reported in http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgst.aspx?filename=40590
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.2260 OF 2009
KAILASH …APPELLANT
VERSUS
STATE OF M.P. …RESPONDENT
J U D G M E N T
FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.
1. This appeal by the sole accused is directed against the Single Bench
decision of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore Bench dated
08.09.2006, passed in Criminal Appeal No.1030 of 2003.
The appellant,
who was initially charged under Section 306 and 376(2)(f) IPC, was convicted by the trial Court only for the offence under Section 376(1) IPC and was imposed with the punishment of 10 years rigorous imprisonment, along with the fine of Rs.500/- and in default of the payment of fine to undergo one more year’s rigorous imprisonment.
2. The brief facts which are required to be stated are that on
23.07.2002, PW-2 - the mother of the deceased, when she returned from
her day’s work in the field at 6 p.m., found her daughter, the
deceased Radha Bai, who had returned back from the field at around 3
O’clock, inside the house with the door locked from inside.
One
Parmanand climbed the roof and found the deceased hanging from the
roof with a Saree.
The said Parmanand stated to have opened the door,
cut the rope and brought the body down.
PW-1 reported the matter to
Aagar Police Station and thereafter, PW-9 went to the place of
incident and prepared the sketch map Ext.P-8 and sent the dead body of
the deceased for postmortem.
He also stated to have recovered
the Saree under seizure letter
Ext.P-10.
3. The postmortem was conducted by PW-4, Dr. Shashank Saxena on
24.07.2002, at 3.45 p.m and in the postmortem report the doctor noted
that the deceased was aged about 15 years, that below the neck there
was mark of bluishness and on the ligetcher mark, there were marks of
abrasion and on one side of the ligetcher mark, ecmoyosis was present.
From the vagina of the body blood was found oozed out, which was
frozen and spread over in the midst of the legs on the front side. On
inspecting the vagina, it was found that it was reddish, congested and
frozen blood was present.
Laceration on the wall of the vagina of 1 cm
size was also noted.
The doctor in his opinion stated that the cause
of the death of the deceased was due to stoppage of breathing, which
was due to hanging and the injuries which were present on the body of
the deceased were antemortem.
The doctor stated to have collected
blood stained clothes of the deceased, viscera and pubic hairs, as
well as the liquid oozed out from the vagina on the role of cotton,
sealed and sent the same to the Station House Officer.
The postmortem report was marked as Ext.P-3.
According to the doctor, the age of the
deceased was 15 years based on the age written in the application
form.
The further opinion of the doctor was that due to hanging, no
injuries could have been caused on the private organs.
4. Based on the investigation, the prosecution came to the conclusion
that the deceased was raped and a case under Section 306 and 376(2)(f)
IPC was registered against the appellant accused on 04.08.2002.
The
appellant was arrested and was put to trial.
The trial Court after
appreciating the evidence placed before it, acquitted the appellant
from the charge under Section 306 IPC, but found him guilty for an
offence punishable under Section 376(1) IPC and sentenced him as
stated above.
5. The prosecution examined PW-1 to PW-10. PW-5 who is the cousin of the
deceased, was an eye-witness to the occurrence and, therefore, his
evidence became imperative.
According to PW-5, who was aged about 15
to 16 years on the date of the occurrence, deposed that on the date of
the incident he went to the field around 11 a.m for discharging
excreta, when he heard the crying sound of his sister, the deceased
Radha Bai.
On hearing the cries of his sister, when he rushed to the
place he found the deceased lying on the ground and the appellant was
mounted on her by putting off his pant and the petticoat of the
deceased was also lifted, while the appellant was sitting over her.
It
was also stated by him that the appellant was thrusting his penis and
was indulging in some shameful activity.
According to PW-5, when he
questioned the appellant as to what he did to his sister, the
appellant stated to have slapped him twice by catching hold of his
shirt and asked him not to speak to anyone about that or else he would
be killed.
PW-5 further deposed that his sister returned back home,
while PW-5 went to Tanodiya and when he returned back from Tanodiya he
came to know that the deceased committed suicide by hanging.
6. PW-5 stated to have narrated what he saw on the morning of 23.07.2002
to PW-2 and PW-1 on the day after the cremation of the deceased was
over.
Thereafter, PW-2 stated to have informed based on the version of
PW-5 that she came to know that it was the appellant who was
responsible for the commission of rape on the deceased Radha Bai.
The
above fact was also supported by the evidence of PW-7, Babulal who in
his evidence stated that the deceased Radha Bai was his niece, that on
the date of the occurrence he had also gone to the field, where he saw
PW-5, Pappu, going towards his house weeping and he also saw the
deceased Radha Bai going from the bushes weeping towards her house.
PW-7 stated to have seen the appellant also going towards his house
and that when he asked the appellant as to what had happened, the
appellant stated to have silenced PW-7 or else threatened to beat him.
Though, PW-7 was treated as hostile, some part of the evidence did
support the version of PW-5.
7. The medical evidence also to a large extent confirmed that the deceased Radha Bai was raped prior to the suicide committed by her.
It
has also come in evidence that the seized articles of the deceased,
which were sent to the forensic laboratory, were returned back with
the report Ext.P-15. As per the report of the forensic laboratory the
slides of the deceased Radha Bai, her clothes, underwear, petticoat
and Saree contained spots of sperm and in the slide of the deceased on
her pubic hair, clothes etc., human blood was found and such human
blood was also found on the underwear and petticoat, as well as Saree
of the deceased. As per the report, sexual intercourse committed on
the deceased Radha Bai was confirmed. The trial Court has observed
that though there was a lengthy cross-examination of PW-5, nothing was
brought out and his evidence was natural and did not create any doubt
as to the veracity of his statement.
8. Keeping the above findings of the trial Court, as well as that of the
High Court on the commission of the offence of rape by the appellant
on the deceased Radha Bai, when we heard learned counsel for the
appellant, the only submission placed before us was that PW-5, stated
to have informed PWs-1 and 2, namely, the grand-mother and mother of
the deceased Radha Bai on the very next day after the funeral had
taken place, but yet the statement of PW-5, was recorded by
the police only on 04.08.2002. In so far as the said submission is
concerned, it was true that the evidence of PWs-1 and 2 disclose that
PW-5 informed them about the alleged rape committed by the appellant
on the deceased Radha Bai, on 24.07.2002 i.e. on the very next day
after the funeral had taken place. However, there was nothing on
record to suggest that the said information was passed on to the
prosecution agency immediately after the receipt of the said
information by PWs1 and 2. In such circumstances, it can only be
stated that as soon as it was brought to the notice of the prosecution
agency as to the commission of the offence by the appellant through PW-
5, further action was taken by the police by nabbing the appellant and
proceeding with the prosecution in accordance with law. Therefore,
when we consider the submission of the learned counsel about the
abnormal delay in proceeding against the appellant up to the alleged
date of occurrence, the trial Court has also held that the witnesses
were all of rural background and illiterate persons and, therefore,
some allowance will have to be given for their laxity in bringing the
factum of the rape alleged to have been committed by the appellant on
the deceased Radha Bai. When we consider the evidence of PW-5, who was
a child witness, who was stated to be between 13 to 14 years at the
time of occurrence, we find that his evidence was found to be natural
and he withstood the lengthy cross-examination, which did not bring
out any contradiction in his version apart from the fact that he had
no axe to grind against the appellant. Further when based on the
evidence of PW 5 and the medical reports, the incriminating
circumstances that existed against the appellant were put in 313
questioning, he had no explanation to offer. The medical evidence also
fully supported the crime alleged against the appellant. Moreover, the
evidence of PW-7, also corroborated the version of PW-5 to
considerable extent regarding the involvement of the appellant in the
commission of the crime on the deceased Radha Bai. Therefore, the
ultimate conclusion of guilt found proved against the appellant as
held by the trial Court as well as the High Court cannot be faulted.
9. Having regard to our above conclusion, we do not find any merit in the
appeal. The appeal fails and the same is dismissed.
10. The appellant is on bail. The bail bond stands cancelled and he shall
be taken into custody forthwith to serve out the remaining part of
sentence, if any.
………….……….…………………………..J.
[A.K. Patnaik]
...……….…….………………………………J.
[Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla]
New Delhi;
July 24, 2013.
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.2260 OF 2009
KAILASH …APPELLANT
VERSUS
STATE OF M.P. …RESPONDENT
J U D G M E N T
FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.
1. This appeal by the sole accused is directed against the Single Bench
decision of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore Bench dated
08.09.2006, passed in Criminal Appeal No.1030 of 2003.
The appellant,
who was initially charged under Section 306 and 376(2)(f) IPC, was convicted by the trial Court only for the offence under Section 376(1) IPC and was imposed with the punishment of 10 years rigorous imprisonment, along with the fine of Rs.500/- and in default of the payment of fine to undergo one more year’s rigorous imprisonment.
2. The brief facts which are required to be stated are that on
23.07.2002, PW-2 - the mother of the deceased, when she returned from
her day’s work in the field at 6 p.m., found her daughter, the
deceased Radha Bai, who had returned back from the field at around 3
O’clock, inside the house with the door locked from inside.
One
Parmanand climbed the roof and found the deceased hanging from the
roof with a Saree.
The said Parmanand stated to have opened the door,
cut the rope and brought the body down.
PW-1 reported the matter to
Aagar Police Station and thereafter, PW-9 went to the place of
incident and prepared the sketch map Ext.P-8 and sent the dead body of
the deceased for postmortem.
He also stated to have recovered
the Saree under seizure letter
Ext.P-10.
3. The postmortem was conducted by PW-4, Dr. Shashank Saxena on
24.07.2002, at 3.45 p.m and in the postmortem report the doctor noted
that the deceased was aged about 15 years, that below the neck there
was mark of bluishness and on the ligetcher mark, there were marks of
abrasion and on one side of the ligetcher mark, ecmoyosis was present.
From the vagina of the body blood was found oozed out, which was
frozen and spread over in the midst of the legs on the front side. On
inspecting the vagina, it was found that it was reddish, congested and
frozen blood was present.
Laceration on the wall of the vagina of 1 cm
size was also noted.
The doctor in his opinion stated that the cause
of the death of the deceased was due to stoppage of breathing, which
was due to hanging and the injuries which were present on the body of
the deceased were antemortem.
The doctor stated to have collected
blood stained clothes of the deceased, viscera and pubic hairs, as
well as the liquid oozed out from the vagina on the role of cotton,
sealed and sent the same to the Station House Officer.
The postmortem report was marked as Ext.P-3.
According to the doctor, the age of the
deceased was 15 years based on the age written in the application
form.
The further opinion of the doctor was that due to hanging, no
injuries could have been caused on the private organs.
4. Based on the investigation, the prosecution came to the conclusion
that the deceased was raped and a case under Section 306 and 376(2)(f)
IPC was registered against the appellant accused on 04.08.2002.
The
appellant was arrested and was put to trial.
The trial Court after
appreciating the evidence placed before it, acquitted the appellant
from the charge under Section 306 IPC, but found him guilty for an
offence punishable under Section 376(1) IPC and sentenced him as
stated above.
5. The prosecution examined PW-1 to PW-10. PW-5 who is the cousin of the
deceased, was an eye-witness to the occurrence and, therefore, his
evidence became imperative.
According to PW-5, who was aged about 15
to 16 years on the date of the occurrence, deposed that on the date of
the incident he went to the field around 11 a.m for discharging
excreta, when he heard the crying sound of his sister, the deceased
Radha Bai.
On hearing the cries of his sister, when he rushed to the
place he found the deceased lying on the ground and the appellant was
mounted on her by putting off his pant and the petticoat of the
deceased was also lifted, while the appellant was sitting over her.
It
was also stated by him that the appellant was thrusting his penis and
was indulging in some shameful activity.
According to PW-5, when he
questioned the appellant as to what he did to his sister, the
appellant stated to have slapped him twice by catching hold of his
shirt and asked him not to speak to anyone about that or else he would
be killed.
PW-5 further deposed that his sister returned back home,
while PW-5 went to Tanodiya and when he returned back from Tanodiya he
came to know that the deceased committed suicide by hanging.
6. PW-5 stated to have narrated what he saw on the morning of 23.07.2002
to PW-2 and PW-1 on the day after the cremation of the deceased was
over.
Thereafter, PW-2 stated to have informed based on the version of
PW-5 that she came to know that it was the appellant who was
responsible for the commission of rape on the deceased Radha Bai.
The
above fact was also supported by the evidence of PW-7, Babulal who in
his evidence stated that the deceased Radha Bai was his niece, that on
the date of the occurrence he had also gone to the field, where he saw
PW-5, Pappu, going towards his house weeping and he also saw the
deceased Radha Bai going from the bushes weeping towards her house.
PW-7 stated to have seen the appellant also going towards his house
and that when he asked the appellant as to what had happened, the
appellant stated to have silenced PW-7 or else threatened to beat him.
Though, PW-7 was treated as hostile, some part of the evidence did
support the version of PW-5.
7. The medical evidence also to a large extent confirmed that the deceased Radha Bai was raped prior to the suicide committed by her.
It
has also come in evidence that the seized articles of the deceased,
which were sent to the forensic laboratory, were returned back with
the report Ext.P-15. As per the report of the forensic laboratory the
slides of the deceased Radha Bai, her clothes, underwear, petticoat
and Saree contained spots of sperm and in the slide of the deceased on
her pubic hair, clothes etc., human blood was found and such human
blood was also found on the underwear and petticoat, as well as Saree
of the deceased. As per the report, sexual intercourse committed on
the deceased Radha Bai was confirmed. The trial Court has observed
that though there was a lengthy cross-examination of PW-5, nothing was
brought out and his evidence was natural and did not create any doubt
as to the veracity of his statement.
8. Keeping the above findings of the trial Court, as well as that of the
High Court on the commission of the offence of rape by the appellant
on the deceased Radha Bai, when we heard learned counsel for the
appellant, the only submission placed before us was that PW-5, stated
to have informed PWs-1 and 2, namely, the grand-mother and mother of
the deceased Radha Bai on the very next day after the funeral had
taken place, but yet the statement of PW-5, was recorded by
the police only on 04.08.2002. In so far as the said submission is
concerned, it was true that the evidence of PWs-1 and 2 disclose that
PW-5 informed them about the alleged rape committed by the appellant
on the deceased Radha Bai, on 24.07.2002 i.e. on the very next day
after the funeral had taken place. However, there was nothing on
record to suggest that the said information was passed on to the
prosecution agency immediately after the receipt of the said
information by PWs1 and 2. In such circumstances, it can only be
stated that as soon as it was brought to the notice of the prosecution
agency as to the commission of the offence by the appellant through PW-
5, further action was taken by the police by nabbing the appellant and
proceeding with the prosecution in accordance with law. Therefore,
when we consider the submission of the learned counsel about the
abnormal delay in proceeding against the appellant up to the alleged
date of occurrence, the trial Court has also held that the witnesses
were all of rural background and illiterate persons and, therefore,
some allowance will have to be given for their laxity in bringing the
factum of the rape alleged to have been committed by the appellant on
the deceased Radha Bai. When we consider the evidence of PW-5, who was
a child witness, who was stated to be between 13 to 14 years at the
time of occurrence, we find that his evidence was found to be natural
and he withstood the lengthy cross-examination, which did not bring
out any contradiction in his version apart from the fact that he had
no axe to grind against the appellant. Further when based on the
evidence of PW 5 and the medical reports, the incriminating
circumstances that existed against the appellant were put in 313
questioning, he had no explanation to offer. The medical evidence also
fully supported the crime alleged against the appellant. Moreover, the
evidence of PW-7, also corroborated the version of PW-5 to
considerable extent regarding the involvement of the appellant in the
commission of the crime on the deceased Radha Bai. Therefore, the
ultimate conclusion of guilt found proved against the appellant as
held by the trial Court as well as the High Court cannot be faulted.
9. Having regard to our above conclusion, we do not find any merit in the
appeal. The appeal fails and the same is dismissed.
10. The appellant is on bail. The bail bond stands cancelled and he shall
be taken into custody forthwith to serve out the remaining part of
sentence, if any.
………….……….…………………………..J.
[A.K. Patnaik]
...……….…….………………………………J.
[Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla]
New Delhi;
July 24, 2013.
