Holding

Anwar's conviction under Sections 302, 307 IPC and Section 5 TADA is upheld, while Tasleem's conviction under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC is set aside due to lack of proof of common intention.

Summary

The case concerns the murder of informer Khalil during a police chase of three boys, where appellants Mohd. Anwar and Tasleem were convicted under Sections 302, 307, 34 of the IPC and Section 5 of the TADA Act. The prosecution relied on eyewitness testimony, seizure of Anwar's .32 bore revolver and Tasleem's pistol, and a ballistic expert report linking the bullet recovered from the deceased to Anwar's revolver. Anwar appealed, challenging the absence of independent witnesses, the non‑examination of the investigating officer and the use of the vehicle that transported the injured informer, but the Court held that these omissions did not vitiate the proven facts and upheld his conviction. Tasleem appealed on the ground that his alleged exhortation "Maro Salon Ko" was not specifically proved and that there was no common intention to kill; the Court found the evidence on this point insufficient and set aside his conviction under Section 302 read with Section 34, while confirming the remaining convictions. Consequently, Anwar's appeal was dismissed and Tasleem's appeal was partly allowed, resulting in his acquittal of the murder charge.

Issues considered

Whether the prosecution evidence, including eyewitness accounts and ballistic analysis, is sufficient to sustain a conviction of Anwar under Sections 302, 307 IPC and Section 5 TADA.
Whether the failure to examine independent witnesses or the investigating officer defeats the prosecution case.
Whether Tasleem's alleged exhortation "Maro Salon Ko" was proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Whether a common intention under Section 34 IPC can be inferred between Anwar and Tasleem.
Whether the conviction of Tasleem under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC should stand.

Legislation cited

Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 302, s. 307, s. 34
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987s. 5

Subjects

murdercommon intentionballistic evidenceTADApolice chaseconvictionappealSection 34 IPCSection 5 TADA

Judgment

MOHD. ANWAR A
v.
.. ~
STATE OF DELHI

DECEMBER 17, 1999

[G.B. PATTANAIK AND M.B. SHAH, JJ.] B

Penal Code, 1860:

Sections 302, 307 and 34-Accused persons chased by police party--
Death in exchange offire-Revolver seized from accused at the spot-Expert C
opinion that bullet recovered from body of deceased was fired from the said
revolver-Eye witnesses-Members ofpolice party testifying against accused-
Held, under the facts accused was rightly convicted-TADA Act, 1987-
Section 5.

Sections 302 and 34-Co-accused-Only a/legation was that he D
exhorted the main accused-Some prosecution witnesses not specifically
stating the specific words used by him in exhorting-Four out of six charge-
sheeted persons discharged-Common intention to kill not established-
Held, under the facts conviction of co-accused set-aside.

Appellants-accused, A and T, were tried and convicted for offences E
punishable under Sections 302, 307 read with Section 34 IPC and Section
5 of TADA Act, 1987 by the Designated Court. Prosecution alleged that
deceased-informer was murdered by appellant, A, who fired a shot from his
revolver at the exhortation of accused T, when they were chased and cornered
by police. The accused were arrested and a 0.32 bore revolver, a country F
made .315 pistol with empty and live cartridges were recovered from them.
After completion of inquiry, charge-sheet was submitted against appellants
and four other persons who were discharged for lack of evidence. Against
the judgment of the Designated Court, accused persons have filed the present
appeals.
G
Appellant A, contended that no independent witness was examined by
prosecution though number of persons had collected at the scene of crime;
that the investigating officer was not examined and he should not have used
the vehicle wherein deceased was asked to sit after receiving bullet injury;
and that the bullet recovered from the body of the deceased was not compared H
485
486 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SOPP. 5 S.C.R.

A by ballistic expert and it could have been fired by the police.
Appellant T, contended that when four other persons involved by police <,
were discharged, there was no reason for convicting him under Section 302
read with Section 34 IPC solely on the alleged round that he had exhorted
appellant A, at the time of incident; and that the appellants were not having
B any common intention to kill/commit the crime. ...
.

The respondent contended that prosecution witnesses were corroborated
by seizure of weapons from the hands of appellants; and that bullet recovered
from the body of the deceased was fired from the revolver of appellant, A.

C Partly allowing the appeal of' A' and dismissing the appeal of T, the
Court
HELD : 1. Apart from the ocular version of the witnesses which proved
that accused A, fired from his revolver which caused the death, from the
possession of appellant A, 0.32 bore English made revolver was seized
D alongwith four cartridges cases and two live cartridges and six more
cartridges were recovered from his possession. These were examined by Dy.
Sr. Scientific Officer cum-Assistant Chemical Examiner CFSL, CBI, New
Delhi who gave his opinion that bullet found from the body of the deceased.
was fired from the said 0.32 bore revolver. As per the post mortem report,
deceased was having one rounded punctured wound on the left side from the
E front of the chest. [490-G-H; 491-A-B]
1.2. There is no reason to disbelieve the evidence of PWl that sub-
inspector tried to record the statement of some persons who collected at the
spot but none agreed to be a witness. For such situation, prosecution cannot
be blamed. [491-C]
F 1.3. For the non-examination of investigating officer, it was pointed out
that he was out of the country when the evidence was recorded and therefore,
this would be hardly a ground for disbelieving the other witnesses who were
present at the spot. (491-C-D]
G 1.4. For giving immediate treatment deceased was required to be removed
to the hospital and therefore, at that point of time the act of the investigating
officer of using the vehicle, occupied by the deceased after receiving bullet
injury, for removing him to the hospital, would not in any way affect the
prosecution version. The said vehicle was not used for the commission of
offence. [491-D-E]
H 2.1. Some of the prosecution witnesses had not specifically stated that

r.
... MOHD. ANWAR v. STATE OF DELHI [SHAH, J.] 487

appellant, T, exhorted appellant A by using the words "Maro Salon ko". A
(492-D]

2.2. At the initial stage, six persons were chargesheeted for the alleged
offences. The Designated Judge discharged four of them. In this set of
circumstances, it would be unsafe to rely upon the evidence of prosecution
witnesses that appellant T exhorted or uttered the words "Maro Salon Ko" B
as alleged and therefore appellant A fired his revolver which caused injury
to the deceased. (489-A-B; 492-E-F)

3. The prosecution version is that both the appellants alongwith other
person had gone near the house for allegedly committing dacoity. However, C
that would not mean that after being chased by the police party accused were
having any common intention to kill the chasing party. There is nothing on
record to establish that by alleged firing by appellant T any injury was caused
to anyone. From the facts and circumstances it woulp be difficult to infer that
appellant Twas having any common intention to commit the crime for which
appellant A is convicted. Hence, conviction of appellant T for the offence D
punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC requires to be set-
aside. [492-G-H; 493-A-C)

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No.
1045 of 1999.
E
WITH

Criminal Appeal No. 117 5 of 1999.

From the Judgment and Order dated 13.8.1999 of the Designated Court-
11, Delhi in Sessions Case No. 7/99. F
For Appellant (s) in Crl. A. 1045/99 Jaspal Singh and Shakeel Ahmed.

In Crl. A.1175/99 Sushi! Kumar, Sanjay M. Tripati, Parvez A. Siddiqui
and Varinder Kumar.
G
For Respondent (s) K.N. Shukla, Tufail A. Khan and Ms. Sushma Suri.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

SHAH, J. Appellants were convicted for the offence punishable under
Sections 302, 307 read with Section 34 IPC and Section 5 TADA Act, 1987 H
488 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A by the Designated Court, Delhi vide its judgment and order dated 6.8.1999/
13.8.1999 in Sessions Case No.7/97 and FIR No.279/92. It is alleged that in the
broad day light, in the presence of police party, Khalil Ahmad-informer of the
police, was murdered by Mohd. Anwa: by fir:ing of shot from the revolver.
It is the prosecution version that there was information about activities of
B dacoits in Delhi, which was conveyed to SI Pankaj Singh. On 19.9.1992, SI
Pankaj Singh along with the deceased-informer Khalil, SI Shiv Lal (PW3), ASI
Raghbir Singh (PWl), Constable Devender (PW16), Constable Ramesh,
Constable Satbir Singh (PW13) and Constable Jagpal (PWlO) went for
patrolling near Naulakha Niwas, Model Basti, Delhi. At about 1.50 p.m., three
boys were seen coming to Model Basti from Rani Jhansi Road. On seeing the
C police party, they turned back and started running. At that time, informer
Khalil pointed out towards them. The police partY chased those three boys
in their vehicles by taking the same to the wrong side of the road. When the
police party reached quite near those boys near police quarters at Ahata
Kedara, the third boy succeeded in runnipg away while the present appellants
.. D took out their weapons i.e. Anwar took out his revolver and Tasleem took out
his pistol. As soon as, SI Pankaj alighted from the vehicle in order to apprehend
the accused, Tasleem asked his companion "Maro Salon Ko". At this, accused
Anwar who was holding revolver in his hand fired therefrom. The bullet hit
at the left aside chest of Khalil, who was just alighting from the police vehicle.
SI Shiv Lal immediately made Khalil to sit in the vehicle. At that stage, SI
E Pankaj Singh and ASI Raghbir Singh fired two rounds each in reply. Both the
accused also continued to fire and retreat. They were apprehended at the
main gate of police colony, Ahata Kedara. ASI Raghbir Singh apprehended
accused Tasleem and SI Pankaj Singh apprehended accused Anwar with help
of constable Satbir and other staff. At that time, because of commotion, crowd
F collected and some persons out of the crowd also started beating the accused
persons due to anger but the police rescued them. Injured Khalil was sent to
the hospital alongwith SI Shiv Lal. From accused Anwar, English made revolver
of .32 bore, which· was in his hands, was seized and on checking its chamber
foUI" cartridges cases and two live cartridges were found. On further search,
G six more live cartridges were recovered from the right side pocket of his pants.
It is also contended that from accused Tasleem a country made. 315 pistol,
which was in his hands, was seized. On checking the said pistol, one cartridge
case was found in chamber and on further search five more live cartridges
were recovered from the right side pocket of pants of the accused. On
interrogation, the acc11sed disclosed the name of their third accomplice as
H Salim alias Pinny, who was also arrested.
MOHD. ANWAR v. STATE OF DELHI [SHAH, J.) 489

It has been contended that at the initial stage, police registered a case A
under Section 307 read with Section 34 IPC and Section 5 TADA Act. However,
· after receipt of information from SI Shiv Lal, who had gone to the hospital
alongwith the injured Khalil, that Khalil was declared brought dead to the
hospital, offence under Section 302 IPC was added. After completion of the
inquiry, charged sheet was submitted against the appellants, Salim and other B
three persons. As there was no evidence against Salim and other three
persons, they were discharged. It is the defence of the accused that the entire
police version is false and that they were lifted from their houses and were
roped in this case. After considering the evidence, which was led by the
prosecution, the appellants have been convicted by the designated court.
c
Against the said j!-ldgment and order both the accused have filed
separate appeals. Mohd. Anwar has filed Criminal Appeal No. I 045 of 1999
and Tasleem has filed Criminal Appeal No.1175 of 1999 against $eir conviction
and sentence.

The learned senior counsel. Mr. Jaspal Singh appearing on behalf of D
appellant, Mohd Anwar submitted that the impugned judgment and order
passed by the learned Judge is illegal and erroneous and that the entire
prosecution version is false and accused are roped in fabricated case. He
submitted that admittedly number of persons had collected at the scene of
offence yet no independent witness was examined by the prosecution. He E
further pointed out that SI Pankaj Singh was not examined by the prosecution
and, therefore, also benefit of doubt should be given to the appellant. It is
his contention that the investigating officer ought not have used the vehicle
wherein the deceased Khalil was asked to sit after receipt of injury for
carrying him to hospital. The bullet recovered from the body of the deceased
was not compared by the ballistic expert. Blood was also not collected from F
the scene of offence and, therefore, prosecution version becomes doubtful
that the incident occurred at the alleged place. He further submitted that there
is no positive evidence to establish that the deceased has not expired because
of the firing by SI Pankaj Singh and ASI Raghbir Singh, who, as per the
prosecution story, fired in retaliation. G
The learned senior counsel, Mr. Sushi! Kumar appearing on behalf of
Tasleem, in addition, submitted that the role assigned to the accused Tasleem
is that he exhorted "Maro Salon Ko" at the time of incident and for that he
is convicted for the offence under Section 302/34 IPC. The prosecution version
cannot be relied upon in view of the fact that in the present case apart from H
490 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A two accused, the police had roped in four more other persons, who were
--
discharged by the learned Judge by order dated 09.1.1996. He submitted that
both the accused were seriously beaten up by the police after picking them
from their residence. The prosecution has intentionally not produced on
record the medical reports indicating the injuries caused to the accused as
B well as SI Pankaj Singh. He submitted that there is no reliable evidence on
record to establish that pistol was seized from the possession of Tasleem.

As against this, learned senior counsel for the State Mr. Shukla submitted
that the judgment and order passed by the learned Judge is based on evidence
on record. There is no reason to disbelieve the evidence of prosecution
C witnesses. He submitted that the said evidence is corroborated by seizure of
revolver from the hands of Anwar and seizure of pistol from the hands of
Tasleem and also recovery of bullets from the body of the deceased, Khalil,
which was fired from the revolver of Anwar.

We w'ould first deal with Criminal Appeal No. I 045 of 1999 filed by
D Anwar. It is to be stated at the outset that prosecution has proved that
accused Anwar fired from his revolver which caused the death of informer-
Khalil. For the purpose, the prosecution has relied upon the evidence of PWI - ~
Raghbir Singh. who has stated that police party took the vehicle and chased
the accused near the gate of police quarters, Ahata Kedara. At that time, one
E of the boys escaped from the spot and out of remaining two, Anwar took out
a revolver and Tasleem took out a country made pistol on seeing the police
party. Anwar tired from his revolver which caused injury to the informer. He
has also stated that SI Pankaj Singh overpowered the accused Anwar and
took into possession a .32 bore revolver with six rolls, out of which four rolls
were found empty as having been tired and remaining two rolls were found
F lying in the chamber. He has also stated that SI Pankaj Singh requested many
persons who were on the spot to join the investigation but none agreed. He
has identified the revolver seized from the accused Anwar. The evidence of
this witness with regard to the role played by Anwar is fully corroborated by
PW 3 SI Shiv Lal. PWIO HC Jagpal. PW13 HC Satbir Singh and PW16
G Constable Devender. Apart from this ocular version of this witness, from the
possession of Anwar. 32 bore English made revolver was seized alongwith
four cartridges cases and two live cartridges and six more cartridges were
recovered from his possession. These were examined by PW6 Dy. Sr. Scientific ·
Officer-cum-Assistant Chemical Examiner CFSL. CBI. New Delhi and according
to his report English revclver was in working order. Further, he has given an
H opinion with regard to. 32" lead deformed bullet which was found from the
MOHD. ANWAR v. STATE OF DELHI [SHAH, J.] 491

body of deceased and has stated that it was fired from .32 bore revolver, Ex. A
Pl. That lead bullet was taken out from the dead body of deceased by Dr.
L.K. Barua (PWI 8) during postmortem. As per the postmortem report, deceased
was having one rounded punctured wound on the left side from the front of
chest.

Aforesaid evidence, in our view, conclusively connects the accused B
Anwar with the crime. However, learned counsel Mr. Jaspaf submitted that
prosecution has failed to examine any independent witness. In our view, there
is no reason to disbelieve the say of PWI that SI Pankaj Singh tried to record
the statement of the some persons who collected at the spot but none agreed
to be a witness. For such situation, prosecution ca~not be blamed. For the C
non-examination of investigation officer, SI Pankaj Singh, it was pointed out
that he was out of the country when the evidence was recorded and therefore
this also would be hardly a ground for disbelieving the other witnesses who
were present on the spot. Learned counsel has further pointed out that
investigating officer ought not to have used the vehicle wherein deceased
Khalil was asked to sit after receiving bullet injury. In our view, this submission D
is without any substance because for giving immediate treatment deceased
was required to be removed to the hospital and, therefore at that point of time
the act of the investigating officer of using that vehicle for removing him to
the hospital, would not in any way affect the prosecution version. It is to be
stated that the said vehicle was not used for the commission of offence. E
Similarly, the contention of the learned counsel for the appellant that bullet
recovered from the body of the deceased was not compared by the ballistic
expert to find out whether it was bullet fired from the revolver of SI Pankaj
Singh or PWl ASI Raghbir Singh requires to be rejected, in view of the
definite evidence on record which establishes that .32'' lead deformed bullet,
which was found from the body of the deceased, was fired from English F
revolver which was seized from Anwar.

Hence, in our view, there is no substance in this appeal and the learned
designated court has rightly convicted the appellant, Anwar for the offence
for which he was charged. · G
. CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1175 OF 1999

Now we would deal with the Criminal Appeal No. 117 5 of 1999 filed by
Tasleem. He has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302
read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and H
492 SUPREME COURT REPORTS .[1999] SUPP. 5 S.C.R. .. ~

A to pay a fine of Rs. 500. He is also convicted for the offence under Section
307 read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced to suffer RI for 5 years and to
pay a f"me of Rs. 500 and under Section 5 TADA (P) Act, 1987 to undergo
R.I. for 5 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 500. The learned counsel pointed out
that the appellant is in jail since the day of offence i.e. 19.9.1992 and he has
-
already undergone the sentence for the offence punishable under Section 307
B IPC and Section 5 of the TADA (P) Act. He, therefore submitted that assuming
that the said conviction is valid yet there wa5 no reason for convicting the
accused for the offence punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34
IPC solely on ·the alleged ground that Tasleem has exhorted as alleged,
particularly when the police had falsely involved four other persons, who
c were required to be discharged. For this purpose, we are also taken through
the evidence off all the witnesses. From the evidence on record, the role
assigned to Tasleem is that he was accompanying Anwar and that he was
having pistol in his pocket. When they were chased and cornered both took
out their f"rre a_rms and it is alleged that Tasleem uttered the words "Maro
Salon Ko". Question is, whether prosecution has established the said part of
D its version beyond reasonable doubt. For this purpose it can be noted that
PWl ASI Raghbir Singh had not specifically stated that Tasleem exhorted ... ,
Anwar by using the words "Maro Salon Ko". He has only stated that Mohd. "'
Anwar took out a revolver and Mohd. Tasleem took out a country made pistol
on seeing the police party and fired at them. Thereafter, he has improved and
E stated that Anwar fired at the instance of Tasleem. The court while recording
the evidence has noted that witness has identified Tasleem as Anwar and
Anwar as Tasleem. It is true that PWI 0 HC Jagpal Singh, PW13 SI Shiv Lal,
PW13 Constable Satbir Singh and PW16 Constable Devender have deposed
to th~ effect that Tasleem has exhorted other boys by uttering "Maro Salon
Ko''. ASI Raghbir Singh has specifically not deposed that Tasleem has exhorted
F and thereafter Anwar fired from his revolver, which caused injuries to the ,·

deceased. P. W. l 0 Jagpal Singh has in his examination-in-chief merely stated
tbatafter chasing the accused when they stopped the vehicle, Tasleem told
his companions to shoot them. He has not specifically used the words 'Maro
Safon Ko'. In his cross-examination, he has stated that when Khalil got down
G from the vehicle, accused shouted 'Maro Salon Ko'. He was contradicted with .~

his 161 statement but as the Investigating Officer is not examined, nothing
can be stated about that part of the. evidence. Further, the prosecution version
is that both appellants alongwith other persons had gone near Naulakha
house for allegedly committing dacoity. However, that would not mean that ~

after being chased by the police party accused were having any common ""'""
H intention to kill the chasing party. There is nothing on the record to establish
MOHD. ANWAR v. STATE OF DELHI [SHAH, J.] 493
that by alleged firing by Tasleem injury was caused to anyone. Hence we do A·
not discuss the other contention raised by learned counsel Mr. Sushi! Kumar
that from Tasleem temancha was not recovered or, in any case, the said
recovery is not proved. Further, it is to be noted that at the initial stage, six
persons were chargesheeted for the alleged offences. The learned Judge
discharged four of them. In this set of circumstances, it would be unsafe to B
rely upon the evidence of prosecution witnesses that Tasleem exhorted or
uttered the words 'Maro Salon Ko' as alleged and therefore, Anwar fired from
his revolver which caused injury to the deceased Khalil. From the facts and
circumstances it would be difficult to infer that Tasle~m was having any
common intention to commit the crime for which Anwar is convicted. Hence,
conviction ofTasleem for the offence punishable under Section 302 read with C
Section 34 IPC requires to be set aside.

As submitted by learned senior counsel Mr. Sushil Kumar for the other
role played by Tasleem, for which he is convicted and has undergone the
sentence, the evidence is not required to be re-appreciated.
D
In the result, Criminal Appeal No. 1175of1999 tiled by Tasleem is partly
allowed. He is acquitted of the offence punishable under Section 302 read
with Section 34 IPC. Rest of the order passed by the learned Judge is
confirmed. If he has already undergone the sentence for those offences, he
be set at liberty immediately if not required in any other case.
E
Criminal Appeal No. I 045 of 1999 filed by Anwar is dismissed.

A.K.T. Criminal Appeal No. 1175/1999 allowed.
Criminal Appeal No. 1045/1999 dismissed.