Supreme Court of India
CHOTKAUversusSTATE OF UTTAR PRADESH
- Citation
- 2022 INSC 1032
- Decided
- 28 September 2022
- Disposal
- Appeal(s) allowed
- Bench
- S ABDUL NAZEER
Holding
The conviction and death sentence were set aside because the contradictory witness testimony, the unexplained FIR delay, and the failure to conduct a medical examination rendered the prosecution case untenable.
Summary
The appellant, Chotkau, was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a six‑year‑old girl based solely on the testimonies of three prosecution witnesses and circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court found serious contradictions in the witnesses' accounts regarding the FIR filing, the handling of the dead body, the inquest, and the victim's clothing, rendering their evidence untrustworthy. A five‑day delay in transmitting the FIR to the jurisdictional court was held to be fatal, especially because the ocular evidence was unreliable. The prosecution also failed to medically examine the accused under Section 53A of the CrPC, creating a gaping evidentiary gap. Consequently, the Court set aside the conviction and death sentence, ordering the appellant’s release.
Issues considered
- The trustworthiness of prosecution witnesses' testimonies given the contradictions.
- The effect of a five‑day delay in forwarding the FIR to the jurisdictional court on the prosecution case.
- The fatality of the prosecution's failure to medically examine the accused under Section 53A/53 of the CrPC.
- The impact of alleged irregularities in recording the accused's statement under Section 313 of the CrPC.
- Whether the conviction and death sentence should be upheld on the basis of the circumstantial evidence.
Legislation cited
- Amendment Act 25 of 2005 (CrPC)
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 157, s. 159, s. 164A, s. 313, s. 366, s. 53, s. 53A
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 106
- Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 302, s. 376
Subjects
rapemurdercircumstantial evidenceFIR delaymedical examinationSection 53ASection 157death penaltyevidentiary contradictions
Judgment
[2022] 9 S.C.R. 601 601
CHOTKAU A
v.
STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH
(Criminal Appeal No.361-362 of 2018)
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 B
[S. ABDUL NAZEER, A. S. BOPANNA AND V.
RAMASUBRAMANIAN, JJ.]
Penal Code, 1860: ss.376, 302 – Rape and murder –
Conviction for, and death sentence by courts below – Challenged –
C
Held: There were very serious contradictions in the evidence
tendered by prosecution witnesses on crucial aspects which made
them completely untrustworthy – Sessions Court as well as the High
Court trivialized the major contradictions to hold that the chain of
circumstances was established unbroken – Delay of five days in
transmitting the FIR to the jurisdictional court was fatal – Failure D
of the prosecution to subject the accused to medical examination
when ocular evidence is untrustworthy was certainly fatal –
Conviction and sentence set aside – Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973 – ss.366, 313, 157, 53, 53A – Evidence Act,1872 – s.106.
FIR: Delay in forwarding FIR to jurisdictional Court – Effect E
on prosecution case – Held: While every delay in forwarding the
FIR may not necessarily be fatal to the case of the prosecution,
Courts may be duty bound to see the effect of such delay on the
investigation and even the creditworthiness of the investigation –
The word “forthwith’ in s.157(1) of the Code is to be understood in
F
the context of the given facts and circumstances of each case and a
straight-jacket formula cannot be applied in all cases – But where
ocular evidence is found to be unreliable and thus unacceptable, a
long delay has to be taken note of by the Court – Delay of five days
in transmitting the FIR to the jurisdictional court, especially in the
facts and circumstances of the present case was fatal – Code of G
Criminal Procedure, 1973 – s.157(1).
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: s.53A – Relevance of
medical examination of rape accused in cases based on
circumstantial evidence – In cases where the victim of rape is alive
and is in a position to testify in court, it may be possible for the H
601
602 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A prosecution to take a chance by not medically examining the accused
– But in cases where the victim is dead and the offence is sought to
be established only by circumstantial evidence, medical evidence
assumes great importance – Failure of prosecution to produce
such evidence, despite there being no obstacle from the accused
or anyone, will certainly create a gaping hole in the case of
B
the prosecution and give rise to a serious doubt on the case of the
prosecution – s.53A enables the prosecution to obtain a significant
piece of evidence to prove the charge – Failure of the prosecution
in the instant case to subject the appellant to medical examination
is certainly fatal to the prosecution case especially when the
C ocular evidence is found to be not trustworthy.
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: Difference between s.64A
and s.53A – Discussed.
Allowing the appeals, the Court
D HELD : 1. Trustworthiness of the testimonies of PWs 1 to
3: There were very serious contradictions, both mutual and
otherwise, in the evidence tendered by PWs 1 to 3, on crucial
aspects such as, (i) the mode of Lodging of the FIR; (ii) the place
where the dead body was first seen by the police, persons took
the body from the place of occurrence and where it was taken to;
E (iii) the Place, Date and Time of conduct of the inquest; and (iv)
the clothes on the body of the victim, recovered by the police.
These contradictions make the evidence of PWs 1 to 3 completely
untrustworthy. The Sessions Court as well as the High Court
have trivialized these major contradictions to hold that the chain
F of circumstances have been established unbroken. [Para 57][620-
D-E]
2.1 Delay in transmitting the FIR to court: The delay in
forwarding the FIR may certainly indicate the failure of one of
the external checks to determine whether the FIR was
G manipulated later or whether it was registered either to fix
someone other than the real culprit or to allow the real culprit to
escape. While every delay in forwarding the FIR may not
necessarily be fatal to the case of the prosecution, Courts may
be duty bound to see the effect of such delay on the investigation
and even the creditworthiness of the investigation. This Court
H
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 603
have found that the evidence of P.Ws. 1 to 3 is untrustworthy, A
particularly on the question of the origin and genesis of the first
information report. Therefore, the inordinate delay in the FIR
reaching the jurisdictional court assumes significance. The word
“forthwith’ in Section 157(1) of the Code is to be understood in
the context of the given facts and circumstances of each case and
B
a straight-jacket formula cannot be applied in all cases. But where
ocular evidence is found to be unreliable and thus unacceptable,
a long delay has to be taken note of by the Court. The mandate
of Section 157(1) of the Code being clear, the prosecution is
expected to place on record the basic foundational facts, such as,
the Officer who took the first information report to the C
jurisdictional court, the authority which directed such a course
of action and the mode by which it was complied. Explaining the
delay is a different aspect than placing the material in compliance
of the Code. [Para 61 & 66][622-H; 623-A-B; 624-G; 625-A-B]
2.2 In the present case, it is not even known as to who D
took the first information report from P.W.6 or P.W.4 and
submitted before the jurisdictional court. Neither PW4 nor PW6
spoke about the person who took the FIR to the court. They did
not say that they took it to the court. It is not a case of mere
delay in sending the first information report, but one involving
the contradictory evidence by the prosecution witnesses on the E
manner in which the first information report is written. Therefore,
delay of 5 days in transmitting the FIR to the jurisdictional court,
especially in the facts and circumstances of this case was fatal.
[Paras 67 & 68][625-C; 626-B-C]
3.1 Failure to conduct medical examination: Section 53(1) F
of the Code enables a police officer not below the rank of Sub-
Inspector to request a registered medical practitioner, to make
such an examination of the person arrested, as is reasonably
necessary to ascertain the facts which may afford such evidence,
whenever a person is arrested on a charge of committing an G
offence of such a nature that there are reasonable grounds for
believing that an examination of his person will afford evidence
as to the commission of an offence. [Para 72][626-G-H]
H
604 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A 3.2 By Amendment Act 25 of 2005, by which Section 53A
was inserted, Section 164A was also inserted in the Code. While
Section 53A enables the medical examination of the person
accused of rape, Section 164A enables medical examination of
the victim of rape. Both these provisions are somewhat similar
and can be said approximately to be a mirror image of each
B
other. But there are three distinguishing features. They are:-
(i) Section 164A requires the prior consent of thewomen
who is the victim of rape. Alternatively, the consent of a
person competent to give such consent on her behalf should have
been obtained before subjecting the victim to medical
C examination. Section 53A does not speak about any such consent;
(ii) Section 164A requires the report of the medical
practitioner to contain among other things, the general mental
condition of the women. This is absent in Section 53A;
D (iii) Under Section 164A(1), the medical examination by a
registered medical practitioner is mandatory when, “it is proposed
to get the person of the women examined by a medical expert”
during the course of investigation. This is borne out by the use
of the words, “such examination shall be conducted”. In contrast,
Section 53A(1) merely makes it lawful for a registered medical
E practitioner to make an examination of the arrested person if
“there are reasonable grounds for believing that an examination
of his person will afford evidence as to the commission of such
offence”. [Para 79][630-F-H; 631-A-C]
3.2 In cases where the victim of rape is alive and is in a
F position to testify in court, it may be possible for the prosecution
to take a chance by not medically examining the accused. But in
cases where the victim is dead and the offence is sought to be
established only by circumstantial evidence, medical evidence
assumes great importance. The failure of the prosecution to
G produce such evidence, despite there being no obstacle from
the accused or anyone, will certainly create a gaping hole in the
case of the prosecution and give rise to a serious doubt on the
case of the prosecution. The Court does not wish to go into the
question whether Section 53A is mandatory or not. Section 53A
enables the prosecution to obtain a significant piece of evidence
H
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 605
to prove the charge. The failure of the prosecution in this case A
to subject the appellant to medical examination is certainly fatal
to the prosecution case especially when the ocular evidence is
found to be not trustworthy. [Para 80][631-D-F]
4. Though arguments were advanced even on (i) the manner
in which the statement of the accused was recorded under Section B
313 of the Code; (ii) the failure of the Court to comply with the
mandate of Section 313(1)(b) of the Code in letter and spirit; and
(iii) the consequences of such failure, we do not think it necessary
to go into the said question. This is for the reason that we have
found in Part-I of this order that the evidence of P.Ws 1 to 3 are
not trustworthy and in Part-III of this order that the failure of the C
prosecution to subject the appellant to medical examination was
fatal. These findings are sufficient to overturn the verdict of
conviction and penalty. [Para 82][631-G-H; 632-A]
Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra
(1984) 4 SCC 116 : [1985] 1 SCR 88; Meharaj Singh D
(L/Nk.) v. State of U.P (1994) 5 SCC 188 : [1994] 3
SCR 592; Bhajan Singh alias Harbhajan Singh and
Others v. State of Haryana (2011) 7 SCC 421 : [2011]
7 SCR 1; Brahm Swaroop and Another v. State of Uttar
Pradesh (2011) 6 SCC 288 : [2010] 15 SCR 1; Balram E
Singh and Another v. State of Punjab (2003) 11 SCC
286; State of Rajasthan v. Daud Khan (2016) 2 SCC
607 : [2015] 13 SCR 1131; Jafarudheen and Ors. v.
State of Kerala 2022 SCC Online SC 495; Krishan
Kumar Malik v. State of Haryana (2011) 7 SCC 130 :
[2011] 8 SCR 774; Rajendra Pralhadrao Wasnik v. F
State of Maharashtra (2019) 12 SCC 460 : [2018] 14
SCR 585 – relied on.
Case Law Reference
[1985] 1 SCR 88 relied on Para 9 G
[1994] 3 SCR 592 relied on Para 59
[2011] 7 SCR 1 relied on Para 60
[2010] 15 SCR 1 relied on Para 62
H
606 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A (2003) 11 SCC 286 relied on Para 63
[2015] 13 SCR 1131 relied on Para 64
[2011] 8 SCR 774 relied on Para 75
[2018] 14 SCR 585 relied on Para 77
B CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
Nos. 361-362 of 2018.
From the Judgment and Order dated 18.04.2016 of the High Court
of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench in Capital Sentence No.4
of 2014 and Criminal Appeal No. 570 of 2014.
C
S. Nagamuthu, Sr. Adv., Ms. Shivani Misra, Harsh Parashar,
Chanakya Sharma, Ms. Chetna Bhargava, D. S. Vairawan,
R. Sudhakaran, G. R. Vikash, Subrahmanya Bhanu, Advs. for the
Appellant.
Ardhendumauli Kumar Prasad, AAG, Parmanand Pandey,
D
Ms. Shreya Srivastava, Ashish Madaan, Ms. Ananya Sahu, Aman Singh
Bhadauria, Utkarsh Pandey, Advs. for the Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.
E 1. Convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and
376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short “IPC”) and sentenced to
death by the Sessions Court, which was also confirmed by the High
Court on a reference and an appeal, the sole accused has come up with
the above appeals.
F 2. We have heard Shri S. Nagamuthu, learned senior counsel for
the appellant and Shri Ardhendumauli Kumar Prasad, learned Additional
Advocate General for the State of Uttar Pradesh.
3. The case of the prosecution was that on 08.03.2012 at about
20:10 hrs., one Kishun Bahadur, resident of Village Semgarha, P.S Ikauna,
G District Shravasti lodged a complaint at Police Station Ikauna alleging
that at about 4:00 p.m on the same day, the appellant herein took his
niece aged about 6 years under the pretext of showing dance and song
performances on the occasion of the Holi Festival. When the girl did not
return home, a search was conducted. It was found that the appellant
was not found in his house, but the dead body of the girl was found in the
H
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 607
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
sugarcane field located on the southern side of the village. Another villager A
by name Fatehpur Bahadur, who was part of the team that searched for
the missing girl, claimed to have seen the appellant leaving the sugarcane
field after about half-an-hour. Therefore, invoking the last seen theory
and on the basis of circumstantial evidence, the appellant was charged
for the commission of the offences of raping the minor girl and murdering
B
her.
4. The prosecution examined six witnesses, namely, (i) Kishun
Bahadur, the first informant and the uncle of the victim, as PW-1; (ii)
Shri Raj Karan, a localite who claimed to have seen the appellant carrying
the victim towards the sugarcane field and who was cited as a witness
to the inquest, as PW-2; (iii) one Fatehpur Bahadur, who was part of the C
search party and who claimed to have seen the appellant leaving the
sugarcane field after about half an hour, as PW-3; (iv) the Head Constable
Balram Tripathi, the scribe of the First Information Report who registered
the FIR, as PW-4; (v) Dr. Mukesh Kumar who conducted the post-
mortem, as PW-5; and (vi) the Investigation Officer Shri Rambali Roy D
as PW-6.
5. During questioning under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure (hereinafter referred to as the “Code”), the appellant denied
the charges and claimed that he had been falsely implicated in the case,
at the behest of one Mr. Zalim Khan, with a view to grab the property of E
his mother, who was none other than Zalim Khan’s brother’s daughter.
To substantiate this claim, the appellant also examined his mother as
DW-1.
6. Holding that the guilt of the appellant stood established beyond
reasonable doubt by circumstantial evidence and also holding that it is F
one of the rarest of rare cases where a six year old girl had been raped
and murdered, the Sessions Court convicted the appellant for the offences
punishable under Sections 302 and 376 of the IPC and awarded death
penalty.
7. The proceedings were then submitted to the High Court under G
Section 366(1) of the Code for confirmation. The appellant also filed an
appeal. The capital punishment reference as well as the appeal filed by
the appellant were taken up together by the Division Bench of the High
Court and the High Court confirmed the conviction and sentence. The
High Court came to the said conclusion on the basis that the evidence of
H
608 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A PWs 1 to 3 were trustworthy and that the chain of circumstances pointing
to the guilt of the appellant stood established unbroken, by their evidence.
The discrepancies in the testimonies of PWs 1 to 3 pointed out by the
appellant were rejected as minor and insignificant. The theory of animosity
and false implication put forth by the appellant and sought to be established
through the evidence of DW-1 were rejected by the High Court. The
B
High Court found fault with the appellant for not coming up with any
explanation as to what happened to the girl, especially in the light of the
burden cast upon him under Section 106 of the Evidence Act.
8. The arguments of the appellant regarding the delay in sending
the FIR to the Court and the faulty manner in which the questioning
C under Section 313 of the Code was done, were rejected by the High
Court and the High Court finally agreed with the Sessions Court that it is
one of the rarest of rare cases where the appellant has exhibited a deviant
behaviour and abnormal sexual urge, thereby forfeiting his right to life.
Accordingly, the High Court confirmed the death penalty. Under these
D circumstances, the accused is on appeal before us.
9. Obviously and admittedly, the prosecution of the appellant is
based on circumstantial evidence and hence we may have to see whether
the chain of circumstances is complete and unbroken. As held by this
Court in Sharad Birdhichand Sarda vs. State of Maharashtra 1, the
E Court must keep in mind five golden principles or the panchsheel, lucidly
brought out in para 153 of the decision, as follows:-
“153. ... ... ...
(1) the circumstances from which the conclusion of guilt is to
be drawn should be fully established.
F
… …. …
(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,
G
(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
1
H (1984) 4 SCC 116
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 609
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
(5) there must be a chain of evidence so complete as not to A
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.”
10. In this case, the prosecution sought to establish the guilt of the B
appellant, only through the evidence of PWs 1 to 3. PWs 1 and 2 had
seen the victim being taken towards the sugarcane field. PW-3 had seen
the appellant taking the victim from the house and also leaving the
sugarcane field half-an-hour later. When the search was conducted for
the missing girl, her dead body was found in the sugarcane field and the
appellant was absconding. On a cumulative consideration of these C
circumstances and applying the last seen theory and invoking the burden
of proof cast under Section 106 of the Evidence Act, the Sessions Court
and the High Court came to the conclusion that the appellant was guilty.
11. Assailing the concurrent judgments of the Sessions Court and
the High Court, it was contended by Shri S. Nagamuthu, learned senior D
counsel for the appellant that the evidence of PWs 1 to 3 is untrustworthy;
that there was an unexplained delay of five days in forwarding the FIR
to the jurisdictional Court; that there were serious contradictions regarding
the place where the body of the victim was kept and the place where
the inquest was conducted; that the evidence to support the last seen E
theory was insufficient to convict the appellant; that there was complete
failure on the part of the prosecution to examine material witnesses;
that in a shocking abdication of duties, the I.O. failed to produce forensic/
medical evidence; and that the mandatory requirement of Section 313
of the Code was not fulfilled.
F
12. However, it was contended by Shri Ardhendumauli Kumar
Prasad, learned AAG for the State that there are no reasons for PWs 1
to 3 to implicate the appellant; that their evidence was found to be cogent
and trustworthy by two Courts; that the delay in forwarding the FIR to
the court did not vitiate the trial and did not prejudice the appellant; that
any defect in the questioning under Section 313 of the Code, may not G
ipso facto vitiate the findings, unless prejudice is shown; and that the
forensic/medical evidence is not always mandatory.
13. We have carefully considered the rival contentions. In our
view, the questions that crop up for our consideration revolve around –
H
610 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A (i) the trustworthiness of the testimonies of PWs 1 to 3, in the light of
certain contradictions; (ii) the consequences of the delay on the part of
the Police in forwarding the FIR to the Court; (iii) the failure of the
prosecution to produce forensic/medical evidence and its effect and (iv)
the manner in which the questioning under Section 313 of the Code was
undertaken and its effect upon the findings recorded.
B
I. Trustworthiness of the testimonies of PWs 1 to 3
14. As we have indicated earlier, the guilt of the appellant is sought
to be established by the prosecution, by (i) relying upon the testimonies
of PWs 1 to 3 for invoking the last seen theory; and (ii) invoking Section
C 106 of the Evidence Act.
15. It is needless to point out that for the prosecution to successfully
invoke Section 106 of the Evidence Act, they must first establish that
there was “any fact especially within the knowledge of the” appellant.
This can be done by the prosecution only by proving that the victim was
D last seen in the company of the appellant. To establish this last seen
theory, the prosecution relies upon the evidence of PWs 1 to 3. PWs 1
and 2 claim to have seen the appellant taking away the girl at 04:00 p.m
on 08.03.2012. PW-3 claims to have seen the appellant leaving the
sugarcane field after about half-an-hour. Therefore, according to the
prosecution, the burden of showing what happened to the girl was heavily
E upon the appellant/accused.
16. Hence we have to see whether the evidence of PWs 1 to 3
was trustworthy and same proved the last seen theory. Both the Sessions
Court as well as the High Court have found the evidence of PWs 1 to 3
to be cogent and trustworthy. The contradictions pointed out by the
F defence were held by both the Courts to be minor and insignificant.
Therefore, being the third Court exercising jurisdiction under Article 136
of the Constitution, we have to tread a very careful path while considering
the question of trustworthiness of these witnesses.
17. Unlike other cases, the appellant in this case has taken a defence
G right from the beginning that he was implicated falsely at the behest of a
locally powerful person whose wife is the Pradhan of the village. The
case projected by the appellant was (i) that his maternal grandfather
was one Lazim Khan; (ii) that Lazim Khan’s brother was one Zalim
Khan; (iii) that after the death of Lazim Khan, his property devolved
upon the appellant’s mother Jannatul Nisha; (iv) that Zalim Khan wanted
H
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 611
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
to grab the properties from the appellant’s mother but the appellant and A
his mother were not willing to let the land be taken away by Zalim Khan;
and (v) that since Zalim Khan is a very powerful person in the village
and his wife is also the Pradhan of the village, he managed to implicate
the appellant falsely in this case.
18. To demonstrate the veracity of the above claim, the appellant B
did 3 things. First he confronted PWs 1 to 3 with pertinent questions in
cross-examination. Then the appellant articulated this theory in the
questioning under Section 313. Third, the appellant also examined his
mother as DW-1.
19. Let us now take note of the answers elicited by the defence C
from PW-1 during cross-examination. The relevant portion of the
testimony of PW-1 in cross-examination reads as follows”
“The mother of accused-Jannatul Nisha, was earlier living at
Semgarha; now she lives’ at Ikauna. At Ikauna, the mother of
accused has kinship in the family of Jumai Pathan. The mother of D
accused do not have agriculture land in Ikauna. I do not know as
to whether she works there as a labourer. At Semgarha, the mother
of accused has 28-30 bighas of agriculture land which she had
got from the maternal grandfather of the accused. The maternal
grandfather of the accused had no son, that’s why the land of
accused’s maternal grandfather had transferred in the name of E
the mother of accused. The name of the maternal grandfather of
the accused is Lazim Khan who was resident of Semgarha village
only. Lazim Khan is pattidar (relative) of the present Gram-
pradhan Zalim Khan. Zalim Khan is very prosperous man. He
has 200 bighas of land, 2 tractors, two motorcycles and 4 sons. F
Zalim Khan has high influence in my village. He has prominence
there.
... ... ...
Zalim Khan had come at the spot. Zalim Khan had told to get
lodged the F.I.R. G
... ...
...
Zalim Khan cultivates the land of accused Chotkau. Zalim Khan
has won the court case related with the land. The suit regarding
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612 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A the land is pending before the higher courts. The mother of Chotkau
lives at Ikauna after this incident.”
20. After having said what is extracted above during cross-
examination, PW-1 denied certain suggestions made in this regard. The
portion of his testimony where he denied the suggestions is as follows:
B “It is correct to say that no witness has seen Chotkau committing
the rape and murder of Uma Devi. It is wrong to say that I had
lodged the F.I.R. against Chotkau on being said by Zalim Khan
Pradhan. It is wrong to say that we are men of Zalim Khan
Pradhan. It is wrong that Zalim Khan Pradhan owes enmity with
C the mother of Chotkau regarding the land, that’s why Zalim Khan
had got lodged the F.I.R. against Chotkau. It is wrong to say that
Chotkau had neither committed rape nor the murder of Uma Devi.
It is wrong to say that I am submitting false testimony.”
21. Even PW-2 was confronted with specific questions relating to
D the alleged role of Zalim Khan in implicating the appellant. The relevant
portion of the cross-examination of PW-2 reads as follows:
“I know the mother of accused Chotkau. Her maternal house is
at village Semgarha only and she is daughter of Lazim Khan.
Lazim Khan has died. Lazim Khan had no son. After the death of
E Lazim Khan, Zalim Khan-the present Pradhan, got his land and
he only cultivates the land. The mother of accused had not got the
land of her father. Lazim Khan and Zalim Khan are real brothers.
The land would be about 18-20 bighas. Zalim Khan cultivates the
entire land. The mother of Chotkau had fled away from here and
living at Ikauna. Chotkau has three brothers including him. All the
F three of them do not have any land. All the three of them are
engaged in the occupation of labourers.”
22. After having said what is extracted above, PW-2 denied the
suggestion that it was Zalim Khan who got the appellant implicated in
the case.
G
23. Even the Investigation Officer examined as PW-6 admitted in
cross-examination: “I had detected that a land dispute was proceeding
between accused Chotkau and Zalim Khan.”
24. In answer to the last question (Question No.13) during the
questioning under Section 313 of the Code, as to whether he wished to
H say anything else, the appellant stated as follows:
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 613
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
“After death of Lazim Khan, his real brother Zalim Khan had A
usurped all the property of Lazim Khan and expelled the accused.
The accused was not leaving possession of the land of his maternal
grandfather therefore Zalim Khan implicated him false in this
case.”
25. The appellant’s mother examined as DW-1 not only elaborated B
the theory that the appellant was falsely implicated at the instance of
Zalim Khan but also came up with a story as to what could have happened
to the victim. The relevant portion of the evidence of DW-1 reads as
follows:
“After the death of father, finding me helpless, Zalim Khan gobbled C
all my property. We have intense enmity with Zalim Khan for the
same reason. My son Chotkau and I opposed Zalim Khan in the
election of Pradhan and other matters, that is why Zalim Khan
implicated my son in this false case. Zalim Khan has falsely
implicated my son by making Kishun Bahadur and Rajkaran the
complainant and the witness in the said case who are the servants D
of Zalim Khan. The truth is that the daughter of brother of the
complainant of case Kishun Bahadur had gone in the sugar-cane
field for defecation, there itself a Markaha (aggressive) Neelgai
threw her by its horns, due to which she had died. But giving this
matter a different color due to enmity, Zalim Khan got my son E
implicated as the acused by putting pressure on the local police.
We got to know the fact of Uma Devi being killed by the Neelgai
when the son of Behna had gone for defecation in the same field
and Neelgai had hit him too with its horn due to which his scrotum
had ruptured.”
F
26. Keeping in mind the defence so put up by the appellant, let us
now come to the other portions of the evidence of PWs 1 to 3.
The Mode of Lodging of the FIR
27. On the question as to how the complaint was lodged and as to
what happened immediately thereafter, PW-1 stated in Chief-examination G
as follows:
“I went to the police station to inform about the incident, got
the application written by a man there, got read over the
application, marked my signature and handed over the same
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614 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A to the police station. On the same Tehrir my case had been
registered.”
...........
“After I handed over the Tehrir, the police went to the spot,
performed the documentation regarding the corpse and sent
B the corpse for post-mortem. The Investigating Officer had
taken my statement and went to the spot. He had prepared the
site map on pointing out by me.”
28. During cross-examination, PW-1 said:
C “I myself had gone to the police station to lodge the FIR. I
had got written the complaint by a person who was resident
of Sitkahna. The police station officials themselves provided
the paper. The Inspector had asked me to get the FIR written
by any person of my side”.
D 29. But during further cross-examination PW-1 stated thus:
“I had got written the Tehrir of FIR by another person inside
the police station itself. The Inspector had dictated it and got
it written. I had marked my signature on that.”
30. After some time, PW-1 admitted during further cross-
E examination the following:
“Zalim Khan had come at the spot. Zalim Khan had told to get
lodged the FIR against Chotkau.”
31. In contra-distinction to what PW-1 said, PW-3 stated that the
“information had been given to police station over telephone, then
F police man had come”. During cross-examination also PW-3 stated
that police reached the spot upon getting a phone call and that he did not
know who made the call.
32. PW-4, the Head Constable said in Chief Examination:
G “On 08.03.2012, I was posted as H.C. at Police Station-
Ikauna, District-Shrawasti. On that day a written Hindi Tahrir
had been submitted by complainant of the case Shri Kishun
Bahadur s/o Chintaram, resident of Semgarha, Police Station-
Ikauna, District Shrawasti.” During cross-examination PW-4
reiterated: “The complainant of the case had given me a written
H
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 615
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
application. The complainant of the case had given the Tehrir A
on 08.03.2012 at 20:10 hrs..”.
33. Thus even on the question as to how the first information was
given to the police, there are different versions. According to one version,
“PW-1 went to the police station, got the Tehrir written by a man
there, got read over the complaint, marked his signature and handed B
over the same to the police station”. According to the second version,
again by PW-1, “the Inspector dictated it and got it written”. According
to a third version “Zalim Khan had told to get the FIR registered
against the appellant”. According to the fourth version, which was by
PW-3, “the information was given to the police through phone call”.
C
34. Thus there were different versions, (i) as to how the first
information was given to the police; and (ii) by whom the complaint was
written.
The place where the dead body was seen by the police, persons
took the body from the place of occurrence and where it was D
taken to.
35. There were several contradictions regarding, (i) the place where
the dead body was first seen by the Police; (ii) the person who took the
dead body; and (iii) the place to which the dead body was taken. PW-1
stated in chief-examination as follows: E
“After I handed over the Tehrir, the police went to the spot,
performed the documentation regarding the corpse and sent
the corpse for post-mortem.”
36. In cross-examination PW-1 stated “Despite getting the dead
body, we did not bring the dead body to the home. When police F
personnel had come, they got carried the dead body.” During further
cross-examination PW-1 stated: “the dead body was not lying there
for whole night. I will not be able to tell at what time the Inspector
had taken away the dead body. The Inspector had come at half
past seven. He had come in his vehicle. The Inspector had taken
G
away the dead body in his vehicle.......”
“After consulting from every one the Inspector had taken the
dead body to the police station. He had brought a cloth from
the police station and took away the dead body wrapping it
in the same cloth. Later on we had gone with the dead body.”
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616 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A 37. But a little while later, PW-1 stated in cross-examination:
“when this first information application had been written, the
dead body of the girl was kept inside the police station itself.
That time several persons there. The police personnel had
carried the dead body by a Magic (brand of vehicle) to
B Bahraich for post-mortem”.
38. PW-3 stated during cross-examination:
“the dead-body of the girl had been sent for post-mortem from
the occurrence spot itself.”
C 39. PW-4 the Head Constable who registered the FIR said in
cross-examination: “the dead body had not been brought to the police
station.”
40. But interestingly PW-6, the Investigation Officer stated the
following during cross-examination:-
D “......After lodging of case, I had visited the occurrence spot same
day at 09.00-09.30 o’ clock of the night. It had become dense
night when I had reached the spot. The family members were
wailing. There was no arrangement of light therefore I stayed
there itself in the night with a Daroga and two-three constables.
When I had reached the village, upto that time the villagers
E
had already brought the dead body to home from the
occurrence spot. Therefore, due to aforesaid reasons I did not
go to the occurrence spot in that night. Although I have not referred
this fact in my case diary but it is the correct fact. The dead
body was kept in front of the door of house of first informant
F and the family members were wailing there itself...”
41. When confronted with the statements of PWs 1 to 3 to the
effect that the dead body had been taken away to the police station,
PW-6 denied the same as wrong. His answer to this question in cross-
examination was as follows: “If the complainant of the case would
G have said that the police man had taken away the dead body of
Uma to the police station in the night itself and conducted the inquest
proceeding there, then this fact is wrong.”
42. Thus, there are different versions (i) regarding the place where
the dead body was first seen by the police; and (ii) as to who carried the
H dead body and where. The first version of PW-1 was that “he and
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 617
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
other villagers who accompanied him did not bring the dead body A
to the house and that when police personnel came, they carried the
dead body”. The second version of PW-1 was the “Inspector took
away dead body in his vehicle to the police station”. His third version
was that “when the first information application had been written,
the dead body of the girl was kept inside the police station itself”.
B
His fourth version was that “the police personnel had carried the
dead body by a Magic (brand of vehicle) for post mortem”. A new
version was put forth by PW-3 to the effect that the dead body of the
girl was sent for post-mortem from the occurrence spot itself, meaning
thereby that the body was never taken to the police station. PW-4, the
Head Constable said that the dead body had not been brought to the C
police station. PW-6, the Investigating Officer categorically stated that
the police did not take away the dead body to the police station and that
he saw the dead body near the front door of the house of the first
informant.
43. There was yet another contradiction which is crucial. It was D
claimed by PW-1 and confirmed by the others that the police came to
the occurrence spot only after the FIR was lodged. But at one place of
the cross-examination, PW-1 claimed that when the first information
application was written, the dead body of the girl was kept inside the
police station itself. Therefore, it remains a mystery as to whether the
dead body was ever taken to the police station and if so, how, when and E
why.
Different versions regarding the Place, Date and Time of
conduct of the inquest.
44. There were many discrepancies regarding the place where F
inquest was conducted and the date and time at which inquest was
conducted. In his chief-examination PW-2 stated as follows :
“…Then searching the girl, family members of Chheddan went
towards the sugarcane field and began searching, then they found
that the dead body of Uma was lying in the sugarcane field. Blood G
was coming out of her urinal track, her clothes had torn up and
she had died. I also went to the spot. The family members of
Chheddan had informed the Police Station, on which the police
team of Police Station Ikauna had arrived. They had carried
out the inquest proceedings at the spot itself and obtained
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618 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A my signature on the Memo of Inquest. When the Memo of
Inquest had been shown and read over to the witness, he said that
it was the same Memo of Inquest which had been prepared in my
presence and I had market my signature on that which I verify…”
45. Interestingly, PW-2 stated in cross-examination, the opposite
B of what he stated in chief-examination. What PW-2 stated in cross-
examination was that “the inquest proceedings on the dead body of
the girl were not performed before me”.
46. PW-6, the Investigation Officer stated in chief-examination
as follows:
C “….The inquest proceedings could not be performed due to being
night time. On 09.03.12 the inquest proceedings had been
completed and the dead body had been sent to District-
Bahraich for postmortem after sealing-stamping the same. Same
day I recorded the statement of the complainant on the spot,
D inspected the spot and recorded the statements of witnesses…”
47. In cross-examination PW-6 reiterated that the inquest
proceedings were not conducted on the same night, but were started at
8 o’ clock in the morning on 09.03.2012. PW-6 claimed that Raj Karan,
Vikram, Pesh Ram, Rameshwar Prasad and Raksha Ram were deputed
E as panch for the inquest. Out of these five panch witnesses, Raj
Karan alone was examined as PW-2, but according to Raj Karan,
examined as PW-2, the police arrived at the spot upon being
informed by the family members of Chheddan and conducted
inquest proceedings at the spot itself. He also claimed that the I.O
recorded his statement on the night of the incident at 7 o’ clock.
F
48. Out of the five panch witnesses mentioned by the I.O to
have been present at the time of inquest, the names of three persons
were mentioned by PW-1 also, but according to PW-1, the I.O came to
the spot at half past 7’o clock in his vehicle and noted down the names
of four or five persons including that of PW-2, obtained their signatures
G and went away.
49. Therefore, there were two versions, regarding the date of
conduct of inquest. According to one version, it was conducted on the
date of the incident namely, 08.03.2012, but according to I.O., it was
conducted on 09.03.2012. Interestingly the I.O added one more dimension
H to the contradiction at one stage of the cross-examination. He claimed
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 619
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
that after registering the case he visited the occurrence spot same day A
at 9:00-9:30 at night. But subsequently he claimed as follows: “First I
completed the inquest proceedings and inspected the occurrence
spot subsequently, after two hours of the inquest proceedings on
09.03.2012 itself”.
50. Moreover the inquest ought to have been conducted at the B
place where the dead body was found. PW-1 claimed that he did not
bring the dead body to the house and that the police personnel who had
come to the spot, took away the body. But according to PW-6, the
relatives had taken the dead body to the house and that he saw the dead
body only in the house. If that is so, the inquest proceedings should have
been conducted there and not elsewhere. It is quite strange that PW-6 C
claimed during cross-examination to have first completed the inquest
and thereafter inspected the occurrence spot.
Clothes on the body of the victim, recovered by the police.
51. According to PW-1 “the victim was clad in frock, brief, D
salwar and vest. The frock was red coloured. The brief was green.
The sandow vest was green coloured. The salwar was red coloured
as well.”
52. PW-1 also claimed that “at the place of occurrence, the
brief was torn and lying apart from her limbs”. He also stated that E
salwar was lying away from her and that there was blood stain in the
salwar and brief. PW-1 claimed that he had taken the salwar.
53. PW-3 claimed that the police recovered and took away the
salwar of the victim. Interestingly, PW-3 asserted that he went to the
occurrence spot and he found that the victim was wearing a red colour F
frock and black colour spotted salwar.
54. The Investigation Officer stated during cross-examination that
the deceased was wearing a brick colour sandow vest and a violet colour
frock on the upper portion of her body. He confirmed that he recovered
the salwar from the occurrence spot and that it was a green colour
G
salwar. He further stated that though there was blood on the occurrence
spot, no blood was stuck on the green colour salwar. Thus, there
were 3 different versions, regarding the colour of the salwar, one by
PW-1 that it was red, the second by PW-3 that it was black color spotted
and the third by PW-6 that it was green colored. Similarly, there were
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620 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A two different versions regarding the presence of blood on the salwar,
one by PW-1 and another by PW-6.
55. A letter dated 27.03.2012 purportedly sent by the Deputy
Superintendent of Police to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory, which
formed part of the documents submitted by the police, presumably along
B with the final report, but which was not marked as Exhibit indicates that
the salwar worn by the deceased, with stains of semen on it, was one of
the few items sent for forensic examination. But there was no report of
the Forensic Sciences Laboratory.
56. Strangely, the aforesaid letter dated 27.03.2012 addressed to
C the Forensic Sciences Laboratory, was not sent by the Investigation
Officer but by the Deputy Superintendent of Police.
57. Thus there were very serious contradictions, both mutual and
otherwise, in the evidence tendered by PWs 1 to 3, on crucial aspects
such as, (i) the mode of Lodging of the FIR; (ii) the place where the
D dead body was first seen by the police, persons took the body from the
place of occurrence and where it was taken to; (iii) the Place, Date and
Time of conduct of the inquest; and (iv) the clothes on the body of the
victim, recovered by the police. These contradictions make the evidence
of PWs 1 to 3 completely untrustworthy. Unfortunately, the Sessions
Court as well as the High Court have trivialized these major contradictions
E to hold that the chain of circumstances have been established unbroken.
II. Delay in transmitting the FIR to court
58. According to the prosecution, the FIR was lodged at 20:10
hrs. on 08.03.2012. The Court of the CJM, Shravasti, received the copy
F of the FIR on 13.03.2012. Therefore, a cloud is sought to be cast on the
genuineness of the FIR.
59. On the importance of promptitude, both in the registration of
the FIR and in the transmission of the same to the Court, reliance is
placed by Shri Nagamuthu, learned senior counsel on the following
passage in Meharaj Singh (L/Nk.) vs. State of U.P2
G
“12. FIR in a criminal case and particularly in a murder case is a
vital and valuable piece of evidence for the purpose of appreciating
the evidence led at the trial. The object of insisting upon prompt
lodging of the FIR is to obtain the earliest information regarding
2
H (1994) 5 SCC 188
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 621
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
the circumstance in which the crime was committed, including A
the names of the actual culprits and the parts played by them, the
weapons, if any, used, as also the names of the eye witnesses, if
any. Delay in lodging the FIR often results in embellishment, which
is a creature of an after thought. On account of delay, the FIR not
only gets bereft of the advantage of spontaneity, danger also creeps
B
in of the introduction of a coloured version or exaggerated story.
With a view to determine whether the FIR, was lodged at the
time it is alleged to have been recorded, the courts generally look
for certain external checks. One of the checks is the receipt of
the copy of the FIR, called a special report in a murder case, by
the local Magistrate. If this report is received by the Magistrate C
late it can give rise to an inference that the FIR was not lodged at
the time it is alleged to have been recorded, unless, of course the
prosecution can offer a satisfactory explanation for the delay in
despatching or receipt of the copy of the FIR by the local
Magistrate. Prosecution has led no evidence at all in this behalf.
D
The second external check equally important is the sending of the
copy of the FIR along with the dead body and its reference in the
inquest report. Even though the inquest report, prepared
under Section 174 Cr. P.C., is aimed at serving a statutory function,
to lend credence to the prosecution case, the details of the FIR
and the gist of statements recorded during inquest proceedings E
get reflected in the report. The absence of those details is indicative
of the fact that the prosecution story was still in embryo state and
had not been given any shape and that the FIR came to be recorded
later on after due deliberations and consultations and was then
ante timed to give it the colour of a promptly lodged FIR. In our
F
opinion, on account of the infirmities as noticed above, the FIR
has lost its value and authenticity and it appears to us that the
same has been ante timed and had not been recorded till the inquest
proceedings were over at the spot by PW8.”
60. While reiterating the above principles, a note of caution was
also added by this Court in Bhajan Singh alias Harbhajan Singh and G
Others vs. State of Haryana 3. Paragraphs 28 to 30 of the said decision
read as follows:-
3
(2011) 7 SCC 421
H
622 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A “28. Thus, from the above it is evident that the Criminal Procedure
Code provides for internal and external checks: one of them being
the receipt of a copy of the FIR by the Magistrate concerned. It
serves the purpose that the FIR be not anti-timed or anti-dated.
The Magistrate must be immediately informed of every serious
offence so that he may be in a position to act under Section159
B
Cr.P.C., if so required. Section 159 Cr.P.C. empowers the
Magistrate to hold the investigation or preliminary enquiry of the
offence either himself or through the Magistrate subordinate to
him. This is designed to keep the Magistrate informed of the
investigation so as to enable him to control investigation and, if
C necessary, to give appropriate direction.
29. It is not that as if every delay in sending the report to
the Magistrate would necessarily lead to the inference that
the FIR has not been lodged at the time stated or has been
anti-timed or anti-dated or investigation is not fair and
D forthright. Every such delay is not fatal unless prejudice to
the accused is shown. The expression “forthwith” mentioned
therein does not mean that the prosecution is required to explain
delay of every hour in sending the FIR to the Magistrate. In a
given case, if number of dead and injured persons is very high,
delay in dispatching the report is natural. Of course, the same is
E to be sent within reasonable time in the prevalent circumstances.
30. However, unexplained inordinate delay in sending the copy of
FIR to the Magistrate may affect the prosecution case adversely.
An adverse inference may be drawn against the prosecution when
there are circumstances from which an inference can be drawn
F that there were chances of manipulation in the FIR by falsely
roping in the accused persons after due deliberations. Delay
provides legitimate basis for suspicion of the FIR, as it affords
sufficient time to the prosecution to introduce improvements and
embellishments. Thus, a delay in dispatch of the FIR by itself is
G not a circumstance which can throw out the prosecution’s case in
its entirety, particularly when the prosecution furnishes a cogent
explanation for the delay in dispatch of the report or prosecution
case itself is proved by leading unimpeachable evidence.”
61. It is clear from the aforesaid decisions that the delay in
H forwarding the FIR may certainly indicate the failure of one of the external
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 623
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
checks to determine whether the FIR was manipulated later or whether A
it was registered either to fix someone other than the real culprit or to
allow the real culprit to escape. While every delay in forwarding the FIR
may not necessarily be fatal to the case of the prosecution, Courts may
be duty bound to see the effect of such delay on the investigation and
even the creditworthiness of the investigation.
B
62. Section 157(1) of the Code requires the officer-in-charge of
the police station to send the FIR, “forthwith”. The legal consequences
of the delay on the part of the police in forwarding the FIR to the court
was considered by this Court in Brahm Swaroop and Another vs. State
of Uttar Pradesh4. Incidentally Brahm Swaroop (supra) is also a case
where there was a delay of five days in sending the report to the C
Magistrate (as in the present case). After taking note of several earlier
decisions of this Court, this Court held in Brahm Swaroop in para 21 as
follows:
“21. In the instant case, the defence did not put any question
in this regard to the investigating officer, Raj Guru (PW.10), D
thus, no explanation was required to be furnished by him
on this issue. Thus, the prosecution had not been asked to
explain the delay in sending the special report. More so, the
submission made by Shri Tulsi that the FIR was ante-timed cannot
be accepted in view of the evidence available on record which E
goes to show that the FIR had been lodged promptly within 20
minutes of the incident as the Police Station was only 1 k.m. away
from the place of occurrence and names of all the accused had
been mentioned in the FIR.”
63. To come to the above conclusion, reliance was placed upon a F
decision of a three member Bench in Balram Singh and Another vs.
State of Punjab5. In Balram Singh (supra), a three member Bench of
this Court rejected the contention with regard to the delay in transmitting
the FIR to the Magistrate, on the ground that “while considering the
complaint in regard to the delay in the FIR reaching the
Jurisdictional Magistrate, we will have to also bear in mind the G
creditworthiness of the ocular evidence adduced by the prosecution
and if we find that such ocular evidence is worthy of acceptance,
the element of delay in registering a complaint or sending the same
4
(2011) 6 SCC 288
5
(2003) 11 SCC 286 H
624 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A to the Jurisdictional Magistrate by itself would not weaken the
prosecution case”.
64. In State of Rajasthan vs. Daud Khan6, this Court referred to
Brahm Swaroop and interpreted the word “forthwith” appearing in
Section 157 (1) of the Code, as follows:
B “26. … …
…
The purpose of the “forthwith” communication of a copy of the
FIR to the Magistrate is to check the possibility of its manipulation.
Therefore, a delay in transmitting the special report to the
C Magistrate is linked to the lodging of the FIR. If there is no delay in
lodging an FIR, then any delay in communicating the
special report to the Magistrate would really be of little
consequence, since manipulation of the FIR would then get ruled
out. Nevertheless, the prosecution should explain the delay in
D transmitting the special report to the Magistrate. However, if no
question is put to the investigating officer concerning the delay,
the prosecution is under no obligation to give an explanation. There
is no universal rule that whenever there is some delay in sending
the FIR to the Magistrate, the prosecution version becomes
unreliable. In other words, the facts and circumstances of a case
E are important for a decision in this regard.”
65. Therefore, the learned Additional Advocate General for the
State may be right, in theory, that a delay in transmission of the FIR to
the court, may not, per se, be fatal, without anything more. But in the
case on hand, the delay was not small. The FIR said to have been
F registered on 08.03.2012 was received by the Court of the Chief Judicial
Magistrate on 13.03.2012. It is true that no question was put in cross-
examination to the Investigation Officer about this delay.
66. But we have found that the evidence of P.Ws. 1 to 3 is
untrustworthy, particularly on the question of the origin and genesis of
G the first information report. Therefore the inordinate delay in the FIR
reaching the jurisdictional court assumes significance. We agree that
the word “forthwith’ in Section 157(1) of the Code is to be understood in
the context of the given facts and circumstances of each case and a
6
H (2016) 2 SCC 607
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 625
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
straight-jacket formula cannot be applied in all cases. But where ocular A
evidence is found to be unreliable and thus unacceptable, a long delay
has to be taken note of by the Court. The mandate of Section 157(1)
of the Code being clear, the prosecution is expected to place on
record the basic foundational facts, such as, the Officer who took
the first information report to the jurisdictional court, the authority
B
which directed such a course of action and the mode by which it
was complied. Explaining the delay is a different aspect than placing
the material in compliance of the Code.
67. In the present case, it is not even known as to who took the
first information report from P.W.6 or P.W.4 and submitted before the
jurisdictional court. Neither PW-4 nor PW-6 spoke about the person C
who took the FIR to the court. They did not say that they took it to the
court. It is not a case of mere delay in sending the first information
report, but one involving the contradictory evidence by the prosecution
witnesses on the manner in which the first information report is written.
68. On the question of compliance of Section 157(1) along with D
logical reasoning for doing so, the following passage from the decision in
Jafarudheen and Ors. vs. State of Kerala7 may be usefully quoted
as under:
“26. The jurisdictional Magistrate plays a pivotal role during the
investigation process. It is meant to make the investigation just E
and fair. The Investigating Officer is to keep the Magistrate in the
loop of his ongoing investigation. The object is to avoid a possible
foul play. The Magistrate has a role to play under Section 159 of
Cr.PC.
27. The first information report in a criminal case starts the process F
of investigation by letting the criminal law into motion. It is certainly
a vital and valuable aspect of evidence to corroborate the oral
evidence. Therefore, it is imperative that such an information is
expected to reach the jurisdictional Magistrate at the earliest point
of time to avoid any possible ante-dating or ante-timing leading to G
the insertion of materials meant to convict the accused contrary
to the truth and on account of such a delay may also not only gets
bereft of the advantage of spontaneity, there is also a danger
creeping in by the introduction of a coloured version, exaggerated
7
2022 SCC Online SC 495 H
626 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A account or concocted story as a result of deliberation and
consultation. However, a mere delay by itself cannot be a sole
factor in rejecting the prosecution’s case arrived at after due
investigation. Ultimately, it is for the Court concerned to take a
call. Such a view is expected to be taken after considering the
relevant materials.”
B
Therefore, we hold that the delay of 5 days in transmitting the
FIR to the jurisdictional court, especially in the facts and circumstances
of this case was fatal.
III. Failure to conduct medical examination
C 69. Despite the fact that it was a shocking case of rape and murder
of a six year old girl, the prosecution did not care to subject the accused
(appellant herein) to examination by a medical practitioner. There were
two documents which formed part of the records submitted along with
the final report, but which were not exhibited. One of them appears to
D be a Memo signed by PW-5, the Doctor who conducted the post-mortem.
This Memo is dated 09.03.2012 addressed to the Senior Pathologist,
District Hospital, Bahraich. The Memo reads as follows:
“Vaginal smear prepared in two slides from the body of Km.
Uma D/o Chhedam Lal, R/o Semgadha, PS Ikauna, Dist:
E Shravasti.”
70. The second is a Report dated 10.03.2012. It reads as follows:-
“Report- In microscopic examination of supplied specimen,
no spermatozoa seem alive or dead. No (unclear) seen.
71. Despite the fact that the author of the Memo dated 09.03.2012
F
was examined as PW-5, he never spoke about this. The Report of the
Forensic Sciences Laboratory, to whom the salwar was forwarded, was
also not obtained by the Investigating Officer.
72. Section 53(1) of the Code enables a police officer not below
the rank of Sub-Inspector to request a registered medical practitioner, to
G make such an examination of the person arrested, as is reasonably
necessary to ascertain the facts which may afford such evidence,
whenever a person is arrested on a charge of committing an offence of
such a nature that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an
examination of his person will afford evidence as to the commission of
H an offence. Section 53(1) reads as follows:
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 627
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
“53. Examination of accused by medical practitioner at the A
request of police officer.-(1) When a person is arrested on a
charge of committing an offence of such a nature and alleged to
have been committed under such circumstances that there are
reasonable grounds for believing that an examination of his person
will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence, it shall
B
be lawful for a registered medical practitioner, acting at the request
of a police officer not below the rank of sub- inspector, and for
any person acting in good faith in his aid and under his direction,
to make such an examination of the person arrested as is
reasonably necessary in order to ascertain the facts which may
afford such evidence, and to use such force as is reasonably C
necessary for that purpose.”
73. By Act 25 of 2005, a new Explanation was substituted under
Section 53, in the place of the original Explanation. The Explanation so
substituted under Section 53, by Act 25 of 2005 reads as follows:
“Explanation.-In this section and in sections 53A and 54,- D
(a) “examination” shall include the examination of blood, blood
stains, semen, swabs in case of sexual offences, sputum and
sweat, hair samples and finger nail clippings by the use of
modern and scientific techniques including DNA profiling and
such other tests which the registered medical practitioner E
thinks necessary in a particular case;
(b) “registered medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner
who possess any medical qualification as defined in clause
(h) of section 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102
of 1956) and whose name has been entered in a State Medical F
Register.”
74. Simultaneously with the substitution of a new Explanation under
Section 53, Act 25 of 2005 also inserted a new provision in Section 53A.
Section 53A reads as follows:
G
“53A. Examination of person accused of rape by medical
practitioner, -
(1) When a person is arrested on a charge of committing an offence
of rape or an attempt to commit rape and there are reasonable
grounds for believing that an examination of his person will afford
H
628 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A evidence as to the commission of such offence, it shall be lawful
for a registered medical practitioner employed in a hospital run by
the Government or by a local authority and in the absence of such
a practitioner within the radius of sixteen kilometers from the place
where the offence has been committed by any other registered
medical practitioner, acting at the request of a police officer not
B
below the rank of a sub-inspector, and for any person acting in
good faith in his aid and under his direction, to make such an
examination of the arrested person and to use such force as is
reasonably necessary for that purpose.
(2) The registered medical practitioner conducting such
C examination shall, without delay, examine such person and prepare
a report of his examination giving the following particulars, namely;
“(i) the name and address of the accused and of the person by
whom he was brought,
D (ii) the age of the accused,
(iii) marks of injury, if any, on the person of the accused,
(iv) the description of material taken from the person of the accused
for DNA profiling, and
(v) other material particulars in reasonable detail.
E
(3) The report shall state precisely the reasons for each conclusion
arrived at.
(4) The exact time of commencement and completion of the
examination shall also be noted in the report.
F (5) The registered medical practitioner shall, without delay, forward
the report of the investigating officer, who shall forward it to the
Magistrate referred to in Section 173 as part of the documents
referred to in Clause (a) of sub-section (5) of that section.”
75. Even in a case where the victim of rape was alive and testified
G before the Court and the accused was also examined by a doctor, this
Court found in Krishan Kumar Malik vs. State of Haryana8 that the
failure to obtain the report of the Forensic Sciences Laboratory was
fatal. Paragraph 40 of the said decision reads as follows:
H 8
(2011) 7 SCC 130
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 629
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
“40. The appellant was also examined by the doctor, who had A
found him capable of performing sexual intercourse. In the
undergarments of the prosecutrix, male semen were found but
these were not sent for analysis in the forensic laboratories which
could have conclusively proved, beyond any shadow of doubt with
regard to the commission of offence by the appellant. This lacuna
B
on the part of the prosecution proves to be fatal and goes in favour
of the appellant.”
76. On the scope of the newly inserted Section 53A, this Court
said in Krishan Kumar Malik (supra) as follows:
“44. Now, after the incorporation of Section 53A in the Criminal C
Procedure Code, w.e.f. 23.6.2006, brought to our notice by the
learned counsel for the respondent State, it has become necessary
for the prosecution to go in for DNA test in such type of cases,
facilitating the prosecution to prove its case against the accused.
Prior to 2006, even without the aforesaid specific provision in
CrPC the prosecution could have still resorted to this procedure D
of getting the DNA test or analysis and matching of semen of the
Appellant with that found on the undergarments of the prosecutrix
to make it a fool proof case, but they did not do so, thus they must
face the consequences.”
77. It is true that a three member Bench of this Court indicated in E
Rajendra Pralhadrao Wasnik vs. State of Maharashtra9 that Section
53A is not mandatory. It was held in paragraphs 49 and 50 of the said
decision as follows:-
“49. While Section 53-A CrPC. is not mandatory, it certainly
requires a positive decision to be taken. There must be reasonable F
grounds for believing that the examination of a person will afford
evidence as to the commission of an offence of rape or an attempt
to commit rape. If reasonable grounds exist, then a medical
examination as postulated by Section 53-A(2) CrPC must be
conducted and that includes examination of the accused and G
description of material taken from the person of the accused for
DNA profiling. Looked at from another point of view, if there are
reasonable grounds for believing that an examination of the
accused will not afford evidence as to the commission of an
9
(2019) 12 SCC 460 H
630 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A offence as mentioned above, it is quite unlikely that a charge-
sheet would even be filed against the accused for committing an
offence of rape or attempt to rape.
50. Similarly, Section 164-A CrPC requires, wherever possible,
for the medical examination of a victim of rape. Of course, the
B consent of the victim is necessary and the person conducting the
examination must be competent to medically examine the victim.
Again, one of the requirements of the medical examination is an
examination of the victim and description of material taken from
the person of the woman for DNA profiling.”
C 78. After saying that Section 53A is not mandatory, this Court
found in paragraph 54 of the said decision that the failure of the prosecution
to produce DNA evidence, warranted an adverse inference to be drawn.
Paragraph 54 reads as follows:-
“54. For the prosecution to decline to produce DNA evidence
D would be a little unfortunate particularly when the facility of DNA
profiling is available in the country. The prosecution would be
well advised to take advantage of this, particularly in view of the
provisions of Section 53-A and Section 164-A CrPC. We are not
going to the extent of suggesting that if there is no DNA profiling,
the prosecution case cannot be proved but we are certainly of the
E view that where DNA profiling has not been done or it is held
back from the trial court, an adverse consequence would follow
for the prosecution.”
79. It is necessary at this stage to note that by the very same
Amendment Act 25 of 2005, by which Section 53A was inserted, Section
F 164A was also inserted in the Code. While Section 53A enables the
medical examination of the person accused of rape, Section 164A enables
medical examination of the victim of rape. Both these provisions are
somewhat similar and can be said approximately to be a mirror image of
each other. But there are three distinguishing features. They are:-
G (i) Section 164A requires the prior consent of the women who is
the victim of rape. Alternatively, the consent of a person competent
to give such consent on her behalf should have been obtained
before subjecting the victim to medical examination. Section 53A
does not speak about any such consent;
H
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 631
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
(ii) Section 164A requires the report of the medical practitioner to A
contain among other things, the general mental condition of the
women. This is absent in Section 53A;
(iii) Under Section 164A(1), the medical examination by a
registered medical practitioner is mandatory when, “it is proposed
to get the person of the women examined by a medical expert” B
during the course of investigation. This is borne out by the use of
the words, “such examination shall be conducted”. In contrast,
Section 53A(1) merely makes it lawful for a registered medical
practitioner to make an examination of the arrested person if “there
are reasonable grounds for believing that an examination of
his person will afford evidence as to the commission of such C
offence”.
80. In cases where the victim of rape is alive and is in a position to
testify in court, it may be possible for the prosecution to take a chance
by not medically examining the accused. But in cases where the victim
is dead and the offence is sought to be established only by circumstantial D
evidence, medical evidence assumes great importance. The failure of
the prosecution to produce such evidence, despite there being no obstacle
from the accused or anyone, will certainly create a gaping hole in the
case of the prosecution and give rise to a serious doubt on the case of
the prosecution. We do not wish to go into the question whether Section E
53A is mandatory or not. Section 53A enables the prosecution to obtain
a significant piece of evidence to prove the charge. The failure of the
prosecution in this case to subject the appellant to medical examination
is certainly fatal to the prosecution case especially when the ocular
evidence is found to be not trustworthy.
F
81. Their failure to obtain the report of the Forensic Sciences
Laboratory on the blood/semen stain on the salwar worn by the victim,
compounds the failure of the prosecution.
IV. Argument revolving around section 313 of the Code
82. Though arguments were advanced even on (i) the manner in G
which the statement of the accused was recorded under Section 313 of
the Code; (ii) the failure of the Court to comply with the mandate of
Section 313(1)(b) of the Code in letter and spirit; and (iii) the
consequences of such failure, we do not think it necessary to go into the
said question. This is for the reason that we have found in Part-I of this
H
632 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 9 S.C.R.
A order that the evidence of P.Ws 1 to 3 are not trustworthy and in Part-
III of this order that the failure of the prosecution to subject the appellant
to medical examination was fatal. These findings are sufficient to overturn
the verdict of conviction and penalty.
Reasoning of the Sessions court and the High Court
B 83. Before wrapping up, it is necessary to say something about
the approach adopted by the Sessions Court and the High Court. In
cases of this nature the court is obliged to assess the evidence on the
test of probability. Though wide discretion is given to the Court to consider
the “matters before it”, such an evidence has to be sifted carefully before
C recording satisfaction. It is not the quantum, but what matters is the
quality. Both the Courts below found the evidence of P.Ws. 1 to 3
acceptable. The seriously inherent contradictions in the statements made
by them have not been duly taken note of by both the courts. When the
offence is heinous, the Court is required to put the material evidence
under a higher scrutiny. On a careful consideration of the reasoning of
D the Trial Court, as confirmed by the High Court, we find that sufficient
care has not been taken in the assessment of the statements made by
P.Ws. 1 to 3. No one spoke as to who sent the FIR to the court and
when it was sent. Strangely even the copy of the post-mortem report
was admittedly received by SHO on the 13.03.2012 though the post
E mortem was conducted on the 09.03.2012,. It was the same date on
which the FIR reached the Court. These factors certainly create a strong
suspicion on the story as projected by the prosecution, but both the Courts
have overlooked the same completely. This erroneous approach on the
part of the Sessions Court and the High Court has led to the appellant
being ordained to be dispatched to the gallows.
F
Conclusion
84. We cannot shy away from the fact that it is a ghastly case of
rape and murder of a 6 year old child. By not conducting the investigation
properly, the prosecution has done injustice to the family of the victim.
G By fixing culpability upon the appellant without any shred of evidence
which will stand the scrutiny, the prosecution has done injustice to the
appellant. Court cannot make someone, a victim of injustice, to
compensate for the injustice to the victim of a crime.
85. In fact this is a case where the appellant is so poor that he
could not afford to engage a lawyer even in the Sessions Court. After
H
CHOTKAU v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH 633
[V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.]
his repeated requests to the Court of District and Sessions Judge, the A
service of an advocate was provided as amicus. In cases of such nature,
the responsibility of the Court becomes more onerous. When we analyse
the evidence with such a sense of responsibility, we are not convinced
that the guilt of the appellant stood established beyond reasonable doubt.
Therefore, the appeals are allowed and the conviction and penalty are
B
set aside. The appellant shall be released forthwith if not wanted in
connection with any other case.
Devika Gujral Appeals allowed.
(Assisted by : Neha Sharma, LCRA)
C
D
E
F
G
H
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