Joginder @ Malohri and Another vs State

Pratibha Rani, J.—The appellants Joginder @ Malohri and Manish Kumar have impugned the judgment dated 14.07.2010 and order on

sentence dated 16.07.2010 vide which they were convicted for the offence punishable u/s 307/34 IPC for attempt to commit murder of PW-6

Ashok Kumar and sentenced to undergo RI for five years with fine of Rs. 2,000/- each. The appellant Manish was also convicted and sentenced

u/s 25 Arms Act to undergo SI for one year with fine of Rs. 500/- and further u/s 27 Arms Act to undergo SI for three years with fine of Rs. 500/-

for being in illegal possession of Katta and using the same at the time of incident. The prosecution examined 14 witnesses to prove its case. Both

the appellants who are real brothers also examined four witnesses in their defence.

After considering the evidence adduced by the prosecution and believing the testimony of the complainant PW-5 Satish Kumar and injured

PW-6 Ashok, learned ASJ convicted and sentenced both the appellants in the manner referred to above.

On behalf of appellants, it has been urged that the learned ASJ could not have given the finding of injury being caused by gun shot on the basis

of his own observation when MLC of the PW-6 Ashok was not proved by the prosecution. It has been submitted that the list of witnesses filed by

the prosecution is sufficient to establish that prosecution never intended to lead any medical or scientific evidence to prove its case as neither the

doctor who prepared the MLC has been named or cited as a witness nor any witness from CFSL has been named or examined to prove the guilt

of the appellants.

It has been urged that though the MLC is not proved but the MLC placed on record reveals that the injuries have been opined to be simple in

nature with no evidence to prove that they have been caused by any pallet or bullet of any fire arm. Even the katta Ex.P1 stated to have been

recovered from accused/appellant Manish after one month of the occurrence in another case FIR No. 849/2006, could not be connected with this

occurrence.

Mr. Vikas Pahwa, learned Senior Advocate for the appellants submitted that PW-5 Satish Kumar and PW-6 Ashok stated about bleeding from

the injuries suffered by PW-6 Ashok but none of the police witnesses or the complainant (PW-5) and injured (PW-6) could point out whether any

blood fell on the floor or anywhere else in the grocery shop to prove that the occurrence had taken place in that shop. Even the blood stained

clothes of the injured have not been seized by the doctor or by the IO to prove the occurrence. The comic magazine through which the bullet

allegedly pierced was not got examined through Expert as to whether the hole in the magazine was made due to passing of the bullet through it and

there was no burn mark on the magazine. PW-5 Satish Kumar and PW-6 Ashok are first cousin and being related to each other, are interested

witnesses, hence their testimony has to be scrutinized with great caution.

It has been further contended that in this case, failure of the prosecution to examine any independent witness to prove the occurrence also

makes the prosecution''s case doubtful especially when the occurrence is stated to have taken place in a residential-cum-commercial area. In the

written synopsis, learned Senior Advocate for the appellants has pointed out various contradictions in the statement of PW-5 & 6 and the police

witnesses on various aspects to establish that their testimony is not creditworthy to base the conviction of the appellants. While referring to the

testimony of defence witnesses, it has been submitted that learned Trial Court failed to appreciate the previous enmity between the complainant

and the appellants due to which they have been falsely implicated in this case.

In the alternative, it has been submitted on behalf of the appellants that even if it is presumed that the prosecution has been able to prove its case

against the appellants, then in view of the nature of injury being simple, at the most, the conviction could be only u/s 324 IPC. Learned Senior

Advocate for the appellants has relied upon Ramsewak and Others Vs. State of M.P., ; Sukhwant Singh Vs. State of Punjab, ; Kundan Singh vs.

State of Punjab (182) 3 SCC 213 ; Ramesh Vs. State of U.P., ; Dudh Nath Pandey Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh, ; Merambhai Punjabhai Khachar

& Ors. vs. State of Gujarat 1996 Crl. L.J. 2465; and Dusasan Bhoi vs. State of Orissa 1996 Crl. L.J. 3806 in support of his contentions.

On behalf of State, written synopsis have been filed pointing out that to justify a conviction u/s 307 IPC, prosecution is not required to prove

that the injury suffered was capable of causing death. The prosecution is required to establish intention to kill and some overt act in execution of the

intention which can be inferred from the circumstances without any reference at all to actual wounds. Referring to the testimony of PW-5 Satish

Kumar and Pw-6 Ashok, learned APP has submitted that their testimony on all material aspects satisfy the role of both the appellants. PW-6

Ashok being injured witness has to be believed by the Court and the complainant being the person who removed the injured to hospital and an eye

witness, cannot be disbelieved just on the ground that he is related to the injured. Referring to the discrepancies pointed out on behalf of the

appellants, it has been submitted that undue advantage should not be attached to such discrepancies which are bound to occur in the statement of

witnesses unless such discrepancies go to the root of the matter.

Ms. Rajdipa Behura, learned APP has further submitted that non-examination of the doctor to prove the MLC is not fatal to the case of

prosecution as prosecution is only required to prove means rea and act us reus, which stands proved from the testimony of PW-5 Satish Kumar

and PW-6 Ashok as well as Court observation about the injury marks on the body of PW-6 Ashok. The Court has to consider ocular evidence in

this regard. It has been further submitted that there was no recovery of bullet, hence, the same could not be sent to CFSL and so far as absence of

blackening mark on the Magazine or on the wall is concerned, it was possible only when the fire is from a close range. The prosecution case is that

the bullet first hit PW-6 Ashok, then the wall, then the magazine and thereafter the roof, without their being any averment that the shot was fired

from a close range, thus, absence of blackening mark does not go against the prosecution''s case, hence the impugned judgment may not be

interfered with.

I have considered the rival contentions. I have also gone through the case law relied upon by learned counsel for the appellants and find that

the same have no applicability to the facts of the present case. In the case Ramsewak & Ors. vs. State of M.P. (Supra), the observation regarding

absence of traces of blood after three incised wounds was in the facts of that case.

So far as judgments Sukhwant Singh vs. State of Punjab (Supra); Kundan Singh vs. State of Punjab (Supra); Ramesh vs. State of U.P.

(Supra); and Merambhai Punjabhai Khachar & Ors. vs. State of Gujarat (Supra) are concerned, it was held that though the MLC is not proved in

the case but it is not necessary that injury must be caused to hold the appellant guilty u/s 307 IPC.

In the judgment Dudh Nath Pandey vs. State of U.P. (Supra), it was held that defence witness are entitled to equal treatment with those of the

prosecution, about which there cannot be any controversy. But here none of the defence witness is an eye witness whereas in the present case, the

conviction of the appellants is maintained on the testimony of injured and another eye witness.

The prosecution has placed on record the photographs Ex. PW11/A1 to A5 of the shop where the occurrence has taken place which were

taken by PW-11 Ct. Girdhar Singh, the Photographer. These photographs reveal that the place of occurrence is a very small shop and the size is

that of a small kiosk. When the photograph Ex. PW11/A1 & A5 are seen alongwith site plan Ex.PW12/F prepared by the IO, the point ''A''

where the injured Ashok was standing is just the entry point of the shop which is in the gali. Point ''B'' where the position of appellants is shown is

again at the entry point very close to point ''A'' whereas position of complainant Satish Kumar who was sitting at the counter is in the middle of the

shop. Thus, the submission of learned APP for State that the blackening could be possible only when the firing is from a close range has to be

rejected as points ''A'' and ''B'' are so close to each other that the person standing at points ''A'' and ''B'' could shake hands without moving from

their place. The marks shown on the wall in the photograph Ex. PW11/A4 have not been proved to be caused on being hit by a bullet. Even

otherwise, if the place of occurrence is a small shop and the bullet hit the wall, it would have been embedded in the wall after being fired from such

a close range and if, for some reason it again fell from there, the occurrence being reported to the police immediately, the bullet should have been

recovered from the spot. Thus, it is a case where despite the occurrence taking place in a very small shop and firing from a close range, neither the

bullet has been recovered nor any blood can be seen on the floor.

It is admitted case of the prosecution that the MLC of Ashok has not been proved to establish that the injuries suffered by him were caused

due to the gun shot. I have perused the MLC placed on record which is partially carbon copy i.e. the portion which might have been written by the

doctor examining the patient is a carbon impression whereas the particulars of the patient and thumb mark as well as the nature of injury is in

original. Surprisingly, even name of the hospital is not printed or stamped. Even the time of arrival of the patient in the hospital is not recorded.

There is no explanation given by the prosecution as to why the doctor was not cited as a witness to prove that the injuries suffered by PW-6

Ashok were caused by fire arm. In para 31 of the impugned judgment, the learned ASJ has opined as under :-

.................At the time when PW6 appeared before the court for his statement it was observed by the Court that he had sustained injury at two

point on his arm. There is evidence on record that accused uttered ""aaj inko pahara pada de, maar goli"".

To my mind, by merely seeing a wound mark, the learned ASJ could not have arrived at the above conclusion as merely by seeing the marks

of the injury, he could not have opined as to what was the age of the injury and whether it could be caused by fire arm. This finding of learned ASJ

being based on no evidence is liable to be set aside.

Section 307 IPC read as under :-

307 Attempt to murder :- Whoever does any act with such intention or knowledge, and under such circumstances that, if he by that act caused

death, he would be guilty of murder, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall

also be liable to fine; and if hurt is caused to any person by such act, the offence shall be liable either to (imprisonment for life), or to such

punishment as is hereinbefore mentioned.

From bare reading of provisions of Section 307 IPC, it is clear that in order to prove the guilt, the prosecution is not required to prove the

injuries.

From the testimony of PW-5 Satish Kumar and PW-6 Ashok, it is proved that the appellants visited the spot and there was some hot words

exchange at the shop and there was a fire by appellant Manish. Irrespective of the fact whether due to the fire PW-6 Ashok suffered injuries or

not, the necessary intention and knowledge to satisfy the ingredients of Section 307 IPC stands satisfied. Merely because on the MLC which is not

even printed, the injury has been opined as simple is also no ground to make it a case u/s 324 IPC as it is the prosecution''s case that the

appellants, in furtherance of their common intention, fired on PW-6 Ashok.

In the case In Ratan Singh Vs. State of M.P. and Another, , their Lordship''s held that :

whether the accused is possessed of the intention to commit an offence punishable u/s 307 IPC or not has to be gathered from the facts and

circumstances surrounding the offence.

In another case Sarju Prasad Vs. State of Bihar, in para 6 observed that :

mere fact that the injury actually inflicted by the accused did not cut any vital organ of the victim, is not by itself to take it out of the purview of

Section 307 IPC.

The Hon''ble Supreme Court in the case State of Maharashtra v. Balram Bana Patil, 1983 Crl. J 331 had observed:

To justify a conviction under this section it is not essential that bodily injury capable of causing death should have been inflicted. Although the

nature of injury actually caused may often give considerable assistance in coming to a finding as to the intention on the accused, such intention may

also be deduced from other circumstances, and may even, in some cases, be ascertained without any reference at all to actual wounds. The section

makes a distinction between an act of the accused and its result, if any. Such an act may not be attended by any result so far as the person

assaulted in concerned, but still there may be cases in which the culprit would be liable under this section. It is not necessary that the injury actually

caused to the victim of the assault should be sufficient under ordinary circumstances to cause the death of the person assaulted. What the Court has

to see is whether the act, irrespective of its results, was done with the intention or knowledge and under circumstances mentioned in this section.

An attempt in order to be criminal need not be the penultimate act. It is sufficient in law, if there is present an intent coupled with some overt act in

execution thereof.

In the instant case, the presence of PW-5 Satish Kumar at the time of occurrence is also established from the fact that he has removed the

injured to the hospital which fact has been proved not only by PW-5 Satish Kumar and PW-6 Ashok but also by the police officials including the

IO. The statement of PW-5 has been recorded in the hospital by the IO, hence his presence at the spot is not doubtful.

In the case Akhtar and Others Vs. State of Uttaranchal, their Lordship''s held that :

Credence to the testimony of injured eye witnesses is to be given since his presence at the scene of crime is seldom doubtful.

In another case Surender Singh Vs. State of Haryana 2006 I AD (SC) 389 the Court has opined that :

The testimony of an injured witness has its own relevancy and efficacy. The fact that the witness is injured at the time and in the same

occurrence, lends support to the testimony that the witness was present during occurrence and he saw the happening with his own eyes.

In view of the overwhelming evidence on record and the fact that the intention of the Appellant to cause injuries which if death would have

been caused, he would be guilty of murder, was evidence from the fact that the injuries were caused with a sharp weapon on the vital parts of the

body, the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Thus, the conviction of the Appellant for offence punishable under Sec. 307

IPC by the learned Trial Court is fully justified.

Thus, it is settled that the testimony of the injured has to be given due credence and here in the present case, the testimony is duly supported by

another eye witness PW-5 Satish Kumar regarding the occurrence and merely because he is related to PW-6 in itself is no ground to discard his

version.

From the testimony of PW-5 Satish Kumar and PW-6 Ashok, the prosecution is able to prove that both the appellants, in furtherance of their

common intention, fired at PW-6 Ashok, hence the conviction recorded by learned ASJ for the offence punishable u/s 307/34 IPC need not be

disturbed.

The appellants were sentenced u/s 307/34 IPC to undergo RI for five years with fine of Rs. 2,000/- each. Appellant Manish was also

convicted and sentenced u/s 25 Arms Act to undergo SI for one year with fine of Rs. 500/- and further u/s 27 Arms Act to undergo SI for three

years with fine of Rs. 500/-. It is pertinent to note here that in respect of Arms Act, case FIR No. 849/2006 was registered at PS Malviya Nagar

against appellant Manish Kumar. A separate charge sheet was filed in that case. When PW-4 Ct. Nitin was partly examined on 27.09.2007, a

submission was made by learned APP to the effect that case under Arms Act should also be tried with this case. However, the Trial Court Record

thereafter is silent as to why the case FIR No. 849/2006 PS Malviya Nagar was not tried alongwith this case. In this case, no medical or scientific

evidence was adduced by the prosecution to prove that the injuries suffered by PW-6 Ashok were due to gun shot. The prosecution also failed to

prove that the katta stated to have been recovered from Manish was used in the occurrence.

The judgment has been pronounced by learned Trial Court in case FIR No. 764/2006 PS Malviya Nagar without taking care of the fact that

conviction under Arms Act has been recorded without that case being subject matter of trial before learned ASJ. Conviction has been recorded

only on the statement of PW-4 Ct. Nitin who was a witness in case FIR No. 849/2006, PS Malviya Nagar which statement remained

unsupported and uncorroborated. Even the original documents/memos prepared in this case were not produced before learned ASJ during trial of

case FIR No. 764/2006 and in the statement of PW-4 Ct. Nitin only, the photocopy of the sketch and the seizure memo was exhibited. There is

no opinion of Ballastic Expert regarding use of katta or medical evidence to prove that the injuries suffered by PW-6 were caused by katta. On

being questioned by the Court regarding the fate of case FIR No. 849/2006, PS Malviya Nagar, learned APP has placed on record the copy of

the proceedings dated 29.06.2011 whereby the application filed by accused Manish u/s 300 Cr. PC was allowed and he was ordered to be

released in the case FIR No. 849/2006, PS Malviya Nagar in view of his conviction being recorded in case FIR No. 764/2006, PS Malviya

Nagar.

The conviction of the appellant Manish u/s 25/27 Arms Act being recorded only on the statement of PW-4 Ct. Nitin which has remained

unsupported or uncorroborated on all material aspects and even without that case being sent for trial before learned ASJ, has to be set aside.

Hence, appellant Manish is acquitted of the charge under Sections 25/27 Arms Act.

It is established from the record that the appellants and the complainant injured are neighbours but relations are not cordial.

Both the appellants are real brothers. In the order on sentence by learned ASJ, it has been recorded that appellant Joginder was aged about

28 years and is having a wife and three children to support with no criminal antecedents. Appellant Manish aged about 22 years was also married

and his wife was in family way at the time of his conviction. Taking into consideration the age of the appellants and that they were not involved in

any other case prior to this occurrence especially the fact that the parties are neighbours, living in the same village since birth, there being no

minimum sentence prescribed for committing the offence punishable u/s 307 IPC, it would meet the ends of justice if they are sentenced to the

period already undergone and the fine imposed by learned ASJ is enhanced. The appeal is partly allowed. The conviction and sentence of the

appellant Manish u/s 25/27 Arms Act is set aside. While maintaining the conviction of both the appellants under Sections 307/34 IPC, the

substantive sentence awarded to them is reduced to the period already undergone by them in judicial custody in this case. However, the fine

imposed on the appellants by learned ASJ is enhanced to Rs. 50,000/- each. In default of payment of fine, they shall undergo SI for three months.

The fine earlier imposed and deposited by them shall be adjusted. After depositing the fine, the appellants are also directed to file copy of the

receipt with the Registry. Trial Court Record be sent back alongwith copy of the order.