SHIV KUMAR SHARMA, J. - (1.) THE appellants, four in number, along with co-accused Banshi Lal, Kanya Bai and Kastrui Bai were indicted before the learned Additional Sessions Judge Chhabra District Baran in Sessions Case No. 242/1992. Learned Judge vide Judgment dated November 5, 1999 convicted and sentenced the appellants as under:- Mukut and Laxmi Chandra: U/s. 302 IPC: Each to suffer life imprisonment and fine of Rs. 1000/ -. in default to further suffer six months rigorous imprisonment. U/s. 147 IPC: Each to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months and fine of Rs. 200/-, in default to further suffer one month rigorous imprisonment. U/s. 323/149 IPC: Each to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months and fine of Rs. 200/-, in default to further suffer one month rigorous imprisonment. Babu Lal and Ram Karan: U/s. 302/149 IPC: Each to suffer life imprisonment and fine of Rs. 1000/-, in default to further suffer six months rigorous imprisonment. U/s. 147 IPC: Each to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months and fine of Rs. 200/-, in default to further suffer one month rigorous imprisonment. U/s. 323 IPC: Each to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months and fine of Rs. 200/- , in default to further suffer one month rigorous imprisonment. Substantive sentences were directed to run concurrently. Co-accused Kanya Bai and Kasturi Bai were however acquitted of the charges under Sections 147, 302/149 and 323/149 and proceedings against co-accused Banshi Lal stood abated because he had expired.
(2.) IT is the prosecution case that a written report (Ex. P. 1) was lodged on October 1, 1991 with the Police Station Chhipa Barod by informant Kushal (PW. 1) to the effect that on the said day around 11. 00 a. m. when the informant was sitting with his brother Kanhaiya Lal (since deceased) in his house the appellant along with Banshi Lal came armed with Lathis and Kuntia. Banshi Lal, Laxmi Narain and Mukut gave beating to Kanhaiya Lal, whereas Ram Karan and Babu Lal inflicted injuries on the person of informant. When Kishan, Ram Prasad and Shanti came to intervene, they were also beaten up. Ram Kalyan took them in bullock cart to Police Station Chhipa Barod. A case under Sections 324, 148, 149, 323 and 307 IPC was registered on the basis of said report and investigation commenced. During investigation Kanhaiya Lal succumbed to his injuries and Section 302 IPC came to be added. Statements of witnesses under Section 161 Cr. P. C. were recorded, accused were arrested, autopsy on the dead body was performed, necessary memos were drawn and on completion of investigation charge sheet was filed. In due course the case came up for trial before the learned Additional Sessions Judge Chhabra District Baran. Charges under Sections 147, 302/149 and 323/149 IPC were framed. The accused denied the charges and claimed trial. The prosecution in support of its case examined as many as 30 witnesses. In the explanation under Section 313 Cr. P. C. , the appellants claimed innocence. No witnesses in defence was however examined. Learned trial Judge on hearing final submissions convicted and sentenced the appellants as indicated herein above. The other co-accused were however acquitted. We have heard the rival submissions and scrutinised the record. A look at the material on record reveals that Kanhaiya Lal died on the next day of the incident. Prior to his death the injuries sustained by him were examined and according to injury report (Ex. P. 23) following injuries were found on his person:- 1. Swelling 10 x 3 cm At Right side of chest 2. Swelling 3 x 1. 5 cm on Skull Occipital part 3. Swelling 2 x 3 cm on left shoulder After the death of Kanhaiya Lal autopsy was performed on the dead body and as per postmortem report (Ex. P. 14) following antemortem injuries were found:- 1. Bruise 10 x 2 1/2 on frontal chest right side 2. Abrasion 1 x 1 cm on Occipital region 3. Swelling 7 x 5 cm on right side of scalp 4. Bruise 3 x 2 cm Lt. Shoulder 5. Fractures of 5, 6 and 7th rib on right side 6. Multiple fractures of both parietal bone. According to Dr. T. C. Acharya (PW. 19) the cause of death was Intra cranial hemorrhage due to head injury. Other members of the complainant party also sustained injuries. Subhadra daughter of Kanhaiya Lal received following injuries vide injury report (Ex. P. 19):- 1. Abrasion 8 x 10 cm on left forearm 2. Swelling 3 x 3. 5 on Right Arm near Elbow 3. Swelling 4 x 5 cm on left hand. Ram Prasad vide injury report (Ex. P. 20) received one lacerated wound of 3. 5 x 1. 5 cm on little finger of left hand. Shanti vide injury report (Ex. P. 21) received one Abrasion of 4 x 3 cm on Right Shoulder. Hari Kishan vide injury report (Ex. P. 22) received following injuries:- 1. Abrasion 3 x 0. 5 cm on Left Forearm. 2. Abrasion 0. 5 x 1 cm on Right Forearm. Kushal vide injury report (Ex. P. 36) received following injuries:- 1. Swelling 0. 5 x 0. 5 cm over left leg (calf) (Swelling 15 x 10 cm) 2. Abrasion 1 x 0. 5 cm over left leg medially 10 cm above anklet. 3. Abrasion 0. 5 x 0. 5 cm over left shoulder back 4. Bruise 7 x 1. 5 cm over left thigh (medially) 5. Bruise 7 x 3 cm Right Forearm laterally 6. Lacerated wound 1 x 0. 5 cm over left parietal region of scalp. Vide X-ray report (Ex. P. 37) fracture of tibia bone was find. It is contended by learned counsel for the appellant that the fatal injury on head has been attributed to accused Banshi Lal, who expired and proceedings against him stood abated. It is further urged that according to FIR the incident had occurred at the house of the complainant party but at the trial place of incident was changed and it was stated by the prosecution witnesses that the place of incident was a well. The act of the prosecution witnesses in changing the place of incident is fatal to the prosecution. It is also canvassed by the learned counsel that since the injuries sustained by the accused were not explained by the prosecution witnesses adverse inference ought to have been drawn.
(3.) LEARNED Public Prosecutor on the other hand supported the impugned judgment and contended that statements of injured eye witnesses have rightly been relied upon by the learned trial judge. Kushal (PW. 1) Hari Kishan (PW. 2), Ram Prasad (PW. 3), Shanti (PW. 4), Subhadra (PW. 5) and Dropdi Bai (PW. 7) have been examined as eye witnesses of the occurrence. All these witnesses deposed that the accused belaboured all of them at the well and inflicted injuries. Injury on the head of the deceased, which was found fatal, is alleged to have been caused by appellant Mukut with Kharla (small prop used in bullock cart ). Factual situation emerged from the material on record may be summarised as under:- (i) Sarjeet Singh, IO, (PW. 29) admitted in the cross examination that cross case of the same incident bearing No. 209/91 was registered on the report of Banshi Lal against Kanhaiya Lal, Kushal and Hari Kishan under Sections 307, 324 and 323 IPC at Police Station Chhipa Barod and injuries sustained by Banshi Lal were medically examined. Sarjeet Singh also stated that at the place of incident there was a heap of stones. (ii) As per arrest memo (Ex. P. 28) appellant Laxmi Chand at the time of arrest had two injuries on the left side of head. Appellant Babu Lal also had two injuries over left shoulder vide arrest memo (Ex. P. 29 ). (iii) Injury report as well as arrest memo of Banshi Lal were not placed on record. (iv) The prosecution witnesses did not explain the injuries sustained by the accused. (v) Only one injury with kharla has been attributed to Mukut and he did not repeat the same. In Mohar Rai's case (AIR 1968 SC 1281) their Lordships of the Supreme Court laid down that in a murder case, the non explanation of the injuries sustained by the accused at about the time of occurrence is a very important circumstance from which the court can draw the following inferences:- (a) that the prosecution has suppressed the genesis and the origin of the occurrence and has not presented the true version; (b) that the witnesses who have denied the presence of the injuries on the person of the accused are lying on a most material point and therefore their evidence is unreliable; (c) that in case there is a defence version which explains the injuries on the person of the accused it is rendered probable so as to throw doubt on the prosecution case. ;