Page 1
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1323 of 2011
Sujit Biswas …Appellant
Versus
State of Assam …Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.
1. This appeal has been preferred against the judgment and order
dated 23.4.2010, passed by the High Court of Guwahati in Criminal
Appeal No. 13(J) of 2010 rejecting Death Reference No. 1 of 2010
made by the Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), No. 3, Kamrup,
Guwahati on 21.12.2009 in Sessions Case No. 309(K) of 2009,
convicting the appellant under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 of the
Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as `the IPC’),
sentencing him to death. The High Court commuted the deathPage 2
sentence of the appellant to life imprisonment, with a direction that
the appellant would breathe his last in jail, and that he would not be
given the benefit of remissions etc. under Sections 432 and 433-A of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the
`Cr.P.C.’).
2. Facts and circumstances giving rise to this appeal are that:
A. On 17.10.2007 at about 7.00 P.M., Sultana Begum Khatoon
(PW.8), aged 12 years, was enjoying the celebrations of the festival of
Durga Pooja alongwith her sister Sima Khatoon, aged 3 years, at the
Nepali Mandir, Guwahati. The appellant was alleged to have been
standing behind them at such time.
After a shortwhile, Sultana
Begum Khatoon (PW.8) noticed that her sister Sima Khatoon was
missing, and she also happened to notice that the appellant had
disappeared as well. Sultana Begum Khatoon (PW.8) thus began to
look for her sister, and when she could not find her in the nearby
areas, she went back to her house and informed her brother Gulzar Ali
(PW.3) and her parents etc. of the said incident.
B. Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali (PW.3) therefore began to
search for Sima Khatoon, and while doing so, they came across the
2Page 3
appellant and asked him whether he had seen Sima Khatoon. The
appellant allegedly demanded a sum of Rs.20/- to pay for his evening
food, in lieu of showing them the place where Sima Khatoon could be
found. Apin Dulal (PW.1) agreed to pay him the said amount and
thus, the appellant pointed to a place by the side of a municipal canal.
Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali (PW.3) thus began to approach the
said place, and at such time, the appellant ran away and boarded a bus.
Apin Dulal (PW.1) chased him and managed to catch hold of him,
forcing him to get off the bus. Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali
(PW.3) thereafter succeeded in locating the girl, who they found
gasping, wrapped in a jute-sack (gunny bag). The mouth of the bag
had been closed. Sima Khatoon was alive, but in a critical condition.
She was then taken by her brother Gulzar Ali (PW.3) to the house.
The appellant was also taken there. Sima Khatoon was taken to a
Nursing Home, and then to the Guwahati Medical College where she
breathed her last at about 1.30 A.M. i.e., in the intervening night of
17/18.10.2007.
C. Father of the deceased Sima Khatoon approached the Paltan
Bazar police station, where a report was endorsed only in the General
Diary. After the death of Sima Khatoon, her father also lodged an FIR
3Page 4
at the said police station on 18.10.2007. The appellant was taken to
the police station by the relatives of Sima Khatoon, and he had thus
been arrested on 17.10.2007 itself.
D. The post-mortem examination of the dead body of Sima
Khatoon was conducted by Dr. Pradeep Thakuria, who found various
injuries on her body, including an injury to her vagina. However, the
doctor has stated that the vaginal smears taken had tested negative for
spermatozoa.
E. The blood stained jute-sack in which the Sima Khatoon had
been found, the blood stained underwear of the appellant, as well as
the apparel i.e., frock of Sima Khatoon were taken into custody. It
was noted that she was not wearing any undergarment at the said time.
All the seized material objects were sent to the Forensic Science
Laboratory, and the report received thereafter, revealed that the blood
group of the blood found on the underwear of the appellant, was the
same as the blood group of the victim, Sima Khatoon.
F. After the conclusion of the investigation, a chargesheet was
filed against the appellant under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 IPC. As
the appellant denied all charges, criminal trial commenced.
4Page 5
G. In the course of the trial, the prosecution examined 10 witnesses
in support of its case, and a large number of material objects were also
exhibited. The appellant in his defence, denied his involvement in
entirety. In his statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C., the appellant has
stated that he was a resident of Kuch-Bihar (West Bengal), and that he
had come to Guwahati three years prior to the incident, to earn his
livelihood as a rickshaw puller. On the date of the said incident, when
he had gone to the place of occurrence to answer the call of nature, he
had found Sima Khatoon lying on the ground. When he returned from
the said place, and while he had been waiting near the Nepali Mandir,
Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali (PW.3) had asked him whether he
had seen one Sima Khatoon, and thus, he had taken them to the place
where Sima Khatoon had been lying. He had then boarded a bus, but
had been asked by Apin Dulal (PW.1) to get off the same, and many
people had gathered there. They had beaten him severely, and had
handed him over to the police, though he was completely innocent.
H. After the conclusion of the trial, the learned Sessions Judge
vide judgment and order dated 21.12.2009, found the appellant guilty
for the offences punishable under Sections 376 (2)(f) and 302 IPC,
5Page 6
and awarded him the sentence of death as has been referred to
hereinabove.
I. The appellant preferred Criminal Appeal No. 13(J) of 2010,
which was heard alongwith Death Reference No. 1 of 2010. The High
Court disposed of the said appeal vide its judgment and order dated
23.4.2010, and commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment,
with directions as have been referred to hereinabove.
Hence, this appeal.
3. Shri Ratnakar Dash, learned senior counsel, Amicus Curiae, has
submitted that the same is a case of circumstantial evidence. The
courts below, while convicting the appellant for the offences
punishable under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 IPC, have not followed
the parameters laid down by this court that are to be followed for
conviction in a case of circumstantial evidence. There are material
discrepancies which go to the root of the case, and the courts below
have simply brushed them aside, without giving any satisfactory
explanation for not considering the same in correct perspective. The
circumstances against the appellant, as per the case of the prosecution
are, that he had demanded Rs.20/- to point out the place where Sima
6Page 7
Khatoon had been found and immediately thereafter, he had run away
from the said place and had boarded a bus. No other evidence exists
to connect the appellant to the said crime. Furthermore, the trial court
has put a large number of irrelevant and unconnected questions to the
appellant under Section 313 Cr.P.C., while failing to put the most
incriminating circumstance to the appellant, i.e. questions regarding
the fact that the underwear of the appellant bore upon it, blood stains
of the same blood group as that of the victim. Thus, the appellant had
no opportunity to provide any explanation with respect to the same. It
was not permissible for the courts below to rely entirely on such a
circumstance, without verification of the same. The High Court was
also not competent to issue a direction to the effect that the appellant
should not be given the benefits available under Sections 432 and
433-A Cr.P.C. Therefore, the appeal deserves to be allowed.
4. On the contrary, Ms. Vartika Sahay Walia, learned counsel
appearing on behalf of the State has opposed the appeal, contending
that the prosecution had fully met the standard of proof required to
convict a person in a case of circumstantial evidence. The
circumstances relied upon by the courts below have fully established
the involvement of the appellant, and the chain of evidence furnished
7Page 8
by the circumstances is also complete. The appeal thus lacks merit,
and is liable to be rejected.
5. We have considered the rival submissions made by learned
counsel and perused the record.
6. Suspicion, 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
8Page 9
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
benefit of doubt must be given to the accused, keeping in mind that a
reasonable doubt is not an imaginary, trivial or a merely probable
doubt, but a fair doubt that is based upon reason and common sense.
(Vide: Hanumant Govind Nargundkar & Anr. v. State of M.P.,
AIR 1952 SC 343; State through CBI v. Mahender Singh Dahiya,
AIR 2011 SC 1017; and Ramesh Harijan v. State of U.P., AIR 2012
SC 1979).
7. In Kali Ram v. State of Himachal Pradesh, AIR 1973 SC
2773, this Court observed as under:
"Another golden thread which runs through the web of
the administration of justice in criminal cases is that if
two views are possible on the evidence adduced in the
case one pointing to the guilt of the accused and the
other to his innocence, the view which is favourable to
the accused should be adopted. This principle has a
special relevance in cases where in the guilt of the
accused is sought to be established by circumstantial
evidence."
9Page 10
8. In Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, AIR
1984 SC 1622, this Court held as under:
“The facts so established should be consistent only with
the hypothesis of the guilt of the accused. There should
not be explainable on any other hypothesis except that
the accused is guilty. The circumstances should be of a
conclusive nature and tendency. 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."
9. In M.G. Agarwal v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 1963 SC 200,
this Court held, that if the circumstances proved in a case are
consistent either with the innocence of the accused, or with his guilt,
then the accused is entitled to the benefit of doubt. When it is held that
a certain fact has been proved, then the question that arises is whether
such a fact leads to the inference of guilt on the part of the accused
person or not, and in dealing with this aspect of the problem, benefit
of doubt must be given to the accused, and a final inference of guilt
against him must be drawn only if the proved fact is wholly
inconsistent with the innocence of the accused, and is entirely
consistent with his guilt.
Similarly, in Sharad Birdhichand Sarda (Supra), this Court
held as under:
10Page 11
“Graver the crime, greater should be the standard of
proof. An accused may appear to be guilty on the basis
of suspicion but that cannot amount to legal proof. When
on the evidence two possibilities are available or open,
one which goes in the favour of the prosecution and the
other benefits an accused, the accused is undoubtedly
entitled to the benefit of doubt. The principle has special
relevance where the guilt or the accused is sought to be
established by circumstantial evidence.”
10. Thus, in view of the above, the Court must consider a case of
circumstantial evidence in light of the aforesaid settled legal
propositions. In a case of circumstantial evidence, the judgment
remains essentially inferential. Inferences are drawn from established
facts, as the circumstances lead to particular inferences. The Court
must draw an inference with respect to whether the chain of
circumstances is complete, and when the circumstances therein are
collectively considered, the same must lead only to the irresistible
conclusion, that the accused alone is the perpetrator of the crime in
question. All the circumstances so established must be of a
conclusive nature, and consistent only with the hypothesis of the guilt
of the accused.
11. This Court in Babu v. State of Kerala, (2010) 9 SCC 189 has
dealt with the doctrine of innocence elaborately, and held as under:
11Page 12
“27. Every accused is presumed to be innocent unless
the guilt is proved. The presumption of innocence is a
human right. However, subject to the statutory
exceptions, the said principle forms the basis of criminal
jurisprudence. For this purpose, the nature of the
offence, its seriousness and gravity thereof has to be
taken into consideration. The courts must be on guard to
see that merely on the application of the presumption,
the same may not lead to any injustice or mistaken
conviction. Statutes like the Negotiable Instruments Act,
1881; the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; and the
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act,
1987, provide for presumption of guilt if the
circumstances provided in those statutes are found to be
fulfilled and shift the burden of proof of innocence on the
accused. However, such a presumption can also be
raised only when certain foundational facts are
established by the prosecution. There may be difficulty in
proving a negative fact.
28. However, in cases where the statute does not
provide for the burden of proof on the accused, it always
lies on the prosecution. It is only in exceptional
circumstances, such as those of statutes as referred to
hereinabove, that the burden of proof is on the accused.
The statutory provision even for a presumption of guilt of
the accused under a particular statute must meet the tests
of reasonableness and liberty enshrined in Articles 14
and 21 of the Constitution.”
12. It is a settled legal proposition that in a criminal trial, the
purpose of examining the accused person under Section 313 Cr.P.C.,
is to meet the requirement of the principles of natural justice, i.e. audi
alterum partem. This means that the accused may be asked to furnish
some explanation as regards the incriminating circumstances
12Page 13
associated with him, and the court must take note of such explanation.
In a case of circumstantial evidence, the same is essential to decide
whether or not the chain of circumstances is complete. No matter
how weak the evidence of the prosecution may be, it is the duty of the
court to examine the accused, and to seek his explanation as regards
the incriminating material that has surfaced against him. The
circumstances which are not put to the accused in his examination
under Section 313 Cr.P.C., cannot be used against him and must
be excluded from consideration. The said statement cannot be treated
as evidence within the meaning of Section 3 of the Evidence Act, as
the accused cannot be cross-examined with reference to such
statement.
13. In Hate Singh Bhagat Singh v. State of Madhya Pradesh,
AIR 1953 SC 468, this Court held, that any circumstance in respect of
which an accused has not been examined under Section 342 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (corresponding to Section 313
Cr.P.C.), cannot be used against him. The said judgment has
subsequently been followed in catena of judgments of this court
uniformly, taking the view that unless a circumstance against an
accused is put to him in his examination, the same cannot be used
13Page 14
against him. (See also: Shamu Balu Chaugule v. State of
Maharashtra, AIR 1976 SC 557; Harijan Megha Jesha v. State of
Gujarat, AIR 1979 SC 1566; and Sharad Birdhichand Sarda
(Supra).
14. Whether the abscondance of an accused can be taken as a
circumstance against him has been considered by this Court in Bipin
Kumar Mondal v. State of West Bengal, AIR 2010 SC 3638,
wherein the Court observed:
“27. In Matru alias Girish Chandra v. State of U.P., AIR
1971 SC 1050, this Court repelled the submissions made
by the State that as after commission of the offence the
accused had been absconding, therefore, the inference
can be drawn that he was a guilty person observing as
under:
‘19. The appellant's conduct in absconding was
also relied upon. Now, mere absconding by itself
does not necessarily lead to a firm conclusion of
guilty mind. Even an innocent man may feel
panicky and try to evade arrest when wrongly
suspected of a grave crime such is the instinct of
self-preservation. The act of absconding is no
doubt relevant piece of evidence to be considered
along with other evidence but its value would
always depend on the circumstances of each case.
Normally the courts are disinclined to attach much
importance to the act of absconding, treating it as
a very small item in the evidence for sustaining
conviction. It can scarcely be held as a
determining link in completing the chain of
circumstantial evidence which must admit of no
other reasonable hypothesis than that of the guilt
14Page 15
of the accused. In the present case the appellant
was with Ram Chandra till the FIR was lodged. If
thereafter he felt that he was being wrongly
suspected and he tried to keep out of the way we
do not think this circumstance can be considered
to be necessarily evidence of a guilty mind
attempting to evade justice. It is not inconsistent
with his innocence.’
28. Abscondence by a person against whom FIR has
been lodged, having an apprehension of being
apprehended by the police, cannot be said to be
unnatural. Thus, in view of the above, we do not find any
force in the submission made by Shri Bhattacharjee that
mere absconding by the appellant after commission of
the crime and remaining untraceable for such a long
time itself can establish his guilt. Absconding by itself is
not conclusive either of guilt or of guilty conscience.”
While deciding the said case, a large number of earlier
judgments were also taken into consideration by the Court, including
Matru (supra); and State of M.P. thr. CBI & Ors. v. Paltan Mallah
& Ors., AIR 2005 SC 733.
15. Thus, in a case of this nature, the mere abscondance of an
accused does not lead to a firm conclusion of his guilty mind. An
innocent man may also abscond in order to evade arrest, as in light of
such a situation, such an action may be part of the natural conduct of
the accused. Abscondance is in fact relevant evidence, but its
evidentiary value depends upon the surrounding circumstances, and
15Page 16
hence, the same must only be taken as a minor item in evidence for
sustaining conviction. (See: Paramjeet Singh @ Pamma v. State of
Uttarakhand, AIR 2011 SC 200; and Sk. Yusuf v. State of West
Bengal, AIR 2011 SC 2283).
16. Undoubtedly, the FIR lodged has disclosed the previous
statement of the informant which can only be used to other
corroborate or contradict the maker of such statement.
However, in
the event that the informant is a person who claims to know the facts,
and is also closely related to the victim, it is expected that he would
have certainly mentioned in the FIR, all such relevant facts.
The
omission of important facts affecting the probability of the case, is a
relevant factor under Section 11 of the Evidence Act to judge the
veracity of the case of the prosecution. (Vide: Ram Kumar Pandey
v. The State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1975 SC 1026).
17. An adverse inference can be drawn against the accused only
and only if the incriminating material stands fully established, and the
accused is not able to furnish any explanation for the same. However,
the accused has the right to remain silent, as he cannot be forced to
become a witness against himself.
16Page 17
18. The present case is required to be examined in light of the
aforesaid settled legal propositions.
The instant is one of
circumstantial evidence, and only two circumstances have appeared
against the appellant, namely,
I. That he had been able to point out the place where Sima
Khatoon was lying, after his demand for Rs.20/- had been accepted;
and
II. That subsequently, he had left the said place and boarded a bus
immediately.
The aforesaid circumstances in isolation, point out
conclusively, that the appellant has in fact committed the said offence.
Furthermore, the most material piece of evidence which could have
been used against the appellant was that the blood stains found on his
underwear matched the blood group of Sima Khatoon.
However, the
said circumstance was not put to the appellant while he was being
examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C. by the trial court, and in view thereof, the same cannot be taken into consideration.
Hence, even by a stretch of the imagination, it cannot be held that the aforementioned circumstances clearly point towards the guilt of the appellant, and in
17Page 18
light of such a fact situation, the burden lies not only on the accused to prove his innocence, but also upon the prosecution, to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt.
In a case of circumstantial evidence, the
aforementioned burden of proof on the prosecution is much greater.
In view of the above, the appeal succeeds and is allowed. The judgments and orders passed by the courts below impugned before us, are set aside. The appellant has been in jail for the last six years, he must be released forthwith, unless wanted in some other case.
Before parting with the case, we feel that it is our duty to
appreciate the services rendered by Shri Ratnakar Dash, learned senior
counsel, who acted as amicus curiae.
………………………J.
(Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)
………………………J.
(DIPAK MISRA)
New Delhi,
May 28, 2013
18
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1323 of 2011
Sujit Biswas …Appellant
Versus
State of Assam …Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.
1. This appeal has been preferred against the judgment and order
dated 23.4.2010, passed by the High Court of Guwahati in Criminal
Appeal No. 13(J) of 2010 rejecting Death Reference No. 1 of 2010
made by the Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), No. 3, Kamrup,
Guwahati on 21.12.2009 in Sessions Case No. 309(K) of 2009,
convicting the appellant under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 of the
Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as `the IPC’),
sentencing him to death. The High Court commuted the deathPage 2
sentence of the appellant to life imprisonment, with a direction that
the appellant would breathe his last in jail, and that he would not be
given the benefit of remissions etc. under Sections 432 and 433-A of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the
`Cr.P.C.’).
2. Facts and circumstances giving rise to this appeal are that:
A. On 17.10.2007 at about 7.00 P.M., Sultana Begum Khatoon
(PW.8), aged 12 years, was enjoying the celebrations of the festival of
Durga Pooja alongwith her sister Sima Khatoon, aged 3 years, at the
Nepali Mandir, Guwahati. The appellant was alleged to have been
standing behind them at such time.
After a shortwhile, Sultana
Begum Khatoon (PW.8) noticed that her sister Sima Khatoon was
missing, and she also happened to notice that the appellant had
disappeared as well. Sultana Begum Khatoon (PW.8) thus began to
look for her sister, and when she could not find her in the nearby
areas, she went back to her house and informed her brother Gulzar Ali
(PW.3) and her parents etc. of the said incident.
B. Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali (PW.3) therefore began to
search for Sima Khatoon, and while doing so, they came across the
2Page 3
appellant and asked him whether he had seen Sima Khatoon. The
appellant allegedly demanded a sum of Rs.20/- to pay for his evening
food, in lieu of showing them the place where Sima Khatoon could be
found. Apin Dulal (PW.1) agreed to pay him the said amount and
thus, the appellant pointed to a place by the side of a municipal canal.
Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali (PW.3) thus began to approach the
said place, and at such time, the appellant ran away and boarded a bus.
Apin Dulal (PW.1) chased him and managed to catch hold of him,
forcing him to get off the bus. Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali
(PW.3) thereafter succeeded in locating the girl, who they found
gasping, wrapped in a jute-sack (gunny bag). The mouth of the bag
had been closed. Sima Khatoon was alive, but in a critical condition.
She was then taken by her brother Gulzar Ali (PW.3) to the house.
The appellant was also taken there. Sima Khatoon was taken to a
Nursing Home, and then to the Guwahati Medical College where she
breathed her last at about 1.30 A.M. i.e., in the intervening night of
17/18.10.2007.
C. Father of the deceased Sima Khatoon approached the Paltan
Bazar police station, where a report was endorsed only in the General
Diary. After the death of Sima Khatoon, her father also lodged an FIR
3Page 4
at the said police station on 18.10.2007. The appellant was taken to
the police station by the relatives of Sima Khatoon, and he had thus
been arrested on 17.10.2007 itself.
D. The post-mortem examination of the dead body of Sima
Khatoon was conducted by Dr. Pradeep Thakuria, who found various
injuries on her body, including an injury to her vagina. However, the
doctor has stated that the vaginal smears taken had tested negative for
spermatozoa.
E. The blood stained jute-sack in which the Sima Khatoon had
been found, the blood stained underwear of the appellant, as well as
the apparel i.e., frock of Sima Khatoon were taken into custody. It
was noted that she was not wearing any undergarment at the said time.
All the seized material objects were sent to the Forensic Science
Laboratory, and the report received thereafter, revealed that the blood
group of the blood found on the underwear of the appellant, was the
same as the blood group of the victim, Sima Khatoon.
F. After the conclusion of the investigation, a chargesheet was
filed against the appellant under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 IPC. As
the appellant denied all charges, criminal trial commenced.
4Page 5
G. In the course of the trial, the prosecution examined 10 witnesses
in support of its case, and a large number of material objects were also
exhibited. The appellant in his defence, denied his involvement in
entirety. In his statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C., the appellant has
stated that he was a resident of Kuch-Bihar (West Bengal), and that he
had come to Guwahati three years prior to the incident, to earn his
livelihood as a rickshaw puller. On the date of the said incident, when
he had gone to the place of occurrence to answer the call of nature, he
had found Sima Khatoon lying on the ground. When he returned from
the said place, and while he had been waiting near the Nepali Mandir,
Apin Dulal (PW.1) and Gulzar Ali (PW.3) had asked him whether he
had seen one Sima Khatoon, and thus, he had taken them to the place
where Sima Khatoon had been lying. He had then boarded a bus, but
had been asked by Apin Dulal (PW.1) to get off the same, and many
people had gathered there. They had beaten him severely, and had
handed him over to the police, though he was completely innocent.
H. After the conclusion of the trial, the learned Sessions Judge
vide judgment and order dated 21.12.2009, found the appellant guilty
for the offences punishable under Sections 376 (2)(f) and 302 IPC,
5Page 6
and awarded him the sentence of death as has been referred to
hereinabove.
I. The appellant preferred Criminal Appeal No. 13(J) of 2010,
which was heard alongwith Death Reference No. 1 of 2010. The High
Court disposed of the said appeal vide its judgment and order dated
23.4.2010, and commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment,
with directions as have been referred to hereinabove.
Hence, this appeal.
3. Shri Ratnakar Dash, learned senior counsel, Amicus Curiae, has
submitted that the same is a case of circumstantial evidence. The
courts below, while convicting the appellant for the offences
punishable under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 IPC, have not followed
the parameters laid down by this court that are to be followed for
conviction in a case of circumstantial evidence. There are material
discrepancies which go to the root of the case, and the courts below
have simply brushed them aside, without giving any satisfactory
explanation for not considering the same in correct perspective. The
circumstances against the appellant, as per the case of the prosecution
are, that he had demanded Rs.20/- to point out the place where Sima
6Page 7
Khatoon had been found and immediately thereafter, he had run away
from the said place and had boarded a bus. No other evidence exists
to connect the appellant to the said crime. Furthermore, the trial court
has put a large number of irrelevant and unconnected questions to the
appellant under Section 313 Cr.P.C., while failing to put the most
incriminating circumstance to the appellant, i.e. questions regarding
the fact that the underwear of the appellant bore upon it, blood stains
of the same blood group as that of the victim. Thus, the appellant had
no opportunity to provide any explanation with respect to the same. It
was not permissible for the courts below to rely entirely on such a
circumstance, without verification of the same. The High Court was
also not competent to issue a direction to the effect that the appellant
should not be given the benefits available under Sections 432 and
433-A Cr.P.C. Therefore, the appeal deserves to be allowed.
4. On the contrary, Ms. Vartika Sahay Walia, learned counsel
appearing on behalf of the State has opposed the appeal, contending
that the prosecution had fully met the standard of proof required to
convict a person in a case of circumstantial evidence. The
circumstances relied upon by the courts below have fully established
the involvement of the appellant, and the chain of evidence furnished
7Page 8
by the circumstances is also complete. The appeal thus lacks merit,
and is liable to be rejected.
5. We have considered the rival submissions made by learned
counsel and perused the record.
6. Suspicion, 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
8Page 9
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
benefit of doubt must be given to the accused, keeping in mind that a
reasonable doubt is not an imaginary, trivial or a merely probable
doubt, but a fair doubt that is based upon reason and common sense.
(Vide: Hanumant Govind Nargundkar & Anr. v. State of M.P.,
AIR 1952 SC 343; State through CBI v. Mahender Singh Dahiya,
AIR 2011 SC 1017; and Ramesh Harijan v. State of U.P., AIR 2012
SC 1979).
7. In Kali Ram v. State of Himachal Pradesh, AIR 1973 SC
2773, this Court observed as under:
"Another golden thread which runs through the web of
the administration of justice in criminal cases is that if
two views are possible on the evidence adduced in the
case one pointing to the guilt of the accused and the
other to his innocence, the view which is favourable to
the accused should be adopted. This principle has a
special relevance in cases where in the guilt of the
accused is sought to be established by circumstantial
evidence."
9Page 10
8. In Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, AIR
1984 SC 1622, this Court held as under:
“The facts so established should be consistent only with
the hypothesis of the guilt of the accused. There should
not be explainable on any other hypothesis except that
the accused is guilty. The circumstances should be of a
conclusive nature and tendency. 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."
9. In M.G. Agarwal v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 1963 SC 200,
this Court held, that if the circumstances proved in a case are
consistent either with the innocence of the accused, or with his guilt,
then the accused is entitled to the benefit of doubt. When it is held that
a certain fact has been proved, then the question that arises is whether
such a fact leads to the inference of guilt on the part of the accused
person or not, and in dealing with this aspect of the problem, benefit
of doubt must be given to the accused, and a final inference of guilt
against him must be drawn only if the proved fact is wholly
inconsistent with the innocence of the accused, and is entirely
consistent with his guilt.
Similarly, in Sharad Birdhichand Sarda (Supra), this Court
held as under:
10Page 11
“Graver the crime, greater should be the standard of
proof. An accused may appear to be guilty on the basis
of suspicion but that cannot amount to legal proof. When
on the evidence two possibilities are available or open,
one which goes in the favour of the prosecution and the
other benefits an accused, the accused is undoubtedly
entitled to the benefit of doubt. The principle has special
relevance where the guilt or the accused is sought to be
established by circumstantial evidence.”
10. Thus, in view of the above, the Court must consider a case of
circumstantial evidence in light of the aforesaid settled legal
propositions. In a case of circumstantial evidence, the judgment
remains essentially inferential. Inferences are drawn from established
facts, as the circumstances lead to particular inferences. The Court
must draw an inference with respect to whether the chain of
circumstances is complete, and when the circumstances therein are
collectively considered, the same must lead only to the irresistible
conclusion, that the accused alone is the perpetrator of the crime in
question. All the circumstances so established must be of a
conclusive nature, and consistent only with the hypothesis of the guilt
of the accused.
11. This Court in Babu v. State of Kerala, (2010) 9 SCC 189 has
dealt with the doctrine of innocence elaborately, and held as under:
11Page 12
“27. Every accused is presumed to be innocent unless
the guilt is proved. The presumption of innocence is a
human right. However, subject to the statutory
exceptions, the said principle forms the basis of criminal
jurisprudence. For this purpose, the nature of the
offence, its seriousness and gravity thereof has to be
taken into consideration. The courts must be on guard to
see that merely on the application of the presumption,
the same may not lead to any injustice or mistaken
conviction. Statutes like the Negotiable Instruments Act,
1881; the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; and the
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act,
1987, provide for presumption of guilt if the
circumstances provided in those statutes are found to be
fulfilled and shift the burden of proof of innocence on the
accused. However, such a presumption can also be
raised only when certain foundational facts are
established by the prosecution. There may be difficulty in
proving a negative fact.
28. However, in cases where the statute does not
provide for the burden of proof on the accused, it always
lies on the prosecution. It is only in exceptional
circumstances, such as those of statutes as referred to
hereinabove, that the burden of proof is on the accused.
The statutory provision even for a presumption of guilt of
the accused under a particular statute must meet the tests
of reasonableness and liberty enshrined in Articles 14
and 21 of the Constitution.”
12. It is a settled legal proposition that in a criminal trial, the
purpose of examining the accused person under Section 313 Cr.P.C.,
is to meet the requirement of the principles of natural justice, i.e. audi
alterum partem. This means that the accused may be asked to furnish
some explanation as regards the incriminating circumstances
12Page 13
associated with him, and the court must take note of such explanation.
In a case of circumstantial evidence, the same is essential to decide
whether or not the chain of circumstances is complete. No matter
how weak the evidence of the prosecution may be, it is the duty of the
court to examine the accused, and to seek his explanation as regards
the incriminating material that has surfaced against him. The
circumstances which are not put to the accused in his examination
under Section 313 Cr.P.C., cannot be used against him and must
be excluded from consideration. The said statement cannot be treated
as evidence within the meaning of Section 3 of the Evidence Act, as
the accused cannot be cross-examined with reference to such
statement.
13. In Hate Singh Bhagat Singh v. State of Madhya Pradesh,
AIR 1953 SC 468, this Court held, that any circumstance in respect of
which an accused has not been examined under Section 342 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (corresponding to Section 313
Cr.P.C.), cannot be used against him. The said judgment has
subsequently been followed in catena of judgments of this court
uniformly, taking the view that unless a circumstance against an
accused is put to him in his examination, the same cannot be used
13Page 14
against him. (See also: Shamu Balu Chaugule v. State of
Maharashtra, AIR 1976 SC 557; Harijan Megha Jesha v. State of
Gujarat, AIR 1979 SC 1566; and Sharad Birdhichand Sarda
(Supra).
14. Whether the abscondance of an accused can be taken as a
circumstance against him has been considered by this Court in Bipin
Kumar Mondal v. State of West Bengal, AIR 2010 SC 3638,
wherein the Court observed:
“27. In Matru alias Girish Chandra v. State of U.P., AIR
1971 SC 1050, this Court repelled the submissions made
by the State that as after commission of the offence the
accused had been absconding, therefore, the inference
can be drawn that he was a guilty person observing as
under:
‘19. The appellant's conduct in absconding was
also relied upon. Now, mere absconding by itself
does not necessarily lead to a firm conclusion of
guilty mind. Even an innocent man may feel
panicky and try to evade arrest when wrongly
suspected of a grave crime such is the instinct of
self-preservation. The act of absconding is no
doubt relevant piece of evidence to be considered
along with other evidence but its value would
always depend on the circumstances of each case.
Normally the courts are disinclined to attach much
importance to the act of absconding, treating it as
a very small item in the evidence for sustaining
conviction. It can scarcely be held as a
determining link in completing the chain of
circumstantial evidence which must admit of no
other reasonable hypothesis than that of the guilt
14Page 15
of the accused. In the present case the appellant
was with Ram Chandra till the FIR was lodged. If
thereafter he felt that he was being wrongly
suspected and he tried to keep out of the way we
do not think this circumstance can be considered
to be necessarily evidence of a guilty mind
attempting to evade justice. It is not inconsistent
with his innocence.’
28. Abscondence by a person against whom FIR has
been lodged, having an apprehension of being
apprehended by the police, cannot be said to be
unnatural. Thus, in view of the above, we do not find any
force in the submission made by Shri Bhattacharjee that
mere absconding by the appellant after commission of
the crime and remaining untraceable for such a long
time itself can establish his guilt. Absconding by itself is
not conclusive either of guilt or of guilty conscience.”
While deciding the said case, a large number of earlier
judgments were also taken into consideration by the Court, including
Matru (supra); and State of M.P. thr. CBI & Ors. v. Paltan Mallah
& Ors., AIR 2005 SC 733.
15. Thus, in a case of this nature, the mere abscondance of an
accused does not lead to a firm conclusion of his guilty mind. An
innocent man may also abscond in order to evade arrest, as in light of
such a situation, such an action may be part of the natural conduct of
the accused. Abscondance is in fact relevant evidence, but its
evidentiary value depends upon the surrounding circumstances, and
15Page 16
hence, the same must only be taken as a minor item in evidence for
sustaining conviction. (See: Paramjeet Singh @ Pamma v. State of
Uttarakhand, AIR 2011 SC 200; and Sk. Yusuf v. State of West
Bengal, AIR 2011 SC 2283).
16. Undoubtedly, the FIR lodged has disclosed the previous
statement of the informant which can only be used to other
corroborate or contradict the maker of such statement.
However, in
the event that the informant is a person who claims to know the facts,
and is also closely related to the victim, it is expected that he would
have certainly mentioned in the FIR, all such relevant facts.
The
omission of important facts affecting the probability of the case, is a
relevant factor under Section 11 of the Evidence Act to judge the
veracity of the case of the prosecution. (Vide: Ram Kumar Pandey
v. The State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1975 SC 1026).
17. An adverse inference can be drawn against the accused only
and only if the incriminating material stands fully established, and the
accused is not able to furnish any explanation for the same. However,
the accused has the right to remain silent, as he cannot be forced to
become a witness against himself.
16Page 17
18. The present case is required to be examined in light of the
aforesaid settled legal propositions.
The instant is one of
circumstantial evidence, and only two circumstances have appeared
against the appellant, namely,
I. That he had been able to point out the place where Sima
Khatoon was lying, after his demand for Rs.20/- had been accepted;
and
II. That subsequently, he had left the said place and boarded a bus
immediately.
The aforesaid circumstances in isolation, point out
conclusively, that the appellant has in fact committed the said offence.
Furthermore, the most material piece of evidence which could have
been used against the appellant was that the blood stains found on his
underwear matched the blood group of Sima Khatoon.
However, the
said circumstance was not put to the appellant while he was being
examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C. by the trial court, and in view thereof, the same cannot be taken into consideration.
Hence, even by a stretch of the imagination, it cannot be held that the aforementioned circumstances clearly point towards the guilt of the appellant, and in
17Page 18
light of such a fact situation, the burden lies not only on the accused to prove his innocence, but also upon the prosecution, to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt.
In a case of circumstantial evidence, the
aforementioned burden of proof on the prosecution is much greater.
In view of the above, the appeal succeeds and is allowed. The judgments and orders passed by the courts below impugned before us, are set aside. The appellant has been in jail for the last six years, he must be released forthwith, unless wanted in some other case.
Before parting with the case, we feel that it is our duty to
appreciate the services rendered by Shri Ratnakar Dash, learned senior
counsel, who acted as amicus curiae.
………………………J.
(Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)
………………………J.
(DIPAK MISRA)
New Delhi,
May 28, 2013
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