(Delivered by R.REGUPATHI,J.)
The appellant is the sole accused in Sessions Case No.130 of 2003 on the file of learned Additional District Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court No.I, Chingleput and he was tried for an offence punishable under Section 302 I.P.C. and convicted and sentenced t o imprisonment for life. Aggrieved against the said conviction and sentence, the present appeal has been preferred before this Court.
2. On initial questioning, the accused claimed innocence and therefore, after framing of charges, the trial of the case was taken up. The prosecution examined P.Ws.1 to 15 and marked Exs.P.1 to P.8 and M.Os.1 to 3. The defence, neither examined any witness nor produced any documentary evidence before the trial Court.
3. The case of the prosecution, as putforth by the prosecution is that on 5.2.2002 at about 11.00 a.m., both the accused and the deceased Vijayakumar were staying at Room No.5 in Rahamathullah Begum Trust Lodge. On the promise given by the accused to arrange for the marriage of the deceased with one Komala by performing black magic, the deceased was pestering the accused to arrange for the marriage and also paid money for the same. On the day of occurrence, since the accused did not carry out the promise, a quarrel ensued between the accused and the deceased and on account of that, the accused was alleged to have pushed the deceased on the floor and dashed him against the edge of a cot and caused injuries on his head and thereby, committed the death of the deceased.
4. P.W.1, who is the care taker of the aforementioned lodge, has stated in his evidence that on 5.2.2002 at about 7.00 a.m., two persons came to the lodge and stayed at Room No.5. At about 6.30 p.m., when he went to the room for the purpose of switching on the electric lamps, the door was found opened and after entering into the room, he found the deceased lying dead. P.W.1 gave a complaint, Ex.P.1, to the police. P.W.13, Sub-Inspector of Police, received the said complaint, Ex.P.1 from P.W.1 at 8.45 p.m. and registered a case in Crime No.38 of 2002 under Section 174 Cr.P.C. Ex.P.5 is the printed F.I.R. He took up the investigation and reached the scene of occurrence and prepared an observation mahazar, Ex.P.2, in the presence of P.W.3. He also prepared a rough sketch, Ex.P.6 and recovered a money purse, M.O.1, under cover of Ex.P.3 mahazar. P.W.13 was able to trace out the identity of the deceased through the visiting card found in the money purse and thus, an intimation has been despatched to the parents of the deceased. On the same day, the family members of the deceased reached the police station, they were examined and their statements were recorded. Between 12.00 and 1.00 a.m. on the next day, P.W.13 conducted inquest over the dead body of the deceased and prepared the inquest report, Ex.P.7. The dead body was caused to be photographed by the photographer, P.W.9. M.Os.2 and 3 are the photographs of the dead body of the deceased. Thereafter, the dead body was despatched through P.W.10, police constable, for conducting post-mortem.
5. P.W.2 is the father of the deceased, who has stated that there was love affair between the deceased and one Komala, who is a neighbour in the same street. The deceased demanded P.W.2 for arrangement of his marriage with the said Komala, for which P.W.2 refused. Thereafter, a betrothal function was arranged for the girl with some other person on 27.1.2002. It is the further evidence of P.W.2 that the girl Komala complained to him that the deceased was disturbing her through phone and P.W.2 was alleged to have warned the deceased. Under such circumstances, on 4.2.2002, the deceased received a call in his cell phone and immediately, he went out of the house with a bag containing his dresses and thereafter, did not return back and on 5.2.2002, P.W.2 received the message from the police about the death of the deceased.
6. P.W.6 is the mother of the girl Komala and she has stated in her evidence that initially the deceased wanted to marry her daughter Komala, for which she informed the deceased that he can come along with his parents. Thereafter, she arranged for the betrothal function of her daughter with some other person.
7. During the course of investigation, P.W.13 examined P.W.4, a friend of the deceased and recorded his statement. He altered the case to one under Section 302 I.P.C. and sent the express report, Ex.P.8, to the Court.
8. P.W.4, in his evidence, has stated that he is working as a lorry mechanic in the workshop of P.W.5. He has stated that he and the deceased studied mechanic course at I.T.I. and the deceased used to visit P.W.4 in the workshop very often. One month prior to the date of occurrence, there was a complaint of theft of cash in the workshop of P.W.5. P.W.4 was alleged to have told P.W.5 that he knew the accused, who knows black magic and that if the accused is invited, he may be in a position to find out the person, who committed the theft. Accordingly, the accused came to the workshop and he threatened the workers present in the workshop that on performance of black magic, blood will ooze out from the mouth and nostrils and further threatened them that they must voluntarily come forward and hand over the money. At that time, the deceased also came to that place and he was introduced to the accused by P.W.4. Using this opportunity, the deceased divulged his love affair with Komala to the accused and enquired with the accused as to whether he can arrange for his marriage with Komala by performing black magic, for which the accused demanded Rs.5,000/-. The deceased replied that he can give only Rs.2,000/- and subsequently, paid Rs.1,000/- to the accused. The deceased pestered the accused for the marriage and the accused promised him that by conducting black magic, he would perform the marriage of the deceased with the girl on 6th. Thereafter, the deceased paid Rs.750/- to the accused. On 4.2.2002, the deceased came to the workshop of P.W.4 and accompanied by P.W.4 and P.W.11, he went in search of the accused and finding that the accused was not present in his house, left a message that after the accused returned, he can come to the workshop. All the three returned back. On the same day at about 6.30 p.m., the accused came to the workshop and thereafter, P.W.4, P.W.11, the accused and the deceased proceeded to the bus stand to go to Kovalam. On reaching the bus stand, except P.W.4, others left for Kovalam. On the next day at about 7.00 a.m., P.W.11 returned back and informed P.W.4 that the accused was doing some black magic and afraid of that, he returned back and further requested P.W.4 to go to Kovalam to bring back the deceased. Accordingly, on 5.2.2002, P.W.4 accompanied by P.W.12 went to Kovalam and searched for the deceased and ultimately, reached the lodge, where the deceased and the accused were staying at about 11.30 a.m. They reached Room No.5 and when they pushed the door of the room, they saw the accused standing and after they entered into the room, the accused closed the door. At that time, the appearance of the accused was horrifying. When P.W.4 asked about the deceased, the accused pointed out the place where the deceased was lying down with bleeding injuries. P.W.4 questioned the accused and the accused stated that the deceased was quarrelling with him and was demanding money for not arranging his marriage with Komala and that since the deceased threatened the accused that he would kill the accused if he did not arrange for the marriage, the accused pushed him down and dashed against his head against a wall and thus, committed the death of the deceased. Further, the accused was alleged to have threatened P.W.4 and P.W.12 to return back to their place and not to divulge the incident to anybody. Since P.W.4 and P.W.12 were afraid of the accused, they did not inform about the occurrence to the police. After coming to know about the ill-health of his sister, P.W.4 went to Tiruvallur and returned back only on 12.2.2002. The evidence of P.W.11 and P.W.12 corroborate with the evidence putforth by P.W.4.
9. P.W.15, the Inspector of Police, after the case was altered into Section 302 I.P.C., took up further investigation on 13.2.2002. At about 6.30 a.m., on identification by P.W.4, he caused the arrest of the accused in the presence of witnesses and recorded the statement of the accused. He has visited the scene of occurrence and examined P.W.7, owner of a tea shop at Kovalam. The photograph of the deceased was shown to P.W.7 and a statement was recorded. Thereafter, P.W.15 examined P.W.6, P.W.11, P.W.12, and other witnesses and recorded their statements. He sent the accused to Court for remanding him to judicial custody.
10. P.W.7, in his evidence, has stated that prior to the date of occurrence, he knew the accused, when he was running a tea stall near a water tank at Indira Nagar, Chennai and that he is running the tea stall at Kovalam for the past six years. He has further stated on the day of occurrence at about 5.00 a.m., the accused and another person came to his stall and again at 9.00 a.m., they came to the shop for breakfast. On examination by showing the photograph of the deceased, P.W.7 identified the deceased as the person who came along with the accused on that day.
11. P.W.8 is the doctor, who conducted autopsy on the dead body of the deceased on 6.2.2002 at about 1.00 p.m. and he noticed the following external and internal injuries:-
Abrasions:
1. 2 x 1 cm. on the left cheek.
2. 1 x 0.5 cm. on the right zygoma 2 cm. on the right cheek.
3. 1 x 0.5 cm. on the inner side of the middle of the upper lip with surrounding contusion.
4. 1.05 cm. on the innerside of the right side of the upper lip with surrounding bruising.
5. 0.5 x 0.5 cm. on the inner aspect of left side of the upper lip.
6. 1 x 0.5 cm. on the mucosal surface of the left side of lower lip.
7. 0.5 x 0.5 cm. on the mucosal surface of the middle of lower lip with bruising.
8. 1 x 0.5 cm. on the mucosal surface of right side of lower lip with bruising, the upper jaw gums were bruised. The middle part of lower gums were bruised.
Contusions:
1. 4 x 3 x 1 cm. on the left side forehead near the hair line.
2. 6 x 2 x 1 cm. on the left side forehead over and above the left eyebrow.
3. 2 x 1 x 0.5 cm. on the upper left eye lid, sub-conjunctival haemorrhage on dissection, extensive bruising n the both side frontal and tempero parietal area on the scalp. Sub Dural haemotoma 10 x 8 x 1 cm. on both side frontal and tempero parietal lobes of the brain. Sub Archnoid haemotoma on the left side tempero parietal lobe, frontal lobe and base of the brain, above both side anterior and middle cranial fossal. Intracerebral haemorrhage on both cerebrum, basal jugular and brain sternum.
4. 4 x 2 x 1 cm. on the left side cheek with multiple small abrasions.
5. 6 x 3 x 1 cm. on the front of lower of neck O/D. The underlying soft tissues, muscles of the lower part of the neck were bruised.
O/D. Mucosa membranes of the Larynx and Trachea were bruised with submucosal petechial Haemorrhage.
6. Bruising 2 x 1 x 0.5 cm. on the inner side of the both nostrils and upper lip.
Other findings:
Hyoid Bone intact. Lungs: Sub-pleural petechial Haemorrhages seen incostosternal and diaphragmatic surface of both lungs on C/s. Congested and Oedematous and exudes copious amount of blood stained mucons frothy on pressing with fingers. Heart: Normal size. Coronary outside patent. Coronary vessels patent Great vessels normal. All chambers contained fluid blood. Stomach: Contained 100 grams of partly digested cooked rice particles with brown coloured fluid without any characteristic smell. Mucosa congested. Sub mucosal patechial haemorrhage. Large intestine: Distended with gas. Liver, Spleen and Kidneys c/s. Congested. Bladder empty. Vertebral colum and spinal cord - intact. NAD." P.W.8 issued Ex.P.4, the post-mortem certificate and as to the cause of death, he has opined that the deceased would appear to have died of asphyxia due to smothering with head injuries.
12. P.W.10 is a police constable, who took the dead body of the deceased to the doctor for post-mortem and collected the clothes of the deceased and after the post-mortem, he handed over the body of the deceased to the relatives of the deceased.
13. P.W.14, the Inspector of Police, took up further investigation in the case and on conclusion of the investigation, he laid the final report before the Court.
14. The accused was questioned under Section 313 Cr.P.C. with regard to the incriminating materials available in the oral and documentary evidence adduced on the side of the prosecution and he denied the commission of offence and pleaded innocence. He has stated that he was working as a priest at Sridevi Thulukkanathamman temple at Pattinappakkam and admitted that he knew P.W.4, P.W.11, P.W.12 and the deceased. He has further stated that at the time when they were proceeding to Ayyappan temple, they stayed at Kovalam Durgah and on the day, he met P.W.7 at the tea shop. He has stated that the deceased was found in a disturbed mood and that he was informed by others that the deceased was found dead in a room. Since he developed chest pain, he returned back and was admitted in the hospital on 5th. Neither any oral evidence nor any documentary evidence were adduced on the side of the defence.
15. The learned trial Judge, on hearing the arguments putforth on both sides, convicted and sentenced the appellant as aforementioned.
16. The learned counsel for the appellant submits that P.W.4, who is stated to be the material witness to the occurrence, was examined seven days later, i.e. on 12.2.2002. Though he knew about the occurrence, he did not inform the same to the police and hence, by looking at the conduct of P.W.4, his evidence is unreliable. It is further contended that the case of the prosecution that on identification by P.W.4, the accused was arrested on the next day is unbelievable, because of the reason that the accused was arrested much earlier on 9.2.2002 and kept in the police custody. Similarly, the learned counsel also contended that P.Ws.11 and 12, who also knew about the death of the deceased, did not divulge the same to the police and since their statements were recorded only on 13.2.2002, their conduct is also suspicious and cannot be accepted as truthful witnesses. It is further contended that the mahazar witnesses who were allegedly examined at the time of arrest of the accused, were not examined during the course of trial and since no identification parade has been conducted, relying on the evidence of P.Ws.4, 11 and 12, the prosecution cannot claim that they have substantiated their case. Finally, it is contended that the evidence against the accused is not proved beyond reasonable doubt and thus, the learned counsel prayed for acquittal of the accused.
17. Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the narration given by P.W.2, father of the deceased and P.W.6, mother of the girl Komala, is consistent that the deceased wanted to marry Komala and was making preparation and thus, the prosecution has substantiated the motive part of the occurrence. Further, it is submitted that the accused and the deceased are previously known to P.W.4 and only for the purpose of arranging the marriage of the deceased with Komala on the request of the deceased, both, the accused and the deceased accompanied with P.W.11 reached Kovalam and stayed in a lodge. On the next day, it was P.Ws.4 and P.W.12, who went to the scene of occurrence after receiving information from P.W.11 and found the accused inside the room and received confession from the accused as to how the occurrence had taken place. After seeing the terrific face and ghastly murder of the deceased, it is quite natural for P.Ws.4 and 12 to get afraid of and that is the reason why they had not divulged the occurrence to the police. Unlike other cases, the conduct of P.Ws.4, 11 and 12 in not divulging the fact of their knowledge about the commission of crime can be taken with seriousness because of the reason that an explanation has been given by the witnesses. Moreover, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the occurrence took place in a different place, viz. at Kovalam, where the accused and the deceased were seen together by P.W.7 and thus, the evidence of P.W.7 can be taken as a corroborative piece of evidence along with other materials. Further, the medical evidence also extends corroboration to the narration of the overt act attributed to the accused by P.Ws.4 and 12 and therefore, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the prosecution has established the case beyond reasonable doubt.
18. We have perused the entire materials available on record and heard the submissions made of both sides.
19. Admittedly, the deceased is a friend of P.W.4. The deceased was introduced to the accused only at the workshop, where P.W.4 is working as a lorry mechanic. Only after coming to know about the talents of the accused in performing black magic, the deceased approached the accused seeking his help for arranging his marriage with the girl Komala. Though P.Ws.4, 11 and 12 cautioned the deceased in this regard, it was the deceased who believed the promise of the accused and has given Rs.1,750/- for performing black magic. The evidence of P.W.2, father of the deceased and P.W.6, mother of Komala, is consistent and corroborates with the motive putforth on the side of the prosecution. Only by accepting the promise of the accused, the deceased accompanied the accused to Kovalam and stayed there. It is the evidence of P.W.11 that he returned back after seeing the black magic performed by the accused and only thereafter, the case of the prosecution that P.W.4 and P.W.12 went to the scene of occurrence and found the accused in the company of the deceased, who was lying down in the same room with bleeding injuries. It is P.W.7, who had seen the accused and the deceased together in the morning. The evidence of P.W.8, the post-mortem doctor coupled with Ex.P.4, the post-mortem certificate, clearly establish that the death of the deceased was due to homicidal violence. Moreover, the narration of commission of offence by the accused to P.W.4 and P.W.12 is also corroborated by medical evidence.
20. Though it has been claimed that the evidence of P.W.4 and P.W.12 is unreliable because of their divulging the facts belatedly, their evidence cannot be brushed aside in view of the explanation given by them that they have done so because they are afraid of the accused, who is capable of performing black magic. Moreover, in all probability, if such a defence is taken, the same has to be put to the witnesses concerned in order to elicit favourable answers. But, in the case on hand, the investigating officer has not been cross-examined in this regard.
21. In this connection, it is relevant to refer to the decision of the Apex Court in State of U.P. v. Satish (2005 SCC (Cri.) 642), wherein while dealing with the effect of delayed examination of witness, it was held that, " Unless the investigating officer is categorically asked as to why there was delay in examination of the witnesses, the defence cannot gain any advantage therefrom. It cannot be laid down as a rule of universal application that if there is any delay in examination of a particular witness the prosecution version becomes suspect. It would depend puon several factors. If the explanation offered for the delayed examination is plausible and acceptable and the Court accepts the same as plausible, there is no reason to interfere with the conclusion. On the other hand, if the explanation is found to be implausible, certainly the Court can consider it to be one of the factors to affect credibility of the witnesses who were examined belatedly. It may not have any effect on the credibility of the prosecution's evidence tendered by the other witnesses."
22. Though during the course of investigation, it was suggested that the accused was arrested on 9.2.2002 and kept in illegal custody, when he was questioned under Section 313 Cr.P.C., a different stand has been taken by the accused and even in his statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C., he has admitted the acquaintance of the deceased and other witnesses as well as his presence on the day at Kovalam. Strangely, he has also admitted his meeting of P.W.7, the tea shop owner, at Kovalam. The suggestion put to the witnesses as to the arrest on 9.2.2002 and his illegal detention was not at all mentioned by the accused in his statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. Apart from this, since the accused is known to the witnesses, conducting of identification parade in the case on hand does not arise at all and the non-examination of mahazar witnesses at the time of arrest of the accused also becomes immaterial in view of the fact that no recovery has been made at the instance of the accused.
23. In view of the evidence of P.W.4 and P.W.12, the motive witnesses P.W.2 and P.W.6 and other materials produced on the side of the prosecution, we are of the considered view that the prosecution has proved its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt and therefore, the conviction and sentence passed by the Court below are confirmed. The appeal is dismissed.
