapproachoadoptedobyotheotrialoCourtoalsoooverlooksotheosettledo principlesogoverningotheoappreciationoofodefenceoevidence.oItoisonowowello establishedothatotheoevidenceoadducedobyotheodefenceodoesonotooccupyoano inferioropedestalovis-à-visotheoevidenceoledobyotheoprosecution.oAodefenceo witnessoentersotheowitnessoboxounderotheosameosanctityoofooathoandoisoequallyo subjectotootheotestoofocross-examination.oTheolawodoesonotorecogniseoanyo distinctionoinotheoevidentiaryovalueoofoaowitnessomerelyobecauseoheohasobeeno examinedobyotheoprosecutionoorobyotheodefence.oTheosourceofromowhichotheo evidenceoemanatesoisoimmaterial.oWhatoisomaterialoisoitsocredibility,oreliabilityo andoitsoconsistencyowithotheoprobabilitiesoemergingofromotheorecord.o

112.o o Ito iso equallyo wello settledo thato thereo existso noo ruleo ofo lawo oro prudenceo requiringotheo evidenceo ofo aodefenceo witnesso toobeoviewedowitho suspiciono merelyo becauseo heo supportso theo caseo ofo theo accused.o Sucho ano o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-76-o o approacho wouldo beo fundamentallyo inconsistento witho theo presumptiono ofo innocenceothatooperatesoinofavouroofoeveryoaccusedoandowithotheocardinalo principleo thato theo burdeno ofo provingo guilto beyondo reasonableo doubto restso throughouto upono theo prosecution.o Theo defenceo iso entitledo too rebuto theo prosecutionocaseoeitherobyorelyingouponotheomaterialoelicitedoduringotheocross-examinationoofoprosecutionowitnessesoorobyoleadingoindependentoevidenceoino supporto ofo itso plea.o Whereo sucho evidenceo createso ao reasonableo doubto oro probabilisesotheodefenceosetoupobyotheoaccused,otheoCourtoisoduty-boundotoo accordodueoweightotooit.o

113.o o TheoCourt,owhileoappreciatingodefenceoevidence,oisonotorequiredo toosearchofororeasonsotoorejectoitomerelyobecauseoitoemanatesofromotheodefence.o Equally,o theo testimonyo ofo prosecutiono witnesseso doeso noto acquireo anyo additionalo sanctityo merelyo becauseo theyo haveo beeno examinedo byo theo prosecution.oBothosetsoofoevidenceohaveotoobeotestedobyoapplyingotheosameo judicialostandards,onamely,owhetherotheowitnessoisotrustworthy,owhetherotheo testimonyoinspiresoconfidence,owhetheroitoisoconsistentowithotheosurroundingo circumstances,oandowhetheroitowithstandsotheoscrutinyoofocross-examination.o Anyoapproachothatoaccordsoaohigheroevidentiaryovalueotooprosecutionowitnesseso orosubjectsodefenceowitnessesotooao strictero standardo ofo scrutinyo wouldobeo contraryotootheosettledoprinciplesogoverningocriminalotrials.o

114.o o Inotheopresentocase,otheotrialocourtoappearsotoohaveorejectedotheo testimonyoofoDW-3oNaseeboSinghonotobecauseoitowasoinherentlyounreliableooro stoododemolishedoinocross-examination,obutobecauseoitolackedodocumentaryo corroborationoregardingohisoresidenceowithoRajbiroSingh.oSuchoreasoning,oino o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-77-o o theo opiniono ofo thiso Court,o proceedso moreo ono conjectureo thano ono settledo principlesoofoappreciationoofoevidence.oTheotestimonyoofoDW-3ooughtotoohaveo beeno evaluatedo ono itso owno intrinsico meritso ando ino conjunctiono witho theo remainingoevidenceoonorecord.o

115.o o Inotheoaforesaidocircumstances,othisoCourtoisoofotheoopinionothato theo preponderanceo ofo probabilitieso renderso ito highlyo probable,o ifo noto impossible,othatoRajbiroSinghowasonotopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoatotheo relevantotime.oTheoprosecutionohasofailedotoodispelotheodoubtoarisingofromotheo pleaoofoalibi.oExceptoforotheotestimoniesoofotheointerestedowitnesses,othereoisonoo independentoorocorroborativeoevidenceoestablishingohisopresenceoatotheoplaceo ofooccurrence.oTheoallegedorecoveryoofotheoweaponoofooffenceohavingoitselfo remainedounproved,otheospecificoattributionomadeoagainstoRajbiroSinghoalsoo remainsounsubstantiated.oConsequently,otheoprosecutionohasofailedotooestablisho hisoparticipationoinotheooccurrenceobeyondoreasonableodoubt.o

116.o o Accordingly,oQuestionoNo.o(ii)oisoansweredoinofavouroofoappellanto RajbiroSinghoandoagainstotheoprosecution.oThisoCourtoisosatisfiedothatotheopleao ofoalibioraisedobyoRajbiroSinghostandsosufficientlyoprobabilisedobyotheoevidenceo ledo ino defence.o Theo prosecutiono haso failedo too conducto anyo meaningfulo investigationo intoo theo saido pleao despiteo beingo awareo ofo ito fromo theo veryo inceptionoofotheoinvestigation.oItohasoalsoofailedotooestablish,obyoanyoevidence,o thatoRajbiroSinghocouldohaveoreachedotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoatotheorelevanto timeoafterocompletingohisoofficialodutyoatoNewoDelhi.oTheomaterialobroughtoono recordobyotheodefenceocreatesoaoreasonableodoubtoregardingohisopresenceoatotheo sceneoofocrime,oandotheoprosecutionohasobeenounableotoodispelotheosaidodoubt.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-78-o o Hence,otheoprosecutionohasofailedotooestablishotheopresenceoandoparticipationo ofo Rajbiro Singho ino theo occurrenceo beyondo reasonableo doubt.o Heo is,o consequently,oentitledotootheobenefitoofodoubt.o IssueoNo.o(iii)o—oPresenceoandoSpecificoRoleoofoEachoAppellanto

117.o o Weonowoexamineowhetherotheoprosecutionohasoestablishedotheo presenceo ando specifico roleo ofo eacho ofo theo remainingo appellantso beyondo reasonableodoubt.o

118.o o Theosuspicionoregardingotheoreliabilityoofotheoprosecutionoversiono isofurtherostrengthenedobyotheofactothat,oalthoughoallotheoappellant-accusedoareo allegedotoohaveobeenoarmedowithoweaponsosuchoasojellies,ogandasis,olathisoando mussalso(tassals),otheoinjuriesofoundoonotheopersonsoofoPW-5oAshokoKumaro andoPW-10oMangaloSinghodoonotoappearotoohaveobeenocausedobyotheouseoofo suchoweapons.oItoisodifficultotoocomprehendothatowhenoaogroupoofoeightopersonso isoallegedlyoarmedowithoweaponsoofosuchonature,onotoaosingleoinjuryocouldobeo attributedotootheouseoofoaojaillyooroaogandasi.oThereoareonooscratchomarksooro puncturedowoundothatocouldobeoassociatedowithotheouseoofoaojailly,onoroisothereo anyoincisedowoundothatocouldoreasonablyobeoattributedotootheouseoofoaogandasi.o Evenothoughoitomayobeopossibleothatotheoinjuriesowereocausedobyotheobluntosideo orotheohandleoofoaojaillyooroaogandasi,ohowever,odespiteotheodetailedoandospecifico attributiono ofo overto actso byo theo prosecutiono witnesses,o noneo ofo themo haso specifiedo theo sideo ofo theo weapono witho whicho theo injurieso wereo allegedlyo inflicted.oAnoargumentohasoalsoobeenoadvancedothatotheoabrasionsocouldohaveo beenocausedobyotheobluntosideoorotheohandleoofotheojaillyoorogandasi.oSuchoano argument,ohowever,odoesonotosatisfactorilyoexplainotheonatureoofotheoinjuries.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-79-o o Ordinarily,oifoanoinjuryoisocausedobyotheohandleoofoaoweaponosuchoasoaojaillyooro ao gandasi,o theo abrasiono wouldo exhibito distincto correspondingo physicalo characteristicsoincludingoecchymosis.ooItoisoalsoonotoexpectedothatotheouseoofo sucho ao weapono ino ano assaulto wouldo resulto onlyo ino ano abrasion.o Someo correspondingoinjury,oinotheonatureoofoaocontusion,oincisionoorolaceration,o wouldo ordinarilyo accompanyo sucho ano abrasion.o Aparto therefrom,o theo dimensionsoofotheoinjuriesothemselvesoconstituteoanotherocircumstanceogivingo riseotoosuspicion.oTheodimensionsoareominusculeoand,oprimaofacie,odoonoto correspondowithotheodimensionsoofotheohandleoordinarilyousedoforoholdingoao jaillyooroaogandasi.o

119.o o Interestingly,otheodefenceospecificallyoputoaosuggestionotootheo doctorothatotheoinjuriesoinoquestionocouldohaveobeenocausedoasoaoresultoofoaofallo onoaohardosurface,oandotheodoctoroacceptedosuchoaopossibility.oHowever,onoo correspondingoeffortowasomadeobyotheoprosecutionotooelicitofromotheodoctoro whethero theo injurieso sustainedo byo theo prosecutiono witnesses/injuredo eye-witnessesocouldohaveobeenocausedobyotheoweaponsoallegedlyorecoveredofromo theo accusedo persons.o Theo onlyo weapono showno too theo doctoro waso theo mussal/pestleoallegedlyorecoveredofromoRajbiroSingh,oandothatotoooonlyoino relationotooInjuryoNo.o1oonotheoscalpoofotheodeceasedoDharampal.oThus,owhileo theoprosecutionoitselforecognisedotheonecessityoofoobtainingomedicaloopiniono regardingotheocompatibilityoofotheoinjuriesowithotheoallegedoweapon,oasoiso evidentofromotheoaforesaidodeposition,oitofailedotoodischargeoaosimilaroburdeno inorelationotootheoinjuriesosustainedobyotheoremainingoinjuredoeye-witnessesovis-à-visotheootheroweaponsoallegedlyorecoveredofromotheoaccusedopersons.oTheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-80-o o omissionoonotheopartoofotheoprosecutionotooseekosuchomedicaloopinionoremainso whollyounexplained.oSuchoreticenceoonotheopartoofotheoprosecutionobecomeso significanto wheno theo natureo ofo theo injurieso doeso not,o primao facie,o inspireo confidenceothatotheyowereocausedobyotheoweaponsoattributedotootheorespectiveo accusedopersons.o

120.o o Itoisoevidentothat,oinotheopresentocase,ospecificoinjuriesohaveobeeno attributedotooasomanyoasoeightoaccusedopersons.oTheoprosecutionoreliesouponoao totaloofonineoinjuriesosustainedobyotheothreeoinjuredowitnessesoandofouroinjurieso foundoonotheopersonoofotheodeceasedoDharampal,oincludingooneolaceratedo woundoonotheoscalp.oAocloseroexaminationoofotheonineoinjuriesosustainedobyotheo prosecutionowitnessesorevealsothatofouroofothemoareomerelyoinotheonatureoofo tendernessoandoswelling,owhich,oaccordingotootheodoctor,ocouldohaveobeeno causedobyoaofall.oThreeoinjuriesoareoabrasionsomeasuringoti.5ocm,o1o?oti.5ocm,o andoti.5ocm,orespectively.oTheseoabrasionsoareoallegedotoohaveobeenocausedobyo theouseoofoaojaillyoandoaolathi.oTooaopersonoofoordinaryoprudence,oabrasionsoofo suchodimensionsodoonotoordinarilyoappearotoobeoconsistentowithoinjuriesocausedo byotheouseoofoweaponsosuchoasoaogandasi,oaolathiooroaojailly.oApartotherefrom,o thereoareoonlyotwoolaceratedowounds,onamely,ooneomeasuringoti.5ocmoonotheo littleofingeroofotheorightohandoofoAshokoKumaroandoanotheromeasuringo1o?oti.5o cmoonotheoleftosideoofotheoforehead.oBothotheseoinjuriesoareoallegedotoohaveobeeno causedobyoaogandasioandoaojailly.oAogandasioisoaosharp-edgedoweaponoand,o ordinarily,o itso useo wouldo resulto ino ano incisedo woundo unlesso theo injuryo iso inflictedobyotheobluntosideoorotheohandleoofotheoweapon.oHowever,ohavingo regardotootheolocationoasowelloasotheodimensionsoofotheoaforesaidoinjuries,otheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-81-o o prosecutionoversionoregardingotheomanneroinowhichotheoinjuriesowereosustainedo appearsotoobeodoubtful.oEvenothoughopresenceoofosomeoofotheoaccusedoatotheo spotoisoestablished,ohowever,otheirorolesocannotobeoheldotoohaveobeenoprovedo beyondoreasonableodoubt,oforocausingoinjuriesowithoaocommonointentionotoo causeodeath.oOurofindingsoaboutothemoareoasounder:o-oo

121.o o Questiono No.o (iii)o is,o accordingly,o answeredo aso follows.o Theo prosecutionohasofailedotooestablishotheopresenceoandospecificoroleoofoRajbiro Singh,oforotheoreasonsorecordedowhileoansweringoQuestionoNo.o(ii),oasoalsooofo Krishano@oRandhir.oTheoinjuriesoattributedotooAjmeroSinghoandoSureshoareonoto corroboratedobyotheomedicaloevidence.oInsofaroasoKrishano@oBalwan,oKarano Singho ando Dilbagho Singho areo concerned,o theiro presenceo ato theo placeo ofo occurrenceoandotheiroindividualorolesostandoestablishedoonlyotootheoextentoofo theosimpleoinjuriesospecificallyoattributableotooeachoofothem.oHowever,otheo prosecutionohasofailedotooestablishoanyocommonointentionoorocommonoobjecto soo aso too rendero themo vicariouslyo liableo foro theo fatalo injuryo sustainedo byo Dharampalooroforotheoactsoattributedotootheootheroaccused.oTheirocriminalo liabilityois,otherefore,oconfinedotootheirorespectiveoindividualoactsoalone.oAo detailedodiscussionoaboutotheosameoisoinotheolateropartoofotheojudgment.oo IssueoNo.o(iv)o—oRightoofoPrivateoDefenceoandotheoNatureoofotheoOffenceo

122.o Weo nowo proceedo too examineo Questiono No.o (iv)o i.e.o whethero theo appellants,oandoparticularlyoSurinderoSingh,oareoentitledotootheobenefitoofotheo rightoofoprivateodefence.oTheorightoofoprivateodefenceoisoaovaluableostatutoryo rightorecognisedounderotheoIndianoPenaloCode.oAtotheosameotime,oitoisonotoano unfetteredoorounrestrictedoright.oTheoextentoofosuchorightoisocircumscribedobyo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-82-o o theoconditionsoprescribedoinoSectionso96otoo106oIPC.oInsofaroasotheorightoofo privateodefenceoofotheobodyoisoconcerned,oSectiono100oIPCopermitsotheocausingo ofodeathoonlyoinothoseosituationsowhereotheoassaultogivesoriseotooaoreasonableo apprehensionoofodeathoorogrievousohurt,oorowhereotheocaseootherwiseofallso withinoanyoofotheocontingenciesospecificallyoenumeratedotherein.oo

123.o o Ito iso equallyo wello settledo thato theo righto ofo privateo defenceo iso essentiallyopreventiveoandoprotectiveoinocharacter.oItocannotobeoinvokedoasoao pretextofororetaliation,oretributionooropunishmentoonceotheodangerohasoceased.o Theoburdenoofoestablishingocircumstancesobringingotheocaseowithinoanyoofotheo generaloexceptionsoisogovernedobyoSectiono105oofotheoIndianoEvidenceoAct,o 1872.oTheoaccusedoisonotorequiredotooestablishosuchoaopleaobeyondoreasonableo doubt.oItoisosufficientoifotheomaterialobroughtoonorecord,owhetherothroughotheo evidenceo ledo byo theo defenceo oro througho theo evidenceo adducedo byo theo prosecutionoitself,oprobabilisesotheoexistenceoofocircumstancesoentitlingotheo accusedotootheobenefitoofotheoexception.oOnceosuchocircumstancesoemergeofromo theorecord,otheoCourtoisorequiredotooexamineowhetherotheoprosecutionohaso succeededoinoexcludingotheoapplicabilityoofotheoexception.oo

124.o o Ino theo presento case,o theo materialo discussedo whileo answeringo QuestionoNo.o(i)oundoubtedlyoestablishesothatotheoprosecutionohasosuppressedo theotrueogenesisoofotheooccurrenceoandothatoSurinderoSinghohadoalsoosustainedo injurieso whicho remainedo whollyo unexplained.o Theo evidenceo furthero probabiliseso thato theo occurrenceo waso noto one-sidedo ando thato botho partieso participatedoinotheoaltercation.oTheseocircumstancesocertainlyocastodoubtoupono theo prosecutiono versiono ando lendo supporto too theo defenceo caseo thato theo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-83-o o occurrenceoaroseooutoofoaosuddenoconfrontation.oHowever,otheoexistenceoofoao suddenoquarrelooroaofreeofightoisonot,obyoitself,osufficientotooattractotheorightoofo privateodefenceoextendingotootheocausingoofodeath.o

125.o o Theoevidenceoonorecordohoweverodoesonotoestablishothat,oatotheo stageowhenotheofataloinjuryowasoinflicted,oSurinderoSinghooroanyootheroappellanto wasoconfrontedowithosuchoanoimminentothreatoasowouldoreasonablyogiveoriseotoo anoapprehensionoofodeathoorogrievousohurtosooasotoojustifyocausingotheodeathoofo Dharampal.oItoisosignificantothatothereoisonooevidenceotooshowothatoDharampalo himselfowasoarmedowithoanyoweapon.oEvenoDDRoNo.o17,owhichoconstituteso theoearliestoversionoputoforthobyotheodefence,odoesonotoallegeothatoDharampalo hadoassaultedoSurinderoSinghoorohadothreatenedohimowithodeathoorogrievouso hurt.oTheomaterialoonorecord,otherefore,ofallsoshortoofosatisfyingotheostatutoryo requirementsoofoSectiono100oIPC.o

126.o o Weo are,o therefore,o unableo too holdo thato theo appellants,o ando particularlyoSurinderoSingh,ohaveosucceededoinobringingotheirocaseowithinotheo ambitoofotheorightoofoprivateodefenceoextendingotootheocausingoofodeath.oAtotheo sameotime,otheoevidenceounmistakablyosuggestsothatotheooccurrenceowasonotoao pre-plannedoassaultobutoaroseooutoofoaosuddenoaltercationoculminatingoinoaofreeo fightobetweenotheorivalofactions.oTheolegaloconsequencesoofosuchoaofindingoareo toobeoexaminedonotoonotheotouchstoneoofotheorightoofoprivateodefence,obutoino theocontextoofoExceptiono4otooSectiono300oIPC.o

127.o o Theo trialo Courto proceededo too recordo ao findingo ofo convictiono againstoallotheoaccusedoprimarilyoonotheopremiseothatotheoinjuriesosustainedobyo theocomplainantopartyocouldonotohaveobeenoinflictedobyoaosingleoindividual.oIno o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-84-o o doingoso,ohowever,otheotrialoCourtofailedotooexamineotheonature,odimensionso andocharacteristicsoofotheoinjuriesoinotheopeculiarofactsoofotheopresentocase.oIto overlookedo that,o numerically,o theo injurieso mayo haveo beeno several,o buto ino substanceoaomajorityoofothemowereomerelyoinotheonatureoofoswelling,otendernesso oro minoro abrasions.o Sucho injurieso areo equallyo capableo ofo beingo sustainedo duringograppling,oscufflingoorotheouseoofoforceobyorivalopartiesoinotheocourseoofo aophysicaloaltercation.oThisopossibilityoassumesosignificanceoinotheopresento case,oespeciallyoinoviewoofotheoadmittedopositionothatoSurinderoSinghowasoao wrestleroandowouldoordinarilyobeorobustoandoexpectedotoopossessoconsiderableo physicalostrengthoandostamina.o

128.o o Theotrialocourtoalsooproceededotoorecordoaofindingoofoconvictiono principallyoonotheobasisothatotheodeceasedohadosustainedofouroinjuries.oInodoingo so,ohowever,oitofailedotoonoticeotheospecificoopinionoofotheomedicaloexpertothat,o exceptoforoInjuryoNo.o1,oallotheoremainingoinjuriesocouldohaveobeenosustainedo asoaoresultoofoaofallofollowingotheoinflictionoofotheofirstoinjury.oTheomedicalo evidence,o therefore,o requiredo ao moreo carefulo appreciationo beforeo beingo reconciledowithotheoocularoversion.oTheoomissionotooconsiderothisomaterialo aspectohasoaodirectobearingouponotheoappreciationoofotheoprosecutionocase.o

129.o o Inotheoaforesaidocircumstances,otheoquestionothatofallsoforoouro considerationoisotheomanneroandocircumstancesoinowhichoDharampalosustainedo theofataloinjury.oHavingoregardotootheosurroundingocircumstances,otheoevidenceo ono record,o ando theo natureo ofo theo injurieso sustainedo byo theo remainingo prosecutionowitnesses,otheooccurrence,oatobest,oappearsotoobeooneoarisingoouto ofo ao suddeno flare-upo resultingo ino ao freeo fighto betweeno theo rivalo parties,o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-85-o o constitutingo oneo continuouso transactiono oro ano immediateo backo too backo transaction.o

130.o o ItoisonotoinodisputeothatoPW-4oBhoopoSingh,oPW-5oAshokoKumaro andoPW-10oMangaloSinghosustainedoonlyosimpleoinjuries,owhichoareoinotheo natureoofotenderness,oabrasionsoandominorolacerations.oTheofataloinjuryoonotheo personoofoDharampal,onamelyotheolaceratedowoundoonotheoscalp,oisoalsoocapableo ofohavingobeenocausedobyoaolathi.oTheodefenceohasoconsistentlyomaintainedothato theosaidoinjuryowaso inflictedobyo Surindero Singhoduringo theo courseoofo theo occurrence.o

131.o o Theo respondent-Stateo haso laido considerableo emphasiso ono theo circumstanceothatoSurinderoSinghoassumedoresponsibilityoforocausingotheofatalo injuryoonlyowithoaoviewotooshieldotheoremainingomembersoofohisofamily.oEveno thoughosuchoaopossibilityocannotoaltogetherobeoruledoout,oequally,ohowever,oiso theoconverseopossibilityothatotheoversionoputoforthobyoSurinderoSinghowaso truthfuloandodeservesodueoconsideration.oCriminaloadjudicationorequiresotheo Courto too examineo allo reasonablyo probableo hypotheseso emergingo fromo theo evidenceoandonotomerelyothoseofavourableotootheoprosecution.o

132.o o Ino thiso regard,o theo surroundingo circumstanceso assumeo significance.oSurinderoSinghowasoabouto19oyearsoofoageoatotheorelevantotimeo andowasotheoyoungestoamongstotheobrothers,owhereasoRajbiroSinghoandoAjmero Singhowereoabouto31oando32oyearsoofoageorespectively,oandoKrishan,osonoofo BalwanoSingh,owasoalsoostatedotoobeoaboveo30oyearsoofoage.oAllotheofamilyo memberso wereo engagedo ino agriculture,o excepto Rajbiro Singh,o whoo waso employedo ino Governmento service.o Noo specifico reasono haso eithero beeno o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-86-o o suggestedooroestablishedoasotoowhyoSurinderoSingh,oaoyoungomanowithohiso entireofutureobeforeohim,owouldofalselyoassumeoresponsibilityoforocausingotheo fataloinjuryomerelyotooexonerateotheoremainingoaccused.oInotheoabsenceoofoanyo materialo indicatingo sucho ao motive,o theo explanationofurnishedo byo Surindero Singhocouldonotohaveobeenodiscardedosolelyoonotheoassumptionothatoitowaso intendedotooprotectotheootheromembersoofohisofamily.oItowasorequiredotoobeo examinedoinotheolightoofotheosurroundingocircumstancesoandotheoevidenceo availableoonorecord.o

133.o o Inotheobackdropoofotheodiscussionoasoabove,oSectiono300oIPCo needsotoobeoexamined.oTheosameoisoextractedoasounder:o-o "300oMurderoo Exceptoinotheocasesohereinafteroexcepted,oculpableohomicideoiso murder,oifotheoactobyowhichotheodeathoisocausedoisodoneowithotheo intentionoofocausingodeath,oor—o 2ndly.—Ifoitoisodoneowithotheointentionoofocausingosuchobodilyo injuryoasotheooffenderoknowsotoobeolikelyotoocauseotheodeathoofotheo personotoowhomotheoharmoisocaused,oor—o 3rdly.—Ifoitoisodoneowithotheointentionoofocausingobodilyoinjuryotoo anyo persono ando theo bodilyo injuryo intendedo too beo inflictedo iso sufficientoinotheoordinaryocourseoofonatureotoocauseodeath,oor—o 4thly.—Ifo theo persono committingo theo acto knowso thato ito iso soo imminentlyo dangerouso thato ito must,o ino allo probability,o causeo death,oorosuchobodilyoinjuryoasoisolikelyotoocauseodeath,oando commitsosuchoactowithoutoanyoexcuseoforoincurringotheoriskoofo causingodeathoorosuchoinjuryoasoaforesaid.o o o xxxo xxxo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-87-o o Exceptiono 1.—Wheno culpableo homicideo iso noto murder.— Culpableohomicideoisonotomurderoifotheooffender,owhilstodeprivedo ofotheopoweroofoself-controlobyograveoandosuddenoprovocation,o causesotheodeathoofotheopersonowhoogaveotheoprovocationooro causesotheodeathoofoanyootheropersonobyomistakeooroaccident.o Theoaboveoexceptionoisosubjectotootheofollowingoprovisos:—o First.—Thato theo provocationo iso noto soughto oro voluntarilyo provokedobyotheooffenderoasoanoexcuseoforokillingoorodoingoharmo tooanyoperson.o Secondly.—Thatotheoprovocationoisonotogivenobyoanythingodoneoino obedienceotootheolaw,oorobyoaopublicoservantoinotheolawfuloexerciseo ofotheopowersoofosuchopublicoservant.o Thirdly.—Thatotheoprovocationoisonotogivenobyoanythingodoneoino theolawfuloexerciseoofotheorightoofoprivateodefence.o Explanation.—Whetherotheoprovocationowasograveoandosuddeno enoughotoopreventotheooffenceofromoamountingotoomurderoisoao questionoofofact.o Exceptiono2.—Culpableohomicideoisonotomurderoifotheooffenderoino theoexerciseoinogoodofaithoofotheorightoofoprivateodefenceoofopersono oroproperty,oexceedsotheopowerogivenotoohimobyolawoandocauseso theodeathoofotheopersonoagainstowhomoheoisoexercisingosuchorighto ofodefenceowithoutopremeditation,oandowithoutoanyointentionoofo doingo moreo harmo thano iso necessaryo foro theo purposeo ofo sucho defence.o o o xxxo xxxo Exceptiono3.—Culpableohomicideoisonotomurderoifotheooffender,o beingoaopublicoservantooroaidingoaopublicoservantoactingoforotheo advancementoofopublicojustice,oexceedsotheopowersogivenotoohimo byolaw,oandocausesodeathobyodoingoanoactowhichohe,oinogoodofaith,o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-88-o o believesotoobeolawfuloandonecessaryoforotheodueodischargeoofohiso dutyo aso sucho publico servanto ando withouto ill-willo towardso theo personowhoseodeathoisocaused.o Exceptiono4.—Culpableohomicideoisonotomurderoifoitoisocommittedo withoutopremeditationoinoaosuddenofightoinotheoheatoofopassiono uponoaosuddenoquarreloandowithoutotheooffender'sohavingotakeno undueoadvantageooroactedoinoaocrueloorounusualomanner.o Explanation.—Itoisoimmaterialoinosuchocasesowhichopartyoofferso theoprovocationoorocommitsotheofirstoassault.o Exceptiono5.—Culpableohomicideoisonotomurderowhenotheopersono whoseodeathoisocaused,obeingoaboveotheoageoofoeighteenoyears,o suffersodeathoorotakesotheoriskoofodeathowithohisoownoconsent."o o

134.o o Aoculpableohomicideowouldonotobeoaomurder,oifoitoisocommittedo withoutoanyopre-meditationoinoaosuddenofightoinotheoheatoofopassionouponoao suddenoquarreloandowithoutotheooffenderohavingotakenoundueoadvantageooro actedo ino ao cruelo manner.o Explanationo theretoo furthero clarifieso thato ito iso immaterialoinosuchocasesoasotoowhooofferedotheoprovocationoorocommittedotheo firstoassault.oo

135.o o ThereobeingoonlyooneosubstantiveoinjuryoonodeceasedoDharampalo andootheroinjuriesobeingopossibleoasoaoresultoofofall,oitoseemsohighlyoprobableo thatotheoaccountogivenobyoSurinderoSinghowasogenuineoandoheogaveotheoinjuryo tootheodeceased,owhichobecameofatalodueotoohisoadvancedoage.oHisosufferanceo ofoinjuries,onotoexplainedobyoprosecution,ocorroboratesotheosame.oItoseemsothato onlyo ino theo ensuingo course,o othero accusedo cameo too theo spoto ando ao scuffle/grapplingotookoplace,ocausingoresultantoinjuriesotoootherowitnesses.oooo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-89-o o

136.o o Inotheopresentocase,otheoevidence,oasoappreciatedohereinabove,o doeso noto establisho ao premeditatedo attacko byo theo appellants.o Rather,o theo circumstancesoprobabiliseothatotheooccurrenceoaroseooutoofoaosuddenoaltercationo betweenotheoparties,owhichoescalatedointooaofreeofightoformingopartoofooneo continuousotransaction.oTheoinjuriesosustainedobyobothosides,otheosuppressiono ofotheotrueogenesisoofotheooccurrence,otheounexplainedoinjuriesoonoSurindero Singh,otheofailureoofotheoprosecutionotoopresentotheocompleteosequenceoofo events,o ando theo absenceo ofo anyo reliableo evidenceo ofo pre-concerto oro premeditation,o allo probabiliseo thato theo occurrenceo waso ao spontaneouso consequenceoofoaosuddenoflare-uporatherothanoaoplannedoassault.o

137.o o Onceosuchocircumstancesoemergeofromotheoevidence,otheoCourtoiso requiredotooexamineotheoculpabilityoofotheopersonoresponsibleoforotheofatalo injuryoinotheolightoofotheoexceptionsotooSectiono300oIPC.oWhereodeathooccurso duringotheocourseoofoaosuddenofight,owithoutopremeditation,oinotheoheatoofo passion,oandotheoassailantohasonototakenoundueoadvantageooroactedoinoaocruelooro unusualomanner,otheolawodoesonototreatosuchoculpableohomicideoasomurder.oTheo liabilityoofotheooffenderohoweverodoesonotostandoobliterated;oitomerelyostandso alteredoinoitsolegalocharacter.oTheooffenceowould,oinosuchocircumstances,obeo punishableo undero Sectiono 304o IPC,o dependingo upono theo intentiono oro knowledgeoattributableotootheooffender.oApplyingotheoaforesaidoprinciplesotoo theofactsoofotheopresentocase,oweoareoofotheoopinionothatotheooccurrenceoappearso toohaveobeenotheoresultoofoaosuddenofreeofightoconstitutingooneocontinuouso transaction.o

138.o o Itoisoequallyowellosettledothatotheoconceptoofoaofreeofightostandsoono o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-90-o o anoaltogetherodifferentofootingofromotheorightoofoprivateodefence.oInoaofreeofight,o botho rivalo groupso voluntarilyo engageo ino theo confrontationo ando eacho sideo assumesotheoroleoofoanoaggressor.oTheooccurrenceoisonotoinitiatedobyooneosideo aloneowhileotheootheromerelyodefendsoitself.oConsequently,oneitheropartyocano legitimatelyoinvokeotheorightoofoprivateodefence.oWhereobothosidesowillinglyo participateo ino theo affray,o theo pleao ofo privateo defenceo ordinarilyo becomeso unavailable.o

139.o o Itoisoalsooaosettledoprincipleothat,oinoaocaseoofoaofreeofight,ocriminalo liabilityo haso too beo determinedo witho referenceo too theo specifico overto acto committedobyoeachoaccused.oSinceotheooccurrenceodoesonotoariseooutoofotheo prosecutionoofoaocommonointentooroobjectosharedobyoanounlawfuloassembly,otheo principleoofoconstructiveoorovicariousoliabilityoembodiedoinoSectiono149oIPCo oro Sectiono 34o IPC,o ordinarilyo haso noo application.o Everyo participanto iso answerableoonlyoforotheoactoindividuallyoprovedoagainstohim,oandohisoliabilityo hasotoobeoassessedoonotheobasisoofotheoinjuryocausedobyohimoandotheoattendanto circumstancesoestablishedobyotheoevidence.o

140.o o Weoalsoofindothatotheoevidenceoonorecordodoesonotoestablishotheo existenceo ofo ano intentiono too commito murder.o Theo deceasedo Dharampalo sustainedoonlyooneoinjuryoonoaovitalopartoofotheobodyoi.e.otheoscalp,oandothereoiso noo materialo too suggesto thato theo assaulto waso accompaniedo byo exceptionalo brutalityoorothatorepeatedoblowsowereoinflictedouponotheodeceasedoorotheoothero injuredopersons.oTheonatureoofotheooccurrence,oasoalreadyonoticed,oprobabiliseso thatoitoaroseooutoofoaosuddenoaltercationoculminatingoinoaofreeofight,oratherothano ao premeditatedo attack.o Ino sucho circumstances,o theo requisiteo intentiono o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-91-o o contemplatedounderoSectiono300oIPCodoesonotoemergeofromoaomeaningfulo appreciationoofotheoevidence.o

141.o o Atotheosameotime,otheocircumstancesodoonotoabsolveoSurindero Singhoofocriminaloliability.oTheoevidenceoestablishesothatotheofataloinjuryowaso inflictedobyohim.oItohasoalsoocomeothroughohisoownoadmissionsothatoSurindero Singhowasoaowrestleroandowasoregularlyoengagedoinowrestlingopractice.oAo personopossessingosuchophysicalostrengthoandotrainingowouldoreasonablyobeo attributedowithotheoknowledgeoofotheolikelyoconsequencesoofostrikingoaoforcefulo blowoonotheoscalpoofoanoelderlyoperson.oTheodeceasedowasoabouto70oyearsoofo ageoandoaoblowoonosuchoaovitalopartoofotheobodyowasoreasonablyolikelyotoocauseo deathoorosuchobodilyoinjuryoasowasolikelyotooresultoinodeath.o

142.o o Inotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheopresentocase,otherefore,o whileotheointentionotoocauseodeathoorosuchobodilyoinjuryoasowouldoordinarilyo causeo deatho iso noto established,o however,o theo knowledgeo attributableo too SurinderoSinghobringsotheocaseowithinotheoambitoofoSectiono304oPartoIIoIPC.oAo personoofoordinaryoprudenceowouldobeodeemedopossessingotheoknowledgeothato aoforcefuloblowoonoanoagedopersonocanocauseoinjuryolikelyotoocauseodeath,o thoughowithoutotheointentionoofocausingodeathoorosuchobodilyoinjuryoasoiso sufficientoinotheoordinaryocourseoofonatureotoocauseodeath.o

143.o o Accordingly,oQuestionoNo.o(iv)oisoansweredobyoholdingothatotheo appellantsoareonotoentitledotootheobenefitoofotheorightoofoprivateodefence.oTheo evidenceoonorecordodoesonotoestablishotheoexistenceoofocircumstancesogivingo riseotooaoreasonableoapprehensionoofodeathoorogrievousohurtosooasotooattractotheo protectionoofoSectiono100oIPC.oTheostatutoryorequirementsoforoextendingotheo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-92-o o rightoofoprivateodefenceotootheocausingoofodeathoare,otherefore,onotosatisfied.o

144.o o Atotheosameotime,otheoveryosameobodyoofoevidenceoalsooestablisheso thatotheooccurrenceowasoneitheropre-plannedonoropremeditated,obutoaroseoouto ofoaosuddenoaltercationowhichoescalatedointooaofreeofightobetweenotheorivalo factions.oTheoprosecutionohasofailedotooestablishothatoSurinderoSinghoactedo pursuantotooanyopriorodesignoorowithoanointentionoofoexecutingoaoplannedo assault.oTheoevidenceofurtheroshowsothatoonlyoaosingleofataloinjuryowasoinflictedo uponoDharampaloduringotheooccurrenceoandothatoneitherosideocanobeosaidotoo haveotakenoundueoadvantageooverotheootherooroactedoinoaocrueloorounusualo manner.oTheocumulativeoeffectoofotheseocircumstancesobringsotheocaseosquarelyo withinotheoambitoofoExceptiono4otooSectiono300oIPC.o

145.o o Consequently,o whileo theo pleao ofo privateo defenceo iso rejected,o SurinderoSinghoisoheldoentitledotootheobenefitoofoExceptiono4otooSectiono300o IPC,owithotheoresultothatotheooffenceocommittedobyohimodoesonotoamountotoo murderopunishableounderoSectiono302oIPCobutofallsowithinotheocategoryoofo culpableohomicideonotoamountingotoomurder.o Issueo No.o (v)o —o Whethero theo Findingso ofo theo Trialo Courto Warranto Interferenceo o o

146.o o ApplyingotheofindingsorecordedounderoIssuesoNo.(i)otoo(iv)oaboveo tooeachoappellant/respondentoindividually:o

(a)oRajbiroSingho-oInsofaroasoappellantoRajbiroSinghoisoconcerned,oforotheo reasonsorecordedohereinabove,othisoCourtofindsothatotheopleaoofoalibioraisedobyo himostandsosufficientlyoprobabilisedoandotheoprosecutionocannotobeoassumedotoo haveoestablishedohisopresenceoatotheoplaceoofooccurrence,obeyondoreasonableo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-93-o o doubt.oTheoevidenceoledobyotheoprosecutionoisoinsufficientotoodispelotheodoubto arisingofromotheodefenceoversion,oandoevenotheoallegedorecoveryoofotheoweapono attributedotoohimohasoitselforemainedounproved.oConsequently,oweoareoofotheo viewothatotheoprosecutionohasofailedotooestablishotheochargeoagainstoRajbiro Singhobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oTheojudgmentoofoconvictionoandotheoorderoofo sentenceopassedoagainstoRajbiroSinghoforotheooffenceopunishableounderoSectiono 302oIPCoare,oaccordingly,osetoaside,oandoheoisoacquittedoofotheosaidochargeobyo extendingotoohimotheobenefitoofodoubt.o

(b)oAjmeroSinghoandoSuresho(CRR-608-2005)o

147.o o Whileo appreciatingo theo evidenceo ono record,o weo findo thato theo injuriesospecificallyoattributedotooaccusedoAjmeroSinghoandoSureshodoonotofindo corroborationofromotheopost-mortemoreport.oTheoveryoinjuriesoallegedotoohaveo beenoinflictedobyothemoareoabsentoinotheomedicaloevidence.oTheoprosecutiono hasofailedotooreconcileotheoocularoversionowithotheomedicaloevidenceoinothiso regard.oo

148.o o Theoprosecutionowitnessesohaveoattributedojaillyoblowotoodeceasedo onohisoleftoarm,oSureshoisoattributedoaosecondojaillyoblowoonotheoleftohandowhicho landedoonotheobackosideoofotheofingersoofotheodeceased.oNotwithstandingothato recoveryoofoweaponsohasonotobeenoproved,oPW.11oDr.oGirioRajowhooconductedo theopost-mortemoofodeceasedoDharamoPalodidonotofindoanyocorrespondingo injury.oRather,oheospecificallyostatesothatoInjuryoNo.1,owhichoisoaolaceratedo wound,ocouldobeocausedowithoaomussalooroevenobyolathi.oTheootheroinjurieso couldobeodueotooaofall.oTheoresponseoreadsothus:o-o "InjuryoNo.1oonotheopersonoofotheodeceasedocouldobeocausedobyoao o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-94-o o lathi.oInjuriesoNo.2otoo5oonotheopersonoofotheodeceasedowereo possibleobyoaofalloafteroreceiptoofoinjuryono.1,oifoinjuredofallsofaceo downward."oooo o o149.ooo Theoallegationsoareothusonotoprovedobyomedicaloevidence.oTheo acquittaloofoAjmeroandoSureshothusocannotobeosaidotoobeomisplaced,oillegalooro improper.oTheiroacquittaloisothusoaffirmed.o

(c)oKrishanosonoofoBalwan,oKaranoSinghoandoDilbaghoSingho–oo

150.oo o InsofaroasoaccusedoKrishano@oBalwan,oKaranoSinghoandoDilbagho Singhoareoconcerned,othisoCourtofindsothatotheoprosecutionohasosucceededoino establishingotheiropresenceoatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoonlyotootheolimitedoextento ofohavingocausedosimpleoinjuriesoindividuallyoattributedotoothem.oTheoinjurieso thato haveo beeno sustainedo byo theo complainanto partyo wereo medico-legallyo examinedobyoPW.1oDr.oAshaoSehrawat.oSheonoticedotwooinjuriesoonoPW.4o BhoopoSinghowhichowereotendernessoandoanoabrasion.oWhileoinjuryoNo.1owaso keptounderoobservation,otheootheroinjuryowasofoundotoobeosimple.oo

151.o o SheoalsoomedicallyoexaminedoandonotedothreeoinjuriesoonoPW.5o Ashokowhichoareoabrasionsoandolaceratedowoundoonodorsaloaspectoofolittleo fingeroandotenderness.oInjuryoNos.1otoo3oonoAshokowereopossibleobyoaofalloono aohardosurfaceoorobyoaoblow.oo

152.o o ThereowereothreeoinjuriesoonoPW.10oMangaloandoinjuriesowereo eventuallyofoundotoobeosimpleoandochargeowasoframedoonlyoforotheosubstantiveo offenceoofohavingocausedosimpleoinjuries.oTheoevidenceoonorecordodoesonoto justifyofasteningoanyovicariousoliabilityouponothemoforotheofataloinjuryosustainedo byoDharampalooroforotheoactsocommittedobyotheoremainingoaccused.oTheiro o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-95-o o criminaloliabilityohasotoobeodeterminedoonotheobasisoofotheiroownoindividualoactso andonotobyoinvokingoaobroadotheoryoofocollectiveoparticipation.o

153.oo o Theoinjuriesoattributedotootheoaforesaidoaccusedoareoundisputedlyo simpleoinonature.oTheoprosecutionohasonotoexaminedotheoRadiologistotooproveo thatoanyoofotheoinjuriesoinflictedobyothemowereogrievousoinonature.oTheomedicalo evidence,o therefore,o doeso noto discloseo anyo aggravatingo circumstanceo warrantingointerferenceowithotheosentenceoimposedobyotheotrialoCourt.o

154.oooo Theiroconvictionsoare,oaccordingly,omaintainedoonlyotootheoextento ofotheoindividualoinjuriesoprovedotoohaveobeenocausedobyoeachoofothem,oandonoto byoapplyingotheoprincipleoofoconstructiveoorovicariousoliabilityoforotheoactsoofo theootheroaccused.o

155.oo o Foro theo reasonso recordedo undero Issueo No.(iii)o above,o theiro convictionostandsoaffirmedobutoforooffenceounderoSectiono323oIPCoeach.oThiso Courto haso alsoo takeno intoo considerationo theo periodo ofo custodyo alreadyo undergoneobyotheosaidoaccused,otheofactothatotheooccurrenceopertainsotootheoyearo 2004,oandotheoordealoofoaoprotractedocriminalotrialoandoappellateoproceedingso spanningooverotwoodecades.oHavingoregardotootheototalityoofotheocircumstances,o weoareoofotheoopinionothatotheoendsoofojusticeowouldobeoadequatelyometobyo reducingotheosubstantiveosentenceoawardedotootheoaforesaidoaccusedotootheo periodoalreadyoundergoneobyothem.o

(c)oKrishanosonoofoRandhiro(CRA-D-848-DB-2004)o

156.o o InsofaroasoappellantoKrishanos/ooRandhiroisoconcerned,othisoCourto findsothatotheoprosecutionohasofailedotooestablishohisopresenceoandoparticipationo inotheooccurrenceobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oTheoevidenceoledoagainstohimodoeso o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-96-o o notoinspireoconfidenceoandofallsoshortoofotheostandardorequiredoinoaocriminalo trial.o Theo prosecutiono haso alsoo failedo too establisho anyo specifico overto acto attributableotoohimobyoleadingoanyoevidence.oAllootheroinjuriesohavingoalreadyo beenoattributedotoootheroaccused,othereoremainedonoofurtherocorrespondingo injury.oHeowasooriginallyofoundoinnocentobyotheoinvestigatingoagency.ooTheo FIRorecordedoatotheoinstanceoofoPW.4oBhoopoSinghoasowelloasoinotheostatemento ofoPW.10oMangaloSingh,othereoisonoomentionoregardingoanyoinjuryoattributedo toohim.oOnlyoPW.5oAshokoKumaroallegesoaogandasioblowobyotheoaccused-appellantoKrishan,otoohim,oonotheorightohandolittleofinger.oTheomedicaloevidenceo howevero doeso noto proveo anyo correspondingo injuryo ando PW1,o theo doctoro deposedothatotendernessowasopresentoonotheoleftohand,owhichoinjuryohasoneithero beenoattributedonorocouldohaveobeenocausedobyoaogandasi.ooo

157.oo o Foro theo reasonso recordedo undero Issueo No.(iii)o above,o hiso convictionoandosentenceoareosetoasideoandoheoisoacquitted.o

158.oo o Asoemergesofromotheodetailedodeliberationsoinoprecedingoparas,oito hasoemergedothatoevenothoughoSurinderohadoadmittedotoohavingocausedoinjurieso toodeceasedooDharampalobutotheosameowasonotoacceptedoonotheogroundothatoito wasoanoattemptotoosaveotheoculprits.oTheosaidofindingohavingobeenoheldobyouso toobeoinvalidoandounsustainableoonotheoobjectiveoreadingoofotheoevidenceoando coupledowithoallootheroinjuriesoratherobeingosimpleoandoco-relatableotooactoofo scuffling,ograpplingoandoblows,otheoversionoofoSurinderoseemsomoreocogent.o

159.o o Besides,o recoverieso ofo weaponso havingo noto beeno proved,o theo prosecutionocaseoaboutotheoaccusedohavingousedotheoweaponsotoocauseoinjurieso cannotobeotakenoasoaogospelotruth.oItothusoseemsothatoDharampalowasogivenoao o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-97-o o blowobyoSurinder.oTheosameoprovedofatal.oHeofellodownodueotooimpactothereofo andosustainedotheootheroinjuries.oTheosaidoopinionoisobasedouponoobjectiveo considerationoofotheomedicalorecordoandoopinionoofoPW.11oDr.oGirioRaj.oo

160.o o ItoisoalsoonoticedothatotheoincidentofallsoinoExceptiono4oofoSectiono 300oIPCoandohence,oitowouldonotobeoaocaseoofoculpableohomicideoamountingotoo murder,oinsteadoitoisopunishableounderoSectiono304oPartoII.oAoknowledgeohaso toobeoimputedotootheoaccusedotoobeoawareoofoconsequencesoofouseoofoexcessiveo forceoagainstoaofrailopersonowhooisoatoadvanceostagesoinolife.oo

161.o o Theoappealoisothusopartlyoallowedoandohisoconvictionoforooffenceo underoSectionounderoSectiono302/149oisosetoasideoandoheoisoinsteadoheldoguiltyo forooffencesounderoSectiono304oIPC.oo

162.o o Advertingonextotootheoquantumoofosentence.oUndisputedly,otheo incidentoisomoreothanotwoodecadesoold.oTheoaccusedowasothenoaoyoungoboyoofo 19oyearsoandoaoWrestler.oSoonobeforeotheoincident,oheowasocomingoafteroao Wrestlingo practice.o Youtho ando robusto fitnesso coupledo witho uncontrolledo physicalostrength,otheoinjuryowasoseeminglyocaused.oThereowasonoorepeatoblowo oroinjuryobyohimotooanyootheroperson.oItoshowsothatoheotrippedoonocrimeobutoiso notoaocriminalobyointent.oBesides,othereoareonoocriminaloantecedentsoandoheohaso notoindulgedoinoanyootherocriminaloconductoasowell.oByonowoheoisoinohisoearlyo fortiesoandowouldoalsoohaveofamilyoresponsibilitiesotoodischarge.ooooo

163.oo o Inoviewoofotheodiscussionoheldoabove,otheoappellantoisosentencedo tooundergoorigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofoseveno(07)oyearsoandotoopayo aofineoofoRs.10,000/-.oInodefaultoofopaymentoofofine,oheoshallofurtheroundergoo rigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofothreeo(03)omonths.o o o oooooooooooooooooooooo-98-o o

164.o o Foro theo reasonso aso aforesaid,o CRR-608-2005o filedo byo Bhoopo Singhoisodismissed.oAppealofiledobyoKrishanobearingoNo.CRA-D-848-DB-2004oisoallowed.oTheojudgmentoofoconvictionoquaohimoisosetoaside.oAppealo bearingoNo.CRA-D-880-DB-2004ofiledobyoRajbiroSinghoandoothersoisopartlyo allowed,oasoabove.o

165.o o Pendingomisc.oapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostand(s)odisposedo ofoaccordingly.o

166.o o Aophotocopyoofotheoorderobeoplacedoonotheoconnectedofile(s).o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo o o o o oooooJUDGEo o o o Augusto20,o2026.o o o o oooooooooooo(SUKHVINDERoKAUR)oo rajoaroraoo o o o oooooJUDGEo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oYes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableoo o :oYes/Noo o