Dismissed

Ramesh Kannaiyalal Jat and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra

Bombay HC5 Aug 2010APEAL/1215/2003

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court dismissed appeals filed by three accused persons convicted of murder and theft. The court upheld the trial court's findings, rejecting arguments regarding false complaints, identification evidence reliability, and admissibility of recovered articles, affirming the guilty verdict.

What did the court decide?

Appeals by appellants were dismissed; convictions and sentences of the appellants were upheld.

Ramesh Kannaiyalal Jat and Ors. Vs the State of… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2010)

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mss

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

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APPELLATE SIDE

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CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1215 OF 2003

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1. RAMESH KANNAIYALAL JAT	)
2. BHAVARLAL GIRILAL JAT	)
Both R/o Mahatma Gandhi	)
Nagar Zopadpatti, Behind	)
Awanti Bldg. , Antop Hill,	)
Mumbai 400 037	) .. APPELLANTS
Vs.
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA	. .. RESPONDENT

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Mr. Ganesh Gole for appellants Mr. H. J. Dedhia, APP

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CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 258 OF 2005

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KISHANLAL PYARESINGH JAT .. APPELLANT VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA .. RESPONDENT

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Mr. D. G. Khamkar appointed advocate for the appellant Mr. H. J. Dedhia, APP

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CORAM: SMT. RANJANA DESAI & SMT. V. K. TAHILRAMANI, JJ.

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DATE ON WHICH THE JUDGMENT

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IS RESERVED : 23RD JUNE, 2010

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DATE ON WHICH THE JUDGMENT

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IS PRONOUNCED: 5TH AUGUST, 2010

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JUDGMENT : (Per Smt. Ranjana Desai, J.)

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Criminal Appeal No. 258 of 2005 is filed through jail by one Kishanlal Pyaresingh Jat. Criminal Appeal No. 1215 of 2003 is filed by Ramesh Kannaiyalal Jat and Bhavarlal Girilal Jat. Kishanlal Pyaresingh Jat is original accused 1 and Ramesh Kannaiyalal Jat and Bhavarlal Girilal Jat are original accused 2 and 3 respectively. These three accused were tried in Sessions Case No. 485 of 2000 by the Sessions Court for Greater Mumbai for offences punishable under Section 449, 392, 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (“IPC” for short). Accused 1 Kishanlal Jat was also tried for offence punishable under Section 397 of the IPC.

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By the impugned judgment and order accused 1, 2 and 3 are

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convicted for the offences punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced to suffer life imprisonment and to pay fine of Rs.2000/- each, in default to suffer further RI for three months. They are also found guilty of the offence punishable under Section 392 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced to suffer RI for seven years each and to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- each, in default to suffer further RI for two months. Accused 2 and 3 are found guilty of the offence punishable under Section 449 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced to suffer RI for seven years and to pay fine of Rs.1000/- each, in default to suffer further RI for 2 months. The substantive sentences are ordered to run concurrently.

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The prosecution story must be stated in brief. Accused 1 lodged a complaint with Matunga Police Station on 11/2/2000 that he was working with one Desai family as a servant for last about six months. He used to work as a cook. According to him on 11/2/2000 in the morning hours he completed his work and at about 4-50 p.m. He again went to the house of the Desai’s for work. At that time Dadima and Minakshi Desai (the deceased) were present in the flat. After sometime Pushpa, the maid came there. Pushpa went to the flat of Kiranbhai. At about 5-15 p.m., he heard door bell. At that time

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he was in the kitchen. The deceased opened the door. Two unknown persons entered the flat. One of them pressed the mouth of the deceased and pushed her. The deceased fell down. Second person entered the kitchen and pressed his mouth. He tried to rescue himself but the said person made him lie down on the ground. He tied his hands with yellow plastic rope and also tied a napkin around his mouth. The said person inflicted knife blows on his hands. He also sustained injuries on his chest during the scuffle. At that time the other person was searching for valuables in the said flat. After sometime both of them left the place. Though he was tied by the rope he managed to come to the other room. Meantime Kiranbhai came to the said flat. Kiranbhai untied him and thereafter he took account of the articles in the flat. He found that the deceased was lying on the ground. After sometime the police came there and removed the deceased to the hospital. The police recorded his statement. In this complaint accused 1 gave the description of those who had entered the flat.

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It appears that thereafter the police prepared spot panchnama

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and removed accused 1 to the hospital for treatment. The doctor examined him and opined that the injuries on his person were self-

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inflicted. The police, therefore, arrested him. During the course of investigation involvement of the two other accused came to light. They were also arrested. At their instance the property was recovered. After completion of the investigation the accused came to be charged as aforesaid.

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In support of its case the prosecution examined as many as 22 witnesses. The defence of the accused was one of denial. The accused, however, did not examine any defence witness. After perusing the evidence on record, learned Sessions Judge convicted the accused as aforesaid and hence this appeal.

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We have heard at some length Mr. Khamkar, learned counsel appearing for accused 1 and Mr. Gole, learned counsel appearing for accused 2 and 3. We have also heard learned APP. With the assistance of learned counsel,we have gone through the record of the case.

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Mr. Khamkar, learned counsel appearing for accused 1 stated

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that learned Judge has wrongly come to a conclusion that accused 1 gave a false and concocted story to the police to save himself.

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Counsel submitted that PW 3 Kiran Sheth the neighbour of the deceased who went to the flat of the deceased after Pushpa, the maid told him that something was amiss in that flat, has clearly stated that when he went to the flat he found one man with his hands tied with a rope from the back. According to PW 3 his legs were also tied with a rope and his mouth was tied with a napkin. It is PW 3’s case that he untied the rope and freed the man. According to him the man told him that he was a cook. Counsel pointed out that even PW 5 Devesh Sharma, the pancha to the spot panchnama has stated that there was a rope lying at the scene of offence. Counsel submitted that PW 6 Dr. Damawale who had examined accused 1 has stated that accused 1 stated that he was injured by a knife by unknown persons who had entered the said flat. Counsel pointed out that Dr. Damawale’s evidence shows that accused 1 had received as many as 20 injuries. Counsel drew our attention to the complaint of accused 1 recorded by the police. He submitted that the account given by accused 1 of the incident in question is consistent with the evidence of PW 3, with the spot panchnama and with the injuries suffered by accused 1. Counsel submitted that PW 6 Dr. Damawale has given wrong opinion that the injuries suffered by accused 1 were self inflicted. Counsel submitted that it is highly improbable that a

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man would cause so many injuries to himself.

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Counsel further submitted that learned Judge has rightly discarded the prosecution case that the dog brought by the police went to accused 1 and started barking and, therefore, involvement of accused 1 is proved. Counsel further submitted that it is the case of the prosecution that at the instance of accused 1 a knife was discovered from the flat in which the incident took place. Counsel pointed out that PW 9 Raj Modi, who is pancha to the panchnama Exh.-28 under which the knife was allegedly taken charge of at the instance of accused 1 has stated that on this knife no blood was found. Counsel further submitted that PW 8 Chetan Momaya, who is a pancha to the panchnama under which accused 1 is stated to have led the police to the place where accused 2 was present and from where accused 2 is stated to have handed over the bag containing gold ornaments, has admitted that he was knowing Desai family for 40 years. Counsel submitted that since the pancha was known to the family of the deceased no reliance can be placed on his evidence. Counsel further submitted that in any case PW 8 Chetan Momaya has stated that accused 1 led the police to a jhopada (hut) on which there was a lock. According to PW 8 accused 1 went to mezzanine

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floor by the staircase. Accused 2 was present there and at his instance gold ornaments were recovered. Counsel submitted that PW 19 the investigating officer Yasin Ali has stated that accused 2 and 3 were arrested on the basis of information given by accused 1. He has stated that accused 2 was interrogated and he showed willingness to make a voluntary statement about the gold ornaments which were kept in his house and thereafter he produced the gold ornaments. Therefore, this discovery is not at the instance of accused 1. Counsel submitted that evidence against accused 1 is not sufficient to convict him. Counsel submitted that, therefore, benefit of doubt be given to accused 1 and he may be released by quashing and setting aside the order of conviction and sentence passed by the trial court against him.

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We have also heard Mr. Gole, learned counsel appearing for accused 2 and 3. Mr. Gole submitted that the prosecution has not been able to establish that accused 2 and 3 were seen near the house of the deceased at the relevant time. He took us to the evidence of PW 2 Pushpa, the maid. Counsel pointed out that Pushpa has stated that when she went to the house of the deceased she saw one person standing at the door. She identified accused 2 in

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the court as the same person. Counsel pointed out that in the crossexamination Pushpa has admitted that she had not stated before the police that accused 2 was standing at the door when she went to the house of the deceased.

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Counsel then took us to the evidence of PW 10 Rajiv Mehta. He submitted that PW 10 resides in the building which is opposite Shree Niketan building where the incident took place. He has stated that on the date of incident at about 2-45 p.m., he was waiting on the road. At that time he saw two persons coming out of Shree Niketan building. According to him they were not normal people. They were looking here and there and they were having bags in their hand and they went towards King Circle. PW 10 has identified accused 2 and 3 in the court as the persons whom he had seen on the date of incident coming out of Shree Niketan building. Counsel submitted that in the cross-examination of this witness he has admitted that he did not tell the police that he saw two persons coming out of Shree Niketan building in a suspicious manner. Counsel submitted that PW 10 noticed accused 2 and 3 because they were moving in a suspicious manner. If in his police statement he has not referred to the said two persons moving in a suspicious manner then his identification in the

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court becomes suspect. This omission is a vital omission.

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Counsel then took us to the evidence of PW 14 Nanda Shah. She has stated that on the relevant day when she returned home after taking a walk at about 5 to 5-30 p.m. she saw two persons hurriedly going outside the compound. Those persons were carrying bags with them and after looking at their faces she felt that they were under tension. She identified those two persons in the court as accused 2 and 3. Counsel pointed out that in the cross-examination she admitted that she has not stated before the police that the said two persons were going out of the building in a suspicious manner. The omission is regarding the word ‘suspicious manner’. Counsel submitted that PW 14 remembered the said two persons because they were moving in a suspicious manner. If she has not stated to the police that those two persons were moving in a suspicious manner then her identification of accused 2 and 3 in the court becomes suspect. Counsel submitted that the police have not held identification parade and, therefore, in the above circumstances identification in the court after so many months from the date of incident must be kept out of consideration.

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Counsel then took us to the evidence of PW 8 Chetan Momaya and pointed out that the police had recorded the panchnama pursuant to the statement made by accused 1. PW 8 has stated that accused 1 took them to the place where accused 2 was found and at the instance of accused 2 a bag containing ornaments was allegedly found. Counsel submitted that it is further clear from the evidence of the investigating officer that accused 1 was arrested on 12/2/2000, thereafter accused 2 and 3 were arrested on the basis of information provided by accused 1. Thereafter accused 2 was interrogated and he showed willingness to give voluntary statement about the gold ornaments kept in his house. At the instance of accused 2 gold ornaments were recovered. Counsel submitted that, therefore, accused 2 made the statement when he was under arrest and hence it was necessary for the police to record his statement under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act. Inasmuch as the police have not recorded such a statement, the alleged discovery of ornaments cannot be used against accused 2. It would be hit by Section 25 and Section 26 of the Indian Evidence Act. The alleged recovery is not a voluntary recovery. The statement made by accused 2 would be a confession made to a police officer.

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Counsel then took us to the evidence of PW 12 Divyesh Vora, who is a pancha to the panchnama Exh.-33. According to him on 12/2/2000 accused 2 made a statement and led the police to SionKoliwada. He stopped them near Building No. 1. He showed them Room No. 7 which belongs to one Mr. Vora. The police then asked Mr. Vora as to where his servant Bhavarlal i.e. accused 3 was. Mr. Vora called his servant Bhavarlal. Bhavarlal then took them towards a staircase near Room No. 6 and from there he took out one bag. When the bag was opened they found that it contained one V C R and one camera. Counsel submitted that this discovery cannot be used against accused 2 because it is not at the instance of accused 2 and it cannot be treated as a discovery at the instance of accused 3 because no statement of accused 3 is recorded under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act.

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Counsel took us to the evidence of PW 13 Mavji Vora with whom accused 3 was working. Counsel pointed out that this witness has stated in his examination-in-chief that accused 3 used to serve with him as domestic servant. According to him he used to go to his house in the evening. According to him on the date of incident accused 3 informed him that he would not come to cook food. He

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came for work on 12/2/2000 and on that day the police came there, inquired about him and he handed over camera and V C R to the police which he had kept in Room No. 6. However, in his crossexamination this witness has stated that the police slapped accused 3 and thereafter accused 3 told them where he had kept the stolen goods. Counsel submitted that, therefore, this statement is not a voluntary statement. It is a statement made under pressure and coercion. It would be hit by Section 25 and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act.

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So far as the discovery of gold ornaments is concerned, counsel took us to the evidence of PW 15 Archana Desai, daughterin-law of the deceased. Counsel pointed out that PW 15 has stated that on 15/2/2000 police called her to the police station to identify articles. They showed her ornaments, camera, video and bags and she identified the said articles. Counsel then took us to the evidence of PW 18 Jagdish Desai, the husband of the deceased who has stated that next day of the incident the police brought the ornaments to his house for identification purpose and his daughter-in-law identified them. Counsel submitted that, therefore, the identification of ornaments is doubtful.

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Counsel then took us to the evidence of PW 19 Yasin Ali, the investigating officer. Counsel submitted that it is evident from the evidence of this witness that statements of accused 2 and 3 were not recorded under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act. Counsel pointed out that according to PW 19 on 12/2/2000 clothes of accused 1, 2 and 3 were attached under Panchnama Exhibit-45. However, Panchnama Exh.-45 is not proved as no panchas have been examined. Counsel submitted that PW 19 Yasin Ali has admitted that panchas to Exh.-45 were not examined and he has stated that he cannot give any reason as to why they were not examined. Counsel further submitted that there were no bloodstains on the clothes of accused 2. So far as accused 1 and 3 are concerned their blood group is ‘O’ and the blood group of the deceased is also ‘O’. Counsel submitted that accused 2 and 3 were not medically examined, therefore, it is not known whether they had injuries on their person. Bloodstains if any found on their clothes, therefore, cannot be used as a circumstance against them. Counsel pointed out that besides, in this regard no question was asked to the accused under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

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Counsel then submitted that the constable who had taken the

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samples to the chemical analyzer has not been examined. Therefore, it is not clear as to how and from whose custody and in what condition the samples were taken to the chemical analyzer.

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Counsel submitted that fingerprint expert’s opinion has rightly been discarded by learned Judge. Counsel submitted that the evidence of PW 7 Mr. Chandanshive clearly indicates that he did not have the necessary expertise to give opinion as regards fingerprints. He has admitted that he does not have any special qualification. Counsel submitted that there is nothing on record to suggest that specimen fingerprints of the accused were taken for comparison. There is no evidence that the fingerprints found at the scene of offence were compared with any specimen fingerprints of the accused. No photographs are on the record. Neither the positives nor negatives of the photographs are on record. Counsel submitted that the fingerprint expert’s opinion is signed by the Director who has not stepped in the witness box. He has blindly signed the opinion and there is, therefore, no application of mind. Counsel submitted that, therefore, fingerprint expert’s opinion ought not to be taken into account.

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Counsel submitted that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove its case against the accused and hence the order of conviction and sentence be set aside and the accused be set at liberty.

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On the other hand Mr. Dedhia, learned APP submitted that the prosecution has proved its case to the hilt and, therefore, it is not necessary to interfere with the impugned order of conviction and sentence. Learned APP submitted that accused 1 lodged a false complaint to hoodwink the police. His complaint does not tally with the evidence on record. According to him unknown persons who entered the flat injured him, tied him with a rope so that he would not create any obstacle in their plan to commit robbery. According to him the intruders caused injuries on his chest. If this story was true he would have raised cries and people would have gathered at the scene of offence. Counsel submitted that the fact that accused 1 did not raise cries disproves his case. Learned APP submitted that accused 1 claims that the unknown persons caused injuries on his chest with a weapon, however, the panchnama Exh.-5 under which clothes of accused 1 were taken charge of does not show that there were any cut marks on his shirt. This story is, therefore, false. Learned APP submitted that the doctor has clearly stated that the

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injuries suffered by accused 1 were self inflicted and there is no reason to disbelieve the doctor who is an independent witness.

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Learned APP submitted that PWs 2, 10 and 14 are independent witnesses. They had seen accused 1 near Shree Niketan building on the relevant day and time. They have identified the accused in the court. Learned APP submitted that their evidence goes a long way in proving the prosecution case. Learned APP submitted that in the circumstances of the case it was not necessary to hold identification parade because the evidence of these witnesses shows that when they came to the police station the accused were present. In this connection learned APP relied on the judgment of the Supreme Court in Jarnail Singh & Ors. v. State of Punjab, (2009) 9 SCC 719. Learned APP also relied on the Supreme Court’s judgment in Ramanbhai Naranbhai Patel v. State of Gujrat, (2000) 1 SCC 358.

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Learned APP submitted that daughter-in-law of the deceased and the husband of the deceased have identified the gold ornaments recovered from the house of accused 2. Learned APP submitted that the discrepancy in the evidence of the daughter-in-law of the deceased and the husband of the deceased as to whether the

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ornaments were shown to them at the police station or at their house is not a very material discrepancy. Learned APP submitted that huge quantity of gold was recovered and it is impossible for the police to plant such gold. Learned APP submitted that it is natural for a daughter-in-law who was staying with the deceased to identify the ornaments. In this connection learned APP relied on the judgment of the Supreme Court in Gade Lakshmi Mangaraju @ Ramesh v. State of A.P., (2001) 6 SCC 205. Learned APP submitted that PW 15 Archana Desai has stated that the ornaments were in use for more than 10 years and, therefore, she could identify them. Learned APP also pointed out that all the necessary procedure was followed by the police while sealing and re-sealing of the deceased’s ornaments. He drew our attention to the evidence of PW 19 Yasin Ali, the investigating officer to the effect that after the ornaments were identified by Archana Desai they were sealed under the panchnama dated 15/2/2000. The said panchnama is at Exh.-49. Counsel drew our attention to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Rajendra Kumar v. State of Rajasthan, (2003) 10 SCC 21 where the Supreme Court has observed that in view of the consistent evidence as to the identification of bangles importance cannot be attached to the fact that the bangles were not sealed at the time when the

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recovery was made from the shop at the instance of the accused.

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Learned APP submitted that the trial court erred in rejecting the evidence of the fingerprint expert. The fingerprint expert’s evidence clearly establishes the complicity of accused 3 in the incident in question. Learned APP submitted that learned Judge also did not discuss the evidence of chemical analyzer. He pointed out that human blood was detected on the full pant and half shirt of accused 1, on the full shirt of accused 3 and on the knife recovered at the instance of accused 1. This is an incriminating circumstance as against accused 1 and 3. Learned APP submitted that all the circumstances make a complete chain and no other hypothesis but that of the guilt of the accused is possible on the basis of evidence adduced by the prosecution. Learned APP submitted that, therefore, the appeals be dismissed.

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Postmortem notes of the deceased show that there were several multiple crescentic abrasions over the face of the deceased. Cause of death is stated to be ‘Asphyxia as a result of smothering’. PW 11 Dr. Pathak has said that all the injuries were nail injuries.

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25 PW 2 Pushpa, the maid found the deceased lying on the floor at about 5-50 p.m. on 11/2/2000 when she went there for work. She rushed to PW 3 Kiran Sheth, a person who resides in Shree Niketan building where the deceased’s flat is situated. Upon coming to know that something was wrong in the said flat, PW 3 went there. He found the deceased lying on the floor. He saw one man with his legs tied with a rope and his mouth tied with a napkin. He freed that man. That man told him that he was a cook. PW 3 then went to his house and phoned the police. The police arrived at the scene of offence at about 6 p.m. It appears from the evidence of PW 19 Yasin Ali, the investigating officer that the cook i.e. accused 1 was present at the flat. His statement was recorded by PSI Madne and on the basis of the same offence was registered vide C.R. No. 98/2000 against unknown persons. The gist of the said statement has already been narrated by us. PW 19 took over the investigation and sent accused 1 for medical examination to Nagpada Hospital where PW 6 Dr. Damawale examined him. Dr. Damawale has stated that he took down the history from accused 1. Accused 1 stated that two unknown persons entered the house on 11/2/2000 at about 5 p.m. and throttled the deceased. He further told PW 6 that the intruders tied his hands and injured him with a knife. According to Dr.

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Damawale accused 1 had suffered about 20 abrasions, some of which were on the chest. Dr. Damawale stated that the said injuries appeared to be self inflicted and they were not caused during scuffle. He further stated that injuries were recent i.e. caused within 6 hours and they were caused by a sharp edged or pointed weapon like a knife or a razor. Dr. Damawale has been cross-examined but in his cross-examination he has not deviated from his version in the examination-in-chief.

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It is also pertinent to note that in his statement under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal procedure accused 1 has denied that the injuries suffered by him were self inflicted. He has admitted that he had received injuries but according to him the injuries were not self inflicted. He has not stated who inflicted the injuries on him. We are of the opinion that the story that the intruders attacked accused 1 and caused injuries cannot be accepted because in that case accused 1 would have raised loud cries which would have drawn the neighbours to the said flat. It is inherently improbable that a person who receives as many as 20 abrasions would not raise cries. It is also inherently improbable that the intruders would go on causing small abrasions all over the body of accused 1 and accused 1 would remain quiet. If at

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all they wanted to immobilize him they could have dealt one fatal blow on him. They would not have kept him alive to be a witness against them.

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We find PW 6 Dr. Damawale’s evidence to be credible. Certificate issued by Dr. Damawale is on record. It is at Exh.-19. Dr. Damawale is an independent witness, who has no reason to falsely involve accused 1. Dr. Damawale’s evidence is borne out by the fact that on the shirt of the applicant which was taken charge of by the police under Panchnama Exh.-45, there were no cut marks. If the intruders had attacked accused 1 there would have been cut marks on his shirt.

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It is also pertinent to note that the Chemical Analyzer’s report shows that on full pant and half shirt of accused 1 taken charge of under Panchnama Exh.-45 human blood was found. PW 9 Raj Modi is a pancha to the Memorandum Exh.-27 and Panchnama Exh.-28 dated 15/2/2000. He has stated that on 15/2/2000 on a statement made by accused 1 a knife was recovered from the flat where the murder took place. The knife was kept on a cupboard in the kitchen. It was seized under panchnama. Chemical Analyzer’s report Exh.

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48-colly of June 2000 shows that the said knife was stained with human blood. All these circumstances make it evident that accused 1 gave a false story to the police and tried to misdirect them.

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It is now necessary to see how police reached accused 2 and 3. On 12/2/2000 accused 1 made a statement that he will show the place where his friend Ramesh i.e. accused 2 resides. PW 8 Chetan Momaya is a pancha to Memorandum Exh.-24 under which the said statement was recorded. He led the police and the panchas to Mahatma Gandhi Jhopadpatti, Sion. He led them to a hut. There was a lock on the hut. By the staircase accused 1 went to the mezzanine floor. Accused 2 was present there. Panchnama in respect of this is at Exh.-25. PW 9 PI Yasin Ali has also confirmed the above facts. He has stated that accused 2 was arrested. In this Panchnama Exh.-24 it is recorded that accused-2 took a black rexine

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bag hanging on the peg on the wall at the northern side of the room. When the bag was opened it was found to contain inter alia several gold ornaments, silver coins, lady’s wrist watches etc. It is argued that the statement made by accused 2 is hit by Sections 25 and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act as accused 2 was in police custody and he had not made a statement that he will discover gold ornaments. It is

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argued that accused 2’s statement is a statement made to the police which cannot be used against him.

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So far as accused 1 is concerned from Exhibits 24 and 25 it is clear that accused 1 knew accused 2. Had it not been for him the police would never have found accused 2. It is true that accused 2 did not make a statement that he will lead the police to gold ornaments. But accused 1 made a statement that he will take the police to his friend i.e. accused 2 which led to recovery of gold ornaments. Such huge quantity of gold ornaments cannot be planted by the police. Therefore, this discovery of gold ornaments must be treated as a discovery at the instance of accused 1.

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It is now necessary to come to PW 12 Divyesh Vora. According to him on 12/2/2000 the police called him at King Circle Railway Station. Accused 2 made a statement about the co-accused. Memorandum in respect of the said statement was recorded. It is at Exh.-33. Accused 2 led the police to Sion-Koliwada near a municipal colony. He took them near Building No. 1, Room No. 7 of one PW 13 Mavji Vora. PW 13 Mavji Vora was present. The police inquired with him whether his domestic servant Bhavar (accused 3) was present.

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PW 13 called accused 3. Accused 3 went towards a step below staircase near Room No. 6 and from there he took out one bag. It was locked. Accused 3 opened that bag and handed over contents of the bag to the police. The bag contained one VCR and one camera. These articles were taken charge of by the police. Panchnama in respect thereof is at Exh.-34.

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PW 13 Mavji Vora has stated that accused 3 was working with him as a domestic servant for 15 days prior to 12/2/2000. According to him accused 3 used to come to his house in the morning and go in the evening. Accused 3 used to keep the clothes near Room No. 6 which was also owned by PW 13. According to PW 13 on 11/2/2000 accused 3 came and kept his bag by the side of the latrine near room No. 6. At about 8 p.m., he told PW 13 that a person from his village had come and, therefore, he would not come for cooking meals. According to PW 13 at about 5 p.m., the police came and accused 3 handed over contents of the bag which was kept near Room No. 6.

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Counsel for accused 3 submitted that this discovery of camera and VCR cannot be taken against accused 3 because accused 3 was in police custody and he had not volunteered to discover the bag

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containing camera and VCR. It is the police who asked him questions and then he handed over the bag to them. Counsel pointed out that in the cross-examination PW 13 has said that the police slapped accused 3 and thereafter accused 3 told them where he had kept the stolen goods. Counsel submitted that, therefore, police applied force. No voluntary statement was made by accused 3. Statement made by accused 3 while in police custody will be hit by Sections 25 and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act.

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Exh.-33 records the statement made by accused 2 in respect of the whereabouts of the co-accused. He led the police to Room No. 7 where accused 3 was found. Discovery of camera and VCR is a consequence of accused 2 leading the police to accused 3. Therefore, accused 2 leading the police to accused 3 and consequent discovery of VCR and camera can be taken as discovery at the instance of accused 2. In any case so far as this entire episode is concerned evidence of PW 12 and PW 13 is material. There is no reason to disbelieve these witnesses about the manner in which the seizure of stolen articles came to be effected.

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It is pertinent to note that PW 15 Archana Desai, the daughter-

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in-law of the deceased identified the said ornaments recovered at the instance of accused 1 and the camera and VCR also recovered at the instance of accused 1 when the police showed them to her. Similarly PW 18 Jagdish Desai, the husband of the deceased identified the said articles when showed to him. There is some discrepancy in the statement of these two witnesses. While PW 15 Archana Desai has said that she went to the police station and identified the articles, PW 18 Jagdish Desai has stated that the police brought the articles to his house. In our opinion, this discrepancy is not a material discrepancy and will have to be overlooked considering the fact that the witnesses were deposing about three years after the date of incident and they had suffered a great mental trauma. We have already noted that such huge quantity of gold ornaments cannot be planted by the police and the fact that these articles are recovered at the instance of accused 1 goes a long way in establishing the prosecution case. We may also usefully refer to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Gade Laxmi’s case where the Supreme Court has observed that a female kin of the deceased female would have been in a better position than a male kin to identify the jewellery or ornaments worn by a woman. Identification of the ornaments of the deceased by her daughter-in-law PW 15

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Archana Desai, therefore, inspires confidence.

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PW 10 Rajiv Mehta stays in a building which is opposite Shri Niketan building where the murder took place. He has stated that on 11/2/2000 at about 4-45 p.m. he was waiting on the road to receive some people who were to come from Delhi. At that time he found two persons coming out of Shree Niketan building. They did not appear to be normal. They were looking around. They had bags in their hands and they moved towards King Circle. He identified accused 2 and 3 as the persons who came out of Shree Niketan building with bag in their hand. In the cross-examination of these witnesses an omission has been brought on record. It appears that he had not stated before the police that he noticed two persons coming out of Shree Niketan building in a suspicious manner. Evidence of this witness was attacked on the ground that no identification parade was held and it is difficult for a witness to identify a person in the court after such a long span of time. It was also argued that if PW 10 has omitted to state the words “suspicious manner” before the police then he cannot be relied upon at all because the reason why he could have remembered the said persons was that they were moving in a suspicious manner.

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We feel that this criticism is unjustified. Identification of an accused in the court is not to be discarded in all cases. In Ramanbhai Patel’s case (supra) the Supreme Court has held that whether in the absence of a test identification parade the evidence of an eye-witness identifying the accused in the court should be treated as of no assistance to the prosecution would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. Whether the evidence deserves any credence will have to be examined against the backdrop of the circumstances of each case. The Supreme Court indicated that if the eye-witnesses are seriously injured in broad daylight, the assailant’s appearance and identity would remain imprinted in their mind. In the present case PW 10 has stated that on the same day in the evening he came to know that there was a murder in Shree Niketan building. Therefore, it is possible that the sight of two persons going out of the building at about the same time with a bag in their hands was etched in his memory. That is the reason why he could identify accused 2 and 3 in the court.

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It is also necessary to bear in mind that PW 10 has stated in his evidence that he had seen accused 2 and 3 at the police station on the next day of the incident. Therefore, identification parade could

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not have served any purpose. Accused 2 and 3 were arrested on the next day of the incident. This is not a case where PW 10 identified accused 2 and 3 first time in the court. In Jarnail Singh’s case, the witnesses were present at the time of arrest of the accused. The Supreme Court held that in the circumstances identification parade would not have served any purpose. The same reasoning could be applied to the case on hand.

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So far as the omission to state before the police that the said two persons were moving in a suspicious manner is concerned, in our opinion, the said omission is not a material omission. We have no hesitation in concurring with the trial court that PW 10’s evidence establishes that accused 2 and 3 were seen moving out of Shree Niketan building around the same time when the murder was committed.

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PW 14 Nanda Shah resides in Shri Niketan building. According to her on 11/2/2000 at about 4-30 p.m., she had gone for a walk with her dog. She returned home at about 5 to 5-30 p.m. According to her she saw two persons hurriedly coming outside the compound of Shree Niketan building. They were carrying a bag with them. She

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felt that they were under tension. She identified accused 2 and 3 as the same persons who were going outside the compound of Shri Niketan building on 11/2/2000 with a bag. In the cross-examination it is brought on record that she had omitted to tell the police that she found accused 2 and 3 going out of the building in a suspicious manner. It is contended that identification of accused 2 and 3 in the court after such a long period cannot be accepted. It is submitted that, if she had not told the police that the said persons were going out of the building in a suspicious manner, she had no reason to remember them. We have already rejected similar contention. We reiterate that identification in court cannot always be discarded. In this case on the same day at 6-30 p.m. PW 14 came to know that there was a murder in Shri Niketan building. The sight of two persons going out of the building near about the same time on the same day cannot be easily forgotten. Omission to state before the police that they were moving in a suspicious manner is not a material omission. Morever from the cross-examination of PW 14 it is evident that at the time of recording her statement on the next day accused 2 and 3 were shown to her. Therefore, she had not seen accused 2 and 3 for the first time in the court. PW 14’s evidence, therefore, further corroborates the case that at about the time when the murder

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was committed accused 2 and 3 were found near Shree Niketan building going out with a bag.

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It was submitted that Panchnama Exh.-45 under which clothes

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of the accused were attached cannot be relied upon because the prosecution has not examined panchas. We are not impressed by this submission. PW 19 Yasin Ali has in his evidence deposed about this panchnama. He has identified his signature on the panchnama. He has also identified signatures of the said two panchas. He has stated that the contents of the said panchnama are true and correct. We find no difficulty in relying on the evidence of PW 19 Yasin Ali because the defence has not brought on record any material to show that Yasin Ali was in any way interested in involving the accused in a false case of murder. In this connection, we may usefully refer to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Nathoo Singh v. The State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1973 SC 2783 . In that case the Supreme Court has held that mere fact that the witnesses are police officers is not enough to discard their evidence where no reason is shown for their hostility to the accused, they can be relied upon. Similar view has been taken by the Supreme Court in Ram Kumar v. State (NCT) of Delhi, AIR 1999 SC 2259. This submission of learned counsel is,

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therefore, rejected. It is pertinent to note that in Panchnama Ex. 45 it is recorded that clothes of the accused were seized. They were separately wrapped. The labels with the signatures of the panchas were attached to the packets and they were sealed. PW 19 Yasin Ali the investigating officer has stated that he handed them over to constable having B N No. 23837. He has stated that on 16/2/00 he sent attached articles to the Chemical Analyzer with a forwarding letter. We are of the opinion, that in view of this clear evidence of the investigating officer non-examination of the carrier does not affect the prosecution story adversely. It is pertinent to note that as per Chemical Analyzer’s report human blood was detected on the full pant and half shirt of accused 1, on the full shirt of accused 3 and on the knife recovered at the instance of accused 1.

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We, however, feel that evidence of fingerprint expert PW 7 Mr. Chandanshive has rightly been discarded by learned Sessions Judge. There is no indication in the evidence or report submitted by the fingerprint expert that he compared the chance fingerprints of the accused with their specimen fingerprints. There are no photographs on record. It is not possible for us, therefore, to use fingerprint expert’s evidence against the accused. Similarly the evidence about

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the sniffer dog has also been rightly discarded.

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The prosecution has also relied upon the evidence of PW 2 Pushpa Dhepe to establish the presence of accused 2. PW 2 has stated when she went to the house of the deceased she had seen accused 2 at the door of the said house. However, she has omitted to say this before the police. Therefore, to this extent it is not possible to place reliance on her evidence.

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But even if we obliterate fingerprints expert’s evidence, PW 2’s evidence to the effect that she saw accused 2 at the door of the house of the deceased and evidence with regard to sniffer dog, there is sufficient other evidence on record to establish the involvement of the accused in the crime in question. The fact that accused 1 gave false version and tried to hoodwink the police, that he led the police to accused 2 and 3, that because of accused 1 the police arrested accused 2 and 3 and that led to the recovery of gold ornaments and VCR and camera which were identified by the husband and daughter-in-law of the deceased and which cannot be planted by the police, the finding of knife stained with human blood at the instance of accused 1, finding of human blood on the full shirt of accused 3 and

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on the full pant and half shirt of accused 1 are all circumstances which form a chain which points unerringly to the guilt of the accused. In our opinion, the trial court has rightly convicted them. No interference is necessary with the trial court’s order.

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