The appellant is a dancing girl and she was charged with the murder of her paramour Murugesa Mudali. She was acquitted of that offence and has been convicted under S. 201(1), Indian Penal Code, for giving false information with intent to screen the offender from legal punishment and sentenced to R.I for three years.
Murugesa Mudali went to the house of the appellant about 3 p.m on the 15th July last and P.W 5 the sweeper woman found him and the appellant lying and chatting on a cot when she left the house about 4-30 p.m There was none else in the house and the appellant came out some time later and shouted “Akka, Akka, see the aniyayam.” The mother and sisters of the appellant who were near their house close by rushed into the house and P.Ws 13 and 14 who were near P.W 13's house next door ran up. The appellant requested them not to crowd and closed the door against them and P.Ws 13 and 14 returned. But P.Ws 15 and 16 who were near the opposite house went and knocked at the door and the sister of the appellant opened it. P.Ws 15 and 16 then went in and they found Murugesa Mudali partially reclining on the chest of the appellant in the room which was almost closed. He was unconscious and breathing heavily and P.Ws 15 and 16 enquired what the matter was. The appellant stated that Murugesa Mudaliar complained of stomach-ache, had a motion and was reduced to that condition and P.Ws 15 and 16 suggested that he should be brought to the verandah. This was done and one of the sisters of the appellant asked P.W 15 to fetch her paramour Sundaresa Pillai. He was brought and P.W 8 was sent for. He was absent from his house and his son P.W 6 was informed. P.W 6 informed his brother P.W 4 who was in the house of Murugesa Mudali and P.Ws 4, 6 and 7 rushed to the spot. Murugesa Mudali was lying unconscious and P.W 2 the mission doctor was sent for. P.W 4 asked the appellant what the matter was and she stated “We were chatting and lying. Mudaliar suddenly complained of stomach-ache. He went to the latrine. He passed no stools. He returned. He had a hiccough. He passed stools in his bed and then he became unconscious.”
But Murugesa Mudali was in fact reduced to that condition by throttling and he died on 18th July of pnuemonia due to throttling. The information given by the appellant was therefore false and on her own statement to P.W 4 there was none else in the house and she and Murugesa Mudali were lying and chatting. There is also the evidence of P.W 5 the sweeper woman to the same effect and whether or not the appellant had any hand in the matter Murugesa Mudali could not have been throttled without her knowledge. The information was thus false to her knowledge and it is obvious that it was given with intent to screen the offender from legal punishment. The information need not be given to the police or the Magistrate under S. 201, Indian Penal Code [vide The Queen v. Subramania Pillai (1), and it is immaterial whether that information is volunteered or given in reply to enquiries [vide Queen Empress v. Ramji Sajaba Rao (2) and The Acting Public Prosecutor v. Chinnappa Reddi (3)]. The conviction under S. 201, Indian Penal Code, is therefore correct and in the circumstances of the case the sentence is not excessive.
The conviction and sentence are therefore confirmed and the appeal is dismissed.
Appeal dismissed.
N.R.R