Dr. B.S Chauhan, J.— This criminal appeal has been filed under Section 2(a) of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970 against the judgment and order dated 28-2-2007 of the High Court of Karnataka, Bangalore, in Criminal Appeal No. 1069 of 2000 by which the High Court has reversed the judgment and order dated 31-10-1998 passed by the Fifteenth Additional City Sessions Judge, Bangalore, in Sessions Case No. 366 of 1996, acquitting the appellant of the charges under Sections 302 and 307 of the Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter called “IPC”).
2. Facts and circumstances, as per the prosecution case giving rise to this appeal had been that the law was put into motion by the younger brother of the deceased, Shankara (PW 8), who lodged a complaint orally on 26-3-1996 that the appellant came to the barber saloon of Murthy Prasad, deceased, on 25-3-1996 at about 8 p.m and demanded Rs. 150 from the deceased. Since the deceased did not give the money demanded, the accused got angry and threatened that he would take care of him later. The appellant-accused again came back at 9.30 p.m to the shop of the complainant, sought shelter therein, had food, and slept there with the deceased and the complainant. At about 2 a.m the complainant heard sounds and after being awaken he saw that the appellant was hitting his elder brother with a knife on the chest and on shouting of the complainant the appellant hit him also with the same on the left abdomen and hands and ran away. Murthy Prasad died of assault and the complainant got injured, and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
3. On the basis of the said oral complaint, FIR No. 82/96 dated 26-3-1996 (Ext. P-4) was recorded. The investigation ensued and the appellant was arrested on 31-3-1996. After conclusion of the investigation, charge-sheet was filed against the appellant and he was put to trial under Sections 302 and 307 IPC. In order to prove the guilt of the appellant, prosecution examined 17 witnesses. The appellant was examined under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as “CrPC”) wherein apart from denying the evidence against him given by the witnesses directly, he also denied to have gone to the saloon of the deceased at all as alleged by the prosecution.
4. After considering the entire evidence on record, the trial court came to the conclusion that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant had committed murder of Murthy Prasad or made an attempt to kill the complainant Shankara (PW 8). Thus, vide judgment and order dated 31-10-1998, the appellant was acquitted of the charges under Sections 302 and 307 IPC.
5. Being aggrieved, the State of Karnataka preferred Criminal Appeal No. 1069 of 2000 which has been allowed by the High Court convicting the appellant under Section 302 IPC for committing the murder of Murthy Prasad, deceased and awarding him life imprisonment. The appellant also stood convicted under Section 324 IPC for causing injuries to the complainant Shankara (PW 8) and has been awarded six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5000. In default of depositing the fine to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one month. Both the sentences have been directed to run concurrently. Hence, this appeal.
6. Shri Sanjay Mishra, learned counsel appearing for the appellant has submitted that the High Court has committed an error in interfering with the well-reasoned judgment of acquittal by the trial court and relying upon the evidence on record while ignoring the material inconsistencies between the evidence of the witnesses; and medical and ocular evidence. No motive was proved by the prosecution to commit the offence. There had been an inordinate delay of 4 hours in lodging the FIR as the murder was alleged to have been committed at 2 a.m while the complaint was lodged at 6 a.m on the same day, though the police station was at a distance of only one kilometre. There had been discrepancy relating to the seizure and kind of weapon used in the offence. Therefore, the appeal deserves to be allowed.
7. Per contra, Rashmi Nandakumar, learned counsel appearing for the State of Karnataka vehemently opposed the appeal contending that the High Court has rightly reversed the findings recorded by the trial court being the first court of appeal after appreciating the evidence properly. The court below had misappreciated the material evidence of the witnesses. More so, the trial court had failed to give due weightage to the evidence of injured witness, namely, Shankara (PW 8). Hence, the appeal lacks merit and no interference is required.
8. We have considered the rival submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
9. The post-mortem examination report dated 26-3-1996 revealed that following injuries were there on the person of Murthy Prasad:
(1) Vertically placed incised wound over the front of tip of right thumb measuring 3 cm × 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm, deep;
(2) Incised wound over top of left shoulder measuring 2 cm × 0.5 cm × skin-deep;
(3) Incised wound over left side of chest situated 8 cm vertically below left armpit, measuring 2 cm × 0.5 cm;
(4) Incised wound over left side lower part of chest situated 23 cm below later 1/3rd of left collar bone, vertical measuring 2 cm × 0.5 cm × 5 cm, deep;
(5) Incised wound over left side lower part of chest situated 20 cm below left armpit, oblique measuring 2.5 cm × 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm, deep;
(6) Incised wound over left side lower part of front of abdomen measuring 2.5 cm × 0.5 cm × 1 cm, deep;
(7) Horizontally placed stab wound present over the left side of hip situated 3 cm behind and 2 cm below the level of left anterior iliac spine measuring 2.5 cm × 2 cm × 9 cm deep, the front end is pointed and back end blunt, margins are clean-cut, the wound is directed backwards, downwards, and to right by cutting sciatic nerve and underlying vessels edged clean-cut;
(8) Incised wound over left side upper part of neck situated 2 cm below middle of ramus of mandible, measuring 1 cm × 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm, deep;
(9) Stab incised wound present over left side back of chest situated 12 cm below the level of seventh cervical spine 5 cm to left of midline measuring 3 cm × 1.5 cm chest cavity-deep.
10. The post-mortem report further revealed that so far as Injury 9 was concerned, the weapon had cut the skin and muscles of chest, had entered the chest cavity in fifth intercostal space, and pierced the lower lobe of left lung on which it measures 2 cm × 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm deep. According to the opinion of the doctor, the death was due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of the aforesaid injuries.
11. The medical examination report of complainant Shankara, aged 18 years, dated 26-3-1996 revealed the following injuries on his person:
(1) Incised wound seen on the left side of abdomen measuring 1½ cm × 0.5 cm × just below the last rib on the left side at mid-clavicular line;
(2) Incised wound seen on the front of right forearm at lower 1/3rd measuring 1½ cm × 1 cm, skin-deep;
(3) Incised wound seen on the medial side of left thumb, 2½ cm × 1/2 cm;
(4) Incised wound seen on the left upper arm on the deltoid muscle measuring 1½ cm × 1/2 cm skin-deep;
(5) Incised wound seen on the left cheek measuring 1½ cm × 1/2 cm skin-deep.
12. Dr. B.R.S Kashyap (PW 5) who conducted the post-mortem examination on the body of Murthy Prasad explained in his deposition in court that it was not normally possible to cause injuries to the deceased with weapon, Ext. MO 1 if held with both of its arms together while inflicting the injuries. However, if the sharp edge and tip of the scissors is held open while assaulting, the injuries can be caused. So far as the evidence of Dr. H. Venkatesh (PW 6) who examined Shankara (PW 8), the complainant is concerned, he deposed that injuries found on his person could be caused by a sharp-edged weapon. Thus, in view of the above, there could be no dispute that as per the opinion of the doctors, it was possible to cause the injuries found on the person of the deceased and the complainant with the scissors in case the sharp edge and tip of the scissors is held open at the time of assault.
Material contradictions
(1) Evidence of witnesses
13. Murthyalappa (PW 2) and Smt Ramanjanamma (PW 3), the brother-in-law and sister of the deceased, respectively, deposed in court that they made a visit to the hospital where Shankara (PW 8) had been admitted and he had told to both of them that the appellant had killed Murthy Prasad, and caused injuries to him. Though Shankara (PW 8), the complainant himself deposed in his examination-in-chief that he came to know about the death of his brother only after being discharged from the hospital living therein as indoor patient for 15 days. Shankara (PW 8), while lodging the complaint stated as under:
“On 25-3-1996 at about 8.00 p.m the accused, younger brother of Rudresh came to Super Hair Style Shop of the deceased, elder brother of the complainant viz. Murthy Prasad and demanded Rs. 150 from him. Since he did not give the money demanded, the accused got angry and threatened that he would take care of him later. He once again came back at 9.30 p.m to the shop of the complainant and with the intent to murder the complainant and his elder brother, he sought shelter in the shop, had food and slept there itself.”
But, in court Shankara (PW 8) deposed:
“Last year, on one day at about 8 p.m the accused came to our saloon and enquired of me about my brother. I informed the accused that my brother had gone out and he will be returning soon. The accused stayed in my saloon only. My brother Murthy Prasad returned to saloon at about 9 p.m Myself, my brother and the accused took meals in the saloon and slept in the saloon.”
Thus, it is evident that Shankara (PW 8) in his deposition in court did not mention about the first visit of the appellant and demand of Rs. 150 from Murthy Prasad.
(2) Medical evidence and ocular evidence
14. As per the medical evidence, Injuries 7 and 9 found on the person of Murthy Prasad, deceased had been fatal and could be caused with the pointed part of the scissors, if used holding the sharp edge and tip of the scissors open, at the time of the assault. In his oral complaint lodged on 26-3-1996, Shankara (PW 8) had stated that the accused caused the injuries with knife. He deposed in court that:
“The accused was stabbing my brother with a scissors. He stabbed on the stomach of my brother…. The accused also stabbed me with the scissors on my left side of stomach, on right hand and on the left shoulder…. Now I see the scissors, MO 1, the accused assaulted me and my brother with MO 1.”
(emphasis added)
Thus, it is apparent from the above that Shankara (PW 8) was not sure as to whether the injuries were caused by a knife or scissors. No explanation came forward as to whether the complainant Shankara (PW 8) was capable of understanding the distinction between a knife and scissors.
(3) Identity of the accused
15. As per Ramanjanamma (PW 3), brother of one Rudresh murdered Murthy Prasad. According to Sriram (PW 4), the brother of Umesh assaulted them: “I do not know who is brother of Umesh. I do not know the accused.” Shankara (PW 8) refers to the accused as brother of Rudresh. Abdul Suban (PW 17) stated that “I tried to ascertain and search for Rudresh but he was not found. I did not enquire from the father of the accused and his family members about Rudresh.”
(4) FSL report
16. As per Abdul Suban (PW 17), he sent all the seized articles including MO 1 for FSL examination through Police Constable 2313 on 2-6-1996 and received back on 7-6-1996. However, FSL report was not produced before the court. Abdul Suban (PW 17) has admitted that he received the post-mortem report and FSL report and after completing the investigation he submitted the charge-sheet on 27-6-1996. No explanation has been furnished as to why this FSL report has not been produced before the court as it was necessary to ascertain as to whether MO 1 was actually used in the commission of offence or not.
(5) Recovery of weapon
17. As per Abdul Suban (PW 17), the accused in the presence of panchas had seen the occurrence and also took out a scissors hidden under a stone slab near the saloon. He seized the scissors, MO 1 in the presence of panchas under panchnama, Ext. P-8. As per the evidence of Ganganarasaiah (PW 9) the scissors was in the bucket which was filled with water. The bucket was inside the shop. The police alone saw it. Narayanaswamy (PW 15) stated that the accused told him that he committed the offence and he took out a scissors kept under a stone slab. Police seized the same and wrapped it a cloth and drawn a mahazar. He signed the mahazar and stated that MO 1 was the scissors seized by the police.
18. The trial court has taken into consideration each and every discrepancy/contradictions referred to hereinabove. However, the High Court has dealt with the case observing that presence of Shankara (PW 8) at the place of occurrence has not been disputed. Injuries found on his person are also supported by the evidence and particularly other statements made by Shankara (PW 8) in court which were worth acceptance regarding his staying outside for some time. The High Court came to the conclusion that there was nothing unnatural in his statement. However, the High Court did not deal with the contradictions referred to hereinabove.
19. The contradiction in the statement of Shankara (PW 8) in court as compared with his statement before the police under Section 161 CrPC also demolishes the aspect of motive.
20. There was delay in lodging the FIR. In the present case, the alleged occurrence took place at 2.00 p.m and the police station was hardly at a distance of 1 km from the place of the occurrence and Shankara (PW 8) had never deposed that he had become unconscious, thus the delay has not been explained.
21. Abdul Suban (PW 17), the IO consistently deposed that he was searching for Rudresh. Admittedly, even as per the prosecution, author of the crime had been Shankar, the appellant and not his brother Rudresh. We fail to understand as for what reason the IO was trying to apprehend the brother of the accused.
22. In all criminal cases, normal discrepancies are bound to occur in the depositions of witnesses due to normal errors of observation, namely, errors of memory due to lapse of time or due to mental disposition such as shock and horror at the time of occurrence. Where the omissions amount to a contradiction, creating a serious doubt about the truthfulness of the witness and other witnesses also make material improvement while deposing in the court, such evidence cannot be safe to rely upon. However, minor contradictions, inconsistencies, embellishments or improvements on trivial matters which do not affect the core of the prosecution case, should not be made a ground on which the evidence can be rejected in its entirety.
23. The court has to form its opinion about the credibility of the witness and record a finding as to whether his deposition inspires confidence. “Exaggerations per se do not render the evidence brittle. But it can be one of the factors to test the credibility of the prosecution version, when the entire evidence is put in a crucible for being tested on the touchstone of credibility.” Therefore, mere marginal variations in the statements of a witness cannot be dubbed as improvements as the same may be elaborations of the statement made by the witness earlier. “Irrelevant details which do not in any way corrode the credibility of a witness cannot be labelled as omissions or contradictions.” The omissions which amount to contradictions in material particulars i.e materially affect the trial or core of the prosecution case, render the testimony of the witness liable to be discredited. [Vide State v. Saravanan (2008) 17 SCC 587, AIR 2009 SC 152, Arumugam v. State (2008) 15 SCC 590, AIR 2009 SC 331, Mahendra Pratap Singh v. State of U.P (2009) 11 SCC 334, Sunil Kumar Sambhudayal Gupta (Dr.) v. State of Maharashtra (2010) 13 SCC 657, JT (2010) 12 SC 287, Vijay v. State of M.P (2010) 8 SCC 191, State of U.P v. Naresh (2011) 4 SCC 324 and Brahm Swaroop v. State of U.P (2011) 6 SCC 288, AIR 2011 SC 280]
24. Where the omission(s) amount to a contradiction, creating a serious doubt about the truthfulness of a witness and other witness also make material improvements before the court in order to make the evidence acceptable, it cannot be safe to rely upon such evidence. (Vide State of Rajasthan v. Rajendra Singh (2009) 11 SCC 106.)
25. If the case in hand is examined in the light of the aforesaid settled legal proposition, the prosecution has definitely made an attempt to establish the presence of the accused in the shop and Shankara (PW 8) is the only eyewitness. His presence also cannot be doubted in view of the fact that he himself got injured in the incident. However, the question does arise as to under what circumstances he has told his sister and brother-in-law that his brother has been killed by the appellant-accused when in his substantive statement before the court he has deposed that he came to know about the death of his brother after being discharged from the hospital and he remained there as an indoor patient for 15 days. Such a statement made in the court also creates a doubt as to whether he could be the author of the complaint for the reason, that in the complaint lodged by him on 26-3-1996 he has stated that his brother had died. Similarly, non-production of the FSL report in the court by the prosecution is fatal as in the absence thereof it was difficult for the court to reach to the conclusion as to whether the offence has been committed with MO 1. More so, after the incident, Abdul Suban (PW 17) had been busy in searching Rudresh, brother of the accused and he made no attempt to search the accused. These factors clearly indicate that investigation has not been conducted fairly.
26. It is settled legal proposition that in exceptional circumstances the appellate court under compelling circumstances should reverse the judgment of acquittal of the court below if the findings so recorded by the court below are found to be perverse i.e the conclusions of the court below are contrary to the evidence on record or its entire approach in dealing with the evidence is found to be patently illegal leading to miscarriage of justice or its judgment is unreasonable based on erroneous law and facts on the record of the case. While dealing so, the appellate court must bear in mind the presumption of innocence of the accused and further that acquittal by the court below bolsters the presumption of his innocence. (Vide Abrar v. State of U.P (2011) 2 SCC 750 and Rukia Begum v. State of Karnataka (2011) 4 SCC 779.)
27. In view of the above, we are of the considered opinion that the High Court committed an error in recording the finding of fact that the prosecution succeeded in proving the case beyond reasonable doubt. The High Court failed to meet the grounds pointed out by the trial court in discarding the case of the prosecution and thus, the findings of fact recorded by the High Court remain perverse.
28. In view of the above, the appeal succeeds and is allowed. The judgment and order of the High Court dated 28-2-2007 is hereby set aside and the judgment and order of the trial court dated 31-10-1998 passed in Sessions Case No. 366 of 1996 is restored. The appellant has been enlarged on bail by this Court vide order dated 26-7-2010. The bail bonds stand discharged.