Jhabar Mian vs The State of Bihar

Honourable Mr. Justice, Aditya Kumar Trivedi

The sole appellant, Jhabar Mian convicted for offences u/s 302 of the IPC as well as 27 of the Arms Act vide judgment dated 31.08.1990 passed by learned Sessions Judge, Saran at Chapra in Sessions Trial No.99 of 1989 and sentenced to undergo R.I. for life for an offence punishable u/s 302 of the I.P.C. as also, R.I. for three years for an offence punishable u/s 27 of the Arms Act while, directing the aforesaid sentences to run concurrently vide judgment dated 03-09-1990 has preferred instant appeal. The prosecution case in brief is that on 17.11.1988 at about 06:15 P.M. Vijay Kumar Singh (P.W.3) had given his fardbeyan (Exhibit -3) before Officer-in-charge, Dighwara at Dighwara Police Station disclosing therein that on the same day at about 07:00 A.M. when his brother Upendra Singh had gone to Nanhki Mian for getting irrigation for his potato field which was near the house and boring of Nanhki Mian, the latter agreed to irrigate his field but there was an altercation in between Nanhki Mian and Upendra Singh on the issue of settlement and adjustment of previous dues of Rs.25/-. The informant had stated that thereafter they returned back to their house and when both of them had again gone to their potato field for irrigation, he remained in his field while his brother Upendra Singh was called by Jhabar Mian. It has been alleged that at that very time Nanhki and Mustafa, brothers of Jhabar Mian were also present and Jhabar Mian began to abuse his brother Upendra for realization of earlier dues of Rs.25/- and became adamant to quarrel. On hearing sound of an altercation the informant claimed that he had rushed and arrived at the Darwaja of Jhabar Mian and had seen all of them to have gone inside their house and Jhabar Mian coming out with a gun in his hand, Nanhki Mian with a farsa and Mustafa Mian with Bhala.

The further case of the prosecution is that on the order of Nanhki Mian, Jhabar Mian had fired from his gun which had hit on left side of chest of his brother Upendra Singh who had fallen down after raising an alarm. The informant had stated that he was also chased by Nanhki Mian as well as Mustafa Mian. As a result whereof he ran away from thereafter raising an alarm to save his life. The informant claimed that on hearing his alarm, his uncle Sheoji Singh, Murli Kumar Singh, co-villagers Hari Narayan Singh, Chandeshwar Singh and others came and joined him and thereafter they had gone to the place of occurrence but the accused persons on the threat of weapons had tried to restrain them from lifting the injured but they somehow had succeeded in taking away his injured brother to Dighwara Hospital where he was given first aid and was further advised to take him to PMCH for his treatment. As per informant he with others had immediately moved with his brother but in midst of way to PMCH his brother succumbed to his injury. The informant had disclosed that thereafter, he had gone to Dighwara Police Station along with dead body of his brother and had got his fardbeyan recorded where in the time of occurrence had been shown as 01:30 P.M. on the same day i.e. 17.11.1988.

On the basis of aforesaid fardbeyan Dighwara P.S. Case No.162 of 1988 was registered u/s 302/34 of the IPC, 27 of the Arms Act and accordingly investigation was taken up by the police which led to submission of charge sheet against the appellant and Nanhki Mian as well as Mustafa Mina whereupon the cognizance was taken and in view of the offence being exclusively triable by the court of Session, the case was committed to the court of Session, which ultimately had led to the impugned judgment of conviction and sentence against the appellant while two other co-accused namely Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian have been acquitted on the ground that they did not actually participated in the killing of the deceased nor there was any evidence against them of abatement.

The defence case, as is evident from mode of cross-examination as well as from statement of the appellant / accused u/s 313 Cr.P.C., is that they had pleaded not guilty to the charge and further they had also denied the occurrence. It had further been submitted that one of the brother of appellant, namely, Mustafa had executed sale deed in favour of prosecution party but they were not given possession over the land and thus after finding Upendra Singh murdered at some other place in an altogether different manner they had got the appellant and his other family members (since acquitted) falsely implicated in this case.

While assailing the judgment of conviction and sentence, it has been submitted on behalf of appellant that in spite of having ample material available on the record suggesting the manner of occurrence as well as genesis of occurrence to be wholly improbable, the learned lower court had ignored the same. It has been also submitted that from the fardbeyan of informant P.W.3 itself, it is evident that none of other cited witnesses could be an eye witness to occurrence because of the fact that they had joined the informant only when he was chased by accused persons after the occurrence. In this regard their status as an eye witness to occurrence as projected during course of trial has been seriously questioned by explaining that it is nothing but a clear cut stand followed by them by way of development and thus in the aforesaid background their testimony in the court are fit to be rejected.

It has also been argued that the informant himself was not and could not be an eye witness to occurrence because of the fact that even taking into account his presence in the potato field would not have given opportunity to him to come at the Darwaja of accused persons specially when he had failed to disclose in the fardbeyan as well as in his deposition as to whether irrigation to his field had really commenced or not. In this regard learned counsel has referred to the objective finding of the I.O. that potato field so claimed by the informant, was found to be only half irrigated which in turn would falsify the prosecution case as there could be no justification for the accused to call the Upendra (deceased) at their place for chastising him as that was not right moment because the charges for irrigation was not being paid at the relevant time. Learned counsel had also submitted that the objective finding of the I.O. is also of no help to the prosecution.

Proceeding further, it has been further submitted by him that the version of the prosecution is found to be belied from their own conduct because of the fact that they had not disclosed as to how they could reach Dighwara Primary Health Centre which was about 2 K.Ms. from the P.O., the village, specially when the prosecution had kept mum over the event and whether from PHC, Dighwara any O.D. slip was sent to the P.S. The prosecution, in the opinion of learned counsel for the appellant, had also failed to produce the prescription or any supportive document to suggest that first aid was actually provided at the Primary Health Centre, Dighwara.

He has also pointed out that apart from this fatal infirmity, from the close perusal of the evidence it was visible that the PHC and police station are situated nearby to each other and so it was expected at least some one of the prosecution party could have gone the P.S. for informing the police or any of the prosecution witnesses who are said to be accompanying the deceased, should have given his fardbeyan inasmuch as recording of fardbeyan after an interval of five hours without any explanation is suggestive of the fact that the prosecution party after due deliberation and meeting of mind had got the appellant and his brothers falsely implicated in this case. It has also been submitted that so far other material witnesses are concerned, they could not extend any support to the case of the prosecution much less establish complicity of the appellant.

Taking through the postmortem report the learned counsel for the appellant has impressed before this Court that the doctor had not found sign of first aid having been provided to the deceased. He has also submitted that as per opinion of the doctor the firing was from a point blank range as the injury so found over the person of deceased does contain blackening and charring, while the oral evidence on record completely contradicts the same, and thus on this score also the version of prosecution is found to be nullified even with regard to manner of occurrence. It has further been submitted that the objective finding of the I.O. would not change the fate of the prosecution as the prosecution case suffers from serious fatal lacuna. Therefore, learned counsel for the appellant is of the view that cumulative effect of all there infirmities would lead an irresistible conclusion that the prosecution has miserably failed to substantiate its case beyond all reasonable doubt.

Per contra, it has been submitted by learned A.P.P. that the prosecution had supported its case by examining reliable and trustworthy, witnesses who had supported the case of the prosecution in toto on all material aspects. She has also submitted that from the exhibits available on record specially from the inquest report, it is evident that sign of first aid was found by the I.O. Not only this the prosecution had examined C.W.1 and got the sale deed on record to show that the potato field was purchased by the prosecution party in name of mother of deceased as well as informant. Furthermore, the objective finding of the I.O. so far place of occurrence is concerned the same along with seizure of blank cartridge and presence of some struck pellets over there had confirmed not only the place of occurrence rather recovery of grass containing blood from the house of the appellant was reflective of the fact that an attempt was made by appellant to remove the sign of occurrence from the place of occurrence. It has further been submitted that after seizure of the used cartridge from the house of appellant the same was examined by the ballistic expert who had found in his report as also categorically stated in his deposition that empty cartridge was fired from the licenced gun in question of the appellant recovered from the shop as disclosed to the I.O. by the appellant. Learned counsel for the State was thus quite emphatic in her submission that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case by cogent, reliable and credible evidence, beyond reasonable doubt.

Before coming to analyze the evidence on record it needs to mentioned here that the prosecution had altogether examined eleven P.Ws out of whom P.W.1 is Murli Kumar Singh, P.W.2 is Hari Narayan Singh, P.W.3 is informant Vijoy Kumar Singh P.W.4 is Sheoji Singh, P.W.5 is Chandeshwar Singh, P.W.6 is Girija Kishore Singh, P.W.7 is Sudarsan Thakur, P.W.8 is Dr. Sideshwar Prasad, P.W.9 is Gopal Prasad, P.W.10 is Natho Singh and P.W.11 is Baijnath Singh. So far status of witnesses are concerned PWs 1 to 5 including informant P.W.3 have claimed to be an eye witness to the occurrence. P.W.6 happens to be seizure winess, P.W.7 is witness to the inquest report, P.W.8 is the doctor who had held autopsy, P.W.9 is the I.O., P.W.10 Sergeant Major who had examined the gun and the empty cartridge and P.W.11 is formal witness who had simply produced the material gun and empty cartridges. C.W.1 Brij Bhushan Pathak, happens to be scribe who had exhibited a sale deed. Side by side the prosecution also exhibited Exhibit 1 Series being signature over relevant documents, Exhibit 2, P.M. report, Exhibit 3 fardbeyan, Exhibit 4 formal FIR, Exhibit 5 inquest report, Exhibit 6 sketch map, Exhibit 7 Series seizure lists, Exhibit 8 ballistic examination report. Material exhibit I and II are gun and cartridge. The defence had also exhibited Exhibit -A charge sheet of Dighwara P.S. Case No.71 of 1987 and Exhibit B Khatiyan, though it had not examined any defence witness.

First of all evidence of P.W.8 the doctor is to be taken into account. Postmortem was conducted by him on 18.11.1988 at 01:30 P.M. and he had found following ante mortem injuries over the dead body:-

One gun shot wound (wound of entry), circular in shape 1.1/2" in diameter with irregular inverted and charred margin, situated on the front of the left upper chest, causing lacerated wound 3"x2.1/2"x1" in the substance of the left lung deep with collection of about 1.1/2 pint of dark red fluid blood in the left chest cavity.

Pellets were found deeply buried in the substance of left lung and adjoining soft tissue in the left chest cavity. Nine pellets and a wad were found in the left chest cavity. They were removed from the chest cavity and handed over to the Police.

In the opinion of doctor the death was due to shock of haemorrhage on account of the above referred injuries which was caused by firearm. Further he had found that time elapsed since death was within 24 hours. On a court question he had disclosed that the firearm was used from a distance of about 5 or 6 inches. So from the evidence of P.W.8, it is evident that deceased was done to death by firearm injury which was used at from a close distance of 5 or 6 inches. Now the deposition of material witnesses have to be seen in consonance with the aforesaid medical evidence.

P.W.3 happens to be the informant himself. He had disclosed that accused Jhabar Mian used to give on his pumping set on hire for the purpose of irrigation. The occurrence took place on 17-11-1988. His potato field was 20 to 25 yards away from the house of Nanhki Mian. He along with his brother had gone to his place to ask for irrigation of his land as Jhabar Mian was owing Rs.25/- as an arrear out of money which was earlier paid to him for irrigation at the time of irrigating the potato crop at an earlier occasion. He however was not ready to adjust the amount and for that an altercation had taken place. However, subsequently Nanhki Mian had conceded. Then thereafter they had returned back to their house. At about 01:00 P.M. they had gone to potato field and at that very time Jhabar Mian had called his brother Upendra Singh. Upendra Singh had gone to Darwaja of Jhabar Mian where Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian were also present. They were not in a mood to adjust the amount leading to an altercation on account of which he also rushed to the Darwaja of JhabarMian. When he reached at the Darwaja of Jhabar Mian, he saw all the three accused going inside their house after saying that just they are going to settle dispute for ever. Thereafter, Jhabar Mian armed with gun, Nanhki Mian armed with farsa and Mustafa armed with Bhala came out and while Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian had cordened them. Nanhki Mian had given order to Jhabar to shoot on account of which Jhabar fired from his gun causing injury over left side of chest of Upendra Singh who had fell down after being shot over his person. The informant was also chased by Nanhki Mian and Mustafa and when he rushed towards his house to save his life many persons in the meantime had assembled and then he along with them came at the Darwaja of Jhabar Mian. They tried to lift the Upendra in an injured condition but accused persons had forbidden them to do so. However, seeing the mob having assembled at their Darwaja, the accused persons went inside their house and only then they had taken Upendra Singh to Dighwara Hospital where first aid was given and the doctor had asked them to take away the injured to Patna but in the way to PMCH his brother had died. Then thereafter they had returned back to Dighwara P.S. where he had lodged FIR. During cross-examination he had said that the area of his potato field was around two kattha and 30 to 35 minutes time was required in getting the field irrigated. The hire rate of irrigation happened to be Rs.12/- per an hour. Then he had also said that the land was purchased from Abdul Abass who happened to be own Patidar of accused persons and was residing in the same house. He had also explained that at the time of earlier irrigation of his field, whatever amount was paid, Rs.25 out of that had still remained due. In para12 he had said that they had firstly gone at the morning hour to the place of accused for seeking irrigation and at that very time, the accused was not ready to adjust the amount but subsequently he had conceded. When they reached at the field at 01:00 P.M., at that very time the irrigation was already done but because of the fact that the accused persons were not ready to adjust the amount, in the aforesaid background Jhabar Mian had called his brother. He had reached at the Darwaja of Jhabar Mian when both had indulged in an altercation. Both sides were initially unarmed. In para-13 he had said that they had not directed to murder before coming out with arms from their house. At that very time he along with his brother were standing at the road 8 to 10 feet east of the Darwaja of accused persons when all the three accused persons came out from their house one after another and when they tried to escape from thereafter seeing the accused persons armed with weapon but till then Mustafa and Nanhki had surrounded them and in that course, Nanhki Mian had ordered to shoot. Even at that very time they could get an opportunity to flee but on account of having presence of Nanhki and Mustafa armed with weapons, he had said that when Jhabar Mian had shot at his brother both of them were standing on western side. In para-14 he had said that at that only one firing was made by the appellant and at that very time the distance in between his brother and Jhabar Mian the appellant was 6 or 7 feet. His brother on account of gun shot injury had fallen down and when he had tried to lift his brother the accused had also pointed weapon towards him on account of which he had run away from that very place. He had disclosed in para-15 that he had returned back after 10 minutes along with villagers and then lifted his brother. Hari Narayan Singh, Sheoji Singh, Murli Kumar Singh, Chandeshwar Singh along with others were the person who had lifted his brother. Then they had rushed to Dighwara Hospital. From Dighwara Hospital an information was given to Police Station but none had come as no police officials were present there.

Thus from evidence of informant P.W.3 it is evident that this witness had categorically stated in detail as to how the occurrence had taken place. He had further disclosed the manner whereunder appellant Jhabar Mian had shot at his brother Upendra Singh. He had further disclosed the place of occurrence to be the road. He had further explained the events and circumstances whereunder he along with his brother could not succeed to escape from the place of occurrence. The defence could not elicit anything in the evidence of this witness to demolish his version relating to genesis of occurrence, manner of occurrence as well as over his subsequent conduct whereunder the deceased was lifted to PHC Dighwara and from there as per advice of the doctor he was carrying the deceased to Patna, in midst of way the deceased had succumbed to his injury and then returning back to PHC, Dighwara and giving his fardbeyan to police.

Now coming to the veracity of evidence of other PWs, it would be better to note a fact, which is itself visible from the fardbeyan as well as from the evidence of PW.3, informant that neither in the fardbeyan nor the informant during his deposition in court, had disclosed that the remaining PWs to be an eye witnesses to occurrence rather in his testimony, P.W.3 had disclosed emergence and presence of these witnesses after the actual occurrence. So it has to be seen whether the evidence of these PWs justify their status as an eye witness to occurrence.

P.W.1 had deposed that on 17.11.1988 at about 01:30 P.M. during course of returning from Isupur, when he reached near the hosue of Jhabar Mian he had seen Jhabar Mian, Nanhki Mian, Mustafa Mian quarreling with Upendra Singh over the factum of irrigation. He had tried to pacify but the altercation had continued. He further saw Nanhki Mian armed with farsa Jhabar Mian and Mustafa Mian armed with Bhala to have come out of house. Nanhki Mian had given order to fire on which Jhabar Mian had shot on the chest of Upendra Singh. Upendra Singh had fell down. Nanhki Mian armed with farsa and Mustafa armed with Bhala while cordoning Upendra Singh had threatened and said that whoever will come will be murdered. P.W. 1 had than rushed towards village raising alarm attracting so many persons as a result where of the accused persons had fled away. Then thereafter they had lifted Upendra Singh and had taken him to the Dighwara Hospital where first aid was given and from where his uncle Sheoji Singh and brother Vijay Kumar Singh had taken him to Patna but in midst of way Upendra Singh had died. During cross-examination at para-2,3 and 4, there happens to be cross-examination over location of the house of the accused and the road. In para -6 he had said that at the relevant time he was coming over the road from western side to eastern side which lies in front of house of accused. At para - 7 he had disclosed that altercation amongst Upendra Singh as well as accused persons was going over the road. At that very time none were armed with weapon. Such altercation according to him was still continuing till his arrival. He had stood a distance of two hands from them and when altercation reached at its peak all the three accused had gone inside their house and had returned duly armed after 1 or 2 minutes while Upendra Singh had remained there. He had also stated that all the accused came out from their house simultaneously. In para-8 he had said that an order of Nanhki Mian, Jhabar Mian had shot at. Upendra Singh while he was standing at a distance of 3 to 4 hands away from Upendra. The gun according to him measured 2.5 to 2.75 long hands. Upendra Singh was standing towards western front and Jhabar Mian was standing in front of Upendra. There was only one round of firing. In para-9 he had said that Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian had tried to assault him (P.W. 1) but he had escaped therefrom raising alarm and then had returned back after two or three minutes along with others namely Chandeshwar Singh and Hari Narayan Singh who were from the family of Upendra Singh as well with 7-8 other persons. Upendra Singh thereafter was lifted over cot. He had gone up to Dighwara P.S. Then he had also disclosed he had met with Darogaji one day after the occurrence along with Hari Narayan Singh, Chandeshwar Singh and others where he had given his statement to the police officer.

So from his evidence, it is evident that he had not claimed presence of Vijay Kumar Singh the informant in his examination-in-chief and probably that happens to be the reason behind that no cross-examination was made by the defence with regard to Vijay Singh. However, so far manner of occurrence is concerned, he had supported the same under para-8 of this cross-examination. From para-9 it is clear that he had confined his statement to the extent of his chasing of accused Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian alone.

P.W.2 had said that on the alleged date at about 01:30 P.M. he was irrigating his field which was 20 yards east to the place of occurrence. After hearing sound of commotion he had gone to the house of Jhabar Mian where he saw Jhabar Mian and Upendra engaged in a verbal dual and altercation on account of irrigation. He had also disclosed presence of Vijay Singh, Murli Singh and Sheoji Singh at that very time. Then he had disclosed that the dispute was going on in between Jhabar Mian, Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian at one side and Upendra Singh and others. He had further stated that Vijay Kumar Singh, Murli Singh and Sheoji Singh were trying to pacify the same but they could not succeed. Then according to him Nanhki Mian had given order to Jhabhar Mian to bring gun and shoot. Then thereafter he had also claimed all the three accused had gone inside their house and came out and while Jhabar Mian had a gun in his hand, Nanhki Mian had farsa in his hand and Mustafa Mian had Bhala in his hand. Then according to him Nanhki said that what are you seeing on which Jhabar Mian had shot at Upendra Singh as a result whereof Upendra Singh fell down after sustaining gun shot injury. He had also said that he along with others tried to lift Upendra but accused Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian had chased them with lathi but when many villagers had assembled the accused persons had escaped. Thereafter, he had tied the injured Upendra Singh with a towel and they had rushed to Dighwara PHC where first aid was provided to Upendra Singh and then doctor had advised to take the injured to Patna but in midst of way to Patna Upendra had died. In cross-examination at para-6 he had said that he had seen for the first time Upendra and Vijay at the Darwaja of Jhabar while a verbal altercation amongst them was going on. In para-7 he had said that he had gone to the Darwaja of Jhabar and the altercation continued in his presence for 2 or 3 minutes. He had tried to pacify both them. At that very time none was armed. In para-8 he had said that all the accused had collectively gone inside the house. While Upendra and Vijay had remained over there and none of them have gone inside the house of Jhabar. At para-10 he had disclosed this much that when the accused persons had returned back from their house, at that very time he was standing two yards away from Upendra while Vijay was standing 2 and half yards away. Just after coming outside of their house, Nanhki had given order on which Jhabar had shot on Upendra. In para-11 he had disclosed that the gun was fired from a distance of 3 to 4 yards. Then he had also stated that save and except Upendra none had sustained injury. In para-12 he had stated that after fire he had gone 4-5 yards away from that place. In para-13 he had said that the accused had not escaped there soon after sustaining to gun shot injury by Upendra rather they had escaped only after arrival of the villagers. After 4-5 minutes they had taken Upendra Singh to PHC Dighwara and from there he was taken to Patna but in way to Patna he had succumbed to his injury. Then he had given his that he had made statement before the police a day after the occurrence.

So from his evidence, it is evident that he had shown presence of Vijay Singh, Murli Singh and Sheoji Singh before his arrival at the place of occurrence and further all of them were trying to pacify the situation. The aforesaid disclosure is not inconsistent with his version as is evident from para-6. Apart from the fact that he also happens to be consistent with P.W.1 on this score as well as P.W.3.

P.W.4 had disclosed that on 17.11.1988 at about 01:00 P.M. during course of inspection of his field, he had reached the boring of Jhabar Mian and Nanhki Mian where he saw Upendra, Jhabar Mian and Nanhki Mian, Mustafa Mian indulging in a altercation over irrigational hire charges. In midst thereof Nanhki Mian had directed Jhabar to bring gun and shoot and thereafter Jhabar Mian had shot at Upendra causing injury over left side of his chest as a result where of Upendra fell down. He claimed that he had raised alarm on which Chandeshwar Singh, P.W.5, Vijay Singh, P.W.3 (informant) and Murli P.W.1, Hari Narayan Singh, P.W.2 came. Vijay had brought a cot and they took Upendra to Dighwara Hospital where first aid was given and as per doctor?s advice while they were taking Upendra to Patna, he had died. Thereafter, he had returned back to Dighwara P.S. where Vijay had given his fardbeyan. In paragraph 3 he had given disclosure regarding purchase of land from Aabas and further with regard to irrigation on earlier occasion. In para-4 he had disclosed that at the time of altercation Jhabar Mian was armed with gun while Nanhki was armed with farsa and Mustafa was armed with Bhala. Jhabar armed with the gun was standing 4 or 5 hands away from Upendra and the other accused persons were also standing nearby P.W.4 had said he was 4 or 5 hands north to Upendra while Jhabar was in west to Upendra. Jhabar had fired only one round from his gun and after Upendra had fell down he had gone to lift him and during said occurrence Mustafa had given a lathi blow over his leg but when began to cry the accused persons had fled away. His Kurta, Dhoti and towel soaked in blood was subsequently seized by police. In para -5 he had disclosed that while they were at Hospital, he had seen Jamadar Saheb who was talking with doctor. He had returned back to Dighwara P.S. at 09:00 P.M. and then he had back to his house.

So from his evidence it is evident that he was not only inconsistent to the version of other P.W.s rather he had disclosed a new event regarding assault made over his person.

P.W.5 had said that on the alleged date and time of occurrence he had gone to his potato field. He saw there that a quarrel was going on in between Nanhki Mian, Jhabar Mian on one side and Upendra on the other over irrigational hire charges. All the three accused had thereafter gone inside the house and then came out variously armed. Jhabar Mian was armed with a gun, Nanhki Mian was armed with a farsa and Mustafa was armed with a Bhala. Nanhki Mian had given order to fire over which Jhabar had shot at, Upendra who had sustained injury and fell down raising hullah "cki js". He had tried to lift Upendra over which Nanhki Mian and Jhabar Mian had threatened him but when the villagers began to assembl, the accused persons had left the scene. Subsequently Upendra was taken to Dighwara PHC where the doctor had advised to rush to Patna but in midst of way to Patna Upendra had died.

During cross-examination at para-4 he had said that Jhabar Mian had said to him that after sometime, the field of Upendra his plot will be irrigated and when he had reached he had found the field of Upendra was being irrigated. He had said that he was not aware with the fact how much amount was being demanded by accused persons. The verbal altercation was going on near the boring of accused and such altercation had continued up to next 10 minutes. None of the accused persons were initially having any kind of arm but in just 2 or 3 minutes the accused persons had gone inside their house and came out variously armed. None of them had escaped from there while order was given by Nanhki and Upendra remained standing there while Jhabar was standing 5 or 6 steps away from him. There was only one firing. He had remained standing near the boring and when the villagers began to assemble there, the accused persons had escaped from there. His statement was recorded by the police on the next day. Therefore, this witness also had not shown presence of P.W.3 as well as the other P.W.s at the time of occurrence and had also shifted the place of occurrence near boring. In such circumstances P.W.5 is also an eye witnesses to the actual assault though from his evidence certain corroboration to the evidence of other witnesses is proved. In fact P.W.1, P.W.2, P.W.4 and P.W.5 cannot be held as eye witness to the entire occurrence and at best they only lend support to the prosecution case by bits and pieces and that is how the two other co-accused namely Nanhki Mian and Mustafa Mian had got the benefit of doubt and with regard to their acquittal in absence of any evidence against them.

P.W.6 happens to be one of the seizure list witness with regard to seizure of cloth soaked with blood, grass, wads, empty cartridge from the house of Jhabar Mian kept in potato of Jhabar Mian. On 17-11-1988, the I.O. had also seized blood stained soil, blood stained soil having been washed three pellets stained with blood. In para 3 of this cross-examination he had said that the seizure was made at 10 PM on17-11-1988. From his cross-examination the factum of seizure was not under challenge of defence.

P.W.7 happens to be the witness of inquest. The I.O. had prepared inquest of deceased in his presence as well as in presence of Rabindra in carbon process. Again from his cross-examination, it is evident that the same has not been challenged by the defence.

P.W.9 is the Officer-in-charge. He in his examination-in-chief had said that on 17-11-1988 at about 06:55 P.M. Vijay Singh came at P.S. along with dead body of his brother Upendra Singh and gave his fardbeyan and exhibited the same and on the basis thereof the police case was registered. He had prepared inquest report in carbon process and the dead body was sent to mortuary for postmortem examination. Then thereafter he had rushed to the place of occurrence and had reached at 09:00 P.M. and had inspected the place of occurrence as disclosed by informant. The place of occurrence was the road which was in north to the house of Jhabar Mian and others and south to their Dalan. The road running East to West had a drain immediately south to the place of occurrence which was running East to West. He had seen copious blood over place of occurrence and had also disclosed its area. He had seized the blood stained soil from there. He had seen the boring of accused situated behind dalan of accused persons. He had seen the drain coming up to the field of complainant and had also found the sign of irrigation with field as also he had found such drain in a wet condition. The distance between place of occurrence to potato field of informant was 25 yards. He had also found some portion of potato field irrigated. He had found the grass near the Bathan of accused the place of occurrence to have been freshly scrapped and removed. He had been shown the boundary of place of occurrence and had prepared its sketch map. He had said that he had recorded further statement of informant and had also prepared seizure list. Then thereafter he is said to have searched the house of the accused and from the room of Jhabar Mian substantial amount of fresh scraped grass fully soaked with blood was found wrapped in a bed sheet. He had also found one used empty cartridge of 12 bore and there was smell of smoke coming out of it. One packing of hardboard of the cartridge with blood stains kept inside the scrapped grass was also found by him having blood stain and for that a seizure list was prepared over which wife of accused Jhabar Mian had put her signature. He had also recorded statement of the other witnesses as also conducted raid for apprehension of the accused. He had subsequently received postmortem report. During course of recording of statement of accused after their arrest it was disclosed by them that the gun had been deposited at Chapra in the shop of M/s Shah Mallik and Company. After obtaining permission from the District Magistrate the gun was seized on 16.01.1989 and for that also he had exhibited seizure list. He had subsequently got the gun examined by the sergeant major confirming its use with the recovered cartridge from the house of the appellant and after completing investigation he had submitted charge sheet.

During cross-examination he had disclosed that he had not mentioned the area of the field belonging to informant which was found by him to be irrigated. In likewise manner he had not mentioned distance in between the place from where grass was found to have been scrapped and the Baithka of accused. He had gone to Dighwara Hospital. He had also sent the recovered empty cartridge along with the gun for ballistic examination. Then he had denied that there was any collusion with the prosecution. So from his deposition, it is apparent that defence had not able to challenge the veracity of the evidence of this P.W. with regard to propriety of the investigation as well as with regard to objective finding, search and seizure made from the place of occurrence as well as from the room of accused Jhabar Mian. From the inquest report, it is evident that presence of bandage has been found over the wound of deceased and that confirms the consistent version regarding shifting of injured deceased initially to Dighwara PHC.

P.W.10 happens to be the ballistic expert who had clearly stated that the empty cartridge was fired from the gun in question but he had also fairly admitted that he had not mentioned the fact that as to how many days prior to his examination, the firing was made from the gun.

P.W.11 is formal witness who had simply exhibited the material exhibits.

After examination of all the prosecution witnesses, on a prayer of the prosecution the trial court had permitted to examine a witness in accordance with Section 311 of the Cr.P.C. who was examined asC.W.1 and had exhibited the sale deed having been executed by Abbas in favour of mother of informant P.W.3 deceased.

So from the evidence available on the record, it is crystal clear and virtually uncontroverted, as no cross-examination has been made on behalf of appellant over objective finding of the I.O. relating to place of occurrence, the seizure of blood stained earth pellet that the occurrence took place at the road in between house as well as Dalan of accused. There happens to be no challenge on the part of the accused appellant regarding seizure made from the room belonging to appellant. Furthermore, the evidence of P.W.10 ballistic expert has further pointed out that the empty cartridge which was seized from the room of the appellant accused Jhabar Mian was fired from single barrel gun which was seized by the investigating authority, P.W.9.

Now coming to the evidence of prosecution witnesses, it is evident that P.W.3, informant had successfully faced of cross-examination and remained firm over genesis of occurrence as also place and manner of occurrence. The defence could not be able to smash his evidence from any corner. With regard to remaining PWs that means to say P.W.1, P.W.2, P.W.3, P.W.5, it appears that out of enthusiasm they have gone to give improved version so that they could be accepted as an eye witness to occurrence. However the principle "falses in uno falses in omnibus? has never been accepted in India in toto, an aspect which has been set at rest by Hon?ble Apex Court. However even applying the same, we are of the view that save and except P.W. 1 the remaining witnesses have essentially more or less satisfied the test. At this very score one should not lose site of Exhibit A and B brought up by the defence. Exhibit A happens to be charge sheet of Dighwara P.S. Case No.69/87 wherein Upendra Singh deceased, Vijay Singh informant are an accused launched by Abdul Mannan while Exhibit -B happens to be the certified copy of Khatiyan. The aforesaid documents have got lost it propriety in the background of presence of examination of C.W.1 who had exhibited the document having been executed by Abbas Mian in favour of mother of informant and deceased.

Thus after carefully analyzing and crystallizing the evidence on behalf of prosecution the following facts remain beyond of pale of doubt, namely:-

a) The evidence of P.W.3 clearly proves his status to be that of truthful and reliable eyewitness who has supported the genesis, the manner as also place of occurrence.

b) The objective finding of IO P.w.9 and search as well as seizure as well as close proximity of field of informant in the vicinity of the boring of accused, half portion of field having been irrigated, sign of flow of water to the field of informant through drain from boring of accused to the field of informant definitely proves the genesis of occurrence.

c) The presence of copious blood at the road, seizure of blood stained soil, seizure of blood and pellet proves the place of occurrence and further seizure of the freshly used empty cartridge giving smell of smoke from the room of the appellant which got further corroboration from evidence of P.W.10 the ballistic expert to the effect that the gun was in order and the recovered empty cartridge was fired from that very gun which happened to be licenced gun of the appellant.

In the background of the aforesaid proven facts the plea of delay in lodging of the FIR, although it happens to be that of only few hours is of no avail inasmuch as it has been explained by the prosecution witness that they had rushed to Dighwara PHC with injured and from there to Patna and the death of the deceased taking place on way to Patna at Ganga Bridge whereafter they had gone back to the P.S. All these aspects having been well explained by the prosecution was bound to consume the time and thus there is no unexplained delay which can demolish the entire prosecution case. In fact it supports the version of the prosecution with regard to deceased of being given first aid at the PHC Dighwara which was one of the main criticism of the witnesses. It is true that P.W.3 is the only eyewitness who has fully supported the prosecution case and the others are not eyewitness to the whole occurrence in view of their contradictions in their evidence. They at best have corroborated PW.3 in bits and pieces. The question as to whether the evidence of sole eye witness could be relied for holding that case of the prosecution to be proved however stands settled and answered by the Evidence Act itself inasmuch as Section 134 thereof rules out the concept of counting of number of witnesses rather acknowledges the settled law that even one truthful witness can be relied for proving the charges. Reference in this connection may be made to the judgment of Apex Court in the case of (Takdir Samsuddin Sheikh v. State of Gujarat & Anr.) reported in 2012 Cr.L.J. 621 wherein it was held that:-

(ii) This Court has consistently held that as a general rule the Court can and may act on the testimony of a single witness provided he is wholly reliable. There is no legal impediment in convicting a person on the sole testimony of a single witness.

That is the logic of Section 134 of the Evidence Act, 1872. But if there are doubts about the testimony, the court will insist on corroboration. In fact, it is not the number, the quantity, but the quality that is material. The time-honoured principle, is that evidence has to be weighed and not counted. The test is whether the evidence has a ring of truth, is cogent, credible and trustworthy or otherwise. The legal system has laid emphasis on value, weight and quality of evidence rather than on quantity, multiplicity or plurality of witnesses. It is, therefore, open to a competent court to fully and completely rely on a solitary witness and record conviction. Conversely, it may acquit the accused in spite of testimony of several witnesses if it is not satisfied about the quality of evidence. (See: Vadivelu Thevar Vs. The State of Madras, ; Sunil Kumar Vs. The State Govt of NCT of Delhi, ); Namdeo v. State of Maharashtra, (2007) 14 SCC 150 : (AIR 2007 SC (Supp) 100; 2007 AIR SCW 1835); and Bipin Kumar Mondal Vs. State of West Bengal, . Thus, after analyzing the evidence on record, it is found that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case beyond all reasonable doubt. Consequent thereupon the judgment of conviction and sentence recorded by the learned lower court is confirmed and this appeal is, accordingly, dismissed. Appellant Jhabar Mian is on bail. His bail bond is hereby cancelled and he is directed to surrender immediately in the trial court to serve his remaining sentence.