Allowed

Hutu Ansari @ Futu Ansar v. the State of Jharkhand

Supreme Court7 Apr 20252025 INSC 4592025 INSC 459

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Supreme Court acquitted appellants in a criminal appeal involving charges of IPC offence and atrocity. Court found gross inconsistencies between complaint and witness evidence regarding the location of the alleged incident and lack of public witnesses, failing to sustain conviction.

What did the court decide?

The order of the Magistrate as confirmed by the High Court set aside and appellants acquitted. Bail bonds cancelled.

What the court decided

Hutu Ansari @ Futu Ansar versus the State of Jharkhand — Caste Atrocities | Supreme Court (2025)

¶1

2025 INSC 459

¶2

Non-reportable

¶3

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

¶4

Criminal Appeal No. of 2025

¶5

(@Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No.6763 of 2023)

¶6

HUTU ANSARI @ FUTU ANSAR & ORS. …APPELLANTS

¶7

VERSUS

¶8

THE STATE OF JHARKHAND …RESPONDENT

¶9

J U D G M E N T

¶10

K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.

¶11

Leave granted.

¶12

The appellants were charged under Section 447 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860¹ and Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989² . The Trial Court

¶13

Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by Jayant Kumar Arora Date: 2025.04.07 17:48:51 IST Reason:

¶14

1 “the I.P.C.”

¶15

2 “the SC & ST Act”

¶16

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶17

Page 1 of 15

¶18

convicted the nine accused arraigned by the prosecution and sentenced them to undergo simple imprisonment³ of three months under Section 447 of the I.P.C. and S.I. of two years under Section 3 of the SC & ST Act with a fine of Rs. 3,000/- and default sentence of S.I. of one month each. In the appeal filed, the Learned Single Judge of the High Court converted the sentence to six months S.I. under SC & ST Act and three-month S.I. under Section 447 of the I.P.C.; which were to run concurrently. Accused nos. 1 to 3, 6 and 9 are the appellants in the above case.

¶19

We heard Mr. Braj Kishore Mishra, learned counsel for the appellants and Mr. Vishnu Sharma, learned standing counsel for the respondent.

¶20

The genesis of the case is a land dispute involving the complainant and her family and

¶21

3 “S.I.”

¶22

Page 2 of 15

¶23

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶24

accused nos. 2, 6 and 9 with respect to land admeasuring 28 decimals in khata no. 116 plot no. 698, which eventually the accused were forced to deliver to the complainant and her family vide Ext.-

¶25

5 on 25.04.2005; pursuant to the dismissal of an appeal filed by the accused before the Court of Deputy Commissioner, Lohardaga. The alleged incident occurred on 22.05.2005 at about 7 a.m. when the appellants along with the other accused allegedly trespassed into the house/land of the complainant and used derogatory terms, referring to their caste.

¶26

The prosecution was launched by a complaint filed under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973⁴ numbered as Complaint Case No. 58 of 2005 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lohardaga. The complaint was filed by PW-3 who is

¶27

4 “the Cr.P.C.”

¶28

Page 3 of 15

¶29

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶30

the wife of PW-1. It was specifically alleged that the accused nos. 2 and 9 armed with iron rods along with others formed into an unlawful assembly and broke open the lock of the house of the complainant at about 7 a.m. and committed theft of kitchen utensils, rice, pulse and bed with bed sheet having a total value of Rs. 3,000/-. It was also specifically alleged that the accused persons threatened the complainant and her husband and abused them using their caste name, thus insulting and humiliating them before the villagers. The chargesheet was under Section 447 of the I.P.C. and Section 3 of the SC & ST Act.

¶31

We have looked at the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, who are all related. PW-1 and PW-3 are husband and wife, PW-6 the brother of PW-1, PW-2 the son of PW-6 and PW-4 the son of PWs-1 and 3. PW-8 is the Officer who commenced

¶32

Page 4 of 15

¶33

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶34

the investigation and PW-5 is the Investigating Officer who laid the chargesheet. PW-7 admitted in chief-examination that he had no knowledge about the occurrence.

¶35

Admittedly all the prosecution witnesses are related and the specific case of the accused was that due to the enmity, on account of the land dispute, the accused were framed under the SC & ST Act alleging house trespass. Section 3 of the Act charged against the accused is not attracted for reason of the allegations of derogatory terms being used against the complainants, if at all true, was not in a public place nor in the presence of any member of the public. However, we see from the order of the Trial Court that the specific allegation levelled was of wrongful occupation or cultivation in any land owned by or in the possession, allotted to or notified by any competent authority to be allotted to a

¶36

Page 5 of 15

¶37

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶38

member of a Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe as coming out in sub-clause (f) of Section 3(1) of the SC & ST Act. We cannot but notice that there is also an allegation of derogatory terms having been used in the presence of villagers, in the complaint filed before the Judicial Magistrate, which brings in clause (s) of Section 3(1) dealing with abusing any member of a Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe by caste name in a place within public view and clause (r) relating to intentional insult or intimidation with intent to humiliate a member of SC & ST in any place within public view.

¶39

PW-1 is the husband of the de-facto complainant who did not refer to a caste name and only spoke of a derogatory term being used against them. According to him the place of occurrence was his field, where he was present at 7 a.m. on Saturday, when the accused persons trespassed into

¶40

Page 6 of 15

¶41

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶42

the said land and abused the complainants and ordered them to vacate. It was the specific statement in cross-examination that there were no villagers present at the time of occurrence and only his wife, brother and nephew were present. PW-2 the nephew of PW-1 spoke of an abuse being levelled against him and his family members which abusive term spoken of, was different from that deposed to by PW-1. PW-3 the de facto complainant also spoke of the occurrence being on the disputed land at about 7 a.m. and spoke of the abuses levelled, in consonance with PW-2. PW-4 spoke of a disputed house being in the place of occurrence which he had got possession from the accused. According to him, he and his family members were abused as ‘ Adivasis’ quite contrary to the allegation levelled by PW-1 to 3. PW-6, the brother of PW-1 did not speak about the occurrence and only spoke of one of the

¶43

Page 7 of 15

¶44

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶45

accused having forcefully constructed a house on his land.

¶46

There is no clarity as to the place of occurrence, whether it was at the residential building in the disputed land or at the house of PW3. In this context, we once again look at the complaint filed, which spoke of the house trespass by breaking the lock of the house of the complainant. However none of the witnesses spoke of breaking a lock or trespass into the house and on the contrary, claimed that the occurrence occurred in a field; obviously to make out a case of the insult levelled and abuses thrown, to be within public view. As we noticed, there is nothing to indicate that there was anybody present in the vicinity of the alleged scene of occurrence, other than family members of the complainant. When PW-1 categorically negatived the presence of any other

¶47

Page 8 of 15

¶48

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶49

person except himself, his wife, brother and his nephew; at the scene of occurrence, it cannot be said to have occurred in public view; thus, absolving the accused of any offence under clause (r) or (s) of Section 3 of the SC & ST Act. Insofar as clause (f) of Section 3(1) of the Act, there is no allegation in the complaint that the complainant and her family were forcefully evicted from the land.

¶50

PW-1 specifically says that the place of occurrence is at a distance of 1 km from his house. He also submitted that there is a residential house constructed in the disputed land by one of the accused 20 years ago which house was remaining deserted. With the above scenario in mind, we can only find that the de-facto complainant, in the FIR, had talked about the house in which she was residing while alleging trespass on the accused persons. However, no such allegation is even spoken

¶51

Page 9 of 15

¶52

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶53

of in the oral evidence; thus, putting to jeopardy the offence of house trespass too.

¶54

We cannot but find that there are gross inconsistencies insofar as the complaint and the oral evidence led by way of deposition before the Court. The place of occurrence was stated to be the house, in the complaint, while all the witnesses spoke of the alleged incident having occurred in the field, which was the disputed land. In any event, there is no scope for finding either clause (r) or (s) of Section 3(1) of the SC & ST Act since PW-1 has categorically stated that there was no member of the public present at the time the incident occurred. Insofar as the allegation under clause (f) of Section 3(1) there is nothing to indicate that the complainant and her family were forcefully evicted from the disputed land or that the accused occupied it illegally after delivery was effected on 25.04.2005.

¶55

Page 10 of 15

¶56

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶57

As far as the house trespass is concerned, the oral evidence does not support it. On the above reasoning we find absolutely no reason to sustain the conviction as entered into by the Magistrate’s Court confirmed by the High Court. We set aside the order of the Magistrate as confirmed by the High Court and acquit the appellants herein.

¶58

The bail bonds, if any, executed in the above case shall stand cancelled.

¶59

The appeal stands allowed.

¶60

Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

¶61

……………………..…., J. [SUDHANSHU DHULIA]

¶62

……………..……………, J. [K. VINOD CHANDRAN]

¶63

NEW DELHI; APRIL 07, 2025.

¶64

Page 11 of 15

¶65

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶66

ITEM NO.1501 COURT NO.12 SECTION II-A

¶67

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A

¶68

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

¶69

Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 6763/2023

¶70

[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 24-02-2023 in CRA(SJ) No. 360/2010 passed by the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi]

¶71

HUTU ANSARI @ FUTU ANSAR & ORS. Petitioner(s)

¶72

VERSUS

¶73

THE STATE OF JHARKHAND Respondent(s)

¶74

IA No. 88418/2023 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT, IA No. 88415/2023 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.

¶75

IA No. 88424/2023 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ ANNEXURES

¶76

Date : 07-04-2025 This matter was called on for pronouncement of Judgment today.

¶77

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Braj Kishore Mishra, AOR

¶78

For Respondent(s) : Mr. Vishnu Sharma, Adv.

¶79

Ms. Madhusmita Bora, AOR

¶80

Mr. Dipankar Singh, Adv.

¶81

Mrs. Anupama Sharma, Adv.

¶82

Page 12 of 15

¶83

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶84

Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Vinod Chandran pronounced the non-reportable Judgment of the Bench comprising Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and His Lordship.

¶85

Leave granted.

¶86

The operative portion of the Judgment is extracted as :-

¶87

“11. We cannot but find that there are gross inconsistencies insofar as the complaint and the oral evidence led by way of deposition before the Court. The place of occurrence was stated to be the house, in the complaint, while all the witnesses spoke of the alleged incident having occurred in the field, which was the disputed land. In any event, there is no scope for finding either clause (r) or (s) of Section 3(1) of the SC & ST Act since PW-1 has

¶88

Page 13 of 15

¶89

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶90

categorically stated that there was no member of the public present at the time the incident occurred. Insofar as the allegation under clause (f) of Section 3(1) there is nothing to indicate that the complainant and her family were forcefully evicted from the disputed land or that the accused occupied it illegally after delivery was effected on 25.04.2005. As far as the house trespass is concerned, the oral evidence does not support it. On the above reasoning we find absolutely no reason to sustain the conviction as entered into by the Magistrate’s Court confirmed by the High Court. We set aside the order of the Magistrate as confirmed by the High Court and acquit the appellants herein.

¶91

Page 14 of 15

¶92

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

¶93

12. The bail bonds, if any, executed in the above case shall stand cancelled. 13. The appeal stands allowed.”

¶94

Pending interlocutory application(s), if any, is/are disposed of.

¶95

(JAYANT KUMAR ARORA) (RENU BALA GAMBHIR) ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

¶96

(Signed non-reportable Judgment is placed on the file)

¶97

Page 15 of 15

¶98

Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 6763 of 2023

Hutu Ansari @ Futu Ansar v. the State of Jharkhand

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

Hutu Ansari @ Futu Ansar v. the State of Jharkhand

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Akhilesh versus State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.

Ravinder Kumar @Raju versus State of Punjab

State of Uttar Pradesh versus Dr. Ritu Garg

The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. versus Gopu & Anr.

Jagdish Gond versus the State of Chhattisgarh

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir versus Brij Bhushan