Holding

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s order acquitting the three accused, finding that the prosecution case against them was not free from doubt and the evidence was not cogent.

Summary

The State of U.P. appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s judgment acquitting three of six accused in a murder case. The deceased, Yadunath Chauhan, was allegedly attacked by six men, two with spears and four with lathis, on the exhortation of Ram Prasad, resulting in his death. The trial court convicted all six under Section 302 read with Sections 147, 148 and 149 IPC. The High Court altered the conviction of the first three accused to Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and acquitted the remaining three, finding the prosecution’s case against them doubtful. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of the witnesses, noting that only one blunt‑weapon injury was proved and that the testimony of two witnesses was altered to fit medical evidence. It held that the High Court’s reasoning was sound, the evidence against the three acquitted was not cogent, and therefore dismissed the State’s appeal.

Issues considered

Whether the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the three accused (Devendra, Chhotey Lal and Subhash) participated in the murder under Section 302 read with Sections 147, 148 and 149 IPC.
Whether the benefit of doubt should be extended to the accused when witness testimony is inconsistent and not corroborated by the FIR or investigation.
Whether the alteration of conviction of the first three accused to Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC is appropriate.

Legislation cited

Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 147, s. 148, s. 149, s. 302, s. 34

Subjects

murderculpable homicideSection 34 IPCcommon intentionbenefit of doubtacquittalwitness credibilityevidence

Judgment

STATEOFU.P. A
v.
RAJA RAM AND ORS.

JUNE 20, 2007

[DR. ARIJIT PASA YAT AND D.K. JAIN, JJ.] B

Penal Code, 1860-s. 302 rlw s. 34-Assault by six accused-On
exhortation by one accused other accused assaulted the victim-Conviction
under s. 302 rlw s. 147, 148 and 149-High Court altering conviction of C
three accused to s. 302 r/w"s. 34 and acquitted the other three-Acquittal
challenged-Held: Order of High Court justified since prosecution case
against the three accused was not free from doubt and that the evidence of
prosecution witnesses was not cogent with regard to these -rccused

According to the prosecution, on the fateful day respondents surrounded D
--J YC in the field, RR and RN were armed with spears and others were armed
with la this. On exhortation of accused RP, RR and RN assaulted YP with spear
and others assaulted YP with the arms which subsequently resulted in his
death. Victim raised alarm and PW 1, 2 and 3 came to the place of incident
and thereafter, accused persons ran away. FIR was lodged. Investigation was
carried out. Respondents were convicted under s. 302 read with ss. 149, 148 E
and 147 IPC. Respondents filed appeal. High Court set aside the co_nviction
and sentence of respondents 4 to 6. However, the conviction of RR, RN and
RP was altered to section 302 read with section 34 IPC. Hence the present
appeal

Dismissing the appeal, the Court F

HELD: 1.1. High Court has noted that prosecution case against D, CL
and S is not free from doubt. They were alleged to be armed with lathi. In the
FIR there was a clear statement that these respondents also assaulted the
deceased with lathi. PW-1 in his examination in chief also stated that all the G
assailants having lathi were continuously hitting the deceased with lathis.
However, PWs 2 and 3, in their deposition made an improvement and developed
---<- the case that only RP respondents struck a lathi blow on the head of the
deceased, but the acquitted three simply waved their lathis to thwart away the

1085 H
1086 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 7 S.C.R.

A witnesses. It appears that since deceased had only one blunt object injury
which is specifically attributed to RP alone, the prosecutor did not hesitate to
develop the case through the evidence of PWs 2 and 3 that these respondents
did not strike any blow of lathi on the deceased but they simply threatened
the witnesses by brandishing lathis. No such case was put forward in the FIR
B or at the investigation stage. Therefore, High Court, extended benefit of doubt
to D, CL and Sand acquitted them of the offences charged for. (Para 8]
I1088-E, F, G, HI
1.2. The reasoning of the High Court does not suffer from any infirmity.
The High Court rightly observed that PWs 2 and 3 tried to introduce different
C versions from what has been stated during investigation. Their version .was
altered to be in line with medical evidence. Therefore, the High Court has
rightly held that the evidence is not cogent so far as they were concerned.
(Para 9] (1089-A, Bl

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No. 1362 of
D 2002.
From the Judgment and Order dated of the 23.2.2001 of the High Court
of Judicature at Allahabad in Cr!. A. No. 838 of 1985.

Sahciev Singh and Mohd. Fuzail Khan (for Anuvrat Sharma) for the
Appellant.

K. Sarada Devi for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

F DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J. I. The State ofU.P. is in appeal against the
judgment of the Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court directing acquittal
of the present respondents 4 to 6 while 1Jpholding the conviction of
respondents 1 to 3 namely, Raja Ram, Ram Nath, and Ram Prasad, with the
alteration that they were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of
the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short 'IPC'), instead of Section 302 read with
G Section 149 IPC. Conviction for c-ffences punishable under Sections 147 and
148 IPC was set aside. The High Court set aside the conviction of Devender,
Chhotey Lal and Subhash who are respondents 4 and 6 in this appeal.

2. Respondents faced trial for alleged commission of offence punishable
unC:<!r Section 302 read with Sections 149, 148 and 147 of the Indian Penal
H Code, 1860 (in short 'IPC'). The learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ballia
STATEOFU.P. v. RAJA RAM [PASAYAT,J.) 1087
found the accused persons guilty and sentenced each to undergo imprisonment A
for life and one year respectively in respect of three offences.

3. Prosecution version in a nutshell is as follows:

On 10.4.1984 Yadunath Chauhan (hereinafter referred to as the 'deceased')
was going from his village Bankat to village Jigirsar for some work. When B
he was near the Government Tube-well and the field of Balchand, all the
respondents surrounded him. Time was about 6.30 a.m. Respondents Raja
Ram and Ram Nath were having 'Spears' while all other had lathis. On
exhortation of accused Ram Prasad, respondents Raja Ram and Ram Nath
started assaulting Yadunath with spear and rest with lathi. On the alarm C
raised by the victim, his son Babban Chauhan (PW- I), Ram Lal, Roop Narain
(PW-2), Kamal Nath and others were attracted to the scene of occurrence.
Se.eing the pressure being mounted with the arrival of witnesses accused
persons ran away with their respective weapons.

Babba Chauhan (PW-I) son of the deceased, himself wrote down the D
First Information Report (Ex. Ka I) and carried the same along with victim
-} Yadunath to P.S. Khejuri where F.1.R. was recorded and the investigation was
undertaken.

After completion of investigation charge sheet was placed. Accused
person pleaded false implication. They examined one witness DW-1 and E
exhibited certain documents to show that the complainant was inimical to
them.

4. On analysis of the evidence on record learned trial court held that the
incident occurred at the time and place indicated by prosecution and the same
is witnessed by PWs I, 2 and 3 and their evidence was trustworthy. The First F
Information Report was lodged with promptness and the stand of defence
that deceased was done to death in the early hours of the day while it was
still dark was not acceptable. With these findings learned trial court Judge
concluded that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing its case beyond
reasonable doubt.
G
5. Accused persons preferred appeal before the High Court. Analysing
the evidence on record the High Court found that the accusations so far as
they relate to respondents I and 3 stand substantially established. Their
participation in the occurrence was proved beyond doubt. Ram Nath and Raja
Ram both assaulted the deceased with spear. In the post-mortem examination H
1088 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 7 S.C.R.

A two incised penetrating wounds were found, beside five other incised injuries.
- v
As regards Ram Prasad, it was noted that all the witnesses stated that he
assaulted the deceased on his head with a lathi.

6. Coming to the case of the respondents 4 to 6 it was found that the
prosecution was not free from doubt. They were alleged to be anned with
B lathi. In the first information report there was a clear, s~atemenf that these
accused persons assaulted the deceased with lathis, Babban Chauhan (PW-
1) had also stated about this. But PWs. 2 and 3 made a departure and stated
that only accused Ram Prasad struck a lathi blow on the head of the deceased
but others simply waved their lathis to scare the witnesses. The High Court
C found this was to be a development to bring their version in line with the
medical evidence. It was noted that since one injury with a blunt weapon was
noted, this departure from earlier stand was introduced. Therefore, the
conviction and sentence in so far it related to respondents 4 to 6 was set
aside. They were acquitted of the offence charged. However, the conviction
of Raja Ram, Ram Nath and Ram Prasad was altered to Section 302 read with
D Section 34 IPC.

7. In support of the appeal learned counsel for the appellant-State +--
submitted that prosecution version having been accepted, the High Court
should have also convicted respondents 4 to 6. .•

E 8. We find that the High Court has noted that prosecution case against
Devendra, Chotey Lal and Subhash, is not free from doubt. They were
alleged to be armed with lathi. In the first infonnation report there was a clear
statement that these respondents also assaulted the deceased with lathi.
Babban Chauhan (PW-I) in his examination in chief also stated that all the
F assailants having lathi were continuously hitting the deceased with lathis.
PWs 2 and 3, however, in their deposition made an improvement and developed
the case that only Ram Prasad, respondent struck a lathi blow on the head
of the deceased, but the acquitted three simply waved their lathis to thwart
away the witnesses. It appears that since deceased had only one blunt object
injury which is specifically attributed to Ram Prasad alone, the prosecutor did
G not hesitate to develop the case through the evidence of PWs 2 and 3 that
these respondents did not strike any blow of lathi on the deceased but they
simply threatened the witnesses by brandishing lathis. No such case was put
forward in the first information report or at the investigation stage. High
Court, therefore, extended benefit of doubt to Devendra, Chotey Lal and
H Subhash and acquitted them of the offences charged for.
r
STATEOFU.P. v.RAJARAM!PASAYAT.J.J 1089
9. The reasoning of the High Court does not suffer from any infirmity. A
As rightly observed by the High Court PWs 2 and 3 tried to introduce
different versions from what has tJeen stated during investigation. Their
version was altered to be in line with medical evidence. Therefore. the High
Court has rightly held tnat ·the evidence is not cogent so far as they are
concerned.
B
IO. We find no reason to differ with the conclusion of the High Court.
The appeal fails anc is dismissed.

N.J. Appeal dismissed.

I -