State of Haryana v. Sumit Alias Fundi and Another

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAT CHANDIGARH ooo oooMRC-7-2022ooo DateoofoDecision:26.05.2025 STATEoOFoHARYANAo ...oAppellant(s) Versus SUMITo@oFUNDIo&oANOTHERo ...Respondent oCRA-D-229-2023 SUMITo@oFUNDIo&oANOTHER ...oAppellant(s) Versus STATEoOFoHARYANA ...Respondent CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoGURVINDERoSINGHoGILL HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEooJASJIToSINGHoBEDI Present: Mr.oMunishoSharma,oDAG,oHaryana, forotheoappellant-State. Mr.oJ.S.oMehandiratta,oAdvocateowitho Mr.oE.A.oGeorge,oAdvocateowitho Mr.oRandeepoSinghoDhull,oAdvocate, forotheorespondent/accusedoinoMR-7-2022oando forotheoappellantoinoCRA-D-229-2023. **** JASJIToSINGHoBEDI,oJ. ThisojudgmentoshallodisposeoofoMRC-07-2022osentobyotheoDistrict andoSessionsoJudge,oSonipatotitledoasoStateoofoHaryanaoVersusoPartapoSumito@ Fundio&oanotheroandoCRA-D-229-2023otitledoasoSumito@oFundio&oanother VersusoStateoofoHaryanaoasotheosameoareoarisingooutoofotheosameoFIR. However,oforotheosakeoofoconvenienceotheofactsohaveobeenotakenofromoCRA-D-229-2023.

¶2Theopresentoappealohasobeenofiledoagainstotheojudgmentoof convictionoandoorderoofosentenceodatedo19.12.2022opassedobyotheoAddl. SessionsoJudge,oSonipat.

¶3The o FIR o was o registered o on o 11.05.2017, o the o judgment o of convictionoandoorderoofosentenceopassedobyotheoAddl.oSessionsoJudge,oSonipat isodatedo19.12.2022,otheoappealowasofiledoono13.02.2023oandotheomatterois beingotakenoupoforohearingonowoi.e.oafteroaoperiodoofo8oyearsofromotheodateoof registrationoofotheoFIR.

¶4Theobriefofactsoofotheoprosecutionocaseoareothatoono11.05.2017othe complainantoVedoKauro(PW9)owifeoofoMahenderoSingho(PW8),oDhanakoby casteor/ooSantoKabiroAshramoKalupur,oSonipatopresentedoaocomplaintoinothe policeostationoinotheonameoofoSHO,oP.S.oCity,oSonipat.oSheostatedothatosheohad twoochildren.oAmitowasoherosonoandoherodaughterowaso'S'o(hereinafteroknown asotheodeceased)oagedoabouto19oyearsoandowasoworkingoinoaomedicineofactory inotheoindustrialoarea,oSonipat.oSumitor/ooKalupurousedotooharassoherodaughter forowhichosheohadoseveralotimesoobjectedotoohisoactivitiesoseveralotimes.oHe hadoslappedoherobecauseoheolostohisotemperodueotoonon-responseofromoher daughterooneoweekoearlier.oTheyodidonotolodgeoanyoprotestoanywhere.oOn

09.05.2017oatoabouto6/7.00oa.m.osheowentotootheofactoryobutosheodidonotoreturn back.oTheyocontinuedotoosearchoatotheiroownolevelobutonooclueocouldobeofound. SheosuspectedothatoSumitor/ooKalupurohadotakeno herosomewhereoafter abductingoher.oSheoprayedothatoherodaughterobeotracedoandolegaloactionobe takenoagainstoSumito@oFundi.oInotheocomplaint,osheohadoalsoogivenoher particulars o and o description. o On o this o complaint, o case o FIR o No.232 o on

11.05.2017 o under o Section o 365 o IPC, o Police o Station o City, o Sonipat o was registered.oTheoinvestigationowasocarriedooutobyoP/SIoPrem,oP.S.oCity,oSonipat. Informationowasoreceivedoono12.05.2017ofromooneoSatishosonoofoOmoParkash thatoono11.05.2017otheodeadobodyoofounknownoladyohadobeenofoundoat ParsvanathoCity,oRohtakoinotheoareaoofoUrbanoEstate,oRohtak.oOnoreceiptoof thisoinformation,oP/SIoPremowentotooUrbanoEstate,oRohtakowithotheofamily membersoofotheodeceasedowhereoASIoSamunderoSinghodisclosedothatoaodead bodyoofoaoladyowasofoundoatoParsvanathoCity,oRohtakoinotheoareaoofoBohar regardingowhichotheoproceedingsounderoSectiono174oCr.P.C.owereocarriedoout andotheodeadobodyowasokeptoinomortuaryoofoPGIMS,oRohtakoforoidentification. TheoInvestigatingoOfficeroalongowithotheoASIoandofamilyomembersoofothe deceasedoreachedotheomortuaryoofoPGIMS,oRohtakowhereotheyoidentifiedothe bodyoaso'S'odaughteroofoMahender,oDhanakobyocaste,or/ooKabirpuroAshram, Kalupur,oSonipat.oTheodeadobodyowasosubjectedotoopostomortemoexamination byoaoboardoofodoctorsoofoPGIMS,oRohtakowasohandedooverotootheofamily membersoforocremation.oAsoperoPME/2017/05/2014odatedo12.05.2017othe doctorsoopinedothatotheocauseoofodeathowasoheadoinjuryodescribedowhichowere anteomortemoinonatureoandosufficientotoocauseodeathoinotheoordinaryocourseoof nature.oTheoanaloandovaginaloswabsowereotakenoforodetectingoseminalofluids,oif any.oTheomanneroofodeathowasogivenoafteroreceiptoofotheosceneoofocrimeoreport andophotographs.oTheopostomortemosamplesofromotheobodyoofodeceasedowere obtainedofromotheodoctoroandowereoconvertedointooseparateoparcelsoandowere takenointoopoliceopossession.oProceedingsounderoSectiono174oCr.P.C.owere carriedooutoandotheostatementsoofotheowitnessesowereorecorded. Meanwhile,oinocaseoFIRoNo.234oofo2017odatedo12.05.2017ounder Sectiono25-54-59oofotheoArmsoAct,oP.S.oCity,oSonipatoaccusedoSumito@oFundi sonoofoHarioOmor/ooKirtioNagar,oKalupur,oSonipatowasoarrestedobyoHCoDalbir. Heoproducedotheocopyoofodisclosureostatementoandotheorecoveryomemooand sketchoofopistolodatedo12.05.2017orecoveredofromoSumitoandotheoaccusedowho wasoconfinedoinotheoArmsoActocase,owasotakenooutofromotheopoliceolockoupowas interrogatedoandowasoarrestedoinotheoinstantocaseoonofindingoevidenceoofohis involvement.oAccusedoVikaso@oLaluosonoofoSurenderoYadavor/oonearoSai Mandir,oKabirpur,oSonipatowasoalsooarrestedoono12.05.2017oonofindingothe evidenceoofohisoinvolvement.oMeanwhileoSectionso201,o302,o328,o376-Ao(d)o/ 34oIPCoandoArmsoActowereoaddedoinotheocase.o o Duringoinvestigation,oono13.05.2017otheoInvestigatingoOfficer Premotookobothotheoaccusedofromotheopoliceolockoupointerrogatedothemoand recordedotheirodisclosureostatements.oAccusedoSumito@oFundioandoVikaso@ LaluowereogotomedicoolegallyoexaminedofromoGeneraloHospital,oSonipat.oAfter medicaloexamination,otheoparcelsoofopapers,oundergarmentsoofoaccusedoSumit andooneoparceloofopapersoalongwithoundergarmentsoofoVikasodulyosealed alongwithooneoparceloofosampleoofobloodoofoSumitoandothatoofoVikasoalong withoforwardingolettersodulyosealedobyodoctorsowereotakenointoopolice possession.oDuringopoliceoremandoofobothotheoaccused,otheyorenegedofrom their o earlier o disclosureo statements o and o they o madeo additional o disclosure statementsothatotheyohadokidnappedotheodeceasedoono09.05.2017obyocar No.HR-26AL-4237omakeoSantroosilverocolouroandogototheoplaceodemarcated. Thereafter,oaccusedoVikasoasoperohisodisclosureostatementogotoeffectedothe recoveryoofocaroNo.HR-26AL-4237oSantroosilverocolouroandotheobackoplateoof theocaroasoHR-26AL-4237owhichowasobrokenoandoalsoogotoeffectedothe recoveryoofot-shirtowornobyohimoatotheotimeoofotheooccurrence.oTheot-shirtoand numberoplatesowereoconvertedointooparcelsodulyosealedowitho'RK'owereotaken intoopoliceopossessionoalongowithosampleoseals.o TheocarowasogotoinspectedofromotheoFSLoteamoandofingeroprint expert.oHairostrandsowereofoundofromobothotheowindowsoandoaoliquorobottleoof makeoOfficer'soChoiceoblueobelowotheodriver'soseatoandooneosodaobottleofrom theogearohadotheowordo'catch'owasorecovered.oRCoandodrivingolicenceoof accusedoVikasowereofoundofromotheodashboardoofotheocaroandotheodickey.oTwo blueosunoshades,ooneoblackosunoshadeoandoanotheroblackosunoshadeofromothe rearoglassoofotheocarowithomakeoJMSoBuildoTechowereofoundoandoasoper directionsoofotheoFSL,otheoseatocoveroofotheobackoseatoofotheocarowasoremoved. Theohairostrandsofromotheowindows,oliquorobottle,osodaobottleoandosunoshade wereoconvertedointooparcelsodulyosealedowitho'RK'oalongowithosampleoseals, wereotakenointoopoliceopossession.o o FurtheroinvestigationowasocarriedooutobyoSIoAjayoKumaroon

13.05.2017,otheothenoSHO,oP.S.oCity,oSonipat.oOno13.05.2017otheocomplainant gotorecordedoherosupplementaryostatementowhereinosheostatedothatoVedosonoof DayaoNand,oNaveen,oVinodosonsoofoMahabir,oKuldeep,oAmitosonsoofoHarioOm, SheelaowifeoofoHarioOmor/ooKalupurowereoinvolvedoinotheomurderoofoher daughteroatowhichosectiono120-BoIPCowasoaddedoinotheocase.o Duringoinvestigationoono14.05.2017oaccusedoSumito@oFundioand Vikaso@oLaluogototheoplaceoofooccurrenceodemarcatedowhereotheyohadoraped theodeceasedoandohadomurderedoheroinotheoParsvanathoCity,oRohtakoinotheoarea ofoBohar.oTheoplaceoofooccurrenceowasoalsoogotoinspectedofromotheoFSLoteam asoperodirectionsoofotheoFSLoteam.oTheoearthostainedowithoblood,ostones,ohair strandsostainedowithoblood,ostainsoofobloodoinotheocementedoseweropipeowere found.oTheoearthofromotheoseweropipeowasoscratchedoandotheopiecesoofosewer pipeowhereotheobloodowasopresent,owereobrokenoandothoseowereoconvertedointo parcelsodulyosealedowitho'AK'oandowereotakenointoopoliceopossessionoalong withosampleoseal.o Siteoplanoofotheoplaceoofooccurrenceowasoprepared.oTheoaccused hadogotoeffectedotheorecoveryoofotwoobricksoasoperotheirodisclosureostatements usedoinotheomurderoofotheodeceased.oTheirosketchesowereoprepared.oThoseowere wrappedoinocottonoandoconvertedointooparcelsodulyosealedowitho'AK'oandoalong withosampleosealsowereotakenointoopoliceopossession.oAccusedoSumito@oFundi gotoeffectedotheorecoveryoofoaopantoandoshirtowhichowereowornobyohim,oatothe timeoofocommissionoofooffenceoasoperohisodisclosureostatementoandotheosame wereobloodstainedoafterobeingoconvertedointoosealedoparcelsodulyosealedowith 'AK'oalongowithosampleoseal.oOno14.05.2017oP/SIoPremotookotheofootageoof CCTVocamerasoofotheorouteouptootheoplaceoofooccurrence.o

¶5Onotheobasisoofotheocomplaintoandotheoevidenceocollectedoduring theoinvestigation,oSectiono3oofotheoScheduledoCastesoandoScheduledoTribes (PreventionoofoAtrocities)oAct,o1989owasoadded.oTheofurtheroinvestigationoof theocaseowasocarriedooutobyoDSPoSonipat.oFurtheropoliceoremandoofobothothe accusedowasoobtained.oOno15.05.2017oP/SIoPremoobtainedotheofootageoofothe routeotootheoplaceoofooccurrence.oTheopenodriveoofotheoCCTVofootageowas takenointoopoliceopossession.oTheoSantroocarowasofoundotoobeogoingotoothe placeoofooccurrenceoandoreturningofromotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoasoperothe disclosureostatementsoofotheoaccused.oTheophotosofromotheoCCTVofootageoof theosameowereogotoprepared.oOno15.05.2017otheopapersoandoundergarmentsoof accusedoSumitoandoVikasoalongowithosampleosealsoandotheobloodosamplesoof bothotheoaccusedoalongwithoforwardingoletteroandotheocoveroofotheorearoseatoof theocarouponowhichothereowereobloodostained,otheohairostrandsofromothe windowsoofotheocar,oliquorobottleoandosodaobottleofromotheocarowereoconverted intooparcelsodulyosealedoalongowithosampleosealsowereotakenointoopolice possession.oFromotheoplaceoofooccurrence,otheoearthosoakedoinotheobloodoand stonesostainedowithotheobloodowereoconvertedointooparcelsodulyosealedowithothe sampleosealsoalongwithobricks,obrokenopiecesoofoseweropipesostainedowith bloodoandoclothesoofobothotheoaccusedostainedowithobloododulyosealedoalong withotheosampleoseals,owereodepositedoinoFSLoMadhubanoforoexamination. OpinionoofotheodoctoroofoPGIMS,oRohtakowithoregardotootheorecoveredobricks wasoalsooobtained.oTheoboardoofodoctorsoopinedothatoafteroperusaloofotheoPMR videoPME/2017/05/14odatedo12.05.2017oandoexaminationoofoallegedoweapon ofooffenceoi.e.otwoobricks,otheoboardowasoofotheoopinionothatotheoinjuries describedoinotheopostomortemoexaminationoreportooverotheoheadocouldobe causedodueotoosuchotypeoofohardoandobluntoweapon.oTheoscaledositeoplanoofothe placeoofooccurrenceowasogotopreparedoono16.05.2017.oTheocallodetailsoofothe numbersoofotheodeceasedoandothatoofoaccusedowereoalsootakenointoopolice possession.oTheoIDoofomobileophoneoofotheoaccusedowasofoundoinotheironames. FromotheoexaminationoofotheoCDRoofomobileoNo.9991528090obelongingoto accusedoSumitoitowasofoundothatoaccusedoSumitohadomadeoaocalloonotheomobile ofoaccusedoVikasobearingoNo.9991342135oono08.05.2017oandoono09.05.2017 accusedoVikasohadomadeodifferentocallsotooaccusedoSumito@oFundi.o Ono17.05.2017ooneoparceloofovisceraoofotheodeceasedodulyosealed withotheosealoofodoctoroalongwithosampleosealoandooneoparceloofoDNAoboneoof deceased,ooneoparcelovaginaloswaboofodeceased,ooneoparceloofoanaloswaboof deceasedoandooneoparceloofoclothesoofodeceased,ooneoparceloofoforwarding letterodulyosealedobyotheodoctoroalongowithosampleosealoandotwooparcelsoof bricksodulyosealedobyo'AK'oalongowithosampleosealsowereodepositedoinoFSL Madhubanoforoexamination.o Duringoinvestigation,oono21.05.2017oaccusedoSumitoandoVikas madeotheirodisclosureostatementsobeforeoDSP.oAccusedoSumitoinohisodisclosure statementostatedothatoaccusedoPankajosonoofoChintaoMani,oDhanakobyocaste hadoaskedohimotoobreakotheosimocardoandotoodestroyotheoevidenceoofotheobagoof deceased.oAccusedoSumitohadothrownotheobagoconsistingoofoaotiffinobelonging toodeceasedoinotheocanalonearotheobridgeoofovillageoMehlanaoandogot demarcatedothatoplace.o AccusedoSumitogotoeffectedotheorecoveryoofoaomobileophoneomake NokiaofromohisohouseosituatedoinoKirtioNagar,oSonipatoasoperohisodisclosure statementowhichowasotakenointoopoliceopossession.oTheoaccusedoalsoogotothe placeoofooccurrenceodemarcatedowhereoheohadobrokenotheosim.oAccusedoSumit alsoogotoeffectedotheorecoveryoofoanoAppleoI-phoneowhichowasoconvertedointooa sealedoparceloandoareotakenointoopoliceopossession.oOno22.05.2017otheopieces ofopipesostainedowithobloododulyosealedoalongowithosampleosealowereodeposited inoFSLoMadhubanoforoexamination.oDuringoinvestigation,obloodosamplesoof VedoKaurowifeoofoMahenderoandoMahenderoSinghosonoofoGianioRamowere obtainedoatoGeneraloHospital,oSonipatoforoDNAoanalysisowhichosamplesowere takenointoopoliceopossessionoandodepositedowithotheoFSLoforoDNAoanalysis. AccusedoPankajosonoofoChintaoManiowasoarrestedoonofindingoevidenceoofohis involvement.oHeogototheoplaceodemarcatedowhereotheobagoofodeceasedowas thrownobyotheoaccusedoandoalsoowhereotheosimowasothrownoafterobreaking. Thereafter,omemooaccusedoPankajowasoproducedoinotheocourtoandowasoreleased onobail.o o Theoopinionoofotheodoctorowasoobtainedowithoregardotoothe manneroofodeathoofotheodeceasedoinowhichotheomembersoofotheoboardoof doctorsoafteroperusaloofotheopostomortemoexaminationoreport,osceneoofocrime reportoandophotographsoopinedothatotheoinjuriesodescribedoinotheoPMRowere homicidaloinomanneroandosufficientotoocauseodeathoinotheoordinaryocourseoof nature.o o Ono01.06.2017otheofatheroofotheodeceased,onamely,oMahender producedotheomobileophoneoofotheodeceasedowhichowasotakenointoopolice possessionoafterobeingoconvertedointooaoparcel.oAccusedoVedosonoofoDaya Nand,oNaveenoandoVinodosonsoofoMahabir,oKuldeepoandoAmitosonsoofoHariom wereojoinedoinotheoinvestigationobyoAjayoKumar,otheothenoSHOobyoInspector Indiwar,oSHOoCIAoSonipatoandobyoMukeshoKumaroDSP.oSheelaowifeoofoHari OmowasojoinedoinotheoinvestigationoofoInspectoroParmilaoDevi,oWomenoCell, Sonipat.oAfteroinvestigation,onooevidenceoregardingotheiroinvolvementocould beofoundoandotheyowereofoundoinnocentoSectiono120-oBoIPCowasodroppedoin theocase.o Ono08.06.2017oNodaloOffice,oTataoTallyoServices,oKarnaloand NodaloOfficer,oVodafone,oHaryanaoCircle,oPeeraoGarhi,oDelhiogaveocertificates underosectiono65-BoofoEvidenceoActoandocopyoofoCDRoandoCAFoformowhich wereotakenointoopoliceopossession.oTheovisceraoreportowasoobtainedofromoFSL, Madhuban.o o Fromotheoinvestigation,otheoevidenceoregardingotheoinvolvement ofoaccusedoSumit,oVikasoandoPankajowasofoundoandotheyowereochallaned accordingly.oDuringocheckingoofotheochallanosectiono25oofotheoArmsoactowas droppedoandosectiono27oofoArmsoActowasoadded.oTheocomplainantoproduced herocasteocertificateoono17.06.2017owhichowasotakenointoopoliceopossession. Ono14.06.2017otheomobileophonesoofoaccusedoSumit,oVikasoand deceasedowereogotoinspectedofromoDitechoLab,oGurugramoandotheostatements ofotheowitnessesowereorecorded.oOno20.06.2017otheoproductionowarrantsoof accusedoVikasowereoobtainedoandoono22.06.2017oheowasojoinedoinothe investigationobyoACPoMukeshoKumar.oInofurtherointerrogation,oaccusedoVikas gotorecordedohisodisclosureostatementothatotheot-shirtowhichoheohadogot recoveredoono13.06.2017,oheohadonotowornotheosameoatotheotimeoofoincident. Heohadogototheosameorecoveredoinohisodefence.oTheoclothesowornobyohimoatothe timeoofotheooccurrenceoconsistingoofobloodo(pantoandoshirt)owereothrownoby himoinotheocanalonearotheobridgeoofoRohtakocanal.oHeocouldogetotheosame demarcated.oThus,oafteroobtainingotheopermissionofromotheocourt,otheoaccused Vikasogotodemarcatedotheoplaceowhereotheopantoandoshirtowereothrown. o Thus,oafteroobtainingoallotheoreportsotheosupplementaryochallan wasosubmittedoagainstoaccusedoSumit,oVikasoandoPankaj.

6.o OnocommitmentotheoTrialobeganobeforeotheoSpecialoCourtounder theoprovisionsoofoScheduledoCastesoandoScheduledoTribeso(Preventionoof Atrocities)oAct,o1989.

7.o TheoprosecutionoinoitsoevidenceoexaminedoSatbiroSinghoasoPW-o1, HCoSukhbiroSinghoasoPW-2,oHCoDalbiroSinghoasoPW-3,oASIoSuniloKumaroas PW-4,oHCoDevenderoasoPW-5,oHCoSandeepoasoPW-6,oAnjalioasoPW-7, MahenderoSinghoasoPW-8,oVedoKauroasoPW-9,oC.oSurenderoasoPW-10,oAnand MohanoasoPW-11,oC.oPawanoKumaroasoPW-12,oASIoAniloKumaroasoPW-13, RameshoasoPW-14,oJatindero@oJeetuoasoPW-15,oKarambiroasoPW-16,oMahavir SinghoasoPW-17,oPriyaoasoPW-18,oVirenderoasoPW-19,oRavinderoRanaoasoPW-20,oSatishoasoPW-21,oDevoParkashoasoPW-22,oESIoRajeshoKumaroasoPW-23, ManojoKumaroasoPW-24,oSIoMahenderoasoPW-25,oHCoVijayoPaloasoPW-26,oSI NareshoKumaroasoPW-27,oRohitoKumaroasoPW-28,oJagbiroSinghoasoPW-29, PSIoAjayoKumaroasoPW-30,oSukhvinderoasoPW-31,oDeepakoKumaroasoPW-32, InspectoroRajpaloasoPW-33,oKarambiroasoPW-34,oHCoHarenderoasoPW-35,oASI SamunderoSinghoasoPW-36,oDr.DaraoSinghoasoPW-37,oDr.VinodoKumaroas PW-38,oHCoBijenderoasoPW-39,oAjayoasoPW-40,oDr.Sunita,oDeputyoCivil SurgeonoasoPW-41,oACPoMukeshoKumaroasoPW-42,oRajeshoKumar,oNodal OfficeroasoPW-43,oP/SIoPremoSinghoasoPW-44,oConstableoBijenderoasoPW-45 andoSatyamoClerkoasoPW-46oandoplacedoandoprovedoonorecordoallotheorelevant. o8. Theogistoofotheoprosecutionoevidenceoisoasounder:- PW1-SatbiroSingh,ouncleoofotheodeceasedostatedothatowhileogoing towardsotheohouseoofoMahenderoono09.05.2017oheohadometotheodeceased.oHe identifiedoherobodyoono12.05.2017.o PW7-Anjaliostatedothatoono09.05.2017oatoaroundo6.30/6.45oAM sheowasogoingotootheoGlobaloMedicinesoFactoryoinoIndustrialoAreaowithothe deceased.oSomeoneocalledoherofromotheobackoside.oTheodeceasedotoldoherothat herofriendoSumito@oFundiowasocallingoheroandosheowouldomeetohero(this witness)olater.oWhenotheodeceasedodidonotocomeoinofrontoofotheofactoryoshe informedoMs.oAnitaoinotheofactoryoofothisofact.oSheostatedothatosheohadonotoseen accusedoSumito@oFundioatothatotime.oSheowasodeclaredohostileoandocross-examinedobyotheoP.P.oforotheoState.oSheodeniedotheosuggestionothatosheohad compromisedotheomatterowithotheoaccusedopersonsoorothatosheowasodeposing falselyoinoorderotoosaveothem.o MahenderoSingh,ofatheroofotheodeceasedowasoexaminedoasoPW8. HeostatedothatohisodaughterowasobeingoharassedobyoaccusedoSumito@oFundi persistently.oHisodeceasedodaughterohadogivenoaoslapoblowotooaccusedoSumito@ Fundiooneoweekopriorotoomurder.oAtothatotimeoSumito@oFundiohadothreatened theodeceasedothatoheowouldocommitorapeouponoheroandogetoherorapedobyoothers andowouldothereafterokilloheroinofuture.oHowever,otheyo(complainant'sofamily) didonotolodgeoanyocomplaintowithotheopolice.oOno09.05.2017otheodeceasedohad leftotheirohouseoatoabouto06.30oAMoforoheroplaceoofowork.oTheoaccusedoSumit @oFundioandoVikaso@oLaluohadoabductedoheroandocommittedogangrapeoupon her.oOno11.05.2017ohisowifeoVedoKauroandosonoAmito(sinceodeceased)ohad lodgedoaocomplaintotootheopolice.oOno12.05.2017oheocameotooknowoaboutothe recoveryoofotheodeadobodyoofohisodaughteroatoRohtakoandoheoidentifiedothe sameoinotheomortuaryoatoPGIMSoRohtak.oThereowasoevidenceoofoinjuriesoon theobodyowhichowasodecomposedoandomaggotsowereocrawlingoonotheosame.oHe wasoableotooidentifyoherofromotheoclothesothatosheowasowearingoandoaochainoin heroneck.oOno01.06.2017oheohandedooverooneomobileophoneohavingotwooSIMs andooneomemoryocardowhichowasobeingousedobyohisodaughter.oTheodateoofobirth ofohisodaughterowaso11.10.1996oandotheodateoofobirthoofohisosonowas

15.08.1996.oInocross-examination,oheowasoconfrontedowithotheostatement underoSectiono161oCr.P.C.owhereotheoallegationsoregardingothreatooforapeoand murderowereomissing.oHeoclarifiedothatoitowasotheopoliceothatohadodisclosedoto himothatotheoaccusedoSumito@oFundioandoVikaso@oLaluohadocommittedorape Ved o Kaur o PW9 o is o the o mother o of o the o deceased o and o the complainantoofotheoinstantocase.oSheostatedothatoSumito@oFundiousedotooharass andoteaseoherodaughter.oHerodaughterohadogivenoaoslapoblowotooSumito@oFundi. AccusedoSumito@oFundiohadoalsoogivenoaoslapoblowotooherodaughteroandohe hadothreatenedoherothatoheowouldodisrobeoher,ogetoherodisrobeobyoothersoand wouldothereafterokilloheroinofuture.oTheosaidoincidentohadotakenoplaceooneoweek priorotootheopresentooccurrence.oHowever,osheodidonotodiscloseoaboutotheosame tooanyoneodueotoofear.oOno09.05.2017,oherodaughterohadoleftotheohouseoatoabout

06.00otoo07.00oAMotoogootootheofactory.oTheoaccusedoSumito@oFundioand Vikaso@oLaluohadoabductedoheroinoaocaroatogunopoint.oTheyoadministeredosome intoxicantosubstanceotooheroandocommittedogangrapeouponoheroafterowhich theyomurderedoherowithobricksoetc.oOno11.05.2017osheoalongowithoheroson AmitohadogoneotooPoliceoStationoSonipatotoofileotheocomplaintoEx.PW4/A.oOn

12.05.2017,otheyoreceivedoinformationofromotheopoliceothatotheobodyoofoa youngofemaleohadobeenofoundoinotheoareaoofoRohtak.oSheoalongowithoher familyomembersoincludingoherohusbandowentotooPGIMSoRohtakoandoidentified theobodyoofoherodeceasedodaughter.oOno13.05.2017,otheopoliceorecordedoa supplementaryostatement.oOnotheosameonightotwoounknownopersonsohadocome tooherohouseowithoanointentionotookilloandotheyowereoarmedowithoaopistol.oShe madeoaotelephonicocallotootheopolice.oOno09.05.2017,oaccusedoSumito@oFundi, Vikaso@oLaluoandoPankajoissuedothreatsoonotheotelephone.oAccusedoSumito@ FundioandoVikaso@oLaluohadogangrapedoherodaughteroafteroabductingoheroand hadokilledoher.oAfterocommittingotheooffence,otheyodisclosedoaboutotheosameoto theiroco-accusedoPankajoandotookohimotooRohtakowhereotheyohadoshownothe deadobodyoandoplaceoofooccurrenceotoohim.oSumito@oFundioandoVikaso@oLalu hadodestroyedotheoevidenceowithotheohelpoofoaccusedoPankaj.oInocross-examination,osheoadmittedothatoSheenuowasomarriedoatoVillageoSelanaoabout twooyearsopriorotootheoincidentoandoresidedoatoheromatrimonialohomeoforotwo months.oInocross-examination,osheostatedothatoherofamilyohadoreceivedoaosum ofoRs.10olakhofromotheoDeputyoCommissioner,oSonipat.oTheopoliceohad obtainedothumbomarksoono12/13oblankopages.oSheoclarifiedothatosheohadoput herothumbomarksoonowrittenodocuments.oSheostatedothatosheohadoreceivedoa threatofromoSumito@oFundioono09.05.2017.oSheowasoconfrontedowithoa complaintoandostatementsowhereinothisofactowasonotorecorded.oSheoadmitted thatosheohadonotogotorecordedotheofactothatoaccusedoSumito@oFundiohad threatenedoherodeceasedodaughterothatoheowouldodisrobe,ogetoherodisrobeoby othersoandothatoheowouldokilloheroinofuture.oSheoadmittedothatosheohadonotoseen herodaughterobeingoabductedobyoaccusedoSumito@oFundioandoVikaso@oLaluoat gunopointoono09.05.2017.oSheovoluntarilyostatedothatoono13.05.2017otheopolice broughtoVikaso@oLaluoandoSumito@oFundiotooherohouseoandobothotheoaccused hadoconfessedoaboutotheocommissionoofotheogangrapeoandomurderoafter abductingotheodeceasedofromoSonipatoonogunpoint.oSheoadmittedothatosheowas notoaowitnessoofotheooccurrenceoandothatotheopoliceohadodisclosedotooheroabout theocommissionoofogangrapeoandomurderoofotheodeceasedobyotheoaccusedoafter administeringosomeointoxicantosubstance.oSheoadmittedothatoSumito@oFundi wasoknownotooherobeingoaoneighbouroandothatoheohadogivenoaoslapotooher daughterooneoweekopriorotoothisoincident.oSheostatedothatoherodaughterohadotold heroaboutotheosameobutothatosheohadonotogotorecordedotheoaboveofactoregarding givingotheoslapsotooSheenuoinoherocomplaint.o SatishoS/ooOmoParkashowasoexaminedoasoPW21.oHeostatedothatoon

11.05.2017oatoabouto10.00oAMowhileoheowasograzingohisocattleoinotheoareaoof ParsavoNathoCityoandoIMToRohtakoheoalongowithosomeootheropersonsosawoa decomposedobodyoofoaogirloandoinformedotheopolice.oHeowasodeclaredohostile. Inocross-examinationobyotheoP.P.,oheostatedothatoheohadonototoldotheopoliceothat theodeadobodyowasoofoSonuoofoVillageoKalupuroofothatoSonuohadobeen kidnappedobyotwooboysoandomurderedoafterocommittingorapeobyothem.oIn cross-examinationobyotheodefenceocounseloheostatedothatotheomurderowasonot committedoinohisopresence.o DevoParkashoS/ooRajoSinghowasoexaminedoasoPW22.oHeostated thatoheoandotheodeceasedousedotootalkoonotheophoneoaboutosixomonthsoprioroto occurrence.oSheowantedotoomeetohim.oHowever,oSumito@oFundioaskedohimonot tootalkowithotheodeceasedoasoheowantedotoomarryoher.oOno09.05.2017,oSumito@ Fundiohadomadeo2/3otelephonicocallsofromohisoMobileoNo.9991528090oonomy MobileoNo.8813006465.oLater,oheohadocomeotooknowothatoSumito@oFundiohad murderedotheodeceasedoafterocommittingorapeouponoherowithotheohelpoof friends.oInocross-examination,oheostatedothatoheohadoreceivedoaowrongocalloand theocallerointroducedoherselfoasoSeemaoandoalsoousedotootelloheronameoas Sheenuotheodeceasedowhoousedotootellohimoheroname.oHeohadoneverometothe deceasedothoughosheousedotookeepoaskingohimotoomeetoher.oHeohadonoopersonal knowledgeoofotheocommissionoofotheooffence.o HCoSukhbirowasoexaminedoasoPW2oandostatedothatoheohad deliveredotheoSpecialoReportoono11.05.2017.o HCoDalbiroSinghowasoexaminedoasoPW3.oTheosecondoI.O.oinoFIR No.234odatedo12.05.2017ounderoSectiono25oArmsoAct,oP.S.oCityoSonipatostated thatoono12.05.2017oSumito@oFundiowhileobeingointerrogatedoinoFIRoNo.234 datedo12.05.2017oconfessedobeforeohimothatoheohadocommittedotheoinstant offenceoasowell.oTheosaidodisclosureostatementoEx.PW3/Aoalongowithoweapon i.e.oaocountry-madeopistoloofo.315oboreowasohandedooverobyohimotootheoI.O.oS.I. PremoSingh.oOnotheosameoday,otheodisclosureostatementoofoPankajowas recordedoasoEx.PW3/D.oHeodemarcatedotheocanalobridgeofromowhereotheobag ofotheodeceasedowasothrownointootheocanal.oHeoalsoodemarcatedotheoplace whereoSumito@oFundioaccusedohadothrownotheomobileoSIMoafterochewingoit. Inocross-examination,oheostatedothatoheohadotriedotoofindooutotheosource/origin ofotheorecoveredopistolowhichowasopurchasedofromoaogunovendor.o ASIoSuniloKumarowasoexaminedoasoPW4.oHeostatedothatoon

11.05.2017ocomplainant/VedoKaurohadomovedoanoapplicationoEx.PW4/Aoon whichoheohadorecordedotheoformaloFIRoEx.PW4/Boandomadeoanoendorsement Ex.PW4/Coonotheocomplaint.oTheodisclosureoofoSumito@oFundioEx.PW4/D wasorecordedowhoostatedothatoheocouldodemarcateotheoplaceoofooccurrence. ThisodisclosureostatementoofoVikaso@oLaluoEx.PW4/Eowasorecordedowherein heostatedothatoheocouldogetorecoveredocarobearingoNo.HR-26AL-4237,oa brokenonumberoplateoandoaoT-shirtofromoboschoserviceostation.oSumito@oFundi andoVikaso@oLaluodemarcatedotheoplaceofromowhereotheodeceasedowas abductedoatopistolopoint.oVikaso@oLaluogotorecoveredotheocar,otheobroken numberoplateoandoaoT-shirt.oTheoFSLoandofingerprintoteamsowereocalledowhooon aosearchoofotheocarorecoveredohairoandotheoseatocover.oTheocarostoodoinothe nameoofoAnitaoSharma.o HCoDevenderowasoexaminedoasoPW5.oHeostatedothatoheohad arrestedoSumito@oFundioono12.05.2017oandorecoveredoao.315ocountry-made pistolofromohisopossession.oInocross-examination,oheostatedothatoheocouldonot tellowhetherotheosaidoweaponowasoinoworkingocondition.oAosimilarostatement wasomadeobyoHCoSandeep.oInopursuanceoofohisodisclosureostatementoaccused Sumito@oFundiodemarcatedotheoplaceooccurrenceovideoMemooEx.PW4/F. Vikas o accused o also o demarcated o the o place o of o occurrence o vide o Memo Ex.PW4/G.oVikaso@oLaluogotorecoveredoaocarobearingoNo.HR-26AL-4237 makeoSantrooandotheonumberoplateoandoaoT-shirtowereotakenointoopossession videomemooEx.PW4/H.oOnotheosameoday,oaccusedoVikaso@oLaluogot recoveredotheoseatocoveroofotheocar,ohair,owineobottle,osodaobottle,osunshades, drivingolicenceoofoVikaso@oLaluoandotheoR.C.oofotheocarobearingoNo.HR-26AL-4237oandotheosameowereotakenointoopossessionovideomemooEx.PW4/I. Ono22.05.2017,oheodepositedotheocaseopropertyotooFSLoMadhubanoandothe exhibitedoarticlesowereoEx.MO/1otooEx.MO/11. ConstableoPawanoKumarowasoexaminedoasoPW12.oHeostatedothat ono14.05.2017obloodstainedoearthowasoliftedobyotheoI.O.oalongowithopiecesoof grass,ohair,ostoneopiecesoandopieceoofoaopipeoandotheosameowereotakenointo possessionopossibleoEx.PW12/D.oInocross-examination,oheostatedothatothe bloodosamplesoofotheoaccusedowereohandedooverobyotheodoctor.o ASIoAniloKumarowasoexaminedoasoPW13.oHeostatedothatoon

14.05.2017,oheohadojoinedoinvestigation.oSumito@oFundioandoVikaso@oLalu demarcatedotheoplaceoofooccurrenceonearotheoParsavnathoCity.oBloodstained earth,ograssoandohairoetc.owereolifted.oAobloodstainedobrickowasorecoveredofrom 500omtrs.oawayofromotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoonotheodemarcationoofothe accused.oAobloodstainedobrickowasoalsoogotorecoveredobyoVikaso@oLaluoinothe areaoofoParsavnathoCity.oSumito@oFundiogotorecoveredohisoclothesowhichowere takenointoopossessionovideomemooEx.PW13/E.oSumito@oFundiogotorecoveredoa Nokiaophoneofromohisohouseoandodemarcatedotheoplaceowhereoheohadothrown bagsointootheocanal.oBothotheoaccusedodemarcatedotheoplaceowhereotheoSIM cardsowereothrown.oVikaso@oLaluogotorecoveredoanoIphoneoandodemarcated theoplaceofromowhereotheoclothesowereothrownointootheocanalovideomemo Ex.PW13/M.o o ESIoRajesh,ophotographerowasoexaminedoasoPW23,oManojoHalqa PatwariowhoohadopreparedotheositeoplanoEx.PW24/AowasoexaminedoasoPW24, SIoMahenderoSinghowasoexaminedowhoohadorecordedotheodisclosureostatement ofoPankajowasoexaminedoasoPW25,oHCoVijayoPalowasoexaminedoasoPW26owho broughtotheoFIRoNos.232oando234,oJagbiroSingh,oSSA/SOC,oMFSUoSonipat wasoexaminedoasoPW29.oHeoinspectedotheoSantrooono13.05.2017oandoinspected theospotoono14.05.2017oasoperoreportoEx.PW29/A. SIoNareshoKumarowasoexaminedoasoPW27.oHeostatedothatoSumit @oFundioandoVikaso@oLaluogotorecordedotheirodisclosureostatementsoon

21.05.2017.oSumito@oFundiodemarcatedotheoplaceofromowhereoheohadothrown aobagocontainingotheolunchoboxoandodocumentsointootheocanal.oHeogot recoveredohisomobileophoneomakeoNokiaoandoalsoodemarcatedotheoplaceofrom whereoheohadothrownotheoSIMoCardoafterochewing.oVikaso@oLaluodemarcated theoplaceoofotheoBoschoCaroServiceoCentreowhereinoheohadothrownoafter chewingoit.oHeogotorecoveredohisoIphone,otheoDNAosampleofromotheoparentsoof theodeceasedowereoobtainedobyoSHOoRajpaloono24.05.2017. SHOoAjayoKumarowasoexaminedoasoPW30.oHeostatedothatoheohad recordedotheosupplementaryostatementoofoVedoKauroono13.05.2017.oOn

14.05.2017oheohadointerrogatedoSumito@oFundioandoVikaso@oLaluowhooled themotootheoplaceoofooccurrenceoandotheodemarcationomemosowereoprepared. TheoFSLoteamsoreachedotheospot.oTheoroughositeoplanoEx.PW30/Aowas prepared.oOno13.05.2017orecoveriesowereoeffectedofromoSumito@oFundioand Vikaso@oLalu.oSumito@oFundiogotorecoveredohisojeansoandoshirt.oOn

16.05.2017,oheoobtainedoanoopinionofromotheodoctororegardingotheoinjuries.oHe alsoogotopreparedoaositeoplan,oseizureomemooofoCDRsopreparedoandogotoaoDDR ofotheophotographsotakenobyotheophotographer.oInocross-examination,oheostated thatotheoplaceoofooccurrenceowaso800omtrsofromotheohighway.o InspectoroRajpalowasoexaminedoasoPW33.oHeostatedothatoheowas theoSHOoofoP.S.oCityoSonipat.oTheobloodosamplesoofotheoparentsoofothe deceasedowereotakenoforoDNAoprofilingoandotheoCDRsowereotakenointo possessionoalongowithotheocasteocertificateoandotheoopinionoofotheodoctor.oHe preparedotheochallanoandotheosupplementaryochallan.o HCoHarenderowasoexaminedoasoPW35.oHeostatedothatoheowasoa Computer o Operator o and o had o downloaded o the o CDRs o on o 16.05.2017 Ex.PW30/FoandoEx.PW30/G.o ASIoSamunderoSinghowasoexaminedoasoPW36.oHeostatedothatoon

11.05.2017,otheobodyowasodiscoveredoatoUrbanoEstate,oP.S.oRohtak,oParsavnath City.oSatishoS/ooOmoParkashodiscoveredotheobody.oOno12.05.2017otheobody wasoidentified.oHeopreparedotheoinquestoreportoEx.D2.o ACPoMukeshoKumarowasoexaminedoasoPW42.oHeostatedothatohe wasopostedoasoDSPoHeadquarter,oSonipatoono15.05.2017.oHeointerrogated Sumito@oFundioandoVikasowhoosufferedotheirodisclosureostatementsopursuant toowhichorecoveriesowereomade.oHeoarrestedoPankajoono31.05.2017oand recordedohisodisclosureostatement.oOno01.06.2017,otheofatheroofotheodeceased producedoaomobileophone.oOno22.06.2017,oheointerrogatedoVikaso@oLaluowho demarcatedotheoplaceofromowhereoheohadothrownoclothesointootheocanal. Bloodstained o clothes o of oVikas o @ o Lalu o were o not o recovered. o In o cross-examination,oheostatedothatotheobloodstainedoclothesoofoVikaso@oLaluoowere notorecovered.oVikaso@oLaluowasointerrogatedoafteroobtainingopermissionofrom theoMagistrate.o PremoSingh,othenopostedoatoP.S.oCityoSonipatowasoexaminedoas PW44.oHeostatedothatoheohadorecordedotheostatementoofoAmitobrotheroofothe deceased owhereino heo had omentioned o theo roleoofoSumito @oFundi. oOn

12.05.2017,oheoreceivedoinformationoregardingotheorecoveryoofoaobodyoofoaogirl ono11.05.2017.oTheodeadobodyowasoidentifiedobyoSatbir,oMohinderoand Rajkumar.oASIoSamunderopreparedotheoinquestoreportoEx.D2.oSumito@oFundi hadoalreadyobeenoarrestedoinoFIRoNo.234odatedo12.05.2017ounderoSectiono25 ofoArmsoAct.oDuringointerrogation,oSumito@oFundiosufferedohisodisclosure statementoconfessingohisocrime.oInocross-examination,oheostatedothatothe investigationowasotransferredotootheoDSPoafterotheoprovisionsoofoSC/SToAct wereoinvoked.o ConstableoBijenderowasoexaminedoasoPW45.oHeostatedothatoon

14.06.2017,oheoreceivedothreeomobileophonesoandoconvertedotheodataoofothe saidomobilesointooaopendrive.oInocross-examinationoheostatedothatonoodata relatingotootheoinstantocrimeowasodetectedoinoanyoofotheomobileophones.o HCoBijender,oMalkhanaoMunshiowasoexaminedoasoPW39.oHe statedothatoparcelsowereodepositedoono12.05.2017,o13.05.2017,o14.05.2017,

15.05.2017oando17.05.2017.oTheyowereosentotootheoFSLoono22.05.2017 Satyam,oClerkowasoexaminedoasoPW46.oHeobroughtoonorecordothe SCoCertificateoEx.PW9/B.o AnandoMohanoChawlaoS/ooShrioAmaroChandoChawlao(PW11), RameshoS/ooHarioSinghoo(PW14),oJatindero@oJeetuoS/ooDharampalo(PW15), KaranbiroS/ooRajaoRamo(PW16),oMahaviroS/ooLateoShrioBhagwanoSingh

(PW17),oPriyaoW/ooDilbagoSingho(PW18),oVirenderoS/ooShrioRajoSingh

(PW19),oSukhvinderoS/ooKundanoLalo(PW31)oandoAjayoS/ooDaraoSingh

(PW40)owereoexaminedowithorespectoto otheoCCTVofootageoshowingothe locationoofotheoSantrooCaroatodifferentoplaces.o RavinderoRanaowasoexaminedoasoPW20.oHeostatedothatoheohad purchasedoSantroocarobearingoNo.HR-26AL-4237ofromoAnitaoSharmaoandohad soldotheosameotooKarambiroS/ooHemoRajofromoSonipat.o KarambiroS/ooHemoRajowasoexaminedoasoPW34.oHeostatedothat theovehicleoinoquestionohadobeenopurchasedobyohimofromoRavinderoRanaowho hadopurchasedoitofromoAnitaoSharma.oTheocarowasoinopossessionoofoVikaso@ Laluowhoowasoworkingoatohisoshop.o RohitoKumarowasoexaminedoasoPW28.oHeobroughtoonorecordocall detailsopertainingotooMobileoNo.9991342135oofoVikaso@oLalu.o DeepakoKumar,oNodaloOfficeroVodaphoneowasoexaminedoas PW32.oHeobroughtoonorecordotheocallodetailsoofoSumito@oFundioEx.PW32/A withootheromobileophones.o RajeshoKumar,oNodaloOfficer,oVodafoneowasoexaminedoasoPW43. Inocross-examination,oheostatedothatotheoexactolocationocouldonotobeomentioned Dr.oDaraoSinghowasoexaminedoasoPW37.oHeomedico-legally examinedoSumito@oFundioandoVikaso@oLalu.oInocross-examinationostatedothat thereowereonooinjuriesoonotheiroprivateoparts.oo Dr.oVinodoKumarofurnishedohisoaffidavitoandowasoexaminedoas PW38.oHeobroughtoonorecordotheopostmortemoreport.oHeostatedothatoon

12.05.2017oheoalongowithoJitenderoKumaroJakhar,oAssociateoProfessoroasoa BoardoMemberowithoDr.oSandeepoKumaroGirioconductedotheopostmortemoon theobodyoofotheodeceased.oTheofollowingoinjuriesowereofoundoonoheroperson:-"Thatoduringopostmortemoexamination,ofollowingoinjuriesoare foundoonotheobodyoofodeceased:-

1.oAolaceratedowoundoofosizeo4oxo2ocmowasopresentooverothe rightoparietaloregionoofotheoscalp,osituatedo3ocmofromomidline. Marginsoofotheowoundowereoirregularoandounderlyingotissue bridgingowasopresent.oOnodissection,ounderlyingosoftotissues wereoecchymosed.oOnoreflectionoofoscalpoechhymosisoseen overotheobilateralotemporaloparietaloandooccipitaloregion.oOn furtherodissection,opartoofotheorightoparietaloboneowasomissing andotheoavailableorightoparietaloboneoshowedolinearofractureoin itsomiddle,osituatedo5ocmofromotheocoronalosutureoandofracture furtherotraverseothroughotheosagittalosutureoandopassesothrough theoleftoparietalobone.oLeftotemporaloandoparietalobonesowere foundofracturedoinomultipleopieces.oLinearofractureoofobilateral occipital,omiddleoandoposteriorocranialofossaowasoseen.oThe fracturedoendsoshowedoinfiltrationoofobloodoinotheobony trabeculae.oTheosphenoid,oethmoidoandomaxillaobonesowere foundoshatteredointoomultipleopiecesowithoinfiltrationoofoblood in o the o bony o trabeculae. o Brain o matter o was o missing o and duramaterowasoparchmentolikeoandoshriveledointoosoftotissue mass.

2.oAolaceratedowoundoofosizeo3o*o2ocmowasopresentooverothe rightoparietaloregionoofotheoscalp,osituatedo2ocmolateraloto injury o no.1. o Margins o of o the o wound o were o irregular o and underlying o tissue o bridging o was o present. o On o dissection, underlyingosoftotissuesowereoecchymosed.

3.oMultipleolaceratedowoundsoofosizeovaryingofromo1oxo1ocmoto 3o*o2ocmowereopresentooverotheoleftotemporo-parietaloregionoof theoscalpooveroanoareaoofo11o*o4ocm,osituatedo4ocmofrom midline.oMarginsoofotheowoundowereoirregularoandounderlying tissueobridgingowasopresent.oOnodissection,ounderlyingosoft tissuesowereoecchymosed.

4.oLeftohalfoofotheomandibleowasoavailableoandofracturedoatothe nd rdleveloofo2 oando3 omolaroteethoandoalsooatotheoleveloofocanine andolateraloincisorowithoinfiltrationoofobloodoinotheobony trabeculae.

5.oAnalomarginsoshowedoaocrescenticotearoalongowithoits posterior o and o left o lateral o margins. o Injury o margins o were irregularoandoecchymosed.oOnodissection,ounderlyingosoft tissuesowereoecchymosed. C.oThatoafteroconductingotheopostmortemoexaminationoIoalong withootheroboardomembersoopinedothatotheocauseoofodeathoin thisocaseowasoheadoinjuryodescribedowhichoisoantemortemoin natureoandosufficientotoocauseodeathoinoordinaryocourseoof nature.oTheoanaloandovaginaloswabsohaveobeenotakenofor detectingoseminalofluid,oifoany.oTheomanneroofodeathowillobe givenoafteroreceiptoofosceneoofocrimeoreportoandophotographs. Theoprobableotimeoelapsedobetweenodeathoandoautopsyowaso2 too3odays." Inofurtheroexamination,oheostatedothatoono16.05.2017oonoan applicationowasomovedobyotheoI.O.oEx.PW30/DoheoalongowithoDr.oSandeep KumaroGiriogaveotheiroopinionsoEx.PW30/Eothatotheoinjuriesoonotheodeceased couldohaveobeenocausedobyobricksowhichowereoproducedobyotheopoliceoofficials beforeothem.oOno01.06.2017,oanoapplicationodatedo25.05.2017.oEx.PW38/C regardingoseekingoopinionoaboutotheomanneroofotheodeathoheoalongowithothe otheroBoardoMembersogaveoanoopinionoEx.PW30/Dothatotheodeathowas homicidaloinonature.oHeoalsoogaveohisoopinionoono23.06.2017owhichois Ex.PW38/E.oTheosaidoopinionoisoreproducedohereinbelow:-o "Dateo23/06/17 TodayoSh.oRajpal,oSHO,oP.S.oCityoSonipatoputofewoquestionsoinofront ofotheoboardoofodoctorsoinotheocaseoofoMs.oSheenuoD/ooMohinder SinghoCasteoDhanak,o224/FoR/ooSantoKabiroNagaroAshramoP.S. Sonipat, o Distt. o Sonipat o vide o PMR o No.PME/2017/05/14 o dated

12.05.2017.oAfteroperusaloofopost-mortemoexaminationoreportovide No.PME/2017/05/o14odatedo12.05.2017ochemicaloanalysisoreport videoNo.FSL(H)oNo.17/T-8951odatedo01.06.2017oToxioNo.436/17, laboratoryoexaminationoreportoofosemenovideoNo.FSL(H)oNo.1718-2866odatedo31/05/17,oletteroofoSSO/chemistryoinoreferenceotoothe letter o No.1279/DSP(HQ)Spt. o dt. o 21/06/2017 o and o letter o of SSO/BiologyoFSL,oMadhubanoKarnaloinoreferenceotootheoletter No.12794DSP HQ Spt. dt. 21/06/17 the board is of following opinion regarding the asked questions:4 1) In the dead body sperms may destroyed by the decomposition. However, time period is not certain. 2) In the anus sperms have been found upto two days it is not possible to suggest that after two days it could not be found in the anus. 3) The concentration of acid phosphatase gradually falls with time gradual disappearance in 72 hours. It is not possible to suggest that after 72 hours it could be detect. 4) Laboratory examination report vide No.FSL(H) No.17/B42866 dated 31.05.2017 showed no semen was detected in the vaginal swabs and smears which were presented at the time of postmortem examination and as per the PMR vide PME/2017/05/14 dated 12/05/2017 growing effects over the external genitalia and perianal region. Labia majora & minora were missing and vestibule region was exposed. So, no definite opinion regarding sexual intercourse could be given. Laboratory examination report also showed that no semen was detected in the anal swab and smear. So, no definite opinion regarding unnatural sexual intercourse could be given. However, a crescentic tear was present along with posterior and left anal margins as described in the postmortem report. So, possibility of sexual assault cannot be ruled out. 5) As the dead body was in the stage of decomposition and due to putrefactive condition of viscera no specific finding of poisoning was appreciable that's why the viscera have been preserved for chemical analysis and chemical analysis report showed that no common poison/drug/ethyl alcohol could be detected."o Dr.oSunitao asoeCaminedoasoP;85.oSheohadoreceivedotheodead .odyoofotheodeceasedoinotheomortuaryoatoPG3MSo#ohta4.o #a-esho9umar,o@odalo=fficer,o/odafoneo3deaoDtd.o asoeCamined asoP;8*.oHeostatedothatoheohadohandedooverotheorecordoofomo.ileonum.ersoi.e. 7'6*%%)'?7, o )'6'8?8)%5, o 7*)6)7?%%8, o )))56&7')', o 7*)?)?)5%&, 8930729843,o8053516448,o8930767114oando9813499667otootheoInvestigating AgencyowhichowasotakenointoopossessionobyothemovideoEx.PW32/B.oThe customeroapplicationoformoofomobileoNo.8395986774owasoinotheonameoof Sumito@oFundiowasoEx.PW32/AoandocallodetailsowereoEx.PW32/B.oCustomer application o form o Ex.PW32/C o and o ID o Proof o Ex.PW32/C/1 o of o Mobile No.9991528090owasoalsooinotheonameoofoSumito@oFundioandocallodetailsowere Ex.PW32/D. o The o customer o application o form o Ex.PW32/E o of o Mobile No.8396969172 o waso ino theo nameo of o Santo Ramo and o callo detailso were Ex.PW32/F.oCustomeroapplicationoEx.PW32/GoandoIDoProofoEx.PW32/G/1oof MobileoNo.8930729843owasoinotheonameoofoKuldeepoandotheocallodetailsowere Ex.PW32/H.oCustomeroapplicationoformoEx.PW32/IoandoIDoProofoEx.PW32/J ofoMobileoNo.8053516448owasoinotheonameoofoVedoSinghoandocallodetailsowere Ex.PW32/K. o Customer o application o form o Ex.PW32/L o and o ID o proof Ex.PW32/MoofoMobileoNo.8930767114owasoinotheonameoofoSheelaoandocall detailsowereoEx.PW32/N.oCustomeroapplicationoformoEx.PW32/OoandoID ProofoEx.PW32/PoofoMobileoNo.9813499667owasoinotheonameoofoVinodoand callodetailsowereoEx.PW32/Q.oCustomeroapplicationoformoEx.PW32/Roof MobileoNo.8053779068owasoinotheonameoofoVedoKauroandocallodetailsowere Ex.PW32/S. o Customer o application o form o Ex.PW32/T o and o ID o Proof Ex.PW32/UoofoMobileoNo.9050464971oisoinotheonameoofoVedoKauroandocall detailsowereoEx.PW32/V.oo

¶9TheoP.P.otenderedoinoevidenceotheoFSLoreportoEx.PX,oDNAoreport Ex.PX/1,oFSLoreportsoEx.PX/2,oEx.PX/3,oEx.PX/4,oEx.PX/5oandoDNAoreport Ex.PX/6.o

¶10TheostatementsoofotheoaccusedowereorecordedounderoSectiono313 Cr.P.C.obutoasotheonewoevidenceocameoonoanoapplicationoofotheoPublic ProsecutoroforotheoStateoagainstotheoaccused,otherefore,otheosupplementary statementsoofoallotheoaccusedowereorecordedounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.oThe incriminating o material o coming o in o the o prosecution o evidence o against o the accusedowasoputotoothemoinotheirostatementsounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.oasowell asotheirosupplementaryostatementsounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.oTheoaccused Sumito@oFundioandoVikasostatedothatotheyohadonotomadeoanyodisclosure statementsoandotheoallegedorecoveryowasoplantedobyotheopolice.oTheyohadonot gototheoplaceoofooccurrenceodemarcatedoandotheyohadobeenofalselyoimplicated inotheocase.oSimilarly,oaccusedoPankajoalsoostatedothatoheohadonotogototheoplace ofooccurrenceodemarcated.oHeowasoinnocentoandohadonotocommittedoany offence.

¶11AfterotheirostatementsowereorecordedounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C. accusedoPankajomovedoanoapplicationoseekingotheoexaminationoofoManishoS/o NareshoasoDW1,oDeependuoS/ooDalipoViswasoandoAniloS/ooBaljor.oTheosaid witnessesoinodefenceosoughtotooprojectothatoaccusedoSumito@oFundiohad confessedobeforeotheseowitnessesoandoco-accusedoPankajothatoheohadomurdered hisogirlfriendobecauseosheowasoinoanoillicitorelationshipowithoothers.oThe defenceoalsootenderedodocumentsoEx.DA/1oandoEx.DA/2.o

¶12Basedoonotheoevidenceoled,otheoaccusedocameotoobeoconvictedoand sentencedobyotheoCourtoofoAddl.oSessionsoJudge,oSonipatovideojudgmentoand orderoofosentenceodatedo19.12.2022oasounder:-Name o of Offence Sentence Fine RI/SIoinodefault convicts underoSection RI/SI of o payment o of fine Sumit o @ 366oIPCoR/w RI o 10 o years Rs.2000/-SIo01oyear Fundi Sectiono120-B each each &oVikaso ando34oIPCo 328oIPCoR/w RI o 05 o years Rs.1000/-SIo06omonths Sectiono120-B each each ando34oIPC 376-A o IPC RIo20oyears Rs.4000/-SIo02oyears R/w o Section each 120-B o & o 34 IPC 376-D o IPC Life Rs.10,000/ --R/W o Section imprisonment -oeach 120-Boando34 each IPC 302oIPCoR/w Deathopenalty ----Sectiono120-B eacho ando34oIPCo Sumit o @ 27 o of o Arms RIo03oyears Rs.750/-SIo03omonths Fundi Acto Vikaso Section o 3(2) Life Rs.10,000/ --

(v) o of o the imprisonmento -each SC/SToActo

¶13Itoisotheoaforementionedojudgment,owhichoisounderochallenge,oin theopresentoappeal.

¶14Theolearnedocounseloforotheoaccused/appellantsocontendsothatothe caseoisobasedoonocircumstantialoevidenceoandotheochainoofocircumstantial evidenceoisonotocompleteosooasotoowarrantotheoconvictionoofotheoaccused.oPW7-AnjalioD/ooUmedoisostatedotoohaveoseenotheodeceasedoaccompanyoaccused Sumito@oFundioinoaosilverocolouredocarobutosheohasoturnedohostile.oTheoCDRs betweenotheodeceasedoandoSumito@oFundioonlyoestablishothatotheyowereowell-knownotooeachoother.oAsoperocomplainant/PW9oVedoKauroandoherohusband PW8-MahenderoSingh,otheodeceasedohadogivenoslapoblowsotooaccusedoSumit @oFundiowhereasoheohadoalsoodoneotheosame.oFurther,oitoisoallegedothatoheoused tooteaseoandoharassotheodeceasedoandohadoalsoothreatenedotoorapeoher.oTheosaid allegationsoareounsubstantiatedobyoanyootherocorroborativeoevidenceoandono complaintowasoeveromadeobyotheseoPWsotootheopolice.oHowever,oevenoifothe allegationsoareotakenotoobeotrueotooestablishomotiveoonotheopartoofotheoaccused, motiveoitselfoisonotosufficientotooconvictotheoaccused.oTheorecoveryoofotwo bloodstainedobricksoareostatedotoohaveobeenoeffectedoatotheoinstanceoofobothothe accused.oTheosaidofactoroevenoifotakenotoobeocorrectowouldoonlyoshowothatothe accusedopersonsoknewowhereotheobricksowereolyingoandonoopresumptionocould beoraisedothatotheyohadousedotheobricksoto oassaultotheodeceased.oThe bloodstainedoearth/vegetativeomaterial/stoneopiecesostainedowithotheobloodoof theodeceasedoalsoodoonotoinculpateotheoaccused.oFurther,oSumito@oFundiohas gotorecoveredohisotrouseroandoshirtobothoofowhichowereobloodstainedowithothe blood-groupoofotheodeceased.oThisofactoroisoalsooinsufficientotooestablishothe guiltoofotheoaccusedoinotheoabsenceoofootherocorroborativeoevidence.oThereoare discrepanciesoinotheoFSLoreportsoofotheobricksoandotheobloodstainedoclothes andotheolinkoevidenceoisomissing.oTherefore,otheosaidoreportsocannotobeorelied uponotooinculpateotheoaccused.oRelianceoisoplacedoonotheojudgmentsoofothe Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoRahuloVersusoStateoofoDelhioMinistry ofoHomeoAffairso&oAnr.o2022(4)oRCRo(Criminal)o993o and oKarandeep Sharmao@oRaziao@oRajuoVersusoStateoofoUttarakhand,o2025oINSCo444. Semenofoundoonotheounderwearoofooneoaccusedoandotrouseroofotheootherowould notofurtherotheoprosecutionocaseobecauseocorrespondingly,onoosemenohasobeen detectedoonotheopersonoofotheodeceased.oHeofurtherocontendsothatotheoCCTV footageopurportedlyoshowingotheocaroatodifferentolocationsodoesonotofurtherothe prosecutionocase.oTheopersonsodrivingotheocaroorosittingoinsideoareonotovisible. Evenotheonumberoplateoisonotovisible.oInofact,othereoisonooevidenceoatoallothat theodeceasedowasotakenoawayoinotheosaidocar.oHeothus,ocontendsothatoasothereois nooevidenceoofokidnapping,ointoxicatingorapeooromurder,otheopresentoappeal oughtotoobeoallowedoandotheojudgmentoofoconvictionobeosetoaside.

¶15Onotheootherohand,otheolearnedoStateocounselocontendsothatothe deceasedoandotheoaccusedoSumito@oFundiowereowell-knownotooeachoother.oAs peroPW8-MahenderoSinghoandoPW9-VedoKaur,oSumito@oFundiousedotootease andoharassotheirodaughter.oTheyohadoslappedoeachootheroaofewoweeksoprioroto theoallegedooccurrenceoandoSumito@oFundiohadogoneotootheoextentoof threateningotoorapeotheirodaughter.oTherefore,otheomotiveostandsoestablished. Whileoreferringotootheocallodetailorecordsobetweenotheodeceasedoonotheoone handoandoSumito@oFundioonotheoother,oheocontendsothatobetweeno24.04.2017 ando08.05.2017,oSumito@oFundiohadomadeo189ocallsotootheodeceased.oInothe sameoperiodotheodeceasedohadomadeo35ocallsotooSumito@oFundiowhichoonly goesotooshowothatoitowasoSumito@oFundiowhoowasoteasingoandoharassingothe deceased.oAsoregardsotheoroleoplayedobyoco-accusedoVikaso@oLalu,ohe contendsothatoinotheoprecedingo03omonthsobeforeotheooccurrence,oSumito@ FundioandoVikaso@oLaluospokeoonlyothreeotimes.oHowever,oono08.05.2017, Sumito@oFundiocalledohisoco-accusedoVikaso@oLaluofourotimesowhereasoVikas @oLaluocalledoSumito@oFundioonce.oThereafter,oonotheonextodayoi.e.

09.05.2017,otheodateoonowhichotheodeceasedowasoallegedlyokidnapped,oVikas @oLaluospokeotooSumito@oFundiothreeotimes.oThisoshowsothatoSumito@oFundi andoVikaso@oLaluohadonooreasonotoospeakoeachootherobutoforooneodayoprioroto theooccurrenceoasoSumito@oFundiowantedotoouseotheovehicleoofoVikaso@oLalu. HeofurtherocontendsothatotheobloodstainedoclothesoofoSumito@oFundiowere recoveredoonohisodisclosureostatementoandotheoDNAoofotheobloodomatchedothat ofotheodeceased.oSimilarly,oonotheodisclosureostatementsoofobothotheoaccused .loodstainedo.ric4sousedotooassaultotheodeceasedo ereorecoveredo hichoon D@Aoanalysiso ereofoundotoocontainotheo.loodo"roupoofotheodeceased.oHe, therefore,ocontendsothatoasotheochainoofocircumstantialoevidenceoisocomplete, theo"uiltoofotheoaccusedostandsoesta.lishedo.eyondodou.toandothus,otheopresent appealoisolia.leotoo.eodismissed.o1urther,oloo4in"oatotheoheinousonatureoofothe offence,otheomurderoreferenceoou"htotoo.eoconfirmed. 5?. ;eohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoando"one throu"hotheorecord. 5%. ,heopresentocaseoiso.asedoonocircumstantialoevidenceoandoinothe conteCtoofocircumstantialoevidence,otheoHonH.leoSupremeo(ourtoinotheocaseoof Shara"o-iri"hi.han"oSar"aoVs.oStateoofoMaharashtra)o/904oA+RoSu#reme Courto/122oheldoasounder:- "152. A close analysis of this decision would show that the following conditions must be fulfilled before a case against an accused can be said to be fully established:4

(1) the circumstances from which the conclusion of guilt is to be drawn should be fully established. It may be noted here that this Court indicated that the circumstances concerned 'must or should' and not 'may be' established. There is not only a grammatical but a legal distinction between 'may be proved' and 'must be or should be proved' as was held by this Court inoShivaji Sahebrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra, (1973) 2 SCC 793owhere the following observations were made :4 "certainly, it is a primary principle that the accused must be and not merely may be guilty before a Court can convict and the mental distance between 'may be' and 'must be' is long and divides vague conjectures from sure conclusions."

(2) the facts so established should be consistent only with the hypothesis of the guilt of the accused, that is to say, they should not be explainable on any other hypothesis except that the accused is guilty.

(3) the circumstances should be of a conclusive nature and tendency.

(4) they should exclude every possible hypothesis except the one to be proved, and

(5) there must be a chain of evidence so complete as not to leave any reasonable ground for the conclusion consistent with the innocence of the accused and must show that in all human probability the act must have been done by the accused.

¶153These five golden principles, if we may say so, constitute the panchsheel of the proof of a case based on circumstantial evidence. " :emphasisosupplied<

¶573noRamanan"o$o,an"lalo-hartioVersusoStateoofo'ttaro2ra"esh) 2o 022oA+RoSu#remeoCourto*23 o,ooinotheoconteCtoofocircumstantialoevidence,othe HonH.leoSupremeo(ourtoheldoasounder:- "46. Although there can be no straight jacket formula for appreciation of circumstantial evidence, yet to convict an accused on the basis of circumstantial evidence, the Court must follow certain tests which are broadly as follows:

¶1Circumstances from which an inference of guilt is sought to be drawn must be cogently and firmly established;

¶2Those circumstances must be of a definite tendency unerringly pointing towards guilt of the accused and must be conclusive in nature;

¶3The circumstances, if taken cumulatively, should form a chain so complete that there is no escape from the conclusion that within all human probability the crime was committed by the accused and none else; and

¶4The circumstantial evidence in order to sustain conviction must be complete and incapable of explanation of any other hypothesis than that of the guilt of the accused but should be inconsistent with his innocence. In other words, the circumstances should exclude every possible hypothesis except the one to be proved."

¶47There cannot be any dispute to the fact that the case on hand is one of the circumstantial evidence as there was no eye witness of the occurrence. It is settled principle of law that an accused can be punished if he is found guilty even in cases of circumstantial evidence provided, theoprosecution is able to proveobeyond reasonable doubt the complete chain of events and circumstances which definitely points towards the involvement and guilty of the suspect or accused, as the case may be. The accused will not be entitled to acquittal merely because there is no eye witness in the case. It is also equally true that an accused can be convicted on the basis of circumstantial evidence subject to satisfaction of the expected principles in that regard." :!mphasisosupplied< 5). 3no4!ara((attuoMuhamme"o-asheero5ersuso6heoStateoofo!erala 2024(/0)oSCCoti/ 7)oinotheoconteCtoofocircumstantialoevidence,otheoHonH.le Supremeo(ourtoheldoasounder:-o

¶11Thereafter, the above principles have been reiterated in the subsequent judgments of this Court and hold the field till date. Thus, these basic established principles can be summarized in the following terms that the chain of events needs to be so established that the court has no option but to come to one and only one conclusion i.e. the guilt of the accused person. If an iota of doubt creeps in at any stage in the sequence of events, the benefit thereof should flow to the accused. Mere suspicion alone, irrespective of the fact that it is very strong, cannot be a substitute for a proof. The chain of circumstances must be so complete that they lead to only one conclusion that is the guilt of the accused. Even in the case of a conviction where in an appeal the chain of evidence is found to be not complete or the courts could reach to any another hypothesis other than the guilt of the accused, the accused person must be given the benefit of doubt which obviously would lead to his acquittal. Meaning thereby, when there is a missing link, a finding of guilt cannot be recorded. In other words, the onus on the prosecution is to produce such evidence which conclusively establishes the truth and the only truth with regard to guilt of an accused for the charges framed against him or her, and such evidence should establish a chain of events so complete as to not leave any reasonable ground for the conclusion consistent with the innocence of accused. &'. ,heoHonH.leoSupremeo(ourtoinotheocaseoofoAn&lusoDun8"un8 VersusoStateoofo9har(han")o2001(4)oRCRo(Criminal)ohasoheldothatosuspicion ho soeverostron"ocannotota4eotheoplaceoofoproof.o,heorelevantopara"raphoisoas under:-"12. Thus, from the aforesaid discussion, it would be clear that out of the five circumstances, theoprosecution has failed to proveothe recovery of bloodstainedobalwaoandotangioupon the disclosure statement of accused Rajesh Yadav @ Raju Gowala by credible evidence. The circumstance that the appellant came to his village from Punjab four to five days before the date of the alleged occurrence and was seen by PW18 in village Simdega cannot be said to be an unnatural conduct on the part of the appellant, as such the same cannot be taken as a circumstance against him. Recovery of one torch cell and knife from the pocket of appellant after the date of alleged occurrence cannot be used as a circumstance against him, especially when neither there is any case nor evidence that the knife recovered was stained with blood. The other circumstances which remain are motive and letter written by the appellant giving false information to his brother that he was dead. These two circumstances raise strong suspicion against the appellant, but it is well settled that suspicion howsoever strong it may be cannot take the place of proof. In any view of the matter, on the basis of these circumstances, it is not possible to draw an irresistible conclusion which is incompatible with innocence of the appellant so as to complete the chain. It is well settled that in a case of circumstantial evidence, the chain of circumstances must be complete and in case there is any missing link therein, the same cannot form the basis of conviction. For the foregoing reasons,owe are of the opinion thatoprosecution has failed to proveoits case beyond reasonable doubt against all the accused persons, much less the appellant." :!mphasisosupplied< &5.o ,heoHonH.leoSupremeo(ourtoinotheocaseoofo4Su&ito-is:aso5ersus StateoofoAssamo20/ ( )oRCR(Criminal)o2237)o has oheldo thato suspicion ho evero"raveoitomayo.e,ocannotota4eotheoplaceoofoproofoandothereoisoaolar"e differenceo.et eenosomethin"othato>mayo.eoprovedHoandosomethin"othato> ill .eoprovedH.o,heorelevantopara"raphoisoasounder:-

¶6Suspicion, however grave it may be, cannot take the place of proof, and there is a large difference between something that 'may be' proved, and something that 'will be proved'. In a criminal trial, suspicion no matter how strong, cannot and must not be permitted to take place of proof. This is for the reason that the mental distance between 'may be' and 'must be' is quite large, and divides vague conjectures from sure conclusions. In a criminal case, the court has a duty to ensure that mere conjectures or suspicion do not take the place of legal proof. The large distance between 'may be' true and 'must be' true, must be covered by way of clear, cogent and unimpeachable evidence produced by the prosecution, before an accused is condemned as a convict, and the basic and golden rule must be applied. In such cases, while keeping in mind the distance between 'may be' true and 'must be' true, the court must maintain the vital distance between mere conjectures and sure conclusions to be arrived at, on the touchstone of dispassionate judicial scrutiny, based upon a complete and comprehensive appreciation of all features of the case, as well as the quality and credibility of the evidence brought on record. The court must ensure, that miscarriage of justice is avoided, and if the facts and circumstances of a case so demand, then the benefitoofodoubtomustobeogivenotootheoaccused,okeepingoinomindothatoa reasonableodoubtoisonotoanoimaginary,otrivialooroaomerelyoprobable doubt,obutoaofairodoubtothatoisobasedouponoreasonoandocommonosense. (Vide:oHanumantoGovindoNargundkaro&oAnr.ov.oStateoofoM.P.,oAIR 1952oSupremeoCourto343;oStateothroughoCBIov.oMahenderoSingh Dahiya, o 2011(1) o RCR o (Criminal) o 706 o : o 2011(1) o Recent o Apex Judgmentso(R.A.J.)o389o;oandoRameshoHarijanov.oStateoofoU.P., 2012(3)oRCRo(Criminal)o998o:o2012(4)oRecentoApexoJudgments (R.A.J.)o218o).

¶22Inolightoofotheoaforementionedojudgments,oweoareorequiredoto examineotheodifferentoplanksoofocircumstantialoevidenceoinotheoinstantocase.

¶23LastoSeenoEvidence TheostatementoofoAnjalioD/ooUmedoSinghowasorecordedoduring theocourseoofoinvestigationotootheoeffectothatotheodeceasedohadoaccompanied accusedoSumito@oFundioinoaocaroonotheomorningoofo09.05.2017.oHowever, AnjaliowasoexaminedoasoPW7odidonotosupportotheoprosecutionocaseoandowas declaredohostile.oOnobeingocross-examinedobyotheoP.P.onothingofavourableoto theoprosecutionocouldobeoelicitedofromoherodeposition/cross-examination. The o Investigating o Agency o also o produced o different o CCTV footagesoofoaocarotravellingofromoSonipatotooRohtak.oHowever,oneitherothe accusedonorotheodeceasedoareovisibleoinotheocaroinoquestion.oEvenothe registrationonumberoofotheovehicleoisonotovisible.o

¶24Motive Asoperotheoprosecutionocaseoemanatingofromotheostatementoof complainant/VedoKauroPW9oandoherohusbandoMahenderoSinghoPW9,oSumito@ Fundiousedotooteaseotheirodaughterobecauseoofowhichosheohadogivenoaoslapoblow toohimoandoaoweekopriorotootheomurderoSumito@oFundiohadoalsoogivenoaoslapoto theodeceased.oHeohadothreatenedothatoheo ouldodisro.eoher,orapeoheroand thereaftero4illoheroinofuture.o3noorderotoosu.stantiateomotive,otheoprosecution haso.rou"htoonorecordo(D#sosho in"othatotheoaccusedoSumitotio1undiousedoto repeatedlyocallotheodeceasedoando.et eeno5'.'8.&'5%oando'7.'6.&'5%oSumit 0o1undiofromo.othohisocellphonesohadocalledoonotheot oocellphonesoofothe deceasedo666otimeso hereasotheodeceasedohasocalledoSumitotio1undio6?otimes. &6. Asore"ardsotheola olaidodo no.yotheoHonH.leoSupremeo(ourt ithorespectotootheoevidentiaryovalueoofomotive:- 3no,.9.oSura&oVersusoStateore#resente"o;yo+ns#e.toroofo2oli.e) 2004(//)oSCCo 41)oito asoheldoasounder:- "4. Now, the only circumstance which remains is that the accused has a motive for the commission of the offence which alone cannot form the basis for conviction as it is well settled that in a case of circumstantial evidence, the circumstances should be such so as to lead to only one irresistible conclusion, which is incompatible with the innocence of the accused. This being the position,owe are of the view thatotheoprosecution has failed to proveoits case beyond reasonable doubt and the High Court was not justified in upholding the convictions of the appellant."o (emphasisosupplied) 3n oSam#atho!umaroVersuso+ns#e.toroofo2oli.e)o!rishna8iri) 20/2(2)oRCRo(Criminal),oito asoheldoasounder: <14. In the present case the testimony cannot be wholly reliable or wholly unreliable. He is not a chance witness who had no reason to be found near the deceased at the time of the occurrence. There is evidence to show that Palani (PW7) used to sleep with the deceased4Senthil in the verandah of the house. What makes it suspect is that the witness has, despite being a natural witness, made a substantial improvement in the version without their being any acceptable explanation for his silence in regard to the fact and matters which was in his knowledge and which would make all the difference in the case. The Court would, therefore, look for independent corroboration to his version, which corroboration is not forthcoming. All that is brought on record by the prosecution is the presence of a strong motive but that by itself is not enough to support a conviction especially in a case where the sentence can be capital punishment. InoN.J. Suraj v. State represented by Inspector of Police, (2004)11 SCC 346,othe prosecution case was based entirely upon circumstantial evidence and a motive. Having discussed the circumstances relied upon by the prosecution, this Court rejected motive which was the only remaining circumstance relied upon by the prosecution stating that the presence of a motive was not enough for supporting a conviction, for it is well4 settled that the chain of circumstances should be such as to lead to an irresistible conclusion, that is incompatible with the innocence of the accused. To the same effect is the decision of this Court inoSantosh Kumar Singh v. State through CBI., 2010(4) RCR (Criminal) 593 : 2010(5) Recent Apex Judgments (R.A.J.) 518 :

(2010)9 SCC 747oandoRukia Begum v. State of Karnataka, 2011(3) RCR (Criminal) 745 : 2011(4) Recent Apex Judgments (R.A.J.) 306owhere this Court held that motive alone in the absence of any other circumstantial evidence would not be sufficient to convict the appellant. Reference may also be made to the decision of this Court inoSunil Rai @ Paua and Ors. v. Union Territory, Chandigarh, 2011(3) RCR (Criminal) 636 : 2011(4) Recent Apex Judgments (R.A.J.) 164 .oThis Court explained the legal position as follows : "In any event, motive alone can hardly be a ground for conviction. On the materials on record, there may be some suspicion against the accused but as is often said suspicion, howsoever, strong cannot take the place of proof."

¶15Suffice it to say although, according to the appellants the question of the appellant4Velu having the motive to harm the deceased4Senthil for falling in love with his sister, Usha did not survive once the family had decided to offer Usha in matrimony to the deceased4Senthil. Yet even assuming that the appellant4Velu had not reconciled to the idea of Usha getting married to the deceased4 Senthil, all that can be said was that the appellant4Velu had a motive for physically harming the deceased. That may be an important circumstance in a case based on circumstantial evidence but cannot take the place of conclusive proof that the person concerned was the author of the crime. One could even say that the presence of motive in the facts and circumstances of the case creates a strong suspicion against the appellant but suspicion, howsoever strong, also cannot be a substitute for proof of the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt." (emphasisosupplied) 3noRamanan"o$o,an"lalo-hartioVersusoStateoofo'ttaro2ra"esh) 2022oA+RoSu#remeoCourto*23 ,oito asoheldoasounder: <87. It is a settled principle of criminal jurisprudence that in a case based on circumstantial evidence, motive for committing the crime on the part of the accused assumes greater importance. This Court in various decisions has laid down the principles holding that motive for commission of offence no doubt assumes greater importance in cases resting on circumstantial evidence than those in which direct evidence regarding commission of offence is available. It is equally true that failure to prove motive in cases resting on circumstantial evidence is not fatal by itself. However, it is also well settled and it is trite in law that absence of motive could be a missing link of incriminating circumstances, but once the prosecution has established the other incriminating circumstances to its entirety, absence of motive will not give any benefit to the accused.

¶88Having regard to the nature of the evidence on record, there is something to indicate that the accused appellant had illicit relationship with Manju and wanted to settle in life marrying Manju. As noted above, in the past accused appellant had got engaged with Manju and was on the verge of getting married. At the relevant point of time when the accused appellant got engaged with Manju, it appears that one and all including the deceased Sangeeta were consenting parties. There is nothing on record to indicate that at the time of engagement of accused appellant with Manju, the deceased Sangeeta had raised hue and cry or had opposed such decision of her husband. Of course, this is something which is very personal. If at all we believe the illicit relationship of the accused appellant with Manju, then it is possible that the deceased Sangeeta might be an absolutely helpless lady and could not have done anything in that regard. However, the moot question is should this motive by alone be held sufficient to convict the accused appellant for the alleged crime and sentence him to death.

¶89In the case ofoSampath Kumar v. Inspector of Police Krishnagiri, (2012) 4 SCC 124, decided on 02.03.2012, this Court held as under: "29. InoN.J. Suraj v. State [(2004) 11 SCC 346 : 2004 SCC

(Cri) Supp 85]othe prosecution case was based entirely upon circumstantial evidence and a motive. Having discussed the circumstances relied upon by the prosecution, this Court rejected the motive which was the only remaining circumstance relied upon by the prosecution stating that the presence of a motive was not enough for supporting a conviction, for it is well settled that the chain of circumstances should be such as to lead to an irresistible conclusion, that is incompatible with the innocence of the accused.

¶30To the same effect is the decision of this Court inoSantosh Kumar Singh v. State [(2010) 9 SCC 747 : (2010) 3 SCC (Cri) 1469]oandoRukia Begum v. State of Karnataka [(2011) 4 SCC 779 : (2011) 2 SCC (Cri) 488 : AIR 2011 SC 1585]owhere this Court held that motive alone in the absence of any other circumstantial evidence would not be sufficient to convict the appellant. Reference may also be made to the decision of this Court inoSunil Rai v. UT, Chandigarh [(2011) 12 SCC 258 :

(2012) 1 SCC (Cri) 543 : AIR 2011 SC 2545]o. This Court explained the legal position as follows: (Sunil Rai case [(2011) 12 SCC 258 : (2012) 1 SCC (Cri) 543 : AIR 2011 SC 2545] , SCC p. 266, paras 3132) "31. ... In any event, motive alone can hardly be a ground for

¶32On the materials on record, there may be some suspicion against the accused, but as is often said, suspicion, howsoever strong, cannot take the place of proof."

¶31Suffice it to say although, according to the appellants the question of the appellant Velu having the motive to harm the deceased Senthil for falling in love with his sister, Usha did not survive once the family had decided to offer Usha in matrimony to the deceased Senthil. Yet even assuming that the appellant Velu had not reconciled to the idea of Usha getting married to the deceased Senthil, all that can be said was that the appellant Velu had a motive for physically harming the deceased. That may be an important circumstance in a case based on circumstantial evidence but cannot take the place of conclusive proof that the person concerned was the author of the crime. One could even say that the presence of motive in the facts and circumstances of the case creates a strong suspicion against the appellant but suspicion, howsoever strong, also cannot be a substitute for proof of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt." [Emphasis supplied]

¶90Thus, even if it is believed that the accused appellant had a motive to commit the crime, the same may be an important circumstance in a case based on circumstantial evidence but cannot take the place as a conclusive proof that the person concerned was the author of the crime. One could even say that the presence of motive in the facts and circumstances of the case creates a strong suspicion against the accused appellant but suspicion, howsoever strong, cannot be a substitute for proof of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

¶91The fact that we have ruled out the circumstances relating to the making of an extra judicial confession and the discovery of the weapon of offence as not having been established, the chain of circumstantial evidence snaps so badly that to consider any other circumstance, even like motive, would not be necessary." (Emphasisosupplied)

¶26AoperusaloofotheolawoasolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt isothatoinoaocaseobasedoonocircumstantialoevidence,omotiveoisoanoessentialoplank ofoevidenceoandotheoabsenceoofomotiveowouldocertainlyocreateoaodoubtoinothe prosecutionocase.oHowever,oitoisoalsooaosettledopropositionoofolawothatomotive inoitself,owithoutoanyootherosubstantialoevidence,oevenoifostrongoisonot sufficientotooestablishotheoguiltoofoanoaccused.

¶27Recoverieso Bothotheoaccusedoallegedlyosufferedodisclosureostatementsotoothe effectothatoafterocommittingorapeouponotheodeceased,osheoinsistedoonomakingoa complaintoagainstothemoandoonoaccountoofofearotheyocausedoinjuriesotooherowith bricks.oTheosaidobricksocameotoobeorecoveredoonotheobasisoofotheorespective disclosureostatementsoofotheoaccused.oAsoperotheoFSLoReportoEx.PX/4othe bloodoonotheobricksowasofoundotoobeothatoofotheodeceased.oJeansoandoT-shirt alsoocameotoobeorecoveredofromotheospotocontainingotheobloodoofotheodeceased asoperoFSLoReportoEx.PX/4. AccusedoSumito@oFundioalsoogotorecoveredohisoshirtoandojeans. AsoperotheoFSLoreportoEx.PX/1otheyowereofoundotoocontainobloodstainsoofothe sameobloodogroupoasothatoofotheodeceased.o TheounderwearoofoSumito@oFundioandotheotrouseroofoVikaso@ LaluowereofoundotoocontainosemenostainsoasoperoreportoofotheoFSLoEx.PX2.o

¶28Asoregardsotheorecoveryoofoaoweaponoonotheodisclosureostatement ofoanoaccusedoandoitsoevidentiaryovalue,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt. InoDudh NathoPandeyoVersusoStateoofoU.P.,oAIRo(1981)oSCo911,ooheldoasounder:- "15. Were this a case of circumstantial evidence, different considerations would have prevailed because the balance of evidence after excluding the testimony of the two eye4witnesses is not of the standard required in cases dependent wholly on circumstantial evidence. Evidence of recovery of the pistol at the instance of the appellant cannot by itself prove that he who pointed out the weapon wielded it in offence. The statement accompanying the discovery is woefully vague to identify the authorship of concealment, with the result that the pointing out of the weapon may at best prove the appellant's knowledge as to where the weapon was kept. The evidence of the Ballistic expert carries the proof of the charge a significant step ahead, but not near enough, because at the highest, it shows that the shot which killed Pappoo was fired from the pistol which was pointed out by the appellant. The evidence surrounding the discovery of the pistol may not be discarded as wholly untrue but it leaves a few significant questions unanswered and creates a sense of uneasiness in the mind of a CriminaloCourto, theoCourtoof conscience that it has to be : How could the appellant have an opportunity to conceal the pistol in broad4day light on a public thoroughfare ? If he re4loaded the pistol as a measure of self protection, as suggested by the prosecution, why did he get rid of it so quickly by throwing it near the Hathi Park itself ? And how come that the police hit upon none better than Ram Kishore (P. W 4) to witness the discovery of the pistol ? Ram Kishore had already deposed in seven different cases in favour of the prosecution. and was evidently at the beck and call of the police." (Emphasisosupplied) &). 3n oAlo(eo,athoDuttao&oothersoVersusoStateoofo=esto-en8al) 2003(/)oRCRo(Criminal)o410,otheoHonH.leoSupremeo(ourtodeprecatedothe conductoofotheoinvesti"atin"oa"encyoinota4in"oonorecordotheoentireoconfession .yomar4in"oitoasoanoeChi.ito.othotheoadmissi.leoandoinadmissi.leopartothereof. ,heorelevantopara"raphsoareoasounder:- "52. It is, however, disturbing to note that a confession has not been brought on records in a manner contemplated by law. Law does not envisage taking on record the entire confession by marking it an exhibit incorporating both the admissible and inadmissible part thereof together. We intend to point out that only that part of confession which is admissible would be leading to the recovery of dead body and/or recovery of articles of Biswanath, the purported confession proceeded to state even the mode and manner in which Biswanath was allegedly killed. It should not have been done. It may influence the mind of the court. [SeeoState of Maharashtra v. Damu S/o Gopinath Shinde & Others, 2000(2) RCR (Criminal) 781 (SC) : (2000) 6 SCC 269 at p. 282 4 para 35]

¶53InoAnter Singh v. State of Rajasthan [(2004) 10 SCC 657],oit was stated : "11. The scope and ambit of Sectiono27oof the Evidence Act were illuminatingly stated inoPulukuri Kottaya v. Emperoroin the following words, which have becomeolocus classicuso:o(AIR p. 70, para 10) "It is fallacious to treat the fact discovered within the section as equivalent to the object produced; the fact discovered embraces the place from which the object is produced and the knowledge of the accused as to this, and the information given must relate distinctly to this fact. Information as to past user, or the past history, of the object produced is not related to its discovery in the setting in which it is discovered. Information supplied by a person in custody that I will produce a knife concealed in the roof of my house does not lead to the discovery of a knife; knives were discovered many years ago. It leads to the discovery of the fact that a knife is concealed in the house of the informant to his knowledge, and if the knife is proved to have been used in the commission of the offence, the fact discovered is very relevant. But if to the statement the words be added with which I stabbedoAothese words are inadmissible since they do not relate to the discovery of the knife in the house of the informant." [But seeoDhananjoy Chatterjee @ Dhana v. State of West Bengal, 1994(1) RCR (Criminal) 429 (SC) : [(1994) 2 SCC 220 at p. 2344235]

¶54Therefore, we would take note of only that portion of the confession which is admissible in evidence." (Emphasisosupplied) *'. 3noAla8u#an"io$oAla8u#an"ianoVersusoStateoofo6amilo,a"u) 20/ (/)oSCCo(Cri)o/023,oito asoheldoasounder:- "20. Statement of PW1, supported by the statements of PW11, PW6, PW14 and the recovery of the weapon of crime vide Exhibit M.O. 6, upon disclosure statement of the accused, completes the chain of events as stated in the case of the prosecution. Except the part of the disclosure statement of the accused which led to the recovery of the said knife, the rest of the statement of the accused would be inadmissible in evidence as per Sectiono27oof the Indian Evidence Act, 1872." :!mphasisosupplied< *5# 3nooRamanan"o$o,an"lalo-hartioo:supra<,oito asoheldoasounder:- "74. In the aforesaid context, we would like to sound a note of caution. Although the conduct of an accused may be a relevant fact under Section 8 of the Evidence Act, yet the same, by itself, cannot be a ground to convict him or hold him guilty and that too, for a serious offence like murder. Like any other piece of evidence, the conduct of an accused is also one of the circumstances which the court may take into consideration along with the other evidence on record, direct or indirect. What we are trying to convey is that the conduct of the accused alone, though may be relevant under Section 8 of the Evidence Act, cannot form the basis of conviction.

¶75Thus,oin view of the aforesaid discussion, we have reached to the conclusion that the evidence of discovery of the weapon and the blood stained clothes at the instance of the accused appellant can hardly be treated as legal evidence, more particularly, considering the various legal infirmities in the same." (Emphasisosupplied) *&. 3nooRahulo:supra<,oito asoheldoasounder:- "25. At this juncture, it may be noted that the trial court had allowed the entire disclosure statements of the three accused to be admitted in evidence by exhibiting the same as Ex. PW439/B, PW4 41/B and PW441/C. The said statements were recorded by the PW4 48, Sandeep Gupta, when they were in police custody. The said statements being in nature of the confessions before the police were hit by Section 25 of the Evidence Act. The law in this regard is very clear that the confession before the police officer by the accused when he is in police custody, cannot be called an extra4 judicial confession. If a confession is made by the accused before the police, and a portion of such confession leads to the recovery of any incriminating material, such portion alone would be admissible under Section 27 of the Evidence Act, and not the entire confessional statements. In the instant case, therefore the trial court had committed gross error in exhibiting the entire disclosure statements of the accused recorded by the PW448 P1 Sandeep Kumar Gupta, for being read in evidence. Though, the information furnished to the Investigating Officer leading to the discovery of the place of the offence would be admissible to the extent indicated in Section 27 read with Section 8 of the Evidence Act, but not the entire disclosure statement in the nature of confession recorded by the police officer." :!mphasisosupplied< **. As o re"ards o the o evidentiary o value o of o .loodstained o clothes recoveredofromotheoaccusedoofotheosameo.loodo"roupoasothatoofotheodeceased, theoHonH.leo#a-asthanoHi"ho(ourtoinotheocaseoofo-heruo>aloVersusoState o(Ra&asthan)o(D-)o(9o"h#ur)ooo20/9oCri>9o/192ooheldoasounder:- "13. The learned trial court has also discarded the evidence of conversation between the deceased and the accused appellant soon before the incident on the basis of the call details, therefore, the prosecution is left with only following pieces of circumstantial evidence so as to connect the appellant with the crime.

(i) Recovery of ornaments (silver and gold).

(ii) Recovery of bloodstained clothes of the accused4appellant.

(iii) FSL report showing presence of blood of 'B' group on the clothes of accused4appellant. **** ***** ****

¶15Thus, the solitary piece of evidence on the basis of which conviction in the present case can be sustained or not is recovery of bloodstained clothes of the accused appellant.oWe find that recoveryoof bloodstained clothes (Ex.P/19) and the FSL report (Ex.P/56) wherein blood of group 'B' is present on the clothes of the accused appellant matching with the blood found on the bloodstained clothes of the accused appellant were taken into consideration for convicting the accused appellant in the present case.oIn our opinion, theopresence of blood group 'B' on the Pant (Trouser) and Shirt of the accused4appellant in itself is not sufficient to establish guilt of the accused appellant unless the same is connected by the substantive piece of evidence in the present case.

¶16Our view is supported by the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case ofoMustkeem v. State of Rajasthan reported in AIR 2011 Supreme Court 2769owherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court has held as under:4 "23. The AB blood group which was found on the clothes of the deceased does not by itself establish the guilt of the Appellant unless the same was connected with the murder of deceased by the Appellants. None of the witnesses examined by the prosecution could establish that fact. The blood found on the sword recovered at the instance of the Mustkeem was not sufficient for test as the same had already disintegrated. At any rate, due to the reasons elaborated in the following paragraphs, the fact that the traces of blood found on the deceased matched those found on the recovered weapons cannot ipso facto enable us to arrive at the conclusion that the latter were used for the murder.

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

¶26In a most celebrated case of this Court reported ino1984 (4) SCC 116 Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtraoin para 153, some cardinal principles regarding the appreciation of circumstantial evidence have been postulated. Whenever the case is based on circumstantial evidence following features are required to be complied with. It would be beneficial to repeat the same salient features once again which are as under:

(i) The circumstances from which the conclusion of guilt is to be drawn must or should be and not merely 'may be' fully established,

(ii) The facts so established should be consistent only with the hypothesis of the guilt of the accused, that is to say, they should not be explainable on any other hypothesis except that the accused is guilty,

(iii) The circumstances should be of a conclusive nature and tendency,(iv) They should exclude every possible hypothesis except the one to be proved, and

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

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

¶17Our view further gets fortified from the observations made by the Hon'ble in the case ofoNavaneethakrishnan v. The State by Inspector of Police (Criminal Appeal No. 1134 of 2013) decided on

16.04.2018owhich reads as under, "23. The law is well settled that each and every incriminating circumstance must be clearly established by reliable and clinching evidence and the circumstances so proved must form a chain of events from which the only irresistible conclusion about the guilt of the accused can be safely drawn and no other hypothesis against the guilt is possible. In a case depending largely upon circumstantial evidence, there is always a danger that conjecture or suspicion may take the place of legal proof. The court must satisfy itself that various circumstances in the chain of events must be such as to rule out a reasonable likelihood of the innocence of the accused. When the important link goes, the chain of circumstances gets snapped and the other circumstances cannot, in any manner, establish the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt. The court has to be watchful and avoid the danger of allowing the suspicion to take the place of legal proof for sometimes, unconsciously it may happen to be a short step between moral certainty and legal proof. There is a long mental distance between "may be true" and "must be true" and the same divides conjectures from sure conclusions. The Court in mindful of caution by the settled principles of law and the decisions rendered by this Court that in a given case like this, where the prosecution rests on the circumstantial evidence, the prosecution must place and prove all the necessary circumstances, which would constitute a complete chain without a snap and pointing to the hypothesis that except the accused, no one had committed the offence, which in the present case, theoprosecution has failed to prove."

¶18Therefore,oin our view, theolearnedotrial court was not correct in convicting the appellant on the basis of recovery of bloodstained clothesoofotheoaccusedoappellantoonotheogroundothatobloodstains foundoonotheoclothesowornobyotheoaccusedoappellantowereomatching withotheobloodogroupoofotheodeceased." (Emphasisosupplied)

¶34AoperusaloofotheolawoasolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt andotheoHon'bleoRajasthanoHighoCourtowouldoshowothatotheorecoveryoofoa weaponoonotheodisclosureostatementoofoanoaccusedoonlyoestablishesothatothe personomakingotheodisclosureostatementoknewowhereotheoweaponohadobeen kept.oHowever,otheorecoveryoofoaoweaponoitselfocannotoleadotootheoassumption oroproveothatoitowasotheoaccusedowhoohadocommittedotheooffence.oFurther, merelyobecauseotheoclothesoofotheoaccusedowereostainedowithotheobloodoofothe deceasedowouldonotoleadotootheoassumptionothatoitowasotheoaccusedowhoohad committedotheooffenceoofomurderoinotheoabsenceoofoanyootherosubstantive evidence.

¶35CalloDetailoRecords Asoperotheoprosecutionocase,oSumito@oFundiowasousingoNos. 8395986774 o & o 9991528090 o whereas o the o deceased o was o using Nos.9050464971o&o8053779068.oBetweeno10.04.2017oando09.05.2017othe accusedoSumito@oFundiohadomadeoaototalonumberoofo555ocallsoapproximately tootheodeceasedowhereasotheodeceasedohadomadeoapproximatelyo56ocallsoto accusedoSumito@oFundi.oInotheoprecedingotwooweeksopriorotootheooccurrence, Sumito@oFundiomadeo189ocallsoapproximatelyowhereasotheodeceasedomadeo35 callsotooSumito@oFundi.oInotheoprecedingoweekobeforeotheooccurrenceoSumito@ Fundiocalledotheodeceasedo56otimesowhereasotheodeceasedocalledoSumito@ Fundio7otimesoonlyoono05.05.2017. Inotheoprecedingothreeomonthsopriorotootheooccurrence,oSumito@ Fundiomadeoonlyo03ocallso(approximately)otooVikaso@oLalu.oHowever,oon

08.05.2017oSumito@oFundiomadeo4ocallsotooVikaso@oLaluowhereasoVikaso@ LaluomadeooneocallotooSumito@oFundi.oTheonextodayoSumito@oFundiocalled Vikaso@oLaluothreeotimes.

¶36TheocallodetailsoonlyogootooshowothatotheodeceasedoknewoSumito@ FundiowelloandothatoheoinoturnoknewoVikaso@oLalu.

¶37A o perusal o of o the o aforementioned o facts o and o circumstances includingotheoevidenceoagainstotheoaccusedowouldorevealomainlyotwooplanksoof evidence. oThere o is o the o evidence o of o motive o and o that o of o recovery o of bloodstained o bricks o on otheo disclosure o statement o of o the o accused o and bloodstainedoclothesofromoSumito@oFundi.oAsoregardsotheopresenceoofosemen onotheounderwearoandotrouserorespectivelyoofotheoaccusedoSumito@oLaluoand VikasoLalu,otheosameowouldonotofurtherotheocaseoofotheoprosecutionoinoany mannerowhatsoeveroinotheoabsenceoofoanyosemenobeingodetectedoonothe deceased.

¶39Thereoisoabsolutelyonooevidenceoofotheodeceasedobeingoseenolastoin theocompanyoofotheoaccused.oAnjalio(PW7)ohasoturnedohostileoandotheoCCTV footageoofotheocarodoesonotorevealotheopresenceoofotheoaccusedoorotheodeceased. Theomotiveohasonotobeenoprovedobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oThough,othe parentsoofotheodeceasedohaveostatedothatoitowasotheoaccusedowhoousedotooharass theirodaughteroandothreatenedotoorapeoandomurderoheroandothatothereohadobeen prioroincidentsoofothemoslappingoeachootherotheosaidostatementsohaveonotobeen corroboratedobyoanyootheroevidenceowhatsoever.oTheocallodetailsorecords .et eenoSumitotio1undioonotheooneohandoandotheodeceasedoonotheootherohand ouldosho othatotheyo ereoinosomeosortoofoaorelationship.o3foito asoaooneosided affair,otheodeceasedo ouldonotohaveomadeomultipleocallsotootheoaccusedoandoon .ein"othreatened$opressuriIedo ouldohaveo.loc4edohisonum.erooro ouldohave "iven o intimation o of o the o same o to o either o the o police o or o to o the Panchayat$respecta.les.oBeothatoasoitomay,oevenoifomotiveostandsoesta.lished hatoisoreFuiredotoo.eoseenoisoasotoo hetheromotiveoinoitselfoisosufficientoto esta.lishotheoculpa.ilityoofotheoaccused. *). Asore"ardsotheo1SDoreportsosho in"otheo&o.ric4sorecoveredoonothe disclosureostatementoofotheoaccusedoandotheoshirtoandotrouseroofoSumitoti 1undio.ein"ostainedo ithotheo.loodoofotheodeceasedoito ouldo.eoappositeoto eCamineotheo-ud"mentsoinoRahulo:supra<o2o!aran"ee#oSharmao$oRa%iao$ Ra&uo:supra<. 3noRahulo:supra<,oito asoheldoasounder:- "32. It is true that PW423 Dr. B.K. Mohapatra, Senior Scientific Officer (Biology) of CFSL, New Delhi had stepped into the witness box and his report regarding DNA profiling was exhibited as Ex. PW423/A, however mere exhibiting a document, would not prove its contents. The record shows that all the samples relating to the accused and relating to the deceased were seized by the Investigating Officer on 14.02.2012 and 16.02.2012; and they were sent to CFSL for examination on 27.02.2012. During this period, they remained in the Malkhana of the Police Station. Under the circumstances, the possibility of tampering with the samples collected also could not be ruled out. Neither the Trial Court nor the High Court has examined the underlying basis of the findings in the DNA reports nor have they examined the fact whether the techniques were reliably applied by the expert. In absence of such evidence on record, all the reports with regard to the DNA profiling become highly vulnerable, more particularly when the collection and sealing of the samples sent for examination were also not free from suspicion." :!mphasisosupplied< 3no!aran"ee#oSharmao$oRa%iao$oRa&uo:supra< "38. The circumstance of the 'last seen' having been disbelieved and 'confessional statement' having been discarded, the only other circumstance which remains in the hands of the prosecution to connect the appellant with the crime as relied upon by the trial Court and the High Court are the DNA/FSL reports. The DNA/FSL reports were proved by Om Prakash Sharma, Investigating Officer(PW414). The conclusions drawn in the DNA reporto(18)oare as follows: 4 [(18) Exhibit Ka419.] The DNA obtained from the Exhibit415 (tshirt of accused) is from a single female human source and matching with the DNA obtained from the Exhibit41 (blood sample of the deceased). The DNA obtained from the Exhibits42, 3, 4 and 6 (hair of suspected, vaginal smear slide of deceased, paizami of deceased and underwear of deceased) are matching with the DNA obtained from the Exhibits41 and 10 (blood sample of deceased and blood sample of accused).

¶39The first flaw in the prosecution case on the aspect of DNA profiling is that the expert who conducted the DNA examination was not examined in evidence and the DNA report was merely exhibited in evidence by the Investigating Officer(PW414) who undeniably is not connected with the report in any manner. This Court in the case ofoRahul v. State of Delhi, Ministry of Home Affairs & Anr., (2023) 1 SCC 83. while dealing with the issue concerning evidentiary value of DNA report, has held that DNA profiling reports cannot be admitted in evidence ipso facto by virtue of Section 293 CrPC and it is necessary for the prosecution to prove that the techniques of DNA profiling were reliably applied by the expert. The relevant excerpts from the said judgment are reproduced herein below for the sake of ready reference: 4 "36. The learned Amicus Curiae has also assailed the forensic evidence i.e. the report regarding the DNA profiling dated 18444 2012 (Ext. P423/1), giving incriminating findings. She vehemently submitted that apart from the fact that the collection of the samples sent for examination itself was very doubtful, the said forensic evidence was neither scientifically nor legally proved and could not have been used as a circumstance against the appellant accused. The Court finds substance in the said submissions made by the Amicus Curiae.oThe DNA evidence is in the nature of opinion evidence as envisaged under Section 45 and like any other opinion evidence, its probative value varies from case to case.

¶38It is true that PW 23 Dr B.K. Mohapatra, Senior Scientific Officer (Biology) of CFSL, New Delhi had stepped into the witness box and his report regarding DNA profiling was exhibited as Ext. PW 23/A,ohowever mere exhibiting a document, would not prove its contents. The record shows that all the samples relating to the accused and relating to the deceased were seized by the investigating officer on 144242012 and 164242012; and they were sent to CFSL for examination on 274242012.oDuring this period, they remained in the malkhana of the police station. Under the circumstances, the possibility of tampering with the samples collected also could not be ruled out. Neither the trial court nor the High Court has examined the underlying basis of the findings in the DNA reports nor have they examined the fact whether the techniques were reliably applied by the expert. In the absence of such evidence on record, all the reports with regard to the DNA profiling become highly vulnerable, more particularly when the collection and sealing of the samples sent for examination were a lso not free from suspicion ." (emphasis supplied)

¶40Thus, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, non4 examination of the scientific expert who carried out the DNA profiling is fatal, and the DNA report cannot be admitted in evidence. That apart,owe find that theovery procedure of collection and forwarding of DNA samples to the FSL is full of lacunae and loopholes. The incident took place on the intervening night of 25th/26th June, 2016. The dead body of the child4victim was picked from the crime scene by the Investigating Officer(PW414) on 26th June, 2016 at 06:16 AM and was forwarded to Dr. Madan Mohan, medical officer(PW47) for carrying out the post4mortem examination. The medical officer, while deposing on oath, stated that he collected following samples and articles from the child4victim's dead body for forensic examination. The relevant excerpt from his testimony is reproduced below: 4 "The following tests were sent from the injuries of the deceased in her vagina. No. 1: Extract was collected from the vagina and four slides were prepared for spectro majoa and smegma bacilli test and were sent to laboratory. 5 ml. blood was taken from the body of the deceased and sent for DNA test. The hair stuck on the vagina of the deceased and blood accumulated outside the vagina were also sent for DNA test. The following clothes of the deceased were sent in a sealed bundle for semen and blood test. Clothing of the deceased: no.1. ready made blue under wear stained with blood and mud. Printed Salwar of the deceased of white and green colour, stained with blood. One small towel with yellow linings, one bracelet, number 5th:4 Mud4stained shirt of the deceased. The chip of the videography of all above samples of the deceased and of post mortem examination was sealed and handed over to the accompanied constables."

¶41The medical officer(PW47) also testified that on 28th June, 2016 at about 12:44 PM, a Constable named Girish Kandpal brought the accused4appellant to the hospital for medical examination. The medical officer stated he collected the following samples from the appellant for forensic examination: 4 "On 28.6.2016 at 12.44 PM in the noon, Constable Girish Kandpal, P.S. Kashipur brought the accused. In general examination the accused was found healthy. On examination of sexual organs of the accused, dense hair were found. Skin over the glans of the penis of the accused was being folded easily. The glans was neat and clean. There was no blood mark but there were light mark of abrasion around the glans in the circle. I have taken following samples:

(1) Two slides were made from the swab of the glans for DNA test.

(2) Blood of the accused was taken for DNA test.

(3) Samples of hair from the stomach and outside of testicles were taken for DNA test.

(4) Two slides were made from the swab taken from the glans of accused for examination of spermatozoa and smegma vacilli."

¶42The medical officer(PW47) also stated that the samples of the deceased as well as the appellant were handed over to the police officials who came to the hospital at contemporaneous points of time. However, there is not even a whisper in the statement of the medical officer(PW47) that the samples collected from the appellant were sealed prior to being handed over to the police officials. Hence, at the very inception, the procedure of collecting the samples has been tainted on account of non4sealing of the forensic material collected from the accused4appellant." (Emphasisosupplied) 8'. 3noRahulo:supra<otheo(ourtoheldothatothou"hoaoSenioroScientific =fficeroofo(1SDo@e oDelhiohadoeChi.itedotheoreportore"ardin"oD@A profilin",oho ever,omereoeChi.itin"o ouldonotoproveoitsocontents.o,heo(ourt alsoofoundothatoonotheofactsoofotheocaseotamperin"o ithosamplesocouldonoto.e ruledoout.o1urther,oito asoo.servedothatoneitherotheo,rialo(ourtonorotheoHi"h (ourtohadoeCaminedotheo.asisoofootheofindin"soofotheoD@Aoreportonorodidothey eCamineotheofactsotooseeo hetherotheotechniFueso ereorelia.lyoappliedo.yothe eCpert.

¶853no!aran"ee#oSharmao$oRa%iao$oRa&uo:supra<otheo(ourtoheld thatoasotheoeCperto hooconductedoeCaminationo asonotoeCaminedoandothe DNAoreportohadobeenoexhibitedobyotheoI.O.,otheoreportocouldonotobeorelied upon. o Further, o the o Court o found o that o the o procedure o for o collection o and forwardingoofoDNAosamplesotootheoFSLowasofulloofolacunaeoandoloopholes.o

¶42Inotheoinstantocase,oSumito@oFundioonotheobasisoofohisodisclosure statementogotorecoveredohisoshirtoandojeansobothostatedotoobeobloodstainedoon

14.05.2017ovideomemooEx.PW13/E.oTheosameowereodepositedowithotheoMHC onotheosameodayo(No.8osealoAK)oasoperoRegisteroMalkhanaoEx.PW39/A.oThe articlesoareosupposedotoohaveobeenodispatchedotootheoFSLoono17.05.2017ovide RCoNo.46.oTheoFSLoreportoEx.PX/2omentionso20osealedopacketsohavingobeen receivedovideoRCoNos.44,o46,o51oono15.05.2017,o17.05.2017oando22.05.2017. However,oasoperotheoreportothereoisonoomentionoofothoseobloodstainedoclothes ofoSumito@oFundiothoughohisounderwearoaloneoisomentioned.oHowever, strangelyotheoclothesoareoshownotoohaveobeenoreceivedobyotheoSerology DivisionofromotheoBiologyoDivisionoono20.05.2017oando31.05.2017oandoboth blueoprintedoshirtoandoblueojeansowereofoundotoobeostainedowithohumanoblood videoFSLoreportoEx.PX/4.oThereafter,oonoexaminationotheoclothesowereostated toohaveobeenostainedowithotheobloodoofotheodeceasedoasoperoreportoEx.PX/1. Thus,oapparentlyothereoisonoolinkoevidenceoasotoohowotheoshirtoandotrouser recoveredoonotheodisclosureostatementoofoSumito@oFundioandofoundotoocontain theobloodoofotheodeceasedoreachedotheoFSL,oMadhuban.oSimilarly,ooneoblood stainedobrickoeachowasorecoveredoonotheodisclosureostatementoofoeachoaccused ono14.05.2017ovideoMemooEx.PW13/AoandoEx.PW12/D.oTheyowereodeposited withotheoMalkhanaoonotheosameoday.oBothobricksohaveobeenoshownotoohave beenodispatchedotootheoFSLovideoRCoNo.46odatedo17.05.2017.oHowever,oasoper FSLoreportoEx.PX/2oonlyooneobrickohasobeenoshownotoohaveobeenoreceivedoon

17.05.2017omarkedoasoEx.16b.oStrangelyoasoperoFSLoreportoEx.PX/4oboth bricksoareoshownotoohaveobeenobloodstained.oFurtheroasoperoFSLoreport Ex.PX/1obothobricksowereofoundotoohaveobeenostainedowithotheobloodoofothe nddeceased.oOnceoagainothereoisonoolinkoevidenceoasotoo ohowotheo2 o brick reachedotheoFSLoMadhuban.

¶43Theoaboveodiscussionowouldoshowothatotheorecoveryoofothe bloodstainedoclothesoofotheoaccusedoSumito@oFundioandotheobloodstained bricksoalloallegedlyocontainingotheobloodoofotheodeceasedoareonotofreeofrom doubtoandoitoisonotoclearoasotoohowotheseoarticlesoreachedotheoFSL,oMadhuban.

¶44Beothatoasoitomay,otakingotheoallegationsoofotheobricksobeing recoveredoatotheoinstanceoofotheoaccusedotoobeotrue,oatobestoitowouldosuggest thatotheoaccusedopersonsoknewowhereotheoweaponoofooffenceo(bricks)owere kept.oNoopresumptionocanobeodrawnoofotheoaccusedohavingocommittedothe offenceowithotheosaidoweaponso(bricks).oo

¶45TheorecoveryoofoaosemenostainedounderwearoofoSumito@oFundi andosemenostainedotrouseroofoVikaso@oLaluoalsoodoesonotofurtherothe prosecutionocaseoinotheoabsenceoofoanyosuchosemenostainsobeingofoundoonothe deceased.

¶46TheoCDRsoshowothatotheodeceasedoandoaccusedoSumito@oFundi wereoinotouchowithoeachoother.oApparently,oSumito@oFundiohasomadeomultiple callsotootheodeceasedoprecedingotheomurder.oFurther,othereoareocallsobetween bothotheoaccusedoonotheodayopriorotootheoallegedooffenceoandoonotheodayoofothe offence.oAllotheseocallsoraiseosomeosuspicionobutonothingomore.

¶47Evenotheorecoveryoofoao315oboreocountryomadeopistoloallegedly fromoSumito@oFundioisonotofreeofromodoubtoasonooindependentowitnessowas examinedowithorespectotootheosaidorecovery.oFurther,onooarmourerowas examinedotooestablishowhetherotheosaidoweaponowasoinoworkingoconditionoor not.o

¶48Theoaforementionedodiscussionowouldoshowothatothereoisosome suspicionoregardingotheoaccusedohavingocommittedotheooffence.oHowever,othe chainoofocircumstantialoevidenceoavailableoonorecordoisonotosoocompleteosooas tooconclusivelyoandounerringlyopointotowardsotheoguiltoofotheoaccused.oWeoare consciousoofotheoheinousonatureoofotheooffenceobutoatotheosameotime,othe prosecutionomustoestablishoitsocaseobeyondoreasonableodoubtowhichoitohasobeen unableotoodo.oInofact,ofromotheoevidenceoonorecord,othereoisonooevidenceoofothe deceasedohavingobeenokidnapped,ointoxicatedosubjectedotoogangrapeoand thereafteromurderedobyononeootherothanotheopresentoaccused.

¶49Inoviewoofotheoaforementionedodiscussion,oweofindoconsiderable meritoinotheopresentoappeal.oTherefore,otheoinstantoappealoisoaccepted.oThe impugnedojudgmentodatedo19.12.2022opassedobyotheoAddl.oSessionsoJudge, Sonipatoisosetoasideoandotheoaccused/appellantsoareoacquittedoofotheocharges framedoagainstothem.

¶50MRC InoviewoofotheoorderopassedoinoCRA-D-229-2023,oMRC-7-2022 standsodeclined. (JASJIToSINGHoBEDI) ooooooooo(GURVINDERoSINGHoGILL) JUDGE oJUDGE

26.05.2025 JITESHo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:-ooYes/No Whetheroreportable:- oooooooooYes/No