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Patna High Court

Md. Ahsan AlamversusThe State Of Bihar

Decided
Disposal
DISMISSED

Holding

The High Court upheld the conviction of Md Ahsan Alam but acquitted Md Amir Hassan, finding sufficient circumstantial proof against the former and reasonable doubt concerning the latter.

Summary

The case arose from an alleged acid attack on two sisters, Soni and Afsari Parveen, at Akbarpur village in September 2015. The prosecution alleged that Md Ahsan Alam and Md Amir Hassan entered the house, threw acid on the victims, and were convicted under IPC sections 326A, 307, 458 and 354, among others, receiving life imprisonment and additional terms. On appeal, the appellants contended that the evidence was purely circumstantial, identification was impossible in the dark room, and that Amir Hassan was never named in the FIR, invoking the benefit of doubt. The High Court examined the principles governing circumstantial evidence, the adequacy of eyewitness identification under lantern light, and the credibility of the prosecution witnesses. It held that the prosecution had satisfied the requisite chain of circumstances to convict Ahsan Alam, but found insufficient proof of Amir Hassan’s participation, granting him acquittal. Consequently, the appeal of Ahsan Alam was dismissed and his conviction affirmed, while the appeal of Amir Hassan was allowed, resulting in his release.

Issues considered

  • Whether the circumstantial evidence presented was sufficient to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt
  • Whether the victims could reliably identify the accused in the low‑light conditions of the crime scene
  • Whether the benefit of doubt applies to Amir Hassan given his alleged non‑inclusion in the FIR
  • Whether the sentencing imposed on Ahsan Alam is proportionate to the offences under the IPC

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • acid attack
  • circumstantial evidence
  • identification
  • benefit of doubt
  • IPC sections 326A 307 458 354
  • criminal appeal
  • sentencing
  • life imprisonment

Judgment

    IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                 CRIMINAL APPEAL (DB) No.22 of 2019
    Arising Out of PS. Case No.-226 Year-2015 Thana- AKBARPUR District- Nawada
======================================================
Md. Ahsan Alam son of Syed Maksood @ Syed Maksood Alam @ Md.
Maksood Resident of Village - Pachrukhi, P.S.-Akbarpur, District-Nawada
                                                           ... ... Appellant/s
                                  Versus
The State Of Bihar
                                                        ... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
                                   with
                CRIMINAL APPEAL (DB) No. 3 of 2019
    Arising Out of PS. Case No.-226 Year-2015 Thana- AKBARPUR District- Nawada
======================================================
Md. Amir Hassan @ Amir Hassan son of Md. Maksood Resident of village-
Pachrukhi, P.S- Akbarpur, Dist- Nawada
                                                    ... ... Appellant/s
                                  Versus
The State of Bihar
                                                 ... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
(In CRIMINAL APPEAL (DB) No. 22 of 2019)
For the Appellant/s  :    Mr.Shahabuddin Azeem @ S. Azeem
For the Respondent/s :    Mr.Sri Shivesh Chandra Mishra
(In CRIMINAL APPEAL (DB) No. 3 of 2019)
For the Appellant/s  :    Mr.Shahabuddin Azeem @ S. Azeem
For the Respondent/s :    Mr.Sri Dilip Kumar Sinha
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BIBEK CHAUDHURI
                                       and
          HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA
                               ORAL JUDGMENT
(Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BIBEK CHAUDHURI)


 Date : 22-04-2026

             Both the appeals challenged the judgment of

 conviction and order of sentenced passed in Sessions Trial

 Nos.415 of 2016/319 of 2016, arising out of Akbarpur P.S. Case

 No.226 of 2015 on 09.10.2018, whereby and whereunder, the

 learned Additional Sessions Judge, 2nd Court at Nawada
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         convicted both the appellants under Section 235(1) of the

         Cr.P.C. and sentenced them as follows:-

                                   “accused Md. Ahsan Alam is sentenced
                      to imprisonment for life and fine of Rs.1,00,000/-
                      (One lakh) for the guilt of offence under section
                      326A I.P.C. Further accused Md. Ahsan Alam is
                      sentenced to imprisonment for life and fine of
                      Rs.20,000/- (Twenty thousand) for the guilt of
                      offence u/s 307 I.P.C. Further accused Md. Ahsan
                      Alam is sentenced to 14 (fourteen) years rigorous
                      imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000/- (Twenty
                      thousand) for the guilt of offence u/s 458 I.P.C.
                      Accused Ahsan Alam is sentenced to five years
                      rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs.20,000/-
                      (Twenty thousand) for the guilt of offence u/s 354
                      I.P.C.
                                   Accused Amir Hasan is sentenced to
                      imprisonment for life and fine of Rs.1,00,000/-
                      (One lakh) for the guilt of offence under section
                      326A I.P.C. Further accused Amir Hasan is
                      sentenced to imprisonment for life and fine of
                      Rs.20,000/- (Twenty thousand) for the guilt of
                      offence u/s 307/34 I.P.C. Further accused Amir
                      Hasan is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of 14
                      (fourteen) years and fine of Rs.20,000/- (Twenty
                      thousand) for the guilt of offence u/s 458 I.P.C.
                      Further accused Amir Hasan is sentenced to
                      rigorous imprisonment for 05 (five) years and fine
                      of Rs.20,000/- for the guilt of offence u/s 354/34
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                      I.P.C. All the sentences shall run concurrently.
                      Fine imposed in this case to both accused shall be
                      paid as compensation to victim Soni Parveen who
                      is in need of life long help of others and medical
                      aid during whole life.”

                      2. Brief facts leading to filing of the instant appeal are

         as follows :-

                                   “Akbarpur P.S. Case No.226 of 2015
                      dated           14.09.2015            under   Section
                      448/354/307/326(A)/34 of the I.P.C. was registered
                      on the basis of a statement made by one Md. Gayas
                      Khan before S.I. S.N. Chaudhary of Town police
                      station deputed at Sadar Hospital, Nawada at about
                      02:00 P.M. stating, inter-alia, that on 13.09.2015 at
                      about 10:00 P.M. he alogwith his family members
                      went to sleep after taking dinner. Her two
                      daughters, namely, Soni Parveen and Afsari
                      Parveen were lying on the cot in a room and his
                      wife and youngest daughter, namely, Kajal were
                      sleeping on a cot (pkjikbZ). The informant was
                      sleeping with his son, Afsar on the Varandah in
                      front of the said room, where the above-named
                      persons were sleeping. The door of the room was
                      open. At about 11:45 p.m. two neighboring young
                      man, namely, Md. Ahsan Alam and Balal
                      trespassed into his house and unauthorizedly
                      entered into the room, where his wife and
                      daughters were sleeping, then they threw acid on
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                      the body of Soni Parveen causing grievous burn
                      injury upon her person, when acid was thrown on
                      her body some portion of acid was sprinkled over
                      the body of the younger daughter of the informant,
                      namely, Afsari. As a result, both of them received
                      tremendous burning sensation and woke up and
                      raised hue and cry, which attracted the informant.
                      He saw that the above-named two accused persons
                      were fleeing away from his house. He chased them
                      from behind upto the entrance door of his house,
                      but they managed to flee away. The informant
                      returned to the room i.e. the place of occurrence,
                      because his daughters were screaming. The
                      informant also raised hue and cry which attracted
                      local people, they arranged for a four wheeler and
                      the informant brought both her injured daughters to
                      the hospital. On the date of giving Fardbeyan they
                      were under medical treatment. It is also stated by
                      the informant in his Fardbeyan that accused Md.
                      Ahsan used to contact his daughter Soni Parveen
                      over phone for a year long, over the said incident a
                      Panchayat Meeting was held. In the said Panchayat
                      meeting a quarrel broke out between the informant
                      and the accused persons. In order to take revenge
                      of the said incident, they committed the offence.
                      The informant also stated that on the date of
                      occurrence in the evening, the accused persons
                      asked the son of the informant where the family
                      members of the informant used to sleep. He did not
                      give any reply to such question.
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                      3. The oral statement of the informant was reduced to

         writing treated as an F.I.R. and formal F.I.R. was drawn under

         Section 154 of the Cr.P.C. The SHO Akbarpur Police Station

         himself took up the case for investigation.

                      4. On completion of investigation, police submitted

         charge-sheet against the above-named two accused persons and

         one Md. Belal (still absconding) under section 448, 354, 307,

         326(A)/34 of the I.P.C.

                      5. Since, the offence under Section 307 and 326(A) of

         the I.P.C. were triable exclusively by the Court of Sessions, the

         case was committed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate,

         Nawada to the Court of the learned Sessions Judge, Nawada.

         Subsequently, the case was transferred to the 2 nd Court of the

         learned Additional Sessions Judge at Nawada for Trial and

         disposal.

                      6. The learned Trial Judge framed charge against the

         accused persons under Section 458, 326(A)/34, 354/34 of the

         I.P.C. as well as 307/34 I.P.C against the accused persons. The

         charge so framed was read over and explained to them to which

         they pleaded not guilty, accordingly, Trial of the case

         commenced.

                      7. In order to bring the charge against the accused
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         persons, the prosecution examined as many as seven witnesses.

         Amongst them, PW-1, Afsari Khatoon is the daughter of the

         informant, who on the faithful date of occurrence was sleeping

         with her elder sister Soni Parveen in the room of the informant.

         She also received injuries by Acid attack; PW-2, Nuresha

         Khatoon is the wife of the informant; PW-3, Md. Gayas Khan is

         the informant; PW-4, Soni Parveen is the principal injured, who

         received severe burn injuries due to Acid attack and she finally

         survives after prolonged treatment in Patna Medical College and

         Hospital and also in Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi. It is found from

         the record that the cost of her treatment was borne by the State

         Government. PW-5 was Md. Bakar Ahmad is one of the

         neighbours of the informant; PW-6, Dr. Ajay Kumar is the

         Medical Officer, who initially treated the injured girls; PW-7,

         Ranjeet Kumar is the Investigating Officer of this case.

                      8. Defense case as disclosed from the cross-

         examination of the witnesses on behalf of the prosecution and

         examination of the accused persons under Section 313 Cr.P.C.,

         appears to be complete denial and false implication of them by

         the informant.

                      9. In support of the defense, the appellants examined

         six witnesses. Amongst them DW-1 to DW-5 are local witnesses
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         and DW-6 is a Medical Officer of Akbarpur Primary Health

         Centre. It is the specific defense of the accused persons that the

         daughters of the informant received burn injury by acid attack

         by one Arif. However, due to the village dispute and enmity

         between the informant and the accused persons, they were

         falsely implicated. It is also stated that the name of appellant Md.

         Amir Hassan @ Amir Hassan was not even stated in F.I.R. He

         was falsely implicated long after the institution of the case, on

         the basis of a statement made by victim under Section 164 of the

         Cr.P.C. Thirdly, in respect of Md. Ahsan Alam against a specific

         case was made out that on the date of occurrence, the above-

         named appellant was attacked and injured by an Ox and he

         received injury on his leg. He was medically treated in the local

         Medical Health Centre. He was not in a position even to move

         on the date of occurrence. Moreover, he was mentally ill and

         once he tried to commit suicide by drowning in a well. The

         appellants were not at all involved in the incident. However,

         they were falsely implicated in this case.

                      10. The learned Advocate on behalf of both the

         appellants have placed the evidence adduced by the witnesses

         on behalf of the prosecution in detail, in order to show inherent

         contradictions in the evidence of the witness on behalf of the
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         prosecution.

                      11. It is contended by him that PW-1, PW-2, PW-3 &

         PW-4, all are members of the family. They are absolutely

         interested and inimical against the appellants. Therefore, the

         appellants were falsely implicated in this case.

                      12. In order to substantiate his contention, it is

         submitted by him that admittedly when the above-named

         witnesses were sleeping, when the victim namely, Soni and

         Afsari received acid attack and injuries, the victims were

         sleeping inside a room. From their evidence, it is found that they

         woke up after receiving injuries. Thus, none of the victims saw

         any of the appellants actually committing the offence. In the

         absence of such evidence, the appellants were implicated only

         on circumstantial evidence. There is no eye witness account of

         the incident. It is stated by both the victims that as soon as they

         felt burning sensation on their persons, they woke up and saw

         the appellants.

                      13. It is needless to say that while a person is sleeping

         in a room, the room is kept in dark. There is no specific

         evidence coming from the witnesses on behalf of the

         prosecution that the victims and the wife of the informant saw

         the appellants committing the offence.
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                      14. The learned Advocate on behalf of the appellants

         next drew our attention to the cross-examination of PW-2-

         Nuresha Khatoon, who is mother of the victim. The specific

         suggestion was put to her that at the time of occurrence, there

         was no electricity and it was a low shade. Therefore, it was not

         possible for her or anybody to identify the accused persons.

         After hearing the scream of the victims, she lit a lighter and

         found her elder daughter Soni turning black receiving acid

         injuries. Therefore, PW-2 cannot be a witness of the incident of

         throwing acid over her daughters.

                      15. Even if the evidence of PW-3, Md. Gayas Khan is

         accepted on his face value, he saw the accused persons fleeing

         away from his house. Now a specific question is raised that if

         some outsiders entered into the house of another and thereafter,

         flee away it cannot be said that they entered into the house to

         commit acid attack injury on the persons of the family members

         of the informant. There may be other reasons like committing

         theft or any other offence by the trespassers, but in the absence

         of specific evidence in this regard, the learned Trial Judge was

         wrong to hold both the accused persons guilty for committing

         offence under the sections, in which they were charge. Thirdly,

         it is submitted by the learned Advocate for the accused/
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         appellants that from the evidence of PW-1 it appears that the

         informant and the victims went first to the police station and

         thereafter, to the District Hospital, Nawada. PW-1 also stated

         that in the police station they met the police officer. According

         to the learned Advocate for the appellants, when the informant

         made the police officer for the first time before going to the

         hospital, there must have been some statement made by him to

         the police officer, which ought to have been treated as the First

         Information Report. Withholding of the initial statement about

         the incident makes the prosecution case doubtful and the

         foundation of the prosecution case is shaken. Thus, it is

         concluded by the learned Advocate on behalf of the appellants

         that the prosecution failed to prove all circumstances, which

         may be treated as hypothesis to the guilt of the appellants.

         Therefore, the appellants are entitled to get benefit of doubt.

                      16. The learned Advocate on behalf of the

         prosecution, on the other hand, submits that prosecution has

         been able to bring home the charge against the accused persons.

         The prosecution has also proved the motive behind the acid

         attack because appellant Md. Ahsan Alam wanted to marry

         Soni, but Soni refused his proposal and over the said incident a

         Panchayat meeting was held. In spite of such settlement by the
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         Panchayat, the principal appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam wanted to

         marry Soni. Since, she refused to marry him, she received an

         unfortunate fate and practically her appearance was disfigured

         by acid attack.

                      17. The learned Advocate on behalf of the informant

         has also supported the prosecution case.

                      18. Having heard the learned Advocates for the parties

         and on perusal of the materials on record, we are of the view

         that this is a case absolutely of circumstantial evidence. The

         golden role of probity of circumstantial evidence has been laid

         down in Sharad Birdhichand Sarda Vs. State of Maharashtra,

         reported in (1984) 4 SCC 116 in the following words:-

                                   “153. A close analysis of this decision
                      would show that the following conditions must be
                      fulfilled before a case against an accused can be
                      said to be fully established:
                                   (1) the circumstances from which the
                      conclusion of guilt is to be drawn should be fully
                      established.
                                   It may be noted here that this Court
                      indicated that the circumstances concerned "must
                      or should" and not "may be" established. There is
                      not only a grammatical but a legal distinction
                      between "may be proved" and "must be or should
                      be proved" as was held by this Court in Shivaji
                      Sahabrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra where
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                      the observations were made: [SCC para 19, p.
                      807: SCC (Cri) p. 1047]
                                   "Certainly, it is a primary principle that
                      the accused must be and not merely may be guilty
                      before a court can convict and the mental distance
                      between 'may be' and 'must be' is long and divides
                      vague conjectures from sure conclusions."
                                   (2) the facts so established should be
                      consistent only with the hypothesis of the guilt of
                      the accused, that is to say, they should not be
                      explainable on any other hypothesis except that
                      the accused is guilty,
                                   (3) the circumstances should be of a
                      conclusive nature and tendency,
                                   (4) they should exclude every possible
                      hypothesis except the one to be proved, and
                                   (5) there must be a chain of evidence so
                      complete as not to leave any reasonable ground
                      for the conclusion consistent with the innocence of
                      the accused and must show that in all human
                      probability the act must have been done by the
                      accused.”

                      19. These five golden principals was subsequently

         followed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Abdul Nassar Vs.

         State of Kerala, reported in 2025 INSC 35.

                      20. In the instant case, the following circumstances

         are found to be proved. Md. Ahsan Alam wanted to marry
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         victim Soni. There is no cross-examination by the defense to

         challenged the said claim by the witness. Secondly, it is

         sufficiently proved by the witnesses on behalf of the prosecution

         that even on the date of occurrence in the evening, Afsari

         Khatoon was threatened by the accused persons saying that Soni

         would have to marry Md. Ahsan Alam. Soni did not agree.

         Therefore, Md. Ahsan Alam had grudge against Soni.

                      21. Another important circumstance is that the

         incident took place at about 11:45 P.M. in village Pachrukhi

         within Akbarpur police station. At the point of time, the

         informant, victims and all other members of the family were

         sleeping. Both the victims stated on oath that a lantern was

         burning inside their room and as soon as they received burning

         sensation, they woke up and saw the accused persons. It is very

         natural that a person will wake up within a split of second from

         sleep receiving tremendous burn injury by acid attack. Thus, it

         is very probable and possible to see the accused persons inside

         the room of the victims. Thirdly, beside the victims, no evidence

         is forthcoming that any third person entered into the said room

         to commit any such offence.

                      22. In course of cross-examination of the victims by

         the defense, it was not suggested that the room where the
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         victims received acid attack was dark; there was no source of

         light or that lantern was not burning in the said room. In the

         absence of such cross-examination, we have no reason to

         disbelieve the evidence of the PW-1 and PW-4 regarding source

         of light and identification of the accused persons by them.

                      23. In State of U.P. Vs. Hari Prasad & Ors., reported

         in 1974 AIR 1740, the accused took a defense that as the

         deceased was sleeping inside a room and there was no source of

         light it was not possible for him to identify the deceased and

         committed murder.

                      24. The Hon’ble Supreme Court observed that it was

         difficult to disbelieve that though a lantern was burning just near

         the place where Vishwanath, deceased,was sleeping, the accused

         were unable to identify him. They knew Vishwanath intimately

         and it is highly unlikely that they would commit a mistake of

         such a grave nature. Indeed, if the various eye-witnesses were

         able to identify the accused in the light of the lantern, the

         accused should have been able to identify Vishwanath.

                      25. In the instant case, appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam was

         previously known to the victim. According to the prosecution

         case, he wanted to marry PW-4-Soni Parveen. Both the

         appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam and the victim reside in the same
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         village. Therefore, we have no hesitation to hold that the

         appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam was identified in the light of the

         lantern.

                      26. Identification in the light of lantern was also held

         to be proved in the subsequent decisions by the Supreme Court

         in Dina Vs. State of U.P., reported in AIR 1978 SC 1605, Nath

         Singh Vs. State of U.P., reported in 1980 SCC (Crl) 968.

                      27. In State of U.P. Vs. Manohar Lal, reported in

         AIR 1981 SC 2073, all the accused were known persons. Two of

         the eye witnesses had opportunity of seeing the accused persons

         from a very close distance. On such factual background, the

         Hon’ble Supreme Court held that even if there is no sufficient

         light they could have been identified by voice, by gait and by

         their features. This observation by the Hon’ble Supreme Court

         is absolutely applicable in the instant case. As the appellant-Md.

         Ahsan Alam was well known to the victims, they had no

         difficulty to identify him.

                      28. Though the learned Advocate on behalf of the

         appellants strenuously urged that the mother of the victim told

         that there was no electricity at that point of time and after

         hearing the scream of her daughters she lit the lantern, but the

         fact remains the above fact was suggested to the said witness
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         which she denied, meaning thereby she also supported the

         evidence of the victims with regard to identification.

                      29. On the issue of identification, the evidence of PW-

         3, Md. Gayas Khan is that when he woke up he saw the accused

         persons fleeing from his room. The said fact was not challenged

         by the defense. There is no explanation as to why the appellants

         entered into the said room. PW-5 is an independent witness,

         who also stated that on the date and time of occurrence, he came

         out from her house to ease himself and saw the accused persons

         fleeing away. There is no reason to disbelieve the evidence of

         PW-5. The extent of acid attack injury has been fully described

         by PW-6 as hereunder :-

                      Injury of victim-Soni Praween-
                      “1) On the face whole (face) area burn.
                       2) B. eye white cornea by the Acid burn No.P.L.PR.
                      3) On the neck acid bur 6”x2”
                      4) Both thigh, acid burn 6”x3”
                      5) Both fore arm acid bur 2”x2”
                      6) On the back side acid burn 6”x3”
                                  Opinion on – Refd. To P.M.C.H. Patna
                     for proper treatment and management and opinion
                     is Reserved upto P.M.C.S. Report.
                      M.I- Wound spot on the back side.
                      Time of wound – Between four to six hrs.”
                      Injury of victim-Afshari Praween
                      1) Acid burn on the buttock Rt. Side 3”x2”.
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                      2) On the neck burn 1”x2”.
                      Opinion- Simple in nature due to Acid burn.
                      Time of wound-Between four to six hrs.
                      M.I-Til on the neck back side.”

                      30. Added with the said circumstances, another

         important factor is required to be stated in this case that the

         accused Md. Ahsan Alam took the specific defense that he was

         not in a position to move on the date of occurrence on being

         attacked by an Ox on his legs. In support of his contention,

         defense examined PW-6, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, from his evidence

         we find that the above-named appellant came to the Primary

         Health Centre on the date of occurrence in the evening with a

         complaint of chest pain. Thus, the defense plea of receiving

         injury by appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam begin attacked by a Ox is

         proved to be false. Last but not the least, added with the above

         circumstances, abscondance of the said accused immediately

         after the occurrence adds to another circumstance proving

         involvement of the accused in the offence.

                      31. So far as the involvement of Md. Amir Hassan @

         Amir Hassan is concerned, we are of the view that appellant

         Md. Amir Hassan @ Amir Hassan was not named in the F.I.R.

         He was not implicated by the witnesses during their

         examination under Section 161 Cr.P.C.. Only in the statement
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         under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. recorded by the learned

         Magistrate after a pretty long time of the incident after about 04

         (four) months, the said appellant was implicated. Therefore,

         false implication of Md. Amir Hassan @ Amir Hassan cannot be

         ruled out. As such, he is entitled to get benefit of doubt.

                      32. In view of the above discussion and on

         independent appreciation of evidence, we find that the Trial

         Court rightly convicted accused/appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam.

                      33. However, we are of the view that the appellant-

         Md. Ahsan Alam in Cr. Appeal (DB) No.22 of 2019 is entitled

         to get benefit of doubt in view of the fact that his specific role in

         the offence has not been proved.

                      34. The learned Advocate on behalf of the appellant-

         Md. Ahsan Alam submits that the quantum of sentence was not

         in parity with the offence committed. For the offence of causing

         injury by acid attack, the appellant ought not to have been

         sentence to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life.

                      35. We have given anxious thought over the matter. It

         is needless to say that causing grievous injury by acid attack is a

         serious offence. Such attack does not only cause burning injury

         on the person of the victim. It is sufficient to cause victims dis-

         feaguration.
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                      36. In the instant case, it is submitted by the learned

         Advocate on behalf of the State-Respondent that the victim was

         recovered after a prolonged treatment in Safdarjung Hospital,

         New Delhi. Her face and other parts of the body has been totally

         dis-feagured. The appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam practically took

         away all youthful dream of the victim, which she might cherish

         to come in her future life. She is now living as a burden to her

         parents. She has lost all her hops in her life.

                      37. Under such circumstance, if we modify the

         quantum of sentence by awarding lesser punishment to the

         appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam in Cr. Appeal(DB) No.22 of 2019,

         we shall fail to do justice in favour of the victims.

                      38. For the reasons stated above, we are not in a

         position to modify the sentence passed by the Trial Court

         against appellant-Md. Ahsan Alam.

                      39. As a result, Criminal Appeal (DB) No.22 of 2019

         is dismissed on contest. The judgment of conviction and order

         of sentenced passed in Sessions Trial Nos.415 of 2016/319 of

         2016, arising out of Akbarpur P.S. Case No.226 of 2015 is

         affirmed.

                      40. Criminal Appeal (DB) No.03 of 2019 is however

         allowed on contest.
             Patna High Court CR. APP (DB) No.22 of 2019 dt.22-04-2026
                                                        20/20




                                   41. Appellant-Md. Amir Hassan @ Amir Hassan is

                      acquitted of the charge, set at liberty and release from bail. If the

                      appellant-Md. Amir Hassan @ Amir Hassan is in custody

                      released order be issued at once, if not wanted in any other case.




                                                (Bibek Chaudhuri, J)


                                             ( Chandra Shekhar Jha, J)

mdrashid/-
AFR/NAFR                N/A
CAV DATE                22.04.2026
Uploading Date          27.04.2026
Transmission Date       27.04.2026


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