Virendra Singh, Sheo Pujan Gupta and Mohd. Hafiz alias Shaukat vs State of U.P.

M. Chaudhary, J.—This is a crimal appeal filed on behalf of the accused appellants from judgment'' and order dated 9th of September, 1981 passed by III Additional Sessions Judge, Gorakhpur in Sessions Trial No. 111 of 1977 State v. Virendra Singh and Ors. convicting the accused appellants u/s 148 IPC and Sections 302 and 307 each read with Section 149 IPC and sentencing each of them to two years'' rigorous imprisonment, imprisonment for life and seven years'' rigorous imprisonment respectively thereunder.

Facts giving rise to this appeal in brief are that on telephonic information given by one Ishwar Chand Srivastava at 5:20 p.m. on 28th July, 1976 a crime was registered against some unknown persons at police station Gorakhpur Kotwali that some assailants fired at three persons in Mohalla Dileyjagpur. The police registered a crime u/s 307 IPC and started the investigation. Investigation was entrusted to SI Bateshwar Nath Tewari who rushed to the scene of occurrence and found injured Girish Pal there. He recorded statement of Girish Pal and sent him with Constable Ayodhya Prasad to District Hospital for his medical examination. Then he recorded statements of some witnesses including Sher Bahadur Pal. He also inspected the place of occurrence and prepared its site plan map and collected bloodstained and simple earth from the place of occurrence, prepared its memo and sealed the same in separate packets. 1 le also collected cartridges, pellets, tiklies etc. lying at the scene of occurrence, sealed them in a packet and prepared their memo and did other necessary things.

Soon after the occurrence injured Brij Bhushan and Sudeshi went to District Hospital Gorakhpur themselves where they were medically examined by Dr Aziz Ahmad, medical officer on emergency duty at 5:35 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. respectively. Medical examination of Sudeshi revealed below noted injury on his person:

Lacerated wound 1 cm x 1/2 cm on right side hack lower part of scapula, tattooing and charring present.

The doctor opined that the injury was caused by firearm and fresh in duration. The patient was admitted in the Hospital.

Medical examination of injured Brij Bhushan revealed belownoted injuries on his person:

Lacerated wound 1" x 1/2" muscle deep on the back of left hand.

Lacerated wound 2/10" x 2/10" on outer aspect on left hand laterally.

Lacerated wound 3/4" x 3/10" x bone deep on outer surface of little finger at its root.

Lacerated wound 1/2" x 3/10" x bone deep on dorsum surface of ring finger.

Gunshot wound 3/10" x 3/10" on outer part of right arm upper portion. Advised x-ray.

Lacerated wound 1/2" x 1/2" on the right side chest. Advised x-ray.

Two lacerated wounds in an area of 1 1/4" x 1/2" 2" above injury No. 6. Advised x-ray.

Lacerated wound 3/10" x 3/10" on front and root of neck 6 1/2" above & middle to left nipple.

Tattooing and charring was found present around all the rounds.

The doctor opined that the injuries were caused by firearm and fresh in duration. The patient was admitted in the Hospital.

Injured Girish Pal was medically examined by Dr Aziz Ahmad at 6:35 p.m. the same evening. His medical examination revealed belownoted injuries on his person:

Lacerated wound 3/10" x 3/10" on left buttock upper part 2 1/2" lateral to lower part of spine, tattooing and charring present Advised x-ray.

Lacerated wound 1" x 3/10" on outer aspect of right forearm posteriorly 3" above the wrist joint.

Abrasion 2 1/4" x 1/2" on left side chest 8" below the apex of left axilla.

Multiple abrasions in an area 12" x 3" on medial aspect of lower part of arm and forearm.

Lacerated wound 1" x 3/10 " on outer aspect of right little finger at its root. Advised x-ray.

Lacerated wound 3/10" x 3/10" on the outer aspect of right wrist joint, tattooing and charring present.

The doctor opined that except injuries No. 3 & 4 all the four were caused by firearm and injury No. 3 & 4 by friction and all the injuries were fresh in duration.

The Investgating officer then went to the District Hospital and recorded statement of injured Brij Bhushan. Since accused Shiv Pujan Gupta, Mohd Hafiz and Virendra Singh were named as participants in the said occurrence he searched for the criminals but he could not find any trace of them. Sri Devi Ram, City Magistrate Gorakhpur recorded dying declarations of injured Brij Bhushan and Girish Pal in the District Hospital on 28th of July, 1976 in presence of Dr K.K. Mal, medical officer at 9:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. respectively. Injured Girish Pal succumbed to the injuries sustained by him in the said incident in the Hospital on 2nd of August, 1976 at 3:12 p.m. SI Shiv Prasad Pandey drew inquest on the dead body of Girish Pal and handed over the dead body in a sealed cover alongwith necessary papers to Constable Ram Lochan Singh and CP Jagat Bahadur for its post mortem. Autopsy conducted on the dead body of Girish Pal by Dr M.N. Gop, Superintendent District Hospital Gorakhpur on 2nd of August, 1976 at 12:10 noon revealed below noted ante mortem injuries:

Lacerated gunshot injury 3/10" x 3/10" x muscle deep on upper part of left buttock about 2" below & outer to anterior superior illiac spine. Blackening, tattooing and scorching present.

Lacerated gunshot wound of exit 1" x 1/4" x bone deep on the outer aspect of right forearm about 3" above the wrist joint. Radius & ulna under the injury found fractured.

Abrasion 2 1/4" x 1/2" on left side of chest 8" below the left axilla.

Multiple abrasions in an area of 12" x 3" on front medial aspect of left arm and forearm.

Lacerated wound 1" x 3/4" x bone deep on outer aspect of right little finger at its root.

Lacerated wound of entry 3/10" x 3/10" x muscle deep on outer aspect of right wrist join, tattooing, blackening and scorching present.

Abrasion 1/2" x 1/4" on right side of face.

The following injuries were due to operation by the Surgeon:

Stitched wound 15 in number 8" long over right paramedian (abdomen) both upper & lower part of umbilicus.

Punctured wound 3/4" x 1/3" on right side lower part of abdomen, corrugated sheath coining out from the abdomen.

Stitched wound 1 1/2" x 2" long over rigiit side of lower part of chest outer side.

Incised wound 1/2" x 1/4" on medial side of just above the icjt ankle joint.

Incised wound 1/2" x 1/4" on medial side of rigid leg just above ankle joint.

Incised wound 1/2" x 1/4" on front & joint below the right belbow joint.

Incised wound 3/4" x 1/4" just above the left elbow joint in front.

On internal examination lower and middle lobes of right lung and lower lobe of left lung were solidified and looked like hepatization. Two repaired wounds were found in duodenum, upper part of small intestine and one repaired wound in transverse colon in large intestine. Repaired wound in pyloric region was also present. There were lacerated wounds on Inferior surface of liver, diaphragm outer part and outer side of right chest wall.

The doctor opined that the death was caused due to snack and toxaemia.

Since the three accused abovenamed were absconding proceedings under Sections 82 and 83 of Code of Criminal Procedure were taken against them. Subsequently accused Vireudra, Shiv Pujan Gupta and Mohammad Hafiz @ Shaukat surrendered in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Ballia and then they were sent to District Jail Gorakhpur. After completing investigation the police submitted charge sheet against the accused accordingly.

After framing of charge against the accused the prosecution examined Sher Bahadur Pal (PW 1), Brij Bhushan (PW 6), Dwarika (PW 7) and Gorakh Bahadur (PW 9) as eye witnesses of the occurrence. PW 3 Dr Aziz Ahmad who medically examined all the three injured proved the injury reports. PW 4 ASI Ram Das Patel, the then HM who registered the crime on the basis of telephonic message and made entry regarding registration on the crime proved the check report and GD entry (PAIS ka 5 and ka 6). PW 5 Constable Ayodhya Prasad with whom injured Girish Pal was sent to District Hospital by the investigating officer for medical examination stated the said fact. PW 11 SI Bateshwar Nath Tewari who investigated the crime in main proved the police papers including the site plan map (Ext ka 9). He also proved the statement of injured Girish Pal recorded by him at the seen: of occurrence u/s 161 Cr.P.C. (Ext ka 8). PW 13 Dr K.K. Mal in whose presence dying declaration of injured Girish Pal was recorded by the Executive Magistrate on 28l1'' of July, 1976 at 10:00 p.m. proved the certificates given by him deposing that Girish Pal was in a fit mental condition and was My conscious throughout the time his declaration was recorded by the Executive Magistrate. PW 15 Sri Devi Ram, the then City Magistrate Gorakhpur who recorded dying declaration of Girish Pal proved the same. PW 14 SI Shiv Prasad Pandcy who drew inquest on the dead body of Girish Pal and handed over the same in a scaled cover alongwith necessary papers to Constable Ram Lochan Singh and CP Jagat Bahadur for its post mortem proved the inquest papers. PW 10 Constable Ram Lochan Singh to whom dead body of Girish Pal in a scaled cover alongwith necessary papers was entrusted for its post mortem stated the said fact. PW 2 Dr M.N. Gop, Superintendent District Hospital Gorakhpur who conducted autopsy on the dead body of Girish Pal proved the post mortem report. PW 16 Inspector Sukhi Chand, Station Officer who took up investigation of the case in his hands on 13th August, 1976 and inspected the crime in the 29th September, 1976 and then handed over the same to SI Bateshwar Nath stated that he recorded statement of one Dwarika and submitted report for transfer of accused of Virendra Singh, Shiv Pujan Gupta and Mohammad Hafiz @ Shaukat from District Jail Ballia to District Jail Gorakhpur. PW 2 Dr M.N. Gop was subsequently examined by the Court as CW 1 probably because he had not proved the post mortem report properly. He stated in his examination-in-chief that ante mortem injuries sustained by the victim (before operation) were sufficient to cause death.

The accused pleaded not guilty denying the alleged occurrence - altogether and stating that they were got implicated in the case falsely on account of enmity. Accused Shiv Pujan Gupta told that since he had deposed against deceased Girish Pal in the Court in a case u/s 307 IPC he was got implicated in the case falsely. The accused examined DW 1 Ishwar Chand Srivastava in their support. He deposed that at 5:30 p.m. on 28th of July, 1976 he was going from All Nagar North to see his friend and us lie was going in the lane he heard sound of firing and as he proceeded further he saw a motor cycle lying on the side of the lane and a few pace ahead three persons lying injured; that one injured was a rickshaw puller and that he informed the police regarding that incident on telephone and returned back to his house, lie further stated that none of the injured told him name of any of the assailants at that time.

On an appraisal of the parties'' evidence the learned trial judge held me accused guilty of the charge levelled against them and convicted and sentenced them as stated above. Feeling aggrieved by the impugned judgment and order the accused appellants preferred this appeal for redress.

Heard Sri P.N. Misra, learned Counsel for the accused appellants and Sri S.S. Yadav, learned AGA for the State respondent. After going through the impugned judgment and record of the case we find it difficult to differ from the findings recorded by the learned trial judge against the accused appellants. Out of four eye witnesses examined by the prosecution PW 7 Dwarika and PW 9 Gorakh have not supported the prosecution case at all. Both of them were declared hostile and cross-examined by the prosecution with the permission of the Court but in vain. PW 6 Brij Bhushan, the injured deposed in his examination-in-chief that the alleged noon he alongwith Girish Pal went to the house of his relative residing at Ali Nagar and prepared some papers relating to the Union and at about 5:15 p.m. he alongwith Girish Pal on motor cycle was going to the office of RMS to send some papers by registered post to Labour Commissioner; that Girish Pal was driving his motor cycle and he was sluing on pillion seal: that as they reached in the lane at Mohalla Diieyjagpur Girish Pal stopped the motor cycle and then he saw the miscreants firing at them and that immediately he jumped from the motor cycle and after running at some distance he entered in a house and that he did not recognize the assailants. PW 1 Shcr Bahadur Pal deposed that he knew accused Shiv Pujan Gupta, Hafiz and Virendra Singh and injured Girish Pal and Brij Bhushan since before as they used to take tea at his tea stall situate on Bank Road; that while going from his house situate at Purdilpur to his shop All Nagar falls in his way; that the alleged evening he purchased vegetables from Aii Nagar and as lie reached at the chauraha of Ali Nagar he heard sound of firing and saw Virendra Singh, Sliiv Pujan and Hafiz accompanied with 5-7 others firing at Girish Pal and Brij Bhushan thereby causing injuries to them; that he also saw that Girish Pal and Brij Bhushan were running and the accused and their associates were chasing them and firing with countrymade pistols and revolver and that one rickshaw puller also received firearm injuries in the said incident. He was subjected to rambling and searching cross-examination but nothing substantial could be elicited therefrom to shake his credibility. Testimony of PW 1 Sher Bahadur Pal stands corroborated with the testimony of PW 6 Brij Bhushan, the injured to the extent that at about 5:15 p.m. the alleged evening Girish Pal and Brij Bhushan received firearm injuries at the place and in the manner alleged by the prosecution. PW 11 Bateshwar Nath Tewari. the investigating oilier who inspected the scene of occurrence and prepared its site plan map deposed that he found marks of firing on the doors and walls of the houses adjoining the lane where firing took place.

Now we come to the dying declaration of Girish Pal. There are two dying declarations, one the statement of Girish Pal recorded by SI Bateshwar Nath, the investigating officer at the scene of occurrence at about 4:45 p.m. or so u/s 161 Cr.P.C. and the other recorded by the Executive Magistrate in the Hospital. PW 11 SI Bateshwar Nath deposed that the said crime was registered at police station Gorakhpur Kotwali in his presence at 5:20 p.m. and investigation of the case was entrusted to him; that then he reached the scene of occurrence at 5:40 p.m. at Mohalla Dileyjagpur and found injured Girish Pal there and he recorded his statement in the case diary (Ext ka 8) and that then lie sent the injured with Constable Ayodhya Prasad to the District Hospital for his medical examination. Since Girish Pal succumbed to the injuries sustained by him in the Hospital his statement recorded by the investigating onicer may well be treated as his dying declaration. A perusal of this dying declaration goes to show that Girish Pal stated to the investigating officer that at about 5:15 p.m. that evening he alongwith Brij Bhushan was going on his motor cycle from the house of Brij Bhushan''s relative to the office of RMS for sending some papers by registered post; that he was driving the motor cycle and Brij Bhushan was sitting on pillion scat; that as they passed a distance of about 100 paces he slowed down the motor cycle as he had to take turn; that in the meanwhile Virendra, Shiv Pujan Gupta and Hafiz accompanied with 5-7 others tired at them with revolver and countrymade pistols; that immediately leaving the motorcycle there he ran for his life and by jumping a wall saved his life and while he was jumping the wall one shot lired hit him and that the assailants went away thinking him having died. He also stated that Virendra Singh and Hafiz were armed with revolvers and Shiv Pujan with countrymade pistol and the other associates were also armed. Another dying declaration was recorded by Sri Devi Ram, City Magistrate Gorakhpur in the District Hospital on 28th of July, 1976 at 10:00 p.m. in presence of Dr K.K. Mal. PW 15 Sri Devi Ram, City Magistrate deposed that before recording dying declaration of Girish Pal the doctor saw Girish Pal and certified that he was fully conscious and in a tit mental condition for making statement and then after satisfying himself by putting some questions to the injured that he was capable to make statement he recorded his dying declaration and after recording the dying declaration he read over the same to him which was in his hand writing and then he put his signatures thereon (Ext ka 28). A perusal of the dying declaration goes to show that thereafter the doctor certified that the injured remained fully conscious and in a lit state of mind throughout the time his statement was recorded by the Magistrate (Ext ka 28).

A perusal of both the dying declarations goes to show that they are consistent to each other in material particulars. Statement of PW 1 Sher Bahadur Pal also finds corroboration with the dying declarations substantially. A perusal of the dying declaration recorded by the investigating officer (Ext ka 8) goes to show that Girish Pal stated that when he was jumping the wall he received another firearm injury from back side. A perusal of the post mortem report goes to show that Girish Pal received one lacerated gunshot injury on upper part of left buttock about two inches below and outer to anterior superior illiac spine. A perusal of the postmortem report further goes to show that direction of this firearm injury was upwards as both the lungs, chest wall, liver, diaphragm and both the intestines were damaged. Thus the dying declarations also get corroboration with medical evidence. Revolvers and countrymade pistols are low velocity firearms. The effect produced by small shot fired from 3 - 4 feet makes single penetration with irregular and lacerated margins but after entering the wound causes great damage to the internal tissues. The doctor conducting autopsy found blackening, tattooing and scorching present around the lacerated wound on buttock.

Thus the testimony of pw 1 Sher Bahadur Pal stands corroborated with dying declarations of the victim and the medical evidence as well. Regarding the motive, injured Girish Pal stated in his dying declarations that one Kesho Singh in Fertilizers was murdered by Tarkeshvar Prasad Shukla; that in that murder case he appeared as a witness against him; that that case ended in acquittal; that Tarkeshvar lodged a report against him, u/s 307 IPC but the police submitted FR; that Tarkeshvar haJ several enemies and about one month ago he was murdered and the police got him implicated in that murder case falsely and that Tarkeshvar and the accused were the main persons of Harishanker Tewari and therefore they were after him and next day murderous assault was made at him. Learned trial judge has written an elaborate and well reasoned judgment holding the accused appellants guilty of the charge levelled against them and we find no good reason to take a different view. However the appellants'' learned Counsel has advanced following arguments assailing judgment of the trial court and now we shall see if any of them has got any force in it.

First, the appellants'' learned Counsel contended that since the dying declaration recorded by the City Magistrate does not bear the signatures of Girish Pal it should be discarded and no reliance should be placed thereon. No doubt, the dying declaration recorded by the City Magistrate on 28th of July, 1976 at 10:00 p.m. docs not bear the signatures or thumb impressions of Girish Pal but the City Magistrate was not questioned thereabout in his cross-examination by the defence counsel. However, PW 15 Sri Devi Ram. City Magistrate stated in his cxamination-in-chief that before recording the statement of injured Girish Pal the doctor checked him and certified that Girish Pal was fully conscious and in a fit state of mind to give statement; that then after satisfying himself by putting appropriate questions to Girish Pal if he was fully capable of giving answers to the questions put to him he recorded his statement and after recording his statement the doctor gave certificate that Girish Pal remained fully conscious and in a ft mental state throughout during giving his statement. He deposed that the statement of Girish Pal was in his hand and under his signatures. PW 13 Dr K.K. Mal in whose presence statement of injured Girish Pal was recorded stated that dying declaration of Girish Pal was recorded by Sri Devi Ram, City Magistrate in emergency ward in his presence and before recording his statement he checked him and he was fully conscious and in a fit mental state to give statement; that throughout the time his statement was recorded he remained fully conscious and in a fit mental state to give statement and that he gave certificates to the said effect on the top of his statement and at the bottom (Ext ka 28). Further, the dying declaration of Girish Pal recorded by the City Magistrate tallies with the dying declaration recorded by SI Bateshwar Nath Tewari, investigating officer soon after the incident at the scene of occurrence at about 5:45 p.m. that very evening in material particulars. Under the circumstances, we are of the view that dying declaration of Girish Pal recorded by the City Magistrate in presence of Dr K.K. Mal is truthful, genuine and voluntary and it can not be doubted merely on the ground that it docs not bear signature, or thumb impressions of the declarant due to some mistake or oversight on the part of the City Magistrate in not detaining his thumb impressions or signatures thereon.

Secondly, the appellants'' learned Counsel vehemently argued that PW 1 sher Bahadur Pal is a chance witness as he was not a resident of that locality. No doubt, PW 1 Sher Bahadur Pal was not a resident of the locality in which the incident occurred; but a perusal of dying declaration of Girish Pal recorded by SI Bateshwar Kath Tewari soon after the incident at the scene of occurrence goes to show that Girish Pal stated before the investigating officer that at the time of occurrence Gorakh, Balwant, Slier Bahadur Pal (Bank Road) and Dwarika were on the road to the south of the scene of occurrence. PW 1 Sher Bahadur Pal too stated in his examination-in-chief that at about 5:15 p.m. the alleged evening as he reached at the chauraha of Ali Nagar he heard the sound of firing and saw that Virendra Singh, Shiv Pujan and Hafiz alongwith 5-6 others were tiring shots at Girish Pal and Brij Bhushan causing thereby firearm injuries to them and that one rickshaw puller also received injuries in the said incident. A perusal of the site plan map goes to show that there is a chauraha to the south of the scene of occurrence (Ext ka 9). PW 1 Sher Bahadur Pal further stated in his cross-examination that after hearing the shots of firing he proceeded in the lane and saw the incident from a distance of about 20-25 feet. Further, PW 11 SI Bateshwar Nath Tewari, investigating officer stated in his examination-in-chief that alter recording statement of injured Girish Pal he sent him with Constable Ayodhya Prasad for his medical examination, and recorded statement of other witnesses including Slier Bahadur Lal and Gorakh. Thus no doubt, PW 1 Sher Bahadur Pal is a chance witness but after careful scrutiny of his sworn testimony its genuineness and truthfulness can not be doubted merely because he was not a resident of that locality. He appears to be an honest and truthful witness. A

Lastly, the appellants'' learned Counsel laid much emphasis upon the fact that no witness of the locality has been examined by the prosecution and hence no reliance should be placed on the evidence adduced by the prosecution. Said contention of the appellants'' learned Counsel has not got much substance. It has come in evidence that on hearing the sound of firing persons of the locality closed the doors of their respective houses. Moreover, it is a matter of common experience that people remain reluctant to appear as a witness in the Court particularly in criminal cases as they do not want to invite trouble for themselves. If few persons of the locality might have seen the incident from their respective houses it is not necessary that he would be knowing the assailants by name as the assailants were not the residents of that locality. Further, it depends upon individual character of the persons if they are interested in sharing the grief of others and take pains therefor. Ordinarily none of the peace loving persons wants to lake trouble by interfering in such matters and they remain reluctant to appear as witnesses of the incident seen by them in courts unless affected directly or indirectly.

For the foregoing discussion, we find no good reason to interfere with the well reasoned judgment and order passed by the learned trial judge. The appeal has got no life and is liable to be dismissed.

The appeal is dismissed, and the impugned judgment and order convicting accused appellants Vircndra Singh, Shiv Pujan Gupta and Mohammad Hafiz @ Shaukat u/s 148 IPC and Sections 302 and 307 each read with Section 149 IPC and sentencing each of them to two years'' rigorous imprisonment, imprisonment for life and seven years" rigorous imprisonment respectively thereunder is hereby affirmed. All the three accused appellants are on bail. Their bail is cancelled. Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gorakhpur is directed to get the three accused appellants abovenamed arrested and send them to jail to serve out the sentence imposed upon them.

Office is directed to send copy of the judgment and rccoiw of lower court to the court below immediately for ensuring compliance under intimation to this Court within two months from today.