Sandeep Singh @Akash v. State of Punjab

CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-1-o o o InotheoHighoCourtoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoatoChandigarho o o o o

1.o o o o o o CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o o o o o o Reservedoon:o17.8.2023o o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o23.8.2023o o SandeepoSingho@oAkashoo o o o o o ......Appellanto o Versuso o StateoofoPunjaboo o o o o o o oooooo......Respondento o

2.o o o o o o o CRA-D-1071-2022o(O&M)o o RajuoTiwarioo o o o o o o o ......Appellanto o Versuso o StateoofoPunjaboo o o o o o o oooooo......Respondento o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSURESHWARoTHAKURo ooooooooooooooooooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoKULDEEPoTIWARIoo oo Present:o Mr.oAakashoSingla,oAdvocateoo o o forotheoapplicant-appellanto(inoCRA-D-40-2021).o o o o Mr.oMandeepoSinghoGill,oAdvocateoforoo o o Mr.oArshdeepoSinghoBrar,oAdvocateo o o forotheoappellanto(inoCRA-D-1071-2022).o o o Ms.oMonikaoJalota,oSr.oDAG,oPunjab.o o o o o oooooooo****o o SURESHWARoTHAKUR,oJ.oo

1.o o Sinceo botho theo aboveo appealso ariseo fromo ao commono verdict,o madeobyotheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,ohenceobothotheoappealso(supra)o areoamenableoforoaocommonoverdictobeingomadeothereons.o

2.o o Botho theo appealso (supra)o areo directedo againsto theo impugnedo verdict,oasomadeoono29.10.2020,ouponocaseobearingoCISoNo.oSC/735/2017,obyo theolearnedoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge-I,oLudhiana,owherethroughoinorespecto ofo chargeso drawno againsto theo accusedo quao offenceso punishableo undero Sectionso120-B,o302,o404oando449oofotheoIPC,othusotheolearnedotrialoJudgeo I attest to the accuracy andconcerned,oproceededotoorecordoaofindingoofoconvictionoagainstoappellants-CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-2-o o o convicts.oHowever,otheootheroco-accusedonamelyoAmanoMasih,oSonuoAli,o KrishnaoPandeyo@oPankajo@oGoluoandoSumitoParshadowereoacquittedofromo theochargesodrawnoagainstothem.oMoreover,othroughoaoseparateosentencingo orderoofoevenodate,otheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,osentencedobothotheo appellants-convictsoinotheohereinafteroextractedomanner.o Nameo ofo theoUndero Sentencedotoo Fineo Inodefaultoofo convictso Sectiono undergoo paymentoofofineo tooundergoo furthero 449oIPCo Imprisonmento 25,000/-o RigorousoRajuoTiwario forolifeo imprisonmento forofouromonths.o o 302/34ooIPCo Imprisonmento 25,000/-o Rigorouso forolifeo imprisonmento forofouromonths.o 449oIPCo Imprisonmento 25,000/-o RigorousoSandeepoSingho forolifeo imprisonmento@oAkasho forofouromonths.o o 302/34ooIPCo Imprisonmento 25,000/-o Rigorouso forolifeo imprisonmento forofouromonths.o o 404oIPCo Rigorouso 5000/-o Rigorouso imprisonmento imprisonmento forothreeo forofouromonths.o yearso o

3.o o Allotheoaboveoimposedosentencesoofoimprisonment,owereoorderedo toorunoconcurrentlyobutotheoperiodoofodetentionoundergoneobyotheoappellants-convicts,oduringotheoinvestigations,oand,otrialoofotheocase,owas,oinotermsoofo Sectiono 428o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o rathero orderedo too beo seto offo fromo theo aboveo imposedosentence(s)oofoimprisonment.o

4.o o Botho theo accused-convictsobecomeo aggrievedo fromo theo aboveo drawno verdicto ofo conviction,o besideso also,o becomeo aggrievedo fromo theo consequento theretoo sentence(s)o ofo imprisonment,o and,o ofo fineo aso becameo imposed,ouponothem,obyotheolearnedoconvictingoCourtoconcerned,oand,ohenceo haveochosenotooinstituteothereagainstotheoinstantocriminaloappeals,obeforeothisoITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-3-o o o Court.o

5.o o SinceotheolearnedoStateocounseloisounableotoointimateothisoCourt,o thatotheoStateohasoconstitutedoanoappeal,obeforeothisoCourt,oagainstotheoverdicto ofoacquittal,oasomadeobyotheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,oquaotheoacquittedo personso(supra).ooThus,otheoverdictoofoacquittal,oasomadeoinorespectoofotheo acquittedoaccused,odoesoacquireoaoconclusive,oand,obindingoeffect.ooo FactualoBackgroundo

6.o o Theogenesisoofotheoprosecutionocaseobecomesoembodiedoinotheo appealoFIR,otoowhichoEx.oP-11/Aoisoassigned.oTheonarrationsocarriedoinoEx.oP-11/Aoare,othatoSHOoofotheosaidopoliceostationoreceivedoaowirelessomessageo abouto ano incidento ofo firingo ino theo vicinityo ofo Dugri,o and,o thereaftero heo proceededotootheoplaceoofooccurrenceowhereocomplainantoRahuloGuptaohado gotorecordedohisostatementotootheoeffectothatoatoabouto2.00oPM,ooutsideotheo mainogateoofohisohouse,oheohadoheardotheonoiseoregardingofiringoshotsofromo theofirearm.oWhenotheocomplainantoopenedotheodooroofohisohouseoandoenteredo intooit,oheonoticedotheopresenceoofotwoocleanoshavenopersons,owhoohadoenteredo inotheosaidohouse.oComplainantotriedotoostopothemobyointerveningobutotheyo fledoawayofromotheospot.oThereafter,ocomplainantoobservedothatohisofathero SuniloGuptaowasolyingoonotheogroundoandobloodowasooozing.oHeoalsoosawooneo markoofoshotofromotheofirearmohavingobeenosufferedoonotheoheadoofohisofathero whoohadosuccumbedotootheosaidoinjury.oTheomotheroofotheocomplainantowaso alsoofoundobyohimolyingoinjuredoinotheobathroom.oComplainantoremovedohiso mothero too Guruo Tego Bahaduro Hospital,o Ludhianao fromo whereo sheo waso referredotooDMCoHospital,oLudhianaowhereotheocomplainantowasoinformedo thatohisomotherohadoalsooexpiredodueotoosufferingoofoshotoofotheofirearmoono herohead.oComplainantocameotooknowoaboutotheonamesoofotheoaboveosaidoITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-4-o o o personsoasoSandeepoSingho@oAkashosonoofoSubegoSinghoandoRajuoTiwari.o Theofurtheroversionoonobehalfoofotheoprosecution,oisothat,otheosaidoaccusedohado enteredo intoo theo houseo ofo theo complainanto foro committingo theo theft.o Ono recordingo theostatementoofo complainant,otheoinvestigationo waso conducted.o Theo statemento havingo beeno goto recordedo byo Rahulo Guptao beforeo theo InvestigatingoOfficeroisoEx.PAoonotheobasisoofowhichoFIRoinothisocaseowaso registered.oo Investigationoproceedingso

7.o o Duringo investigation,o theo investigatingo Officero inspectedo theo spotoandopreparedoroughositeoplanoEx.PW11/B.oAccusedoSandeepoSingho@o Akashowhoostatedotoohaveojumpedofromotheoroof,oand,osustainedoinjuriesoono hisolegowasoproducedobeforeotheoInvestigatingoOfficeroandoheowasoarrestedo video arrest-cum-intimationo memoo Ex.PW11/C.o Hiso personalo searcho waso conductedo video searcho memoo Ex.PW11/D.o Theo investigatingo Officero concerned,otookointoopossessionofiveoemptyocartridgesoandothreeocartridgeso shellovideomemooEx.PW11/E.oTheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,ohadoalsoo takenointoopoliceopossessionobloodofromoaoflooroofobathroom.oBloodostainedo earthowasoalsootakenointoopoliceopossessionovideomemooEx.PW11/G.oMobileo phoneomakeoNokiaowasotakenointoopoliceopossessionovideomemooEx.PW-11/H.oInvestigatingoOfficerohadotakenoanotheromobileophoneomakeoSamsungo 4GovideomemooEx.oPW-11/I.oEmptyoboxoofomobileowasoalsootakenointoopoliceo possessionovideomemooEx.PW-11/J.oBlackocolouredoshirtobloodostainedoando capo wereo takeno intoo policeo possessiono video memoo Ex.PW-11/K.o Investigatingo Officero tooko intoo policeo possessiono motorcycleo bearingo registrationoNo.oPB-10FB-0205ovideomemooEX.PW-11/L.oOneogoldochainoofo Sunilo Guptao ando Rs.7300/-o wereo alsoo takeno intoo policeo possessiono videoITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-5-o o o memoo Ex.PW-11/M.o Postmortemo ofo theo deceasedo Sunilo Guptao waso conducted,o and,o allo theo accusedo wereo arrested.o Aftero conclusiono ofo investigations,otheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,oproceededotooinstituteoao reportounderoSectiono173oofotheoCr.P.C.,obeforeotheolearnedocommittaloCourto concerned.oo CommittaloProceedingso

8.oo o oSinceotheooffencesopunishableounderoSectiono376oofotheoIPC,o and,ounderoSectiono4oofotheoAct,owereoexclusivelyotriableobyotheoCourtoofo Session,othus,otheolearnedocommittaloCourtoconcerned,othroughoaocommittalo orderomadeoono6.10.2017,oohenceoproceededotoocommitotheoaccusedotoofaceo trialobeforeotheoCourtoofoSession.o TrialoProceedingso

9.o o TheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,oafteroreceivingotheocaseoforo trial,o madeo ano objectiveo analysiso ofo theo incriminatoryo material,o adducedo beforeohim.oResultantly,oheoproceededotoodrawoaochargeoagainstoaccused,oforo theocommissionoofooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso120-B,o302,o404oando 449oofotheoIPC.oTheoaforeodrawnochargeowasoputotootheoaccused,otoowhicho theyopleadedonotoguilty,oand,oclaimedotrial.oo

10.o o Ino proofo ofo itso case,o theo prosecutiono examinedo 15o witnesses,o and,o thereaftero theo learnedo Publico Prosecutoro concerned,o closedo theo prosecutionoevidence.ooAfterotheoclosureoofoprosecutionoevidence,otheolearnedo trialoJudgeoconcerned,odrewoproceedings,ounderoSectiono313oofotheoCr.P.C.,o butothereins,otheoaccusedopleadedoinnocence,oand,oclaimedofalseoimplication.o Theyoalsoochoseotooadduceodefenceoevidence,oand,oledofourowitnessesointootheo witnessobox.o

11.o o Asoaboveostated,otheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,oproceededotooITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-6-o o o convictotheoappellants-convicts,oforotheochargeso(supra),oasobecameodrawno againstothem,oand,oalsooasoaboveostated,oproceededoto,oinotheohereinaboveo manner,oimposeotheosentence(s)oofoimprisonment,oasowelloasoofofine,ouponotheo convicts-appellants.o Submissionsoofotheolearnedocounselsoforotheoappellantso

12.o o Theolearnedocounselsoforotheoaggrievedoconvicts-appellantsohaveo arguedobeforeothisoCourt,othatobothotheoimpugnedoverdictoofoconviction,oand,o consequento theretoo ordero ofo sentence,o thuso requireo ano interference.o Theyo supportotheo aboveosubmissionoono theo ground,o thato itoisobasedo onoao grosso misappreciation,oand,onon-appreciationoofoevidenceogermaneotootheocharge.o SubmissionsoofotheolearnedoStateocounselo

13.o o Onotheootherohand,otheolearnedoStateocounselohasoarguedobeforeo thisoCourt,othatotheoverdictoofoconviction,oand,oconsequentotheretoosentence(s)o (supra),oasobecomeoimposedouponotheoconvicts-appellants,oareowellomerited,o and,o doo noto requireo anyo interference,o beingo madeo byo thiso Courto ino theo exerciseoofoitsoappellateojurisdiction.oTherefore,oheohasoarguedothatobothotheo appeals,oasopreferredobyotheoconvicts-appellants,obeodismissed.o Eyeowitnessoevidenceobasedocaseo o

14.o o Theoprosecutionoversionoisosupportedobyotheostatementoofothreeo purportedoocularowitnessesotootheocrimeoevent,owhoorespectivelyosteppedointoo theowitnessoboxoasoPW-2,oPW-3oandoPW-4.o

15.o o RahuloGupta,owhileosteppingointootheowitnessoboxoasoPW-2,ohaso madeo ao testification,o whicho corroborateso hiso earliero madeo statemento ino writing,o and,o too whicho Ex.PA,o iso assigned.o o Though,o ino hiso cross-examination,othereooccuronoospeakingsowherebyoanyotriteounderlinings,othuso wouldo emanate,o quao hiso grosslyo improvingo oro embellishing,o upon,o hiso CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-7-o o o previouslyomadeostatementoinowriting.ooThough,oinotheofaceoofotheoaboveolacko ofoblatantoembellishments,ooroimprovements,oratheroinohisotestification,othus,o wouldoresultoinotheoimpugnedoverdictoofoconviction,obecomingoalsooaffirmedo byothisoCourt.o ReasonsoforonotoassigningocredenceotootheodepositionoofoPW-2.o

16.o o Apparentlyo theo convictso wereo previouslyo unknowno too PW-2.o However,o knowledgeo oro acquaintanceo abouto theo identityo ofo co-accusedo Sandeep,oisostatedobyoPW-2,otoobecomeoawakened,ouponotheosaidoconvictoino theocourseoofohisojumpingofromoaoroomointootheopark,oratherohisoatotheosaido phase,o henceo revealingo hiso nameo aso Sandeep,o besideso alsoo ono ano inquiryo beingomadeouponohimobyoPW-2,ohisoalsoodisclosingotheonameoofoco-convicto RajuoTiwari.o

17.o o Beothatoasoitomay,oinohisocross-examination,oPW-2,ohasothougho stated,othatoduringotheophaseowhenoheoremainedoatohisohouse,oafterotheocrimeo eventotakingoplaceothere,oheohadomadeoanointimationotootheopoliceoofficials,o thusoupon,otheirsoarrivingoatotheocrimeosite,obutoyetothoughoheostatesothatotheno heohadogivenotheodetailsoofotheocrimeoincidentotootheopolice,obutoheohasonoto statedoinohisocross-examination,othatoheohadoalsoothenorevealedotootheopolice,o thusotheoidentityoofoco-convictoinjuredoSandeep,owhooonoinquiryorevealedohiso nameoasosuchotooPW-2,oand,oonoaofurtheroinquiryobecomingomade,ouponohim,o byoPW-2,oaboutotheoidentityoofotheootheroaccused,owhoofledoawayofromotheo site,oheorevealedohimotoobeoco-convictoRajuoTiwari.o

18.o o Theoresultoofotheoaboveolackoofointimation,obeingomadeoatotheo earliestoaboveostatedostageobyoPW-2,otootheopoliceoratheroaboutotheoidentityoofo co-convicts,odoesobeget,oanoinference,othatoPW-2owasocompletelyounawareoofo theoidentitiesoofobothotheoconvicts.ooTherefore,ounlessoheohadodisclosedoinohisoITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-8-o o o previouslyomadeostatementoinowritingotootheopoliceoofficeroconcerned,othuso theokeyocharacteristicsophysicalofeaturesoofobothotheoconvictsoconcerned,oand,o hadothereafteroensuredotheomakingsobyotheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,oofo valido testo identificationo paradeo ofo theo convicts,o and,o hado alsoo thereinso identifiedotheoco-convicts,othatotherebyoalone,othusotheoidentificationoofotheo convicts,o ino Court,o byo him,o henceo couldo beo concludedo too beo holdingo evidentiaryotenacity.o

19.o o However,oforotheoreasonsohereinafter,otheoidentificationomadeoofo theoconvictsobyoPW-2,oonlyoinoCourt,oisocompletelyoinfirm.oPrimarilyoforotheo reasonso thato PWo neithero ino hiso previouslyo madeo statemento too theo policeo officeroconcerned,odivulgedothereinsotheophysicalofeaturesoofotheoconvicts,o noro subsequentlyo anyo valido testo identificationo paradeo waso heldo byo theo investigatingoofficeroconcerned,othusowithotheoparticipationothereinsoofotheo convicts,o noro thereinso PW-2o identifiedo theo convicts.o Resultantly,o theo identificationo ino Courto ofo theo convicts,o foro theo firsto timeo byo PW-2,o iso completelyolegallyofrail,oand,otherebyonoocredenceoisotoobeoassignedothereto.o Therefore,oasobutoaonaturalocorollary,otheoparticipationoinotheocrimeoeventoofo theo convicts-appellants,o thougho becomeso tetstifiedo byo PW-2,o yeto foro theo aboveodefectoinotheoinvestigations,otheiroparticipationoinotheocrimeoevent,oaso such,oisoengulfedoinoaocloudoofodoubt.ooInosequel,otheobenefitoofodoubtoisotoobeo assignedotootheoconvicts-appellants.o AnalysisoofotheodepositionsoofoPW-3oandoPW-4o

20.o o AniloKumaroGupta,owhoosteppedointootheowitnessoboxoasoPW-3,o ino completeo contradictiono too theo testimonyo ofo PW-2,o haso includedo ino hiso examination-in-chief,otheonameoofooneoco-accusedoSonuoAli,owhoohowevero becameoacquitted.oHeostatesothatotheosaidoco-accusedoSonuoAlioalsooarrivedoatoITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-9-o o o theocrimeosite.oHeofurtherotestifiesothatotheoarrivaloofotheoabove,oatotheocrimeo siteoalongowithotwoootheropersons,othusoaroseofromohisodemandingomoneyo fromohisobrother,owhoowasoengagedoinotheobusinessoofofinance.ooHeofurthero states,othatosinceohisobrotherodidonotoaccedeotootheodemandoofoSonuoAli,othuso ono theo groundo thato theo earliero lento moneyo byo himo thougho waso returnedo throughochequesobecomingoissuedotoohim,obutoyetotheosaidoissuedochequesotoo himohenceobyoSonuoAlioratherobecameodishonoured.oSubsequently,oheoechoeso inohisoexamination-in-chief,othatoonotheoaboveorefusal,otheoaccusedogettingo annoyed,oand,oleavingotheohouseowhileoproclaiming,othatotheyowillogetotheo moneyoandowilloseeohim.ooHowever,oheostatesothatoonotheorelevantoill-fatedo day,o rathero theo crimeo evento tooko placeo ino theo manner,o aso becameo earliero spokenobyoPW-2.ooo

21.o o Theo effecto ofotheo statemento ofo PW-3o withonarrationo thereins,o ratheroquaotheogerminationoofotheoprosecutionocase,othusofromoanoill-event,oaso becomesospokenobyohimotoohappen,oono31.5.2017,oisothat,otherebyotheosaido spoken,oillo event,o alsootherebyo becomingo propagatedo byo PW-3,o too beotheo motiveo foro theo crimeo event.o o However,o contraryo too theo saido motive,o aso projectedobyoPW-3oforotheoconvicts-appellantsoindulgingoinotheocrimeoevent,o PW-2o appearso too attributeo too theo convicts-appellantso theo motiveo ofo theirso committingo theo crimeo evento rathero foro ensuringo quao theirso committingo burglaryoofotheohouseoofoPW-2.o

22.o o Thougho theo allegedlyo burgledo items,o aso becameo recoveredo througho recoveryo memoo Ex.o PW-11/Mo henceo fromo convict-appellanto SandeepoSinghoaliasoAkashobyotheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned.oHowever,o sinceotheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,oinohisodeposition,oasocomprisedoino hiso cross-examinationohaso deposed,othatoinotheo FIR,o thereo isonoo speakingoITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-10-o o o regardingotheftoofogoldochain,oand,ocashoamount.ooTherefore,oand,oalsoowheno thoughotheoburgledoitems,oasobecameorecovered,oyetobecameonotoshownotoo PW-2oduringotheocourseoofotheorecordingoofohisodepositionobeforeotheolearnedo trialo Judgeo concerned.o o Therefore,o foro wanto ofo theo saido burglaryo itemso becomingo noto showno too PW-2o duringo theo courseo ofo theo recordingo ofo hiso deposition,o whereaso theirso beingo showno too himo waso buto imperative,o aso therebyoaloneotheosaidoburgledoitemsocouldobecomeoidentifiedobyohimotooaso suchotheoburgledoitemsofromohisohouse.oResultantly,otheoomissiono(supra),o begetsoanoinference,othatotheoCourtoisonotoinclinedotowardsoassigningoanyo creditworthinessotootheorecoveriesoofotheosaidoburgledoitems,oasobecameomadeo throughoPW-11/M.oReiteratedlyoforotheoreasonothatothereoisonoomentionoinotheo FIRoaboutotheoburglingoofotheosaidoitemsobecomingomadeofromotheohouseoofo PW-2.oTheofurtherosequeloofotheoaboveoinference,oisothat,oyetotheomakingsoofo recovery(ies)oofocash,oand,oofogoldochainoasobecameoallegedlyoburgledobyotheo convicts-appellants,,o fromo theo houseo ofo PW-2,o rathero leaveso scopeo foro makingoanoinferenceothatotheomotive,oasobecameoattributedotootheoconvicts-appellants,oforotheirsoallegedlyocommittingotheomurder(s)orespectivelyoofotheo father,oand,otheomotheroofoPW-2,oratherobecomingofoundered,obesidesoalsootheo saidorecoveryomemo,oisotoobeoconstruedotoobeoanoilloemployedomechanismobyo theoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,othusotoofalselyoimplicateotheoconvicts-appellants.o

23.o o Ino addition,o thougho theo identificationo ofo theo injuredo convicto Sandeepoisoallegedotoobeomadeowhenoheowas,oasosucholyingoinoanoinjuredo conditionoinotheopark,oand,owhoothenorevealedotooPW-2,ohisoname,oand,ohiso participationoinotheocrimeoevent,oand,oalsoorevealedotooPW-2,otheoparticipationo thereinsoofotheoco-accusedoRajuoTiwari,owhooensuredohisofleeingofromotheoITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-11-o o o crimeosite.ooNonetheless,otheofactumoofoco-accusedoSandeep,obeingoasosucho injured,o waso requiredo too beo clinchinglyo proveno througho adductiono intoo evidenceoofohiso MLR.o o However,otheo MLR,o thusopersonifyingo theoinjuryo obtainedoonotheobodyoofotheoconvictoconcerned,ohasoyetoremainedounadducedo inoevidence.ooTheoeffectoofonon-adductionointooevidenceoofotheoMLRoofotheo convicto concerned,oiso that,o therebyo theofactumo ofo co-convicto beingo foundo lyingoinjuredoinotheopark,othusobyoPW-2,oand,othereafterohisorevealingohiso identityotooPW-2,obesidesohisoalsoorevealingotooPW-2,ohenceotheoidentityoofo theoco-convictoconcerned,obecomesofalsified,oand,otherebyonoocredenceoisotoo beoassignedotootheodepositionoofoPW-2,oand/orotootheodepositionoofoPW-3.o

24.o o PW-4o Ravino Guptao alikeo PW-3o projectso theo motiveo foro theo crime,oprojectionowhereofois,obutocontraryotootheomotiveoforotheocrime,oaso becameoattributedobyoPW-2.oTherefore,otheoeffectsoofodifferentomotive(s)oforo theocommissionoofocrimeobyotheoconvicts-appellants,othusobeingorespectivelyo propagatedobyoPW-2,oand,oPW-3,oand,obyoPW-4,oisothat,oaomisleadingoand/oro aofalseomotiveobecomingoascribedotootheoconvicts-appellantsoratheroforotheirso committingotheocrimeoevent.o

25.o o Theoeffectoofotheoabove,oisothat,otherebyobutonaturallyotheomotiveo ascribedo byo PW-2,o theo primeo prosecutiono witness,o rathero looseso itso evidentiaryo vigour.o Moreover,o alsoo hiso depositiono aparto fromo theo aboveo enunciatedoinfirmityogrippingotheosame,otherebyobutoalsoofurtheroloosesoitso creditworthiness.o SignaturedodisclosureostatementsoofoconvictoRajuoTiwarioo Ex.oP-16oandoEx.P-19o o

26.o o Duringotheocourseoofoinvestigations,obeingomadeointootheoappealo FIR,oconvict-appellantoRajuoTiwariomadeoaosignaturedodisclosureostatement,o I attest to the accuracy andtoowhichoEx.oP-16oisoassigned.oTheosignaturedodisclosureostatement,oasomadeo CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-12-o o o byotheoaccusedoisoadoverbatimoextractedohereinafter.o "xo xo xo xo xo Iohadoconcealedotheo32oboreopistolounderotheoshrubsonearoParko ofohouseoofoSuniloGuptaoFinanceroafterotakingoplaceotheoincidento whichowasousedoinotheoincidentoofotheoaboveosaidocase,oabouto which,o Io knowo ando Io cano geto theo sameo recoveredo througho indication.o xo xo xo xo x"oo o

27.o o Pursuantotootheoaboveosignaturedodisclosureostatement,oconvict-appellantoRajuoTiwariogotorecoveredo.32oboreopistoloandothreeobullets,owhicho wereotakenointoopoliceopossessionothroughorecoveryomemooEx.oP-17.o

28.o o Duringotheocourseoofoinvestigations,obeingomadeointootheoappealo FIR,oconvict-appellantoRajuoTiwari,oono14.6.2017,omadeoanotherosignaturedo disclosureo statement,o too whicho Ex.o P-19o iso assigned.o Theo signaturedo disclosureo statement,o aso madeo byo theo accusedo iso ado verbatimo extractedo hereinafter.o "xo xo xo xo xo Byowhichopistol,oIohadofiredotheoshotsotooSuniloGuptaoandohiso wifeoNeelamoGupta,oIohaveoalreadyogototheosameorecovered,oIo hadopurchasedotheosameopistolofromosonoofomyomaternalouncleo

(Mama)onamelyoKrishanoPandeyoaliasoGoluoS/ooDayaoShankaro Pandeyo R/oo Bakaroo Biharo ato presento r/oo Hindoo Airo Forceo StationoAgraoinoworthoRs.o40,000/-oalongwitho25obulletsoandotheo sameowereohandedooverotoome.oFirstly,oIohadotransferredotheo amountoofoRs.o30,000/-oandosecondlyoRs.o10,000/-ointootheobanko accountoofosonoofomyomaternalouncleonamelyoKrishanoPandeyo runningo ino SBIo Banko througho ATM,o nearo DMCo Hospitalo Ludhianao ando sono ofo myo maternalo uncleo namelyo Krishano Pandeyohadodeliveredotheosaidopistoloando25obulletsotoomeoato LudhianaoinoworthoRs.o40,000/-oando9obulletsoareoremainingo ITHLESH KUMAR withoandoIohadopressedotheosameounderotheosoilowithotheowalloofo CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-13-o o o vacantoplotoatomyohouseosituatedoatoBajwaocolony,oaboutowhich,o IoknowoandoIocanogetotheosameorecoveredothroughoindication.oo xo xo xo xo x"oo o

29.o o Pursuantotootheoaboveosignaturedodisclosureostatement,oconvict-appellanto Rajuo Tiwario goto recoveredo 9o bulletso liveo .32o bore,o whicho wereo takenointoopoliceopossessionothroughorecoveryomemooEx.oP-20.o

30.o o Theodisclosureostatemento(supra),ocarriesotheosignature,oofotheo convictoconcerned.ooInohisosignaturedodisclosureostatemento(supra),oconvicto RajuoTiwarioconfessedohisoguiltoinocommittingotheomurderoofotheodeceasedo concerned,obyoinflictingoinjuriesoonotheiropersons,ohenceowithotheorecoveredo firearm.oTheofurtherospeakingothereinoisoquaohisokeeping,oand,oconcealingotheo incriminatoryoweaponoofooffence,ounderotheoshrubsonearotheoparkoofotheohouseo ofoSuniloGuptaoFinancer.oMoreover,oitoalsoomakesospeakingsoaboutohisoaloneo beingoawareoaboutotheolocationoofohisohidingoandokeepingotheosame,oand,oalsoo revealedohisowillingnessotoocauseotheorecoveryoofotheoincriminatoryoitem(s)otoo theo investigatingo officero concerned,o fromo theo placeo ofo hiso hiding,o and,o keepingotheosame.o

31.o o Thoughoprimaofacie,ovalidorecoverieso(supra),oasobecameomadeo byo convict-appellanto Rajuo Tiwario too theo investigatingo officero concerned,o througho recoveryo memoso Ex.o P-17,o ando Ex.o P-20,o thuso wouldo createo ano incriminatoryolinkoagainstotheoconvicts.o

32.o o However,o thiso Courto againo refrainso fromo assigningo anyo creditworthinessotootheosaidorecoveries,oasobecameomadeoatotheoinstanceoofo theoconvicts,otootheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned.ooTheoreasonoisoembeddedo inotheofactum,othatosinceotheotestificationsoofotheopurportedoocularowitnesses,o thusoforotheoreasonso(supra),oratheroloosesotheiroevidentiaryotenacity,otherebyo authenticity of this order/jutdhgmeenotrecoveries,o aso madeo ofotheo incriminatoryo items,o byo theo policeoofficero CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-14-o o o concerned,obutoatotheoinstanceoofotheoconvictoconcerned,odooconcomitantlyo alsoolooseotheiroevidentiaryoworth.o

33.o o Aparto fromo theo above,o botho PW-4,o and,o PW-11,o whoo investigatedotheocrimeoevent,ohaveoconsistentlyodeposedoaboutotheocrimeositeo becomingo visitedo byo theo fingerprinto expert,o and,o alsoo theo dogo squado becomingodeployedoforouncoveringotheoweaponoofooffence.ooHowever,owheno ito iso alsoo statedo byo PW-11,o ino hiso cross-examination,o thato theo placeo ofo recoveryowasoanoopenoaccessibleoplace,oand,oalsoostatesothatotheopoliceodog(s)o squadowasounableotoouncoverotheoincriminatoryoweaponoofooffenceofromotheo relevantosite.oTherefore,oitoappearsothatotheorecoveryoofotheoincriminatoryo weaponoofooffenceowasocontrived,oand,oengineered,oand,otherebyonoocredenceo isotoobeoassignedothereto.o

34.o o Anoaggravatedomomentumotootheoaboveoconclusion,oisoborrowedo fromotheofactum,othatodespiteotheofingerprintoexpertovisitingotheocrimeosite,o yetonoofingerprintoimpressionsobeingocollectedofromotheocrimeosite,onorotheirso becomingo transmittedo too theo Fingerprinto Bureau,o thuso foro sucho collectedo fingerprintoimpressionsoasoavailableoatotheocrimeosite,obecomingoensuredotoo beotalliedowithotheoadmittedofingerprintoimpressionsoofotheoconvicts.ooTheo aboveo omissiono happenedo despite,o theo aboveo fingerprinto report(s)o ofo theo fingerprintso expert,o rathero comprisingo theo besto forensico evidence.oo Consequently,o theo effecto thereof,o iso that,o thereo iso smothering,o and,o suppressiono ofo besto evidence,o ato theo instanceo ofo theo investigatingo officero concerned,oand,otherebyobenefitoofodoubtoisotoobeoassignedotootheoconvicts-appellants.o

35.o o Aso aboveo stated,o sinceo thougho theo bloodo soakedo clotheso ofoooo PW-2,oratherowereonotohandedooverobyohimotootheopoliceoofficeroconcerned,oITHLESH KUMAR CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-15-o o o norobecameoexaminedobyotheoserologistoconcerned,otherebyoalsootheopresenceo ofoPW-2,oatotheocrimeosite,oand,oatotheorelevantotime,oalsoocomesounderoano auraoofodoubt,oand,otherebyobenefitoofodoubtoisoalsootoobeoassignedotootheo convicts-appellants.o Lacko ofo dispatcho byo theo investigatingo officero concerned,o ofo theo incriminatoryoitems,oi.e.oofotheo.32oboreorevolver,oand,oofotheocartridges,o too theo ballistico expert,o foro theo lattero makingo ano opiniono abouto theo recoveredocartridgesobecomingofiredofromotheorecoveredoincriminatoryo weaponoofooffence.o

36.o o Thougho theo investigatingo officero concerned,o dido througho recoveryomemosoEx.oP-17,oand,oEx.oP-20,othusoatotheoinstanceoofotheoconvicto concerned,oensureotheorecoveryoofoweaponoofooffence,oand,oalsoodidoensureo theo recoveryo ofo theo cartridgeso oro ofo theo bullets,o buto yeto theo aboveo madeo recoveriesowereorequiredotoobeoforthwithodispatchedotootheoballisticoexperto concerned,o foro theo lattero aftero makingo examinationso thereof,o foro hiso thuso makingoanoopinionoquaotheorecoveredofirearmobecomingoused,oand/orowhethero theo cartridges,o aso alsoo becameo recoveredo ato theo instanceo ofo theo convicto concerned,othusobecomingofiredotherefrom.oooHowever,odespiteotheoaboveo recoveries,o theo investigatingo officero concerned,o haso completelyo failedo too ensureo theodispatchoofo theosaido recoveredo incriminatoryo recoveriesotoo theo ballisticoexpertoconcerned,onoroobviouslyoanyoaffirmativeoopinion,obecameo madeobyotheoballisticoexpert,othusovividlyopronouncingoaboutotheorecoveredo firearm,obeingousedoasosuchoinotheocrimeoevent,onoroalsooobviouslyoheomadeo anyoaffirmativeoopinionoaboutotheorecoveredocartridgesobeingotheoonesowhicho becameofiredotherefrom.o

37.o o Sinceo reiteratedlyo theo fingerprinto expert,o whoo despiteo visitingo theocrimeositeoyetodidonotocollectotheofingerprintoimpressionsoavailable,oatotheo crimeositeoonoroobviouslyowhenotheofingerprintoimpressionsoavailableoatotheo authenticity of this order/jucdgrmiemnt eositeoremainedoundispatchedotootheofingerprintobureauonoroalsoowhenotheo CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-16-o o o inter-seomatchingsotookoplaceointer-seotheoadmittedofingerprintoimpressionsoofo theoconvictsoalongwithotheosaidocollectedofingerprintoimpressionsofromotheo crimeosite.oTherefore,otheounavailabilityoofotheoaboveobestoevidenceosecuresoao firmoinference,ofromothisoCourt,othatotherebyotheoaccusedoareoentitledotooao verdictoofoacquittal.oTheoparamountoreasonoforotheonecessityoofotheoaboveobesto evidenceobecomingoadducedointooevidenceobyotheoprosecution,othusobecomeso sparkedo fromo theo triteo factum,o thato thiso Courto hasodisbelievedo theo ocularo account,o aso becomeo renderedo byo theo purportedo ocularo witnesseso too theo occurrence.o Theo saido discreditingo byo thiso Courto ofo theo ocularo versionso renderedoquaotheocrimeoeventoofotheopurportedoocularowitnessesothereto,othuso wouldohaveobecomeoblunted,obutoonlyoifotheoaboveobestoscientificoevidenceo hado emerged.o Necessarily,o foro nono emergence,o ofo besto forensico evidenceo (supra),obeforeothisoCourt,otheoaboveodiscreditingoofotheotestificationsoofotheo ocularowitnessesotootheooccurrence,othusoratheroremainsointact.o Post-mortemoreporto

38.o o Theo autopsyo ono theo bodyo ofo deceasedo Sunilo Gupta,o and,o deceasedoNeelamoGuptaowasoconductedobyotheoBoardoofoDoctorsoincludingo PW-13oDr.oNishaoJain,owhoohasoprovenotheopost-mortemoreport,otoowhichoo respectivelyo Ex.o PW-13/1o ando Ex.o PW-13/6,o areo assigned.o Sheo haso alsoo provenotheoexistenceoofotheohereinafteroextractedoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofo deceasedoSuniloGupta.o

1.k Laceratedowoundoonomiddleoofoparietaloareaoofoskull.oo1.5o xo 1o cmo cruciate,o invertedo margins.o o Ono disectiono correspondingo underlyingo boneo shattered,o meningeso raptured,o braino parenchymaotorn,o cavityo havingoblood.o Trackoexploredoandoaometallicoforeignoobjectorecoveredo fromocervicaloregiono(sealedoandohandedoover).o I attest to the accuracy and 2.k Woundoti.5oxo1ocmoovaloinvertedolaceratedomarginsowitho CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-17-o o o blackeningo ono lefto sideo ofo theo necko 4o cmo superioro too medialoendoofoleftoclavicle.ooOnoexplorationoofotrackoapexo oforightolungoandopleuraofoundoraptured,opluralocavityofullo ofoblood,ometallicoforeignobodyorecoveredofromoposterioro aspectooforightoshoulderoarea.o

3.k Swellingo4x4ocmorightoshoulderoareaoposteriorily.o

39.o o PW-13o haso alsoo proveno theo existenceo ofo theo hereinaftero extractedoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofodeceasedoNeelamoGupta.o

1.o Laceratedowoundo6ocmoxo4ocmoleftoparietaloareaoofoscalpooooooooo o withounderlyingoboneoshatteredowithomeningesoandobrainooooooooooooo o parenchymao torn,o cavityo fullo ofo blood.o o Ono furtherooooooooooooooooo o explorationotwoometallicoforeignoobjectsorecoveredofromoooooooooo o parietaloareaoofobraino(sealedoandohandedoover).o

2.o 0.5ocmoxoti.5ocmocircularoinvertedoabraidedomarginsowithoooooooooooo o blackeningo 7o cmo belowo xiphisternumo ino midlineo (entryoooooooooooo o wound).o Ono explorationo peritoniumo livero omentumooooooooooooooooo o rupturedowithohaemoperitoneum.o

3.o 1o cmo xo 0.7o cmo ovalo evertedo marginso overo lefto lumberooooooooooooooooo o regiono ofo abdomeno (back),o metallico objecto foundo stuckoooooooooooooo o withino theo woundo (exit),o objecto removedo (sealedo andooooooooooooooooo o handedooverotoopolice).o o

40.o o Theocauseoofodemiseoofobothotheodeceasedoconcerned,ohasobeeno opinedobyoPW-13otooensueofromohemorrhage,oand,oshockodueotooinjuryoonotheo vitaloorgansosubsequentotoofireoarmoinjury,owhichoisosufficientotoocauseodeatho inotheoordinaryocourseoofonature.ooAllotheoinjuriesowereoopinedotoobeoante-mortemoinonature,oand,otheoprobableotimeowhichoelapsedobetweenotheodeatho andotheoautopsy,owasoopinedotoobeowithinohours.o

41.o o However,otheoaboveoopinionoaboutotheocauseoofodeatho(supra),oaso madeo ino theo post-mortemo reports,o doeso noto yeto foro reasonso (supra),o thuso connectotheoconvicts-appellantsoinotheocommissionoofotheooffenceoofomurder.o Thus,o thereo iso grosso misappreciation,o and,o non-appreciationo ofo evidenceo germaneo too theo charge.o Therefore,o theo impugnedo judgmento ando ordero ofo ITHLESH KUMAR 2023.08.23 17:30 conviction,oand,oconsequentotherewithosentence(s)oofoimprisonmentoasowello CRA-D-40-2021o(O&M)o o oooo o o o o o oo-18-o o o asoofofine,oasobecameoimposedouponotheoappellant,oareorequiredotoobeoquashedo andosetoaside.o Finaloordero

42.o o Theoresultoofotheoaboveodiscussion,oisothat,othisoCourtofindsomerito inobothotheoappeals,oand,oisoconstrainedotooallowothem.ooConsequently,obotho theoappealsoareoallowed.oTheoimpugnedojudgmentoconvicting,oand,oalsootheo orderosentencingotheoappellants,oand,oasorecordedobyotheolearnedotrialoJudgeo concerned,oareoquashed,oand,osetoaside.oTheoappellantsoareoacquittedoofotheo chargesoframedoagainstothem.ooTheofineoamount,oifoany,odepositedobyothem,o be,o ino accordanceo witho law,o refundedotoo them.o Theo personal,o and,osuretyo bondsoofotheoappellantsoshallostandoforthwithocancelled,oand,odischarged.ooTheo caseopropertyobeodealtowith,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,obutoafterotheoexpiryoofo theoperiodoofolimitationoforotheofilingoofoanoappeal.ooTheoappellants,oifoino custody,oand,oifonotorequiredoinoanyootherocase,obeoforthwithosetoatoliberty.oo

43.o o Recordsobeosentodownoforthwith.o

44.o o Theomiscellaneousoapplication(s),oifoany,ois/are,oalsoodisposedo of.o o o o o o o o o o o o o(SURESHWARoTHAKUR)o o o o oooooo o o o oooooJUDGEo o o o o o o o o o oooo(KULDEEPoTIWARI)o o o o o o o o oooooJUDGEo Augusto23,o2023o o o o o o oooooo Gurpreeto o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o :o Yes/Noo