Holding

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction under Sections 302 and 201 IPC but refrained from deciding the death sentence, referring the sentencing issue to a larger bench.

Summary

The appellant, Swamy Shraddananda (aka Murali Manohar Mishra), was convicted of murdering his wife, Shakereh, a wealthy woman who disappeared in May 1991. Investigations uncovered a wooden box in the backyard of their house containing skeletal remains identified through forensic, DNA and photo‑superimposition evidence as the deceased. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence and a partial confession admissible under Section 27 of the Evidence Act. The trial court sentenced the appellant to death, which the High Court affirmed. On appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction, examined the adequacy of the circumstantial proof, the admissibility of the confession, and whether the death penalty met the "rarest of rare" standard, ultimately referring the sentencing question to a larger bench while dismissing the appeal against conviction.

Issues considered

The adequacy of circumstantial evidence to sustain a conviction under Sections 302 and 201 IPC.
The admissibility of the appellant's pre‑police confession under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act.
Whether the appellant was afforded a hearing under Section 235(2) of the CrPC before sentencing.
The applicability of the "rarest of rare" doctrine to impose the death penalty.
The proper quantum of punishment: death versus life imprisonment.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 235(2), s. 354(3), s. 366
Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 26, s. 27, s. 53, s. 54
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 201, s. 302

Subjects

circumstantial evidencemurderdeath penaltyrarest of rare doctrineSection 27 Evidence ActSection 235 CrPCsentencingproperty motiveexhumationDNA identification

Judgment

A
SWAMY SHRADDANANDA@MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA
v.
STATE OF KARNA TAKA

MAY 18,2007
B
[S.B. SINHA AND MARKANDEY KATJU, JJ.]
-+-
Penal Code, 1860-ss. 302 and 201-Murder of wife-Circumstantial
evidence-Conviction and death sentence by Court beloW-:Jn appeal-HELD
C Per Sinha J : Conviction justified-On facts there is one weak link in the
hypoihesis that the murder was meticulously planned-Taking an overall
view death sentence altered to life imprisonment-Per Katju, J. : Jn view of
difference of opinion, matter referred to larger Bench-Evidence Act, 1872-
s, 27-Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973-s. 235 (2)-Sentencing-Death
D sentence-Principle of Proportionality.

The appellant-accused was prosecuted for murder of his wife. According
to prosecution, the deceased was a rich and beautiful muslim lady. She was
married and had four daughters. When she met the appellant, she sought his
assistance to manage her properties. Appellant came to the deceased and
E started living with her. The deceased got separated from her husband.
Thereafter appellant married the deceased. She executed General Power of
Attorney and Will in favour of the appellant. Despite the marriage, the parents
and one of the daughters (PW 5) of the deceased were in her contact. PW 5
lost contact with the deceased since May 1991. Several times, when she fried
to contact the deceased, she was mislead by the appellant about her
F whereabouts. When she was convinced that the appellant is telling a lie, she
filed a complaint in Police Station about missing of the deceased. Thereafter
appellant had sought anticipatory bail, and the same was granted to him. The
case was given to Central Crime Branch. When the appellant was interrogated,
he confessed to have drugged the deceased and putting her in a wooden box
'G had buried her in the backyard of the house.

At the instance of the appellant, the body of.the deceased was exhumed.
-The proceedings of the exhumation was videographed. The articles found in
the box were identified by the mother and servant of the deceased as belonging
616
H
•
~
SWAMY SHRADDANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA 1·. STATE OF KARNATAKA
617

... "t
to the deceased. The skeletal remains were subjected to autopsy. PW 1, a doctor A
had conducted Photo Superimposition Method Test on the skull. Investigating
team recorded the statements of the witnesses including those who had dealing
about the properties of the deceased. Documentary evidence was collected.

Accused was charged u/ss. 302/201 IPC. Trial court finding him guilty
of commission of offence u/ss. 302 and 201 IPC, sentenced him to death. In B
appeal and death reference, High Court heard the appellant- accused on the
question of sentence in view of his pleas that he was not given opportunity of •
""' ~
hearing before imposition of sentence. Appellant in his statement accepted to
be instrumental in burying the dead body. The High Court confirmed the
conviction as well as the sentence. Hence the present appeal. c
In view of the difference in opinion on the question of sentence, referring
the matter to the larger Bench, the Court

HELD: Per Sinha, J. I.I. The various circumstances leading to the
pointing out the guilt of the appellant have been established, the cumulative D
effect whereof would show that all the links in the chain are complete and the
.....\
-\' conclusion of the guilt is fully established. [Para 47] [643-A]

Alolce Nath Dutta and Ors. v. State of West Bengal, (2006) 13 SCALE
467, relied on.
E
Sharad Birdhichand Sardo v. State of Maharashtra, AIR (1984) SC
1622, referred to.

1.2. The death of the deceased was homicidal in nature. The identity of
the dead body has also been established. The circumstances in which the
deceased married the appellant have also not been disputed. Their marriage
,F
',
..,., was proved by PW-8. Appellant also did not deny or dispute that he had been
living with the deceased at all material times at the address where the incident
allegedly took place. It has furthermore not been disputed that she had not
been seen on and from 28.05.1991. It has also not been seriously disputed
that the deceased was last seen in the company of the appellant. G
[Paras 17 and 32) [633-E, 638-B)

1.3. The Court is not oblivious of the fact that there is a material
-·~ difference between 'may be' and 'must be' and furthermore in a case of this
nature the evidence must be considered with more than ordinary care lest
H
618 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 7 S.C.R. ...
<:
A the shocking nature of crime induce an instinctive reaction against a ,,.-4
dispassionate judicial scrutiny of the facts and law. (Para 48) (643-B-C)
Kashmira.Singh v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR (1952) SC 159, relied
Oil.

1.4. If it is proved that the deceased died in an unnatural circumstance
B
in her bed room, which was occupied only by her and her husband, law requires
the husband to offer an explanation in this behalf. Absence of any explanation
by the husband would lead to an inference which would lead to a circumstance ,._
against the accused. (Para 36) (639-C) --+

c Raj Kumar Prasad Tamarkar v. State ofBihar and Anr., (2007) l SCALE
19, relied on.

1.5. As the interrogation of the appellant, while in custody of the police,
revealed the possibility of the deceased having been buried in the backyard of
her residential house, the Investigating Officer requested the Sub-Divisional
D Magistrate to conduct exhumation proceedings, who in turn, authorized the
Ta Iuka Executive Magistrate (PW-3) to do so. Confession of the accused was
)>..
not admissible in evidence. What was admissible only was that part of the
~-
confession leading to the discovery of fact in terms of Section 27 of the lbdian
Evidence Act The proceedings were conducted in the presence of the accused,
which were videographed and marked as M0-18. Discovery of the last remains
E of the deceased was .'1 relevant fact, which was, thus, admissible in evidence.
Appellant had pinpointed the exact place which was to be dug up. He marked
the exact area. He also made an oral statement that the box was buried beneath
the area so marked, location whereof showed that it was a big area, flooring
of which had been well plastered with cement having Cuddapah stone slabs.
F The video showed that the slabs had been laid there much earlier and were
not of recent origin. [Paras 38 and 39) (640-E, G; 641-B-C)
-,..
Aloke Nath Dutt and Ors. v. State of West Bengal, (2006) 13 SCALE
467; Pulukuri Kottayya v. King Emperor, AIR (1947) PC 67; Jajfar Hussain
Dastagir v. State of Maharashtra, (1969) 2 SCC 872; Shamshuk Kanwar v.
G State of U.P .• (1995) 4 SCC 430 and State of Maharashtra v. Damu, (2000) 6
sec 269, relied on.
. ..
Shri Shankar Gopal Patil and Ors. v. The State of Maharashtra, (2000)
~A
5 Bom. CR 360, referred to.

H
SWAMY SHRADDANAl'\DA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STATE Of KARNATAKA 619

1.6. It cannot be said that only because the investigating team having A
regard to the purported confession made by the appellant had already known
that a dead body had been buried in the house, Section 27 of the Evidence Act
would not be attracted. In his statements before the investigating officer,
appellant made a confession; but what was admissible in evidence is only that
part which would come within the purview of Section 27 of the Evidence Act
and not the rest The court while analyzing the evidence and appreciating the B
same cannot take note of confession made before the police.
(Para 4411642-E, Fl
1.7. What was, therefore, relevant for the purpose of Section 27 of the
Evidence Act was that at the instance of the appellant himself a particular
place which had been pin pointed by him had been dug and remains ofa body C
and other articles were recovered. (Para 461 (642-H)

1.8. The prosecution .case must rest on the other materials brought
before the court from the confession. It is also not permissible to start with
the confession and find corroborative evidence thereof and come back to the
confession again for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion of guilt.
D
J (Para 45) (642-G)
....
2.1. Rarest of rare doctrine only has a statistical dimension i.e. incidence
of particular type of murder in a given sample, rarest of rare benchmark can
also be used in the context of other parameters such a brutality, planning,
E
society's reaction et all. It can not be conclusively said that murder of wife
for usurping property is a particularly rarest of rare incident It could, of
course, be a rare incident. (Para 971 (656-H; 657-A-BI

2.2. There may be cases and cases where even on circumstantial
evidence, a death penalty may be imposed. No universal rule is meant to be F
; laid down. !Para 861 (653-C-D)
...
Bishnu Prasad Sinha and Anr. v. State of Assam, (2007) 2 SCALE 42,
referred to.

2.3. It has been a fundamental point in numerous studies in the field of G
Death Penalty jurisprudence that cases where the sole basis of conviction is ·
circumstantial evidence, have far greater chances of turning out to be wrongful
convictions, later on, in comparison to ones which are based on fitter sources
....
of proof. Convictions based on seemingly conclusive circumstantial evidence
should not be presumed as full proof incidences and the fact that the same
H
620 SUPREME COURT REPOR rs (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A are circumstantial evidenc~ based must be a definite factor at the sentencing "
stage deliberations, ~onsidering that capital punishment is unique in its total
irrevocabi/ity.
.
Any characteristic of trial, such as conviction'
solely resting
on circumstantial evidence, which contributes to the uncertainty in the
culpability calculus, must attract negative attention while deciding maximum
penalty for murder. fPara 891 f654-H; 655-A-BI .......
B
Merritt v. State, 52 Ga. 82, 85 (1874) and Jackson v. State, 14 Ala. 26,
29-30 (1883); United States v. Quinones, 205 F. Supp. 2d 256, 267 S.D.N.Y.
>
(2002), referred to. _)

S.M. Phillipps, Famous Cases of Circumstantial Evidence with an
c Introduction on the Theory of Presumptive Proof 50-52 (1875), referred to.
,,...
2.4. In the instant case, confession before police was taken as a gospel
truth. It seems that the judicial mind has a role to play in that behalf in
imposition of sentence. fPara 93( f655-Hf
D 2.5. Another aspect which needs to be considered is, as according to
the rule that sentencing should involve analysis about the nature of crime as
>-
well as the accused is the effect of two pointers relating to the nature of crime. ~

Firstly, the case does not seem to be an instance of what is called a diabolical
murder. Second point relates to planning which went into committing the
E murder. It is agreed that accused deliberately came close to the beautiful and
wealthy lady. He must have had his intentions and calculations in that regard.
To that extent intention behind the marriage can be imputed. Butto infer from
that the murder was a pre-planned murder will be going a bit too far as he did
not know the opportune date when the servant would be leaving the house. He
could not have known the servants would receive a telegram and ask for leave.
F Without their leaving the place, the plan, ifthere was any, could not have been
executed. This is one weak link in the hypothesis that the murder was
't·
.....
meticulously planned. fParas 94 and 9511656-A-B; D-El

Kashmir Singh v. State ofHimachal Pradesh, (19901Supp1 SCC 133,
relied on.
G
Simon and Ors. v. State of Karnataka, 1200412 SCC 694, referred to •
.... '·

2.6. There is growing demand in the international fora and in particular •
the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenants on Civil and r~ -
H Political Rights and the Protocol to the American Constitution on Human
SW AM,. SHRADDANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA>: STATE OF KARNATAKA
621
L
.... ., '
Rights abolished that death penalty should be abolished. (Para 50) (643-EI A
:/
Mithu v. State of Punjab, (1983) 2 SCR 6903, referred to.

Reyes v. R., (2002) UKPC 11 : 12 BHRC 219; Hughes, R. v. (Saint Lucia),
(2002) UKPC 12, Fox v. The Queen, (2002) 2 AC 284, Bowe v. The Queen,
(2006) 1WLR1623 and Coard and Ors. v. The Attorney General (Grenada), B
(2007) UKPC 7, referred to.

~'
+- 2.7. The jurisdiction to impose death penalty should not be invoked
unless there exists an extra-ordinary situation to find that it comes within
the purview of "rarest of rare" cases. The approach of the courts should not
be to confine its thought process to the identification of a "rare" case. The
c
expression "rarest of rare" case has been evolved by a Constitution Bench of
this Court and, thus, demands a meaningful application. (Para 52) (643-G-Hl

Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, (198311 SCR 145, followed.
D
Aloke Nath Dutta and Ors. v. State of West Bengal, (20061 3 SCALE
~ 467, relied on•
.,
2.8. Scholarship on sentencing which has been quite diverse in its
'
prescriptions certainly has consensus on the point that any decision oh E
sentencing aspect would require assessi"g more than one variables and single
minded pursuit of any one sentencing ideal would be discounting on other
equally urgent parameters and objectives. India does not have a sentencing
policy, unlike some other countries. Section 354 (3) Cr. P.C. suggests that
Indian law furthers statute induced sentencing guidance in part Therefore it
has to be given full colour. In our country, therefore, each case may have to F
be considered on its own merit. (Paras 58, 59 and 61) (646-C, D, FJ

Harbans Singh v. Union of India, AIR (1982) SC 849, referred to.

The Queen v. Julie McGinley and Michael Monaghan, (2003) NICC t
and Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972) referred to. G

Halliday Report of 2001 (Making Punishments Work) referred to.

2.9. There is a clear and discernible necessity of caution to set the
maximum punishment in an olfence. And also by Implication there must be H
622 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 7 S.C.R.

A intensive and exhaustive inquiry into accused related parameters before
l
employing the maximum sentence by a court of law. Therefore discretion to r <
the judiciary in this respect (to declare the maximum punishment) is of utmost
critical and seminal value. Reasons must be detailed setting clearly why any
punishment other than the maximum punishment will not suffice. This is a
B general and age-old rule of sentencing which has been statutorily recogniud
under section 354(3) Cr.P.C. [Para 681 [649-F-Gl

2.10. The law itself mandates that for imposing death sentence, special ,......
reasons are to be assigned. Imposition of death punishment is an exception in -f
terms of sub-section (3) of Section 354 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
c Whereas for commission of other offences, one or other theory, justly or
otherwise may be taken recourse to, a large number of factors are required
to be home in mind for awarding death penalty. The doctrine of proportionality
which is often referred to in the judicial pronouncements in regard to the

D
sentencing policy required to be judicially adopted should not apply in a case
of imposition of capital punishment. Precedent should not be contrary to .
Parliamentary law; far less the decision ofa Constitution bench of this Court.
(Paras 75 and 83] (650-H; 651-A; 652-FJ
...,.
.__
Rajendra Prasad v. State of U.P .. [19791 3 SCR 646; Bhimashya and
Ors. v. Smt. Janabi @Janawwa, (2006) 14 SCALE 27; State of Rajasthan v.
E Kheraj Ram, (2003) 8 SCC 224; Bablu@ Mubarik Hussain v. State of
Rajasthan, (2006) 14 SCALE 15 and Shivu and Anr. v. R.G. I:igh Court of
Karnataka and Anr., (2007) 3 SCALE 157, referred to.

'Principles of Penal Law' by Bentham; 'Of Crimes and Punishments' by
Beccana, referred to.
F
2.11. Cases where death penalty has been upheld by this Court are those
where murder was committed ofa large number of persons or by more than "f
one person in a brutal or systematic manner. [Para 81) (642-E, F) (652-D)

G Renuka Bai alias Rinku alias Ratan and Anr. v. State of Maharashtra,
(2006) 7 SCC 442 and Ram Singh v. Sonia & Ors .. (2007) 3 SCALE 106,
referred to.

2.12. In criminal cases character of accused is immaterial by the
mandate of sections 53 and 54 of Evidence Act. The same should not be a
H factor in the discussions at the sentencing stage. If that be so, bad character
SWAMY SHRAODA:'-.A:'-.UA •!!- ML.RALi MANUHAR MISHRA •·. STAT!:. Of KAMAT AKA
623

.. ·-+ of the accused by itself should not be a determinative factor . A
!Para 9811657-C)
2.13. At the stage of hearing before High Court th~ stage of hearing an
accused under Section 235(2) of the Cr.P.C. is after the judgment of conviction
is pronounced and not prior thereto. Appellant herein made a confession before
the High Court. The High Court took the same into consideration in the main B
judgment which could not be done. He had been brought before the High Court
only for purpose of fulfilling the requirement of sub-section (2) of Section
... ~ 235 Cr.P.C. His Statement was taken during midst of hearing. He knew the
implications thereof. Despite the same, he made a categorical statement that
he was responsible for burying the dead body. He gave an explanation, which
might not have found favour with the High Court, but the fact that he had c
made a confession at least accepting a part of the offence could not have been
ignored at least for the purpose of imposition of punishment He is more than
64 years' old. He is in custody for a period of 16 years. The death sentence
was awarded to him by the trial court in terms of its judgment dated
20.05.2005. In a situation of this nature, imposition of a life imprisonment D
for commission of the crime under Section 302 shall serve the ends of justice.
.... .... !Para 9911657-D-FI

2.14. However, while saying so, it is directed that in a case of this nature
'life sentence' must be meant to be 'life sentence'. Such a direction can be
given by the Court !Para 10011657-GJ E
Subhash Chander v. Krishan Lal and Ors., 12001) 4 SCC 458, relied
on.

Ram Anup Singh and Ors. v. State of Bihar, 12002) 6 SCC; Prakash
Dhawal Khairnar (Patil) v. State of Maharashtra, (2002) 2 SCC 35, Shri F
~ Bhagwan v. State of Rajasthan, (20011 6 SCC 296 and Mohd. Munno etc. v.
Union of India and Ors. etc., (2005) 7 SCC 417 686, referred to.

Acharaparambath Pradeepan & Anr. v. State of Kera/a, (2006) 13
SCALE 600; Bishnu Prasad Sinha and Anr. v. State ofAssam, (2007) 2 SCALE
42; Amarjit Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR (2006) SCW 5712; Sahdeo and
G
Ors. v. State ofU.P., [2004) 10 SCC 682 and Raju v. State of Haryana, 120011
. 9 sec 50, referred to.
··~
Per Markandey Katju, J
H
'624 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A I.I. The conviction of the appellant under Section 302 and other -r-~

provisions of IPC imposed by the trial Court and High Court deserves to be ·
upheld. There is convincing circumstantial evidence to establish the guilt of
the accused. This is case of cold blooded, calculated, diabolical murder by the
accused of an innocent lady who came from a good family but unfortunately
due to her infatuation fell into his clutches.
B (Paras 1, 23 and 27) (658-E; 665-C; 668-A)
1.2. It is not correct to say that only direct evidence is strong evidence
,.
while circumstantial evidence is weak evidence. Both kinds of evidence can +
be strong in a given situation. The only requirement in circumstantial evidence
is that the chain of links connected the accused with the crime should be
c established beyond reasonable doubt. In this case the facts clearly establish
the chain of circumstances linking the accused with the crime.
(Para 24) (665-D-EJ

I .J. From the facts of the case, it is evident that the deceased was not ...
1,.
Sfln alive from May 1991 onwards and no one was able to speak to her on
D .••'"
telephone, whereas, till May 1991 her daughter PW 5 was regularly in contact
with her. Accused was living with the deceased as her husband and when /....
-j-
contacted by PW S he told all kinds of lies about the whereabout of the
deceased. (Para 25) f667-DJ

E 1.4. The fact that the deceased was murdered is indisputable. If she had
met a natural death, there was no question of her being buried in the backyard
of the house without intimating any of her relatives including her daughter
and parents. There is abundant expert evidence to establish that the skeleton
discovered in the box in the backyard was that of the deceased. There is also
uncontroverted evidence that the said box in which her body was kept was got
F prepared by the accused himself prior to the death of the deceased. There is
no manner of doubt that the accused killed the deceased and secretly buried f
her in the bac~yard of the. house. The fact that he kept the death news of the
deceased secret and he told lies repeatedly to her daughter, PW 5 proves his
guilty mind. His act of selling valuable property of the deceased worth crores
ofrupees within a short time of the death of the deceased with the help ofa
G
defunct General Power of Attorney and the other material on re~ord clearly
establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution _
has convincingly succeeded in establishing all the links in the chain of
circumstances linking the accused with the crime. .,.-.-
(Para 261 (667-E-HI
H
SW M1Y SHRADDANAl'>OA (!!' MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA •. STATE m 11.ARNATAKA 625

1.5. It cannot be said that there was no reason for the appellant to murder A
the deceased since the deceased had executed a will in his favour. It is well
settled that a will comes into operation only on the death of the testator. The
deceased was only in her forties, and her natural death may have occurred
several decades later. The appellant was obviously not willing to wait for so
long before he could grab her property and hence he decided to murder her. B I
No doubt no poisonous substance was detected in the skeleton of the deceased,>
and hence the prosecution case that the accused mixed poison in her tea could
not be firmly established. However, even ifthe exact method of murder has
not been established by the prosecution, there is no doubt that it was the
appellant who murdered the deceased. (Para 28) 1668-B-C)
c
1.6. Appellant was in a dominating position over the deceased who had
become dependant on him, and he took full advantage of this situation. He had
motive and opportunity for committing this ghastly crime.

- (Para 29) (668-G-H)

2.1. The facts of the present case clearly fall within the category of rarest
of rare cases, deserving death sentence. It is a case of pre-planned and cold
D

blooded murder diabolically conceived and cruelly executed.
(Paras 6 and 9) (659-H; 660-G-H)

Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, (1983) l SCR 145, followed.
E
Machi Singh v.State of Punjab, (198313 SCC 470 and Holiram Bord/oi
v. State ofAssam, (200513 SCC 793, relied on.

Aloke Nath Dutta and Ors. v. State of West Bengal, (2006) 13 SCALE
467, referred to. F
2.2. No doubt there has been a growing demand in the international for
a that the death penalty should be abolished. However, in India the death penalty
cannot be abolished by a judicial verdict as death sentence is contemplated by
the Constitution and the l.P.C. Thus Article 72 (l)(c) of the Constitution
specifically mentions that the President of India has the power to grant G
pardons, reprieves or suspension of any death sentence; Similarly Article 72
(3) also contemplates the power in the Governor of the State of suspend, remit
or commute a death sentence. Hence, it is held that the Courts have no power
to impose a death sentence it would be amending the Constitution by a judicial
verdict. Again, if it is held that the Courts have no power to impose death H
626 SUPREME COURT REPORTS £2007] 7 S.C.R.

A .sentence merely because the death sentence has been abolished· in some
!'foreign countries in Europe or because there is a demand in the international
fora.that death sentence should be abolished, it would be really amending the
--
Constitution. This Court has no power to amend the Constitution by a judicial
verdict. The Constitution can only be amended by Parliament in the manner
B prescribed by article 368 of the Constitution. This Court cannot arrogate to
itself the power of Parliament under the Constitution and must maintain self-
restraint. Moreover, what has happened in foreign countries cannot be
automatically applied to our country where the situation is different.
+
[Para 71 [660-B-EJ

C Aloke Nath Dutta's and Ors. v. State of West Bengal, (2006) 13 SCALE
467, dissented with

2.3. The Court cannot legislate or amend the law. There is broad
separation of powers under the Constitution and this Court must riot ordinarily
encroach into the legislative or executive domain.
D [Para 8J (660-F)
Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. The Workman ofIndian Drugs ;....
and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., (20071 I' SCC 408, relied on.

2.4. There cannot be an absolute principle of law that merely because
E there has been a long lapse of the time from the commission of the offence
and the final conviction and sentence by this Court the death penalty can never
be imposed. It all depends on the facts of each case. It is well known that now-
a-days a long interval of time frequently occurs between the commission of
the offence and the final conviction by this Court (because of the delays in the
trial, appeals, etc.) and hence any absolute principle of law that merely because
F of this long interval death penalty cannot be imposed is laid down, then in all
such cases merely because of lapse of time death penalty ~an not be imposed 1
even though the murder was cold blooded, diabolical and' heinous. This again
would be amending the Constitution by a judicial verdict. Moreover this would
give encouragement to the accused and their lawyers to delay proceedings in
G Court (by unnecessary adjournments, interlocutory applications, etc.) to avoid
~he death penalty. [Para I0[ (661-A-CJ

· 2.5. It also cannot be said that in cases of circumstantial evidence
ordinarily the death penalty should not be awarded. No such absolute -r _i
proposition of the law can be laid down. It all depends on the facts of each
H case. Criminals have been hanged even on the basis of circumstantial evidence.
SWAMY SHRADDAl'ANDA@MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STAll: OF KARNAT AKA [S.B. SINHA. J.] 627

.....,._ -+· There is no principle of law that only direct evidence is strong and reliable A
while circumstantial evidence is weak and unreliable. Circumstantial evidence
can be as strong aqd reliable as direct evidence, but the only requirement is
that the prosecution must establish beyond reasonable doubt that there is a
chain of links which connects the accused with the crime.
(Para lll 1661-E-Fl
B
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 454 of
...... 2006.
...
From the Judgment and Order dated 19.9.2005 of the High Court of
Kamataka in Criminal Reference No. and Criminal Appeal No. 06 of2005 and
1086 of2005 respectively. c
Alok Vagrecha, Viresh Kumar Yadav, Banay K. Das and Varindar Kumar
'
Sharma for the Appellant.

Sanjay R. Hegde, Anil Kumar Mishra and Vikrant Yadav for the
Respondent. D
.-, U.U. Lalit, Rana Mukherjee, Siddharth Gautam and Goodwill Indeevar
~
for the Intervenor.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

S.B. SINHA, J. I. Appellant herein was convicted and sentenced to E
death for committing murder of his wife on or about 28.05.1991 at their
residential house situate at 81, Richmond Road, Bangalore. The deceased was
earlier married to one Akbar Khaleeli who was in the diplomatic service in the
Government of India. She had four daughters. The deceased along with her

-...
\>
children in ·the year 1983 visited the Maharaja of Rampur. There she was
introduced to the appellant. Appellant at the relevant time was assisting the
Rampur royal family. In regard to the management of her landed properties,
the deceased sought for his assistance. She had inherited huge properties
F

including House No. 81, Richmond Road, Bangalore from her mother. She had
inherited some other properties during her marriage. Some litigations in respect
of the said properties had been going on. G
2. Mr. Khaleeli on his assignment as diplomat of Iran went to the said
country. The deceased together with her daughters started living at Bangalore.
"-'<
Appellant came there. He was also staying in the same house. The deceased
desired for a son and she was made to believe by the appellant that he was
capable of blessing her with a son. Akbar Khaleeli and the deceased separated H
628 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 7 S.C.R.

A :n the year l 985. The deceased thereafter married the appellant on 17 .04.1986.
They started living together at the said house. She had executed a General -----
Power of Attorney and a Will in his favour. However. despite her marriage
with the appellant, the deceased was maintaining her relationship with her
parents and daughters. Mrs. Sabah Khaleeli, second daughter of the deceased
(PW-5) had all along been in touch with her.
B f

3. It is not in dispute that from 28.05.1991, the deceased was not seen.
PW-5 had been trying to contact her on phone. She was infonned by the 4.

appellant that the deceased had gone to Hyderabad. In June 1991, when_ +
contacted, she was informed that her mother had gone to Kutch to attend a
c wedding. A week thereafter it was informed to her that the deceased had been
lying low owing to some income tax problems. She, being exasperated with
the said explanations, came down to Bangalore. She did not find her mother )

there. She was told that the deceased being pregnant had gone to United
States of America for delivery of the child. She was told to have. been
-"'
admitted in Roosevelt Hospital. She made verifications thereabout through
D her acquaintances and came to know that no such woman had ever been
admitted to the said hospital. Appellant being confronted thereto, informed
~·
her that the deceased had gone to London as she had wanted to keep it as +
a secret. However, in 1992, when she met the accused at Mumbai, noticed the
passport of her mother lying in the room of the hotel which confinned that
the deceased had not visited USA or London as represented to her by the
E
appellant on earlier occasions.

4. She ultimately informed the Ashok Nagar Police Station by giving a
written complaint about missing of her mother. A missing complaint was
registered on 10.06.1992. No serious effort, however, was made to find out the
F whereabouts of the deceased. PW-5 approached the higher authorities resulting
in the investigation of the matter being entrusted to the Central Crime Branch.
Apprehending arrest, Appellant obtained anticipatory bail with a condition
that he would attend the police between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on every Monday
-f
-
·~

and shall also make him available to the police. He applied for relaxation of
the said condition and by an order dated 3.12.1993, it was. directed that the r
G appellant shall appear before the police authorities on every Monday once
1--
. in three months.

5. The investigation was entrusted to one C. Veeraiaha (PW-37). He
r
suspected the appellant herein. He was interrogated on28.03.1994, whereupon
he made a voluntary statement which was marked as Ex. P-175. He stated in
H
>Y<AM\ 'HMUUAl>AC-.UAly} MURALI MAl>UHARMlSHRA v. STATE m KAR.,'-AI A1'.A l> 8 'i1'HA. J J 629

great details as to the manner in which he had killed his wife and disposed A
-.. '+
bf her dead body. He also disclosed as to how a wooden box of size 2 x 7
x 2 was made. a pit was dug and how the dead body was buried there. He
narrated that how with the help of Raju he had put the box into the pit
covered with mud and on the next day with the help of some masons brought
by the said Raju kadapa stone slabs were put on the pit and the adjacent land
and cemented the place.
B

6. In the said statement, he stated:
~
~

"If I am taken I will show the place where the wooden box was
prepared and the person who prepared it, the persons who transported c
the box and the people who helped in digging out the pit and the crow
bar, spade, pan used for digging pit, the cement bags and the spot
where Shakerah is buried and I exhume the dead body of the deceased
and show you. The statement what all I had earlier given to Ashnknagar
Police was a false statement given intentionally just to escape myself."
D
7. An Executive Magistrate Syed Ejaj Ahmad (PW-3) was called for
-~ exhumation of the dead body. He asked a doctor to conduct exhumation
·+
proceeding. On 30.03.1994, Dr. Nissar Ahmed (PW-14) came to the place of
occurrence for the said purpose. Appellant was asked as to whether he was
ready to show the spot as per his earlier statement. The entire proceeding of
exhumation of the dead body was video-graphed. It took place at about I 0.30
E
a.m. on the said day. Appellant with a chalk piece marked the spot. Coolies
accompanying the party as per instructions of the appellant himself, dug the
earth of the said place whereupon a box was noticed. The plank of the lid of
the wooden box was removed. A bed, a nighty, pillow and bed sheets were
recovered. Channaiah who had come along with Dr. Nissar Ahmed removed F
the scalp, skull and hairs of the head which were detached from the skull and
_/

+ other bone pieces. He also removed the pieces of the bones. Another Doctor
Shri Thiruvanakkarasu also came there. They joined the bones and fixed the
skull and mandible in orderly manner. It was found to be that of a human
skeleton. The mother of the deceased Smt. Gauhar Taj Namazie identified a
ring which was embedded with red stone and two other black rings as G
belonging to the deceased. The nighty which was recovered was identified
to be belonging to the deceased by the maid servant who had been working
'r in the house.
- ~

H
630 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A 8. The post mortem examination commenced at 4.45 p.m. on 30.03.1994
which ended at about 6 p.m.

9. Appellant was, thereafter, charged for commission of murder of his
wife. Before the learned Trial Judge, 39 prosecution witnesses were examined.
There was no eye-witness to the occurrence. The prosecution was based on
B circumstantial evidence.

10. The learned Trial Judge, as noticed hereinbefore, found the appellant
guilty of commission of offence under Sections 302 and 20 l of the Indian I--

Penal Code and sentenced him to death. -r- "'
c l l. Appellant preferred an appeal before the High Court. A reference
was also made by the learned Judge in terms of Section 366 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure.

12. The. circumstances which were found to be existing by the High
Court for proving commission of the offence are said to be :
D
"(a) Motive - Murder for gain
~~
(b) The deceased Shakereh was last seen alive in May 199 l when she + .,
was residing at No. 81, Richmond Road, Bangalore along with accused
and his wife.
E
(c) Strange conduct of the accused after 28-5-91

(d) A wooden box (M0.5) was got prepared and brought to the house
by the accused.

(e) Discovery of the wooden box containing a skeleton and feminine
F articles buried in the backyard of the said house of the accused and I"
the deceased in furt~erance of information furnished by the accused.
-+ "T'
(t) Fixing. the identity of the skeleton as that of the deceased with the ~

help of skull and the admitted undisputed photograph of Mrs. Shakereh r=
by photo Super-imposition method.
G
(g) Fixing the identity of the skeleton as that of the deceased on the
. basis of DNA finger printing.
.JI
(h) Identifying some of the articles like MOs. 5, 6, 8, 11 to 17 along
(
with the skeleton in the box as belonging to the deceased.
H
SWAMY SHRADDAJIOANDA@MURALI MA!l;OHAR MISHRA"· STATE OF KARl'ATAKA [S.B Sll"HA. J.) 63 J

..... ~ (i) The last circumstance put forth i.e., the attempt of the accused to A
mislead or to give false explanation."

13. Before the High Court, a contention was raised that before imposition
of sentence, the appellant had not been granted adequate opportunity to
make a representation as was mandatorily required under Sub-section (2) of
Section 235 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The High Court gave the B
appellant an opportunity of being heard. Before the High Court, the appellant

- _..,.
accepted that he was instrumental in burying the dead body stating:

"The accused submitted that he is innocent and has been illegally
convicted. He submitted that as the family members of the deceased
(parents and daughters) had filed number of cases against the c
deceased, she was mentally depressed and was taking number of
sedative pills/ drugs; that she died naturally in May 1991 and as he
feared adverse consequences, especially repercussions from her family
members and community people, he buried her body in the backyard
-· of his house without informing anybody. He submitted that though D
this fact was not stated by him in the trial court, as he could not bear
L...i, it any more and after thinking over the matter for the last few years,
+
he has decided to come out with this truth. He submitted that as he
is innocent, his conviction be set aside and he be acquitted. So far
as the sentence is concerned, he submitted that as now he is 61 years
old and suffering from serious ailments like diabetes, hypertension E
and hernia and as he is in custody for the last 11 years, mercy be
shown to him by reducing the capital punishment, if ever the court
decides to convict him."

-
14. The High Court, however, affirmed the judgment of conviction and
sentence. F
-+
15. Mr. Alok Vagrecha, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellant raised the following contentions in support of this appeal:
/
(i) A First Information Report having been already lodged by PW-
5, a second report by the Investigating Officer - PW-37 lodged G
on 28.03 .1994 (Ex. P-171) was illegal.

- -~
(ii) The purported recovery of the wooden box containing some
articles and the bones which were not admissible in evidence
under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act as the location of
the dead body was already known, the purported statement made H
632 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 7 S.C.R.

A by the appellant (Ex. P 175) being wholly inadmissible in evidence,
consequent recovery of the dead body would also be inadmissible.
In this connection our attention has been drawn to the fact that
the appellant was given an opportunity to have the services of
a lawyer during interrogation.

B (iii) If the prosecution case is true that the appellant had administered
sedative to the deceased on 28.05.1991 in the afternoon, the
courts below should have also taken into consideration that in.
.....
view of the statement of the investigating officer that the appellant -+
at about the same time on 28 .05 .1991 was found to be in the
company of one Rekha Handa, a former Miss India, the
c prosecution case must be held to have not been proved as
against the appellant.
(iv) A Will and General Power of Attorney having already been
executed by the deceased, the appellant could not have any
motive to kill her.
D
(v) The purported circumstances on the basis whereof the judgment
of conviction and sentence have been rendered does not complete ~
-+
all the links in the chain as tbere had been (a) no recovery of
drug; (b) motive had not been proved; and (c) there was no proof
that she died of poisoning.
E
(vi) The purported recovery of drug on 31.03 .1994 by the Investigating
Officer was wholly inadmissible in evidence.
(vii) The High Court having recorded that the deceased did not meet
any violent death, the impugned judgment cannot be sustained
and in any event the death sentence should not have beeri
F
imposed.
"'!""
-+
(viii) The High Court committed a serious illegality in relying upon the
statement made by the appellant before it as being confession of
his guilt although the same was meant to be used for the purpose
of hearing on the question of sentence only.
G
16. Mr. Sanjay R. Hegde, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
State, on the other hand, supported the judgment. The learned counsel would
contend that the court while analyzing the evidences brought on records
should keep in mind the following facts:
.,,-- --
H (a) The deceased was a beautiful woman. She had a husband and
SW AMY SHRADDA.,AM>A@ M\;RALI MAl'OHAR MISHRA "· ST A TE Ot KARNA TAKAI S.B. Sl:"HA. J.)
633

-... .. four daughter A
(b) She was an owner of huge property

(c) She met her death at the age of 40 years.

(d) Appellant although could enjoy all the luxuries of life, he had
greed for more money and, therefore, hatched a plan to murder B
the deceased wherefor he got prepared a wooden box, took
advantage of temporary absence of the two old servants and at
~
~ the opportune moment administered sedative to the deceased.

(f) Despite her death, he had been operating the bank account
which was a joint account and had been acting on the basis of
the General Power of Attorney.
c
(g) He kept PW-5 at dark although she had been constantly making
enquiry in regard to the whereabouts of the deceased for one and
half years.
(h) The manner in which the dead body was found categorically D
......, shows the vicious mind of the appellant as the bed-sheet was
...,_ found on her face, her jewelery was found on the top of the body,
the deceased had nighty on her person and, thus, it was
essentially principally a planned murder.

17. We have not doubt that the deach of the deceased was homicidal E
in nature. The identity of the dead body has also been established. The
circumstances in which the deceased married the appellant have also not been
disputed. Their marriage was proved by PW-8 T.H. Lokeshminarayana.
Appellant also did not deny or dispute that he had been living with the
deceased at all material times at 81, Richmond Road, Bangalore. It has
F
.. + furthermore not been disputed that she had not been seen on and from
28.05.1991.

18. We have noticed hereinbefore the circumstances which are said to
have been found by the courts below. The law in this behalf is now no longer
res integra. G
19. In Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, AIR (1984)
SC 1622, this Court held:
---y
"l 53. A close analysis ofthis decision would show that the following
H
634 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 7 S.C.R.

A condition.s must be fulfilled before a case against an accused can be
said to be fully established:

(I) the circumstances from which the conclusion of guilt is to be
draw41 should be fully established.

It may be noted here that this Court indicated that the circumstances
B
concerned "must or should" and not "may be" established. There is
not only a grammatical but a legal distinction between "may be proved"
and "must be or should be provt.J" as was held by this Court in
Shivaji Sahabrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra, where the
observations were made: [SCC para 19, p. 807: SCC (Cri) p. 1047]
c "Certainly, it is a primary principle that the accused must be and
not merely may be guilty before a court can cor:vict and the
mental dis•ance between 'may be' and 'must be' is long and
divides vague conjectures from sure conclusions."

(2) the facts so established should be consistent only with the
·D
hypothesis of the guilt of the accused, that is to say, they should not
be explainable on any other hypothesis except that the accused is
guilty, +

(3) the circumstances should be of a conclusive nature and tendency,
E (4) they should exclude every possible hypothesis except the one to
be proved, and

(5) there must be a chain of evidence so complete as not to leave any
reasonable ground for the conclusion consistent with the innocence
of the accused and must show that in all human probability the act
F must have been done by the accused."

20. In regard to the circumstantial evidence in a case of death by
poisoning, this Court opined:

"So far as this matter is concerned, in such cases the court must
G carefully scan t'ie evidence and determine the four important
circumstances wf'ich alone can justify a conviction:

(I) there is a clear motive for an accused to administer poison to the
deceased,

H (2) that the deceased died of poison said to have been administered,
~AMY SHRADDANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA •. STATE OF KARNATAKA (S.B. SINHA. J.] 63 5

(3) that the accused had the poison in his possession, A
.. ~· (4) that he had an opportunity to administer the poison to the
deceased."

[See also Aloke Nath Dutta & Ors. v. State of West Bengal, [2006) 13
SCALE467] B
21. We may proceed to consider the matter keeping in view the
aforementioned legal principle in mind.

22. Dr. Nissar Ahamed who examined himself as PW-14 in his evidence
proved the exhumation of the dead body. It, as noticed hereinbefore, was C
conducted by the Taluka Magistrate PW-3. Upon removal of the detached
skull, mandible, carpal and tarsal, palm and bones from the pit of feet, all the
said bones were assembled on plastic paper. A Human skeleton was formed.
There was a foul smell. According to him, all the bones were intact. The
skeleton was that of a human body. In the post mortem examination, it was D
found:

"Decomposed and Skeletanised body removed from the wooden box
described. The body was removed in piece meal from the box as the
... bones were easily coming out from the joints and body was assembl~d
in anatomical position which consists of skull with black hair measuring E.
25" long."

It was further noticed:

"The bones one below the other are: Skull bone with mandible, two
clavicles, two scapulae, bones of upper limbs and lower limbs, vertebral F
column, pelvis and carple and tarsal bones. The decomposed tissue
were greish white in colour emitting foul smell. All bones were intact
skull shows female characteristic feature, articulate well with were
each other. Skull suture completely obliterated endocrenaly, partially
obliterated exocreinaly. All teeth erupted showed attrition. The stature
was calculated from long bones and average taken from the bones. G
Right Femur - 46 ems.

- -,. Right Tibia - 39 ems.

Left Humorus - 32.5 ems and estimated stature is 5'4" to 5'6"
H
636 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A Four Pieces of body of sternum fused."

23. All the internal organs were found to be decomposed and liquefied.
He, however, reserved his opinion in regard to the cause of death pending
chemical analysis. The doctor preserved skull and mandible for super
imposition and visera and hair for chemical analysis report and bone marrow
B hair and soft tissues for DNA Fingerprinting.

24. PW-14 on the basis of the s:tid FSL report formed his opinion that
the cause of death cannot be furnished as the percentage/ amount of
Chlodiazepoxide consumed had not been furnished. ln regard to the effect of
C Chlordizaepoxide on human body, however, his opinion was as under:

·"The effect of Chlordiazopoxide on human body depengJ; upon the
dosage. They are weight gain, as a result of increase appeti\e, anxiety,
nausea, vertigo, impaired sexual function, menstrual irregularities, skin
rashes, agramlocytosis etc."
D ln regard to the effect of over dose of the said medicine, it was stated:

"Effects of over dose are rare, as the drug has got remarkable safety
margins. A few deaths have been reported at doses grea~er than 700
mgs as per the literature. The symptoms are respiratory and
cardiovascular, dis-function due to the suppression of higher centers
E
in the brain."

25. PW-14 in his cross-examination opined that the death of the deceased
was homicidal. According to him, if the deceased had consumed only one or
two tablets of Equibrom and her body was put in a box and lid was closed
F suddenly, an unexpected death may occur due to natural causes also. It is not
a case where the dead body was not identified to that of the deceased. Blood
sample of PW-5 was taken. Blood samples of Mirza Gulam Hussain Namazie
and Gauhar Taj Begum Namazie had also been taken. PW-20 ~rimannarayan,
Chief Medical Officer of Bowring Hospital, in his evidence, spoke about the
G. result of the ONA analysis in regard to taking of the blood samples.
26. The bones were sent for DNA test to Hyderabad Forensic Science
Laboratory through Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore. The test was
conducted by Dr. Laljit Singh, Scientist, who was examined as PW-24.
According to him, he and Dr. G. V. Rao (PW-17), another scientist in Hyderabad
H together carried the process of DNA isolation and testing from Exs. A to D,
,.._ SW AMY SHRAODANA1'0A@ Mt;RALI MANOHAR MISHRA •·. ST ATE Of KAR1'AT Al.A [S.B SINHA. J.)
637
~ "r i.e., from blood of the father, teeth of the deceased, hair of the deceased and A
blood of the mother in two tests being Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and
HI.:A DQ typing both the tests confirmed that the deceased was the offspring
of the said Mirza Gulam Hussain Namazie and Gauhar Taj Begum Namazie.

27; PW-17 Dr. G.V. Rao categorically stated that in carrying out DNA
fingerprinting they followed the same procedure as in the case of blood B
samples received earlier whieh were examined. He proved the report prepared
.> by him and Dr. Laljit Singh on 4.10.1995 which was marked as Ex. P-155 .
...
28. PW- I Dr. T.R. Kumari was an Assistant Director of Forensic Science
Laboratory. She gave her opinion on 15.09.1994 which was marked as Ex. P-
125 stating: c
"I. Presence of Clonazepam was detected in article no. l(a) & l(b).

~
2. Presence of Alprazolam was detected in article No. l(b) & l(f).

3. Presence of Diazepam was detected in article No. I(c). D
... 4. Presence of Chlodizepoxide was detected in No. l(e), Ill & IV .
I.

5. No poison was detected in article No. l(h)."

29. Dr. T.R. Kumari (PW-I) conducted the Photo Superimposition Method
Test on the skull, which was marked as MO- I along with the admitted E
photograph of the deceased, which was marked as M0-3. According to the
said witness, anthropometric characters or land marks of the skull and the
superimposed admitted photographs matched. She prepared a report, which
was marked as Ex.P-2. Her qualification as an expert to conduct the said test
is not in doubt. Even otherwise, she holds a Ph.D. degree in Forensic Science.
F
She has been awarded a medal for her research work by the Madras Forensic
Society of India. She has also undergone special training in photo
superimposition and has submitted a number of papers thereon. Her report
as also the report of PW-17 are relevant evidences.

30. The qualification of the expert has not been questioned before us. G
The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has not raised any
contention which would point out that the methodology conducted by the
~ -~ experts in carrying out the study was in any manner unscientific or raised any
suspicion as regards the correctness thereof.
31. It is borne out from the records that even the photographs were H
638 SUPREME COURT REPORTS 12007) 7 S.C.R.

A brought by PW-I before the trial court. Identity of the skull vis-a-vis the other
parts of the body, thus, categorically goes to show that the same was that
of the deceased, Smt. Shakereh.

32. It has also not been seriously disputed that the deceased was last
seen in the company of the appellant. The fact that she had not been seen
B alive from May, 1991 also stands fully established.

33. We will hereinafter notice the circumstances which existed in ~.

establishing the commission of the crime.

34. PW-5 Sabah Khaleeli, was the daughter of the deceased through her
C first husband. She in her deposition categorically stated that she had spoken
to her mother on 19.04.1991. She was not available on phone from May, 1991
onwards. Gauhar Namazee (PW-25) was the mother of the deceased. She in
her deposition stated that she had last seen the deceased on 13.04.1991. She
had not been cross-exainined on the said point. It is also not disputed that
PW-18 and PW-19, who were husband and wife, were engaged by the
D deceased. They saw the deceased in the company of the appellant in the
morning of28.05.1991, for the last time. The said witnesses were staying in
a servant quarter in the said premises. PW-18 was working as gardener-cum-
handyman; whereas PW-19 was working as maid servant, since 1988. They
stated in unison that they had seen the deceased at about 07.30 A.M. on that
E day. According to PW-19, she went to the kitchen to prepare tea for the
couple and kept the tea cups on the dining table. She in no uncertain terms
stated that the cups of tea were taken by the appellant to the bed-room where
the deceased was reading a newspaper. PW-19 while sweeping the house was
called by the deceased and was instructed to clean the articles kept in the
showcase instead of sweeping. They, however, received a telegram at about
F 10.00 a.m. whereby they were informed that the sister-in-law of PW-19 was
sick at Gudisuvarapally in the State of Andhra Pradesh. They sought for leave
and some money. They were permitted to leave Bangalore and were asked to
collect the requisite amount after some time. They came back to their quarters
and started packing their goods. At about 1.30 p.m. they went back to the
G house. PW-18, however, was said to have been asked by the appellant herein
to shift a wooden box kept in the guest house to the bed room before leaving.
They together with some others took a large wooden box from the guest
house and kept the same inside the bed room, where they found the deceased
sleeping on the bed. They were thereafter paid a sum of Rs.1,200/- towards
their salary and additional sum of Rs.500/- towards travelling expenses. They
H left for their home. They came back after a couple of days, but did not find
SWAMYSHJW)DANAl\'DA@ML'RALI MANOHARMISHRA '" STA11'0F KARNATAKA[S.B. SINHA. J.] 639

~ 1
the deceased. The said two witnesses in their depositions corroborated each A
other.

35. We have noticed hereinbefore that the appellant had applied for
grant of anticipatory bail in July, 1992 i.e. after the missing complaint was filed
by PW-5. In the said application for bail, the appellant himself disclosed that
the deceased had left for unknown destination in the month of May, 1991, B
allegedly because of her agitated mental condition.
~
~

'" 36. If it is proved that the deceased died in an unnatural circumstance
in her bed room, which was occupied only by her and her husband, law
requires the husband to offer an explanation in this behalf. We, however, do
not intend to Jay down a general law in this behalf as much woulcl depend
c
upon the facts and circumstances of each case. Absence of any explanation
by the husband would lead to an inference which would lead to a circumstance
against the accused.

37. We may, however, notice that recently in Raj Kumar Prasad D
..... Tamarkar v. State of Bihar & Anr., [2007] 1 SCALE 19 : JT (2007) I SC 239,
~ this Court opined :

"Once the prosecution has been able to show that at the relevant time,
the room and terrace were in exclusive occupation of the couple, the
E'
burden of proof Jay upon the respondent to show under v·hat
circumstances death was caused to his wife. The onus was on him.
He failed to discharge the same."

This legal position would appear from a decision of this court in
Nika Ram v. The State of Himacha/ Pradesh, AIR (1972) SC 2077 F
~
wherein it was held:

"It is in the evidence of Girju PW that only the accused and Churi
deceased resided in the house of the accu.sed. To similar effect
are the statements of Mani Ram (PW 8), who is the uncle of the
accused, and Bhagat Ram school teacher (PW 16). According to G
Bhagat Ram, he saw the accused and the deceased together at
their house on the day ofoccurrence. Mani Ram (PW 8) saw the
~
accused at his house at 3 p.m., while Poshu Ram, (PW 7) saw the
accused and the deceased at their house on the evening of the
day of occurrence. The accused also does not deny that he was
H
640 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 7 S.C.R. ·

A with the deceased at his house on the day of occurrence. The
house of the accused, according to plan PM, consists of one
residential room one other small room and a varandah. The
correctness of that plan is proved by A. R. Verma overseer (PW
5). The fact that the accused alone was with Churi deceased in
the house when she was murdered there with the Khokhri and
B the fact that the relations of the accused with the deceased, as
would be shown hereafter, were strained would, in the absence
of any cogent explanation by him, point to his guilt." Jt.

In Trimukh Maroti Kirkan v. State of Maharashtra, JT (2006) 9 SC 50,
C the law is stated in the following terms:
"Where an accused is alleged to have committed the murder of his
wife and the prosecution succe1::ds in leading evidence to show that
shortly before the commission of crime they were seen together or the
offence took place in the dwelling home where the husband also
normally resided, it has been consistently held that if the accused
D
does not offer any explanation how the wife received injuries or offers
an explanation which is found to be false, it is a strong circumstance
which indicates that he is responsible for commission of the crime ... "

38. We have noticed hereinbefore as to why the investigation was taken
E over by the Central Crime Branch. As the interrogation of the appellant, while
in custody ofthe police, revealtd the possibility of the deceased having been
buried in the backyard of her residential house, the Investigating Officer
requested the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to conduct exhumation proceedings,
who in turn, authorized the Taluka Executive Magistrate (PW-3) to do so.
Confession of the accused was not admissible in evidence. What was admissible
F only was that part of the confession leading to the discovery of fact in terms
of Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act. The proceedings were conducted
in the prese~ce of the accused, which were videographed and marked as M0-
18. The learned Trial Judge as also the learned Judges of the High Court had
the benefit of watching the said videograph. The High Court in its impugned
G judgment recorded :

"The videograph and the inquest proceeding disclose that a large
wooden box was found buried in the backyard of the house of the
accused and the deceased and contained a skeleton. The videograph 1 ....
recording which is not disputed by the accused, clearly discloses and
H shows that it was the accused who was pointing out the exact spot
SW AMY SHRADDANANDA @ MURALI MANOHAk "llSHRA "· STATE OF KARNAT AKA [S.8. Sl!';HA, J.) 64}

~ .... to be dug up in the big backyard and in fact marked the area with a A
chalk. The videograph further showed that the backyard flooring was
of well laid Cuddapah stones properly cemented. In such a situation,
in our view, nobody except the person who buried the box could have
the knowledge of its burial."

39. Discovery of the last remains of the deceased was a relevant fact, B
which was, thus, admissible in evidence. Appellant had pinpointed the exact
place which was to be dug up. He marked the exact area. He also made an
' )-
oral statement that the box was buried beneath the area so marked, location
whereof showed that it was a big area, flooring of which had been well
plastered with cement having Cuddapah stone slabs. The video showed that
the slabs had been laid there much earlier and were not of recent origin.
c
40. In Aloke Nath Dutta (supra), in regard to applicability of Section 26
and Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, it was stated :

"The policy underlying behind Sections 25 and 26 is to make it
a substantive rule of law that confessions whenever and wherever
D
11111111 made to the police, or while in the custody of the police to any person
.... '
whomsoever unless made in the immediate presence of a magistrate,
shall be presumed to have been obtained under the circumstances
mentioned in Section 24 and, therefore, inadmissible, except so far as
is provided by Section 27 of the Act." E
41. Pulukuri Kottayya v. King Emperor, AIR (1947) PC 67 is an authority
for the proposition that "fact discovered" envisaged under Section 27 of the
Indian Evidence Act, 1872, embraces the place from which the object was
produced, the knowledge of the accused as to it, but the information given
in that behalf must relate distinctly to that effect, stating : F
>-
"The condition necessary to bring the section into operation is
that discovery of a fact in consequence of infoimation received from
a .person accused of any offence in the custody of a Police Officer
must be deposed to, and thereupon so much of the information as
related distinctly to the fact thereby discovered may be proved." G
It was further observed :

~ "In their Lordships' view it is fallacious to treat the "fact
discovered" within the section as equivalent to thP. object produced;
H
642 SUPREME COURT REPORTS f2007)-7 S.C.R.

A the fact discovered embraces the place from which the object is
. produced and the knowledge of the accused as to this, and the
infonnation given must relate distinctly to this fact."

"lnfonnation supplied by a person in custody that "I will produce
a knife concealed in the roof of my house" does not lead to the
B discovery of a knife, knives were discovered many years ago. It leads
to the discovery of the fact that a knife is concealed in the house of
the infonnant to his knowledge, and if the knife is proved to have
been used in the commission of the offence, the fact discovered is
very relevant."

C 42. An attempt was made by the Bombay High Court to take a different
view in Shri Shankar Gopal Patil & Ors. v. The State of Maharashtra, (2000)
5 Born. CR 360.

43. The legal proposition propounded in Pullukuri Kottaya (supra) has
been considered by this Court in Jaffar Hussain Dastagir v. State of

-
·.. D Maharashtra, (1969] 2 SCC 872, Shamshuk Kanwar v. State of UP., (1995] 4
SCC 430 and State of Maharashtra v. Damu, (2000] 6 SCC 269, wherein this
Court reiterated it with approval.

44. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant, in our
E opinion, was not correct to contend that only because the investigating team
having regard to the purported confession made by the appellant had already
known that a ·dead body had been buried in the house, Section 27 of the
Evidence Act would not be attracted. In his statements before the investigating
officer, he made a confession; but what was admissible in evidence is only
that part which would come within the purview of Section 27 of the Evidence
F Act and not the rest. The court while analyzing the evidence and appreciating
the same cannot take note of confession made before the police.

45. The prosecution case must rest on the other materials brought
before the court. It is also not pennissible to start with the confession and
find corroborative evidence thereof and come back to the confession again
G for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion of guilt.

46. What was, therefore, relevant for the purpose of Section 27 of the
Evidence Act was that at the instance of the appellant himself a particular
place which had been pin pointed by him had been dug and remains of a body
H and other articles were recovered.
SW AMY SHRAOOMANOA (r;> MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STA Tl: Uf KARNAT AKA (S.B. SINHA. J.) 64J

47. The various circumstances leading to the pointing out the guilt of A
~" the appellant and appellant alone have been enumerated by us hereinbefore.
From our discussions, it is evident that each of the circumstances had been
established, the cumulative effect whereof would show that all the links in the
chain are complete and the conclusion of the guilt is fully established.

48. We are not oblivious of the fact that there is a material difference B
between 'may be' and 'must be' and furthermore in a case of this nature the
evidence must be considered with more than ordinary care lest the shocking
• nature of crime induce an instinctive reaction against a dispassionate judicial
scrutiny of the facts and law. {See Kashmira Singh v. State of Madhya
Pradesh, AIR (1952) SC 159].
c
49. The question, however, is as to whether in a case of this nature
death sentence should be imposed. In Aloke Nath Dutta (supra), this Court
had an occasion to consider a large number of decisions taking different
, views in regard to the interpretation of the words "rarest of rare cases" as
I:
adumbrated in Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, [ 1980] 2 SCC 684. D
... SO. This Court had also the occasion therein to notice the growing
~ demand in the international fora and in particular the second Optional Protocol
to the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and the Protocol
to the American Constitution on Human Rights abolished that death penalty
should be abolished. E
51. Recently, the Privy Council in Reyes v. R. (2002) UKPC 11 : 12 BHRC
219 and Hughes, R. v. (Saint Lucia) (2002) UKPC 12, noticing the decision
of this Court in Mithu v. State of Punjab, [ 1983] 2 SCR 6903, opined that the
mandatory death punishment is unconstitutional. {See also Fox v. The Queen
(2002) 2 AC 284, Bowe v. The Queen (2006) I WLR 1623 and Coard & Ors. F
v. The Attorney General (Grenada), (2007) UKPC 7].
~

52. Abolition of death penalty is not being and, in fact, cannot be
advocated; but what requires serious consideration is as to whether the
jurisdiction should not be invoked unless there exists an extra-ordinary situation
to find that it comes within the purview of "rarest of rare" cases. The
G
approach of the courts should not be to confine its thought process to the
identification of a "rare" case. The expression "rarest of rare" case has been
evolved by a Constitution Bench of this Court and, thus, demands a meaningful
1
application.
H
644 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R. · t
A 53. It is interesting to note that Bhagwati, J. in Bachan Singh v. State
f ~1
of Punjab, [ 1982] 3 SCC 24, while expressing his dissenting opinion, noticed
as under :

" ... This arbitrariness in the imposition of death penalty is considerably
accentuated by the fragmented Bench structure of our courts where
B Benches are inevitably formed with different permutations and·
combinations from time to time and cases relating to the offence of
murder come up for hearing sometimes before one Bench, sometimes
before another sometimes before a third and so on. Professor ~

Blackshield has in his article on Capital Punishment in India published
c in Volume 21 ot the Journal of the Indian Law Institute pointed out
how the practice of Bench formation contributes to arbitrariness in the
imposition of death penalty. It is well known that so far as the Supreme
Court is concerned, while the number of Judges has increased over
the years, the number of Judges on Benches which hear capital
punishment cases has actually decreased. Most cases are now heard
D by two-Judge Benches. Professor Blackshield has abstracted 70 cases
"
in which the Supreme Court had to choose between life and death
,_
while sentencing an accused for the offence of murder and analysing
>-
these 70 cases he has pointed out that during the period April 28,
1972 to March 8, 1976 only 11 Judges of the Supreme Court participated
in 10 per cent or more .:>f the cases. He has listed these 11 Judges in
E
an ascending order of leniency based on the proportion for each
Judge of plus votes (i.e. votes for the death sentence) to total votes
and pointed out that these statistics show how the judicial response
to the question of life and death varies from judge to judge. It is
significant to note that out of 70 cases analysed by Professor
F Blackshield, 37 related to the period subsequent to the coming into
force of Section 354, sub-section (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
~
1973. If a similar exercise is performed with reference to cases decided
by the Supreme Court after March 8, 1976, that being the date up to
which the survey carried out by Professor Blackshield was limited, the
analysis will reveal the same pattern of incoherence and arbitrariness,
G
the decision to kill or not to kill being guided to a large extent by the
composition of the Bench. Take for example Rajendra Prasad case
decided on February 9, 1979. In th is case, the death sentence imposed
on Rajendra Prasad was commuted to life imprisonment by a majority , / 1~~

consisting of Krishna Iyer, J. and Desai, J., A.P. Sen, J. dissented and
H was of the view that the death sentence should be confirmed. Similarly
SWAMY SHRADDAl\A~DA (!!! MURALI MA1'0HAR MISHRA "· ST ATE OF KARNAT AKA [S.B. SINHA. J.) 64 5

in one of the cases before us, namely, Bachan Singh v. State of A
Punjab, when it was first heard by a Bench consisting of Kailasam
and Sarkaria, JJ., Kailasam, J. was definitely of the view that the
majority decision in Rajendra Prasad case9 was wrong and that is why
he referred that case to the Constitution Bench. So also in Dalbir
Singh v. State of Punjab, the majority consisting of Krishna Iyer, J.
and Desai, J. took the view that the death sentence imposed on Dalbir B
Singh should be commuted to life imprisonment while A.P. Sen, J.
stuck to the original view taken by him in Rajendra Prasad case 9 and
was inclined to confirm the death sentence, It will thus be seen that
the exercise of discretion whether to inflict death penalty or not
depends to a considerable extent on the value system and social C
philosophy of the Judges constituting the Bench ..."

54. We are not oblivious of a line of decisions of this Court where the
doctrine of proportionality has been applied, even in the matter of awarding
death penalty. [See State of Rajasthan v. Kheraj Ram, [2003] 8 SCC 224, Bablu
@Mubarik Hussain v. State ofRajasthan, [2006] 14 SCALE 15 and Shivu and D
Anr. v. R.G. High Court of Karnataka and Anr.. [2007] 3 SCALE 157]

55. In this case we need not go into the correctness or otherwise of the
said view. Although it is also not necessary to do so, we may notice some
development of law in this regard.
E
56. Criminal Justice Act 1991 of England famously hailed doctrine of
proportionality as the guiding principle. But since the 199 I legislation, field
of sentencing has seen much reform and Criminal Justice Act of2003 presents
a fresh set of sentencing objectives. Section 142 of the Act delineates the
following as the purposes of sentencing:
F
"142 Purposes of sentencing

(1) Any court dealing with an offender in respect of his offence must
have regard to the following purposes of sentencing-
G
(a) the punishment of offenders,

(b) the reduction of crime (including its reduction by deterrence),

(c) the reform and rehabilitation of offenders,
H
646 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A (d) the protection of the public, and

(e) the making of reparation by offenders to persons affected by their
offences."

57. In this context, a reference should also be made of the Halliday
B Report of2001 (Making Punishments Work) which has some interesting insights
to offer on the sentencing structure in England and Wales. In the same vein,
a White Paper in 2002 has made a case of reforms and suggested a shift from
the proportionality principle.

58. In fine, scholarship on sentencing which has been quite diverse in
C its prescriptions certainly has consensus on the point that any decision Qn
sentencing aspect would require assessing more than one variables and single
minded pursuit of any one sentencing ideal would be discounting on other
equally urgent parameters and objectives.

59. We do not have a sentencing policy, unlike some other countries.
D England has the concept of "guideline judgments" which is considered as a
judge managed sentencing model rather than a statute induced one. Section
354 (3) suggests that Indian law furthers statute induced sentencing guidance
in part. Therefore it has to be given full colour.

60. We have no practice of referring such matters to superior courts for
E laying down the guidelines relating to imposition of sentence under various
situations. [See The Queen v. Julie McGinley and Michael Monaghan, (2003)
NICC I]

61. In our country, therefore, each case may have to be considered on
F its own merit.
62. It may be of some interest to note that Furman v. Georgia [408 U.S.
'
238 (1972)] ruled on the requirement for a degree of consistency in the
application of the death penalty.

Justice Stewart held that:
G
"The penalty of death differs from all other forms of criminal punishment,
not in degree, but in kind. It is unique in its total irrevocability. It
is unique in its rejection of rehabilitation of the convict as a basic T
purpose of criminal justice. And it is unique, finally, in its absolute

H
. '
SW A~IY SHRADDAl'ANDA ii!! MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STATE OF KARNA T AKA [S.B. SINHA. l ] 64 7

renunciation of all that is embodied in our concept of humanity.
..... A
•••••••••
These death sentences are cruel and unusual in the same way that
being struck by lightning is cruel and unusual. For, of all the people
convicted of rapes and murders in l 967 and l 968, many just as
reprehensible as these, the petitioners are among a capriciously
B

... >-
selected random handful upon whom the sentence of death has in fact
been imposed."

63. Justice Brennan while interpreting Eighth Amendment (Amendment
VIII: (Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted) of US Constitution observes in
c
Furman:

"In determining whether a punishment comports with human dignity,
we are aided also by a second principle inherent in the Clause - that
the State must not arbitrarily inflict a severe punishment. This principle D
derives from the notion that the State does not respect human dignity
.... when, without reason, it inflicts upon some people a severe punishment
-':
that it does not inflict upon others. Indeed, the very words "cruel and
unusual punishments" imply condemnation of the arbitrary infliction
of severe punishments."
E
64. It is important to refer to Harbans Singh v. Union of India AIR
( 1982) SC 849 at this juncture. In that case three people were sentenced to
death by the trial court for playing an equal part in jointly murdering a family
of four persons. The sentence of all the three was confirmed by the High
Court. Each of them moved to the Supreme Court by different Special Leave
Petitions before three separate benches. One of the accused's petition was F
dismissed and he was actually executed. Another's petition was allowed and
his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. And the petition of
the third one was also dismissed. He filed a review petition, which was also
dismissed, and the Executive refused clemency. He then moved another petition
before the Supreme Court bringing to light this arbitrariness. The Supreme G
Court recommended the President to commute his sentence. Chandrachud J.
while lamenting the death of dead accus~d said:

.~ "The fate of Jeeta Singh has a posthumous moral to tell. He cannot
profit by the direction which we propose to give because he is now
beyond the process of human tribunals." H
648 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A 65. Bentham's discourse on determination of minimum punishment and
maximum punishment serves as a yardstick in this context. Bentham in his
landmark treatise Principles of Penal Law propose to establish a proportion
between crimes and punishments. But he cautions against an oracular
understanding than an instructive one. We here further go in the details of
what doctrine of proportionality holds in the realm of sentencing. The first
B rule of proportionality mandates:

"The value of the punishment must not be less in any case than what
is sufficient to outweigh that of the profit of the offence." -."(
,.
While talking of minimum punishment Bentham observes:
c "Punishments may be too small or too great; and there are reasons
for not making them too small, as well as not making them too great.
The terms minimum and maximum may serve to mark the two extremes
of this question, which require equal attention.

D With a view of marking out the limits of punishment on the side of
the first of these extremes, we may lay it down as a rule:-
,_.
That the value of the punishment must not be less in any case than r
what is sufficient to outweigh that of the profit of the offence.

By the profit of the crime, must be understood not only pecuniary
E profit, but every advantage real or apparent, which has 9perated as
a motive to the commission of the crime."

66. It is to be appreciated here that statutorily decided minimum sentence
takes into account the basic value of the crime and suffice to outweigh the
F profit of the offence. The moot question relates to parameters to decide the
maximum punishment. Setting the trail of caution on the side of determination
of maximum punishment Bentham posits: 1

"Punishment, whatever shape it may assume, is an evil...

The minimum of punishment is more clearly marked than its maximum.
G What is too little is more clearly observed than what is tuo much.
What is not sufficient is easily seen, but it is not possible so exactly
to distinguish an excess. An approximation only can be attained. The ·
irregularities in the force of temptations, compel the legislator to
increase his punishments till they are not merely sufficient to restrain
H the ordinary desires of men; but also the violence of their desires
SW A.'\IY SHRADDANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STATE OF KARN AT AKA [S.B. Sll\llA. J.] 649

... ' when unusually excited.
A
The greatest danger lies in an error on the minimum side, because in
this case the punishment is inefficacious; but this error is least likely
to occur, a slight degree of attention sufficing for its escape; and
when it does exist, it is at the same time clear and manifest, and easy
to be remedied. An error on the maximum side, on the contrary, is that B
to which legislators and men in general are naturally inclined-antipathy,

- >
or a want of compassion for individuals who are represented as
dangerous and vile, pushes them onward to an undue severity. It is
on this side therefore, that we should take the most preparations, as
on this side there has been shown the greatest disposition to err."
c
67. On the same point Beccaria in his historic work Of Crimes and
Punishments denounced retributive basis of punishment.

"The aim of punishment can only be to prevent the criminal committing
new crimes against his countrymen, and to keep others from doing

- ~
likewise. Punishments, therefore, and the method of inflicting them,
should be chosen in due proportion to the crime so as to make the
most efficacious and lasting impression on the minds of men, and the
D

least painful impressions on the body of the criminal.

For a punishment to be efficacious, it is enough that the disadvantage
of the punishment should exceed the advantage anticipated from the E
crime; in which excess should be calculate the certainty of punishment
and the loss of the expected benefit. Everything beyond this,
accordingly, is superfluous, and therefore tyrannical."

68. There is a clear and discernible necessity of caution to set the
maximum punishment in an offence. And also by implication there must be F
intensive and exhaustive inquiry into accused related parameters before
employing the maximum sentence by a court of law. Therefore discretion to
the judiciary in this respect (to declare the maximum punishment) is ofutmost
critical and seminal value. Reasons must be detailed setting clearly why any
punishment other than the maximum punishment will not suffice. This is a
G
general and age-old rule of sentencing which has been statutorily recognized

-- ~·
under section 354(3).

69. Reference to the decision of other jurisdictions and/or the recent
trend in the international fora has not been referred to by way of precedents
or even a persuasive value but the court in this age cannot afford to put down H
650 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A blinkers on its window to the outside world.

70. It is noteworthy to mention here the Law Commission in its Report
of 1967 took the view that capital punishment acted as a deterrent to crime.
While it conceded that statistics did not prove these so-called deterrent
effects. It also said that figures did not disprove them either.
B
71. Tracing the judicial vie 'I on Death Penalty, one can start with the
Jagmohan Singh case (1973) where it agreed with the Law Commission that
capital punishment should be retained. But subsequent cases such as those
of Ediga Anamma (1974) and Rajendra Prasad (1979) saw dissenting voices
...<( -
being raised in this court. These led to a hearing of the Bachan Singh ( 1980)
c case by a Constitutional Bench.

72. In Rajendra Prasad v. State of U.P. [1979] 3 SCR 646, it was held
that the special reasons necessary for imposing a de_ath penalty must relate
not to the crime .but to the criminal. It could be awarded only if the security
of the state· and society, public order in the interest of the general public
D compelled that course.

73. The death penalty was abolished in 1965 in the U.K. Member-states
of the European Union cannot have the death penalty. In Canada, after the
f -
abolition of the death penalty in 1976, the homicide rate declined. In 2000,
there were 542 homicides in Canada - 16 fewer than in 1998 and 159 fewer than
E in 1975 (one year prior to the abolition of capital punishment). In 1997, the
Attorney-General of Massachusetts said: "there is not a shred of credible
evidence that the death penalty lowers the murder rate. In fact, without the
death penalty the murder rate in Massachusetts is about half the national
average."
F
74. The South African Constitutional Court unanimously ruled in 1995 -'(
that the death penalty for murder violated the country's Constitution. More
than 118 countries have abolished the death penalty either in law or practice.
The second optional protocol to the International Civil.Covenant, which came
into force in 1991, mandates the abolition of the death penalty.
G
75. Whatever may be the "merits", "demerits" or "criticism", one cannot
hope for unjustness in society. Deterring or preventive theory may not have .
any application at all in respect of imposition of death sentence. The law itself T~
mandates that for imposing death sentence, special reasons are to be assigned.
Imposition of death punishment is an exception in terms of sub-section (3) .....
H
SWAMY SHRADDANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA •·. ST ATE OF KARNA TAKA [S.B. SINHA. J.j 651

of Section 354 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Whereas for commission A
. of other offences, one or other theory, justly or otherwise may be taken
recourse to, a large number of factors are required to be borne in mind for
awarding death penalty.

76. In Renuka Bai alias Rinku alias Rotan and Anr. v. State of
Maharashtra, [2006] 7 sec 442, Balakrishnan, J. (as the teamed Chief Justice B
then was) while imposing a death sentence in a case where the appellants had
kidnapped seven children and committed their murder in a most ,dastardly
manner also noticed:

"36 ... We have carefully considered the whole aspect of the case and
are also alive to the new trends in the sentencing system in C
criminology... "

(Emphasis .supplied)

77. Similarly in Bhimashya and Ors. v. Smt. Janabi @Janawwa, [2006)
14 SCALE 27, Dr. Pasayat, J. took into consideration the overall global view D
- imparting death penalty.

78. This new trend, thus, must be taken into consideration only for
awarding appropriate punishment.

79. We may also note that in Ram Singh v. Sonia & Ors., [2007) 3 E
SCALE 106 imposition of a death penalty has been upheld in the case where
the accused had not only put an end to the life of her step brother and his
whole family which included three tiny tots of 45 days, 2 - 1/2 years and 4
years but also her own father, mother and sister in a very diabolic manner so
as to deprive her father from giving the property to her step brother and his
family. It was, in the aforementioned extraordinary situation, held: F

" ... The fact that murders in question were committed in such a
diabolic manner while the victims were sleeping, without any
provocation whatsoever from the victims' side indicates the cold-
blooded and premeditated approach of the accused to cause death of G
the victims. The brutality of the act is amplified by the grotesque and
revolting manner in which the helpless victims have been murdered

.. """ which is indicative of the fact that the c;ct was diabolic of most
superlative degree in conception and cruel in execution and that
both the accused persons are not possessed of the basic humanness
H
652 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 7 S.C.R.

and completely lack the psyche or mind set which can be amenable
A f ....
for any reformation ... "

(Emphasis supplies)

80. Yet again, another Division Bench of this Court in Shivu (supra) has
B upheld the death penalty where the accused was charged with Sections 302
and 376 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. In that case, the
repeated attempts were made by two accused aged 20 and 22 years to commit
rape on Lakkamma, daughter of one Puttegowda (PW-7). They were caught
but only had been admonished. Yet again, they attempted to commit rape on
PW-10 who was the daughter of Jayamma (PW-I). The accused persons,
-
C however, escaped any punishment even then at the instance of village elders
and their family members and instead Panchayat of village elders was called
on each occasion and accused were directed to mend their ways. The court
found that emboldened by the escapes from punishment in those two incidents,
the accused committed rape on the deceased a young girl of hardly 18 years
D and to avoid detection committed heinous and brutal act of her murder.

81. It would, therefore, appear that cases where death penalty is upheld
are those where murder was committed of a large number of persons or by
more than one person in a brutal or systematic manner.

E 82. Bhagwati, J. in his dissenting opinion in Bachan Singh (supra)
pointed out one; A/oke Nath Dutta (supra) has also pointed out other
instances.

83. With utmost respect, I am of the opinion that the doctrine of
proportionality which is often referred to in the judicial pronouncements in
p regard to the sentencing policy required to be judicially adopted should not
apply in a case of imposition of capital punishment. Precedent should not be
contrary to Parliamentary law; far less the decision of a Constitution bench
of this €ourt.

84. We may, however, notice that the question in regard to the death
G penalty again came up for consideration before this Court iit Acharaparambath
Pradeepan & Anr. v. State of Kera/a, [2006] 13 SCALE 600 and Bishnu
Prasad Sinha and Anr. v. State of Assam, [2007] 2 SCALE 42 wherein Aioke
Nath Dutta (supra) was reiterated.

85. In Bishnu Prasad Sinha (supra), it was observed :
H
SWAMY SHRADDANANDA@MURALI MANOHARMISHRA "·STATE Of KARNATAKA (SB. SINHA. I] 653

"The question which remains is as to what punishment should be A
.... -\ awarded. Ordinarily, thi,s Court, having regard to the nature of the
offence, would not have differed with the opinion of the learned
Sessions Judge as also the High Court in this behalf, but it must be
borne in mind that the appellants are convicted only on the basis of
the circumstantial evidence. There are authorities for the proposition
that if the evidence is proved by circumstantial evidence, ordinarily, B
death penalty would not be awarded. Moreover, the appellant No.1
showed his remorse and repentance even in his statement under
,' ,,. Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He accepted his guilt."

(See also Amarjit Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR (2006) SCW 5712)
c
86. We may, however, hasten to add that no universal rule is meant to
be laid down as even in Bishnu Prasad Sinha (supra), the word "ordinarily"
has been used. There may be cases and cases where even on circumstantial
evidence, a death penalty may be imposed.
\,
87. In Sahdeo & Ors. v. State of UP. (2004] 10 SCC 682, this Court D
opined:
)
"t
"As regards the sentence of death imposed on five accused
persons by the sessions court, which was confirmed by the appellate
court, the counsel for the appellants, Shri Sushi I Kumar submitted that
E
in the absence of clear and convincing evidence regarding the
complicity of the accused, these appellants could not be visited with
the death penalty, while the counsel for the State submitted that this
is a ghastly incident in which eight persons were done to death and
the death penalty alone is the most appropriate punishment to be
imposed. Though it is proved that there was an unlawful assembly F
and the common object of that unlawful assembly was to kill the
i
deceased persons, there is another aspect of the matter inasmuch as
there is no clear evidence by the use of whose fire-arm all the six
deceased persons died as a result of firing in the bus. It is also
pertinent to note that the investigating agency failed to produce clear
and distinct evidence to prove the actual overt acts of each of the
G
accused. The failure to examine the driver and conductor of the bus,
the failure to seize the bus and the absence of a proper 'mahzar', are
all lapses on the part of investigating agency. Moreover, the doctor
who gave evidence before the court was not properly cross-examined
regarding the nature of the injuries. Some more details could have H
654 SUPREME COURT REPORTS r2007) 7 S.C.R.

been collected as to how the incident might have happened inside the
A
bus. These facts are pointed out to show that the firing may have been
caused by the assailants even while they were still standing on the
footboard of the bus and some of the appellants may not, in fact, have
had an occasion to use the fire-arm, though they fully shared the
common object of the unlawful assembly. Imposition of the death
B penalty on each of the five appellants may not be justified under such
circumstances. We take this view in view of the peculiar circumstanc,es
of the case and it shou Id not be understood to mean that the accused
persons are not to be convicted under Section 302 read with Section
149 and the death penalty cannot be imposed in the absence of
various overt acts by individual accused persons. In view of the
c nature and circumstances of the case, we commute the death sentence
imposed on A-I Sahdeo, A-4 Subhash, A-5 Chandraveer, A-7 Satyapal
and A-10 Parvinder to imprisonment for life."
,
88. In Raju v. State o/Haryana, [2001) 9 SCC 50, it has been opined by
.....
.,•

D this Court :

"However, the next question is whether this would be a rarest of
rare cases where extreme punishment of death is required to be imposed.
In the present case, from the con~essional statement made by the
accused, it would appear that there was no intention on the part of
E the accused to commit the murder of the deceased child. He caused
injury to the deceased by giving two brick blows as she stated that
she would disclose the incident at her house. It is true that learned
Sessions Judge committed error in recording the evidence of SI
Shakuntala, PW 15 with regard to the confessional statement made to
her, but in any set of circumstances, the evidence on record discloses
F
that the accused was not having an intention to commit the murder
t
of the girl who accompanied him. On the spur of the moment without
;
there being any premeditation, he gave two brick blows which caused
her death. There is nothing on record to indicate that the appellant
was having any criminal record nor can he be said to be a grave
G danger to the society at large. In these circumstances, it would be
difficult to hold that the case of the appellant would be rarest of rare
case justifying imposition of death penalty."

89. It has been a fundamental point in numerous studies in the field of
Death Penalty jurisprudence that cases where the sole basis of conviction is
H

.
SWAMY SHRADOA!IOANDA @MURALI MA~OHAR MISHRA '" STATE Of KARNAT AKA (SB. Sl!IOHA. J.) 655

circumstantial evidence, have far greater-chances of turning out to be wrongful A
convictions, later on, in comparison to ones which are based on fitter sources
of proof. Convictions based on seemingly conclusive circumstantial evidence
should not be presumed as full proof incidences and the fact that the same
are circumstantial evidence based must be a definite factor at the sentencing
stage deliberations, considering that capital punishment is unique in its total
irrevocability. Any characteristic of trial, such as conviction solely resting on B
circumstantial evidence, which contributes to the uncertainty in the culpability
calculus, must attract negative attention while deciding maximum penalty for
murder.

90. One of the older cases in this league dates back to 1874, Merritt v. C
State, 52 Ga. 82, 85 (1874) where the Supreme Court of Georgia described the
applicable law in Georgia as follows:

"By the penal code of this state the punishment of murder shall be
death, except when the conviction is founded solely on circumstantial
testimony. When the conviction is had solely on circumstantial D
testimony, then it is discretionary with the presiding judge to impose
the death penalty or to sentence the defendant to imprisonment in the
penitentiary for life, unless the jury . . . shall recommend that the
defendant be imprisoned in the penitentiary for life; in that case the
presiding judge has no discretion, but is bound to commute the
punishment from death to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary." E

91. Later case of Jackson v. State, 74 Ala. 26, 29-30 ( 1883) followed the
aforementioned case. [Also see S.M. Phillipps, Famous Cases of Circumstantial
Evidence with an Introduction on the Theory of Presumptive Proof 50-52
(1875)] F

92. In United States v. Quinones, 205 F. Supp. 2d 256, 267 S.D.N.Y.
(2002) the court remarked:

"Many states that allow the death penalty permit a conviction based
solely on circumstantial evidence only if such evidence excludes to G
a moral certainty every other reasonable inference except guilt."

93. In the instant case, confession before police was taken as a gospel
truth. It seems that the judicial mind has a role to play in that behalf in
imposition of sentence.
H
656 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007f 7 S.C.R.

A 94. Another aspect whiCh needs to be considered as according to the ~
Bachan Singh Rule (that sentencing should involve analysis about the nature · -
of crime as well as the accused) which require consideration, is the effect of
two pointers relating to the nature of crime. Firstly, the case does not seem
to be an instance of what is called a diabolical murder. We come across cases
of murdering wife by burning for non-fulfillment of dowry, preceded by
B continuous torture. Simon and Ors. v. State o/Karnataka, [2004] 2 SCC 694
noting the ''all murders are cruef' observation in Bachan Singh (supra) puts
the law on death penalty in perspective as:

"The Constitution Bench said that though all murders are cruel but
cruelty may vary in its degree of culpability and it is only then the
c culpability assumes the proportion of extreme depravity that "special
reasons" can legitimately be said to exist."

95, Second point relates to planning which went into committing the
murder. It is agreed that accused deliberately came close to the beautiful and
D wealthy lady. He must have had his intentions and calculations in that regard.
To that extent intention behind the marriage can be imputed. But to infer from
that the murder was a pre-planned murder will be going a bit too far as he +
did not know the opportune date when the servants would be leaving the
house. He could not have known the servants would receive a telegram and
ask for leave. Without their leaving the place, the plan, if there was any, could
E not have been executed. This is one weak link in the hypothesis that the
murder was meticulously planned.

96. In Kashmir Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh, [1990] Supp I SCC
133 the Court held:

F "There was no infirmity in appraisal of the facts and circumstances
and the circumstantial evidence by .the courts below in arriving at the t
conclusion that the accused-appellant has committed the crime under
Section 302 IPC. But considering the fact that it was not a pre-
meditated and cold-blooded murder, and also because the appellant
appeared before the Sessions Judge and made a confessional
G statement, the sentence is converted from death to life imprisonment."

97. Keeping the abovementioned other characteristics of the crime, we :
now delve into whether this instance can be categorized as a "rarest of rare"
murder. The question is whether murder of wife for the purpose of usurping
H property is a rarest of rare crime statistically. It is not to say that rarest of rare
SWAMY SHRADDANANDA (!!< ~tliRALI MANOHAR MISHRA 1•. STATE OF KARNATAKA [S.B. SINHA. J] 657

doctrine only has a statistical dimension i.e. incidence of particular type of A
murder in a given sample; rarest of rare benchmark. can also be used in the
- context of other parameters such a brutality, planning, society's reaction et
al. Facets relating to nature of the crime have already been explained in terms
of the few parameters mentioned just now. Therefore we attend to the incidence
aspect. It can not- be conclusively said that murder of wife for usurping
property is a particularly rarest of rare incident. It could, of course, be a rare B
incident.

98. Also it is to be realized that in criminal cases character of accused
is immaterial by the mandate of section 53 and 54 of Indian Evidence Act. The
same should not be a factor in the discussions at the sentencing stage. If that
be so, bad character of the accused by itself should not be a determinative C
factor.

99. In fact, Appellant should not have been heard at that stage. The
stage of hearing an accused under Section 235(2) of the Code is after the
judgment of conviction is pronounced·and not prior thereto. Appellant herein D
made a confession before the High Court. The High Court took the same into
consideration in the main judgment which could not be done. He had been
+ brought before the High Court only for purpose of fulfilling the requirement
of sub-section (2) of Section 235 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. His
Statement was taken during midst of hearing. He knew the implications thereof.
Despite the same, he made a categorical statement that he was responsible E
for burring the dead body. He gave an explanation, which might not have
found favour with the High Court, but the fact that he had made a confession
at least accepting a part of the offence could not have been ignored at least
for the purpose of imposition of punishment. He is more than 64 years' old.
He is in custody for a period of 16 years. The death sentence was awarded
to him by the trial court in terms of its judgment dated 20;05.2005. In a
F
t situation of this nature, we are of the opinion that imposition of a life
imprisonment for commission of the crime under Section 302 shall serve the
ends of justice.

JOO. However, while saying so, we direct that in a case of this nature G
'life sentence' must be meant to be 'life sentence'. Such a direction can be
given, as would appear from some precedents. {See Subhash Chander v.
_Krishan Lal and Ors., [2001] 4 SCC 458}.

lOl. Yet again in Ram Anup Singh and Ors. v. State of Bihar, [2002] 6
SCC 686, this Court directed that the accused shall remain in jail for a period H
658 SUPREME COURT REPOR°TS {2007) 7 S.C.R.

A of not less than 20 years. [See Prakash Dhawal Khairnar (Patil) v. State of
Maharashtra, (2002) 2 SCC 35, Shri Bhagwan v. State of Rajasthan, (2001]
6 SCC 296 and Mohd Munno etc. v. Union of India & Ors. etc., [2005) 7 SCC
417).

I 02. However, before parting with this case, we may notice that a prayer
B was made by Smt. Sabhah Khaleeli (daughter of the deceased) that the mortal
remains ofSmt. Shakereh (deceased) including skull are required by the family
of the deceased for burial and obsequies ceremony. The High Court has
issued such a direction. As the family of the deceased and in particular Smt.
Sabah Khaleeli (PW-5) desires to perform burial and other obsequies
C ceremonies, we direct that the order of the High Court, in this behalf, may be
implemented, as expeditiously as possible.

103. For the reasons aforementioned, the appeal is dismissed, subject
to the modification· in sentence, as directed hereinbefore.

D MARKANDEY KATJU, J. I. J have perused the judgment of my learned
brother Hon'ble S.B. Sinha, J. in this case. The facts of the case have been
narrated in the judgment of my learned brother and hence I am not referring
to them except where necessary. +

2. While I entirely agree with my learned brother that the conviction of
E the appellant under Section 302 and other provisions of IPC imposed by the
Trial Court and High Court deserves to be upheld, I express my inability with
my learned brother that the death senten · ~ imposed by the Trial Court and
confirmed by the High Court should be reduced to life sentence .. In my
opinion this case falls within the category of rarest of rare cases and hence
the appellant deserves death sentence.
F
3. In Aloke Nath Dutta & Ors. v. State of West Bengal, (2006) 13 SCALE
467 a Division Bench of this Court referred to the Constitution Bench judgment
of this Court in Bachan Singh v. State ofPunjab, AIR (1980) SC 898 in which
it is laid down that death penalty should only be imposed in the rarest of rare
cases. In Machi Singh v. State of Punjab. (1983) 3 SCC 470 (vide paragraphs
32 to 37) a 3 Judge Bench of this Court gave the following illustrations of
murders which fall within the category of 'rarest of rate cases' and hence
deserved death penalty.

(i) When the murder is committed in an extremely brutal, grotesque,
diabolical, revolting or dastardly manner so as to arouse intense
H
SWAMY SHRAOOA!'.Al"OA ($ Mt;RALI MA!l.OHAR MISHRA •·. ST AT!'. Of KA!l.'iA l AKA lKAlJ\;, l.I
659
,•
....., ~ and extreme indignation of the community. A

-
·"' (ii) When the murder is committed for a motive which evinces total
depravity and meanness; e.g. murder by hired assassin for money
or reward; or cold-blooded murder for gains of a person vis-a-vis
whom the murderer is in a dominating position or in a position
of trust; or murder is committed in the course of betrayal of the B
motherland.

(iii) When murder of a member of a Scheduled Caste or minority
community, etc. is committed not for personal reasons but in
circumstances which arouse social wrath; or in cases of "bride-
burning" or "dowry deaths" or when murder is committed in
order to r~marry for the sake of extracting dowry once again to
c
marry another woman on account of infatuation.

(iv) When the crime is enormous in proportion. For instance when
multiple murders, say of all or almost all the members of a family
or a large number of persons of a particular cast~. community, or
D
locality, are committed.
(v) When the victim of murder is an innocent child, or a helpless
woman or old or infirm person or a person vis-a-vis whom the·
murderer is in a dominating position, or a public figure generally
_loved and respected by the community.
E
4. In Bachan Singh 's case (supra), the Constitution bench observed that
the death penalty contemplated by Section 302 IPC is not unreasonable or
against the public interest, and it does not violate Articles 19 or 21 of the
Constitution. In the same decision it was also observed (vide para 401} that
judicial discretion cannot be fettered by attempting to make an exhaustive F
enumeration one way or the other. Hence, it follows that the 5 principles
referred to in Aloke Nath Dutta 's case (supra) justifying award of death
penalty can only be treated as illustrative and not exhaustive.

5. In Holiram Bordoloi v. State of Assam, [2005] 3 SCC 793 this Court
observed that pre-planned, calculated, cold-blooded murder has always been G
regarded as one of an aggravated kind. A murder diabolically conceived and
cruelly executed would justify the imposition of the death penalty on the
murderer.

6. In IJlY opinion the facts of the present case clearly fall within the
H
660 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R ..

A category of rarest of rare cases as laid down by the Constitution Bench
Judgment in Bachan Singh 's case and in Machi Singh 's case (supra). It clearly
comes within the first, second and fifth categories mentioned above, and it
falls under the category of rarest of rare cases deserving death sentence.

7. No doubt as observed in paragraph 173 of the judgment in Aloke
B Nath Dutta 's case (Supra) there has been a growing demand in the international
fora that the death penalty should be abolished. However, in my opinion, in
India the death penalty cannot be abolished by a judicial verdict as death
sentence is contemplated by the Constitution and the l.P.C. Thus Article "(
•
72( I)( c) of the Constitution specifically mentions that the President of India

c has the power to grant pardons, reprieves or suspension of any death sentence.
Similarly Article 72(3) also contemplates the power in the Governor of the
State to suspend, remit or commute a death sentence. Hence if we hold that
the Courts have no power to impose a death sentence we wiH really be
amending the Constitution by a judicial verdict. Again, if we hold that the
Courts have no power to impose Jeath sentence merely because the death
D sentence has been abolished in some foreign countries in Europe or because
there is a demand in the international fora that death sentence should be
abolished, we w.ill be really amending the Constitution by a judicial verdict. ~·

In my opinion this Court has no power to amend the Constitution by a judicial
verdict. The Constitution can only be amended by Parliament in the manner
prescribed by Article 368 of the Constitution. This Court cannot arrogate to
E itself the power of Parliament under the Constitution and must maintain self-
restraint. Moreover, what has happened in foreign countries cannot be
automatically applied to our country where the situation is different.

8. No doubt Parliament can abolish the death sentence by deleting it as
F one of the punishments prescribed in the 1.P.C or other statutes, but this
Court cannot do so. The Court cannot legislate or amend the law. There is
broad separation of powers under the Constitution and this Court must not
ordinarily encroach into the legislative or executive domain as held by us in
Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals ltd. v. The Workman of Indian Drugs &
Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (2007] I SCC 408.
G
9. In my opinion the facts of the present case clearly fall within the
principle of the first, second and fifth category mentioned earlier in this
judgment and thus this case falls within the category of the rarest of rare
cases. It is a case of a pre-planned and cold blooded murder diabolically r
conceived and cruelly executed.
H
SWAMY SHRADDANANDA @MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STATE OF KARNA TAKA (KATJU. J.J 661
_,,, IO. Before coming to the facts of the case I would also like to say that
A
' there cannot be an absolute principle of law that merely because there has
been a long lapse of the time from the commission of the.offence and the final
conviction and sentence by this Court the death penalty can never be imposed.
It all depends on the facts of each case. It is well known that now-a-days a
long interval of time frequently occurs between the commission of the offence
and the final conviction by this Court (because of the delays in the trial, B
appeals, etc.), and hence if we lay down any absolute principle of law that
~ merely because of this long interval death penalty cannot be imposed then
y
in all such cases merely because of lapse of time death penalty cannot be
imposed even though the murder was cold blooded, diabolical and heinous.
This again would be amending the Constitution by a judicial verdict:Moreover
this would give encour~gement to the accused and their lawyers to delay
c
proceedings in Court (by unnecessary adjournments, interlocutory applications,
etc.) to avoid the death penalty. I, therefore, cannot agree with the view that
merely because a long lapse of time has occurred between the commission
of the offence and the final decision of this Court the death penalty cannot

.. ....
be imposed.

11. I also do not agree with the observations in paragraph 173 of the
Aloke Nath Dutta 's case (Supra) that in cases of circumstantial evidence
D
I

ordinarily the death penalty should not be awarded. In my opinion no such
absolute proposition of the law can be been laid down. It all depends on the
facts of each case. Criminals have been hanged even on the basis of B
circumstantial evidence. Hence I cannot agree that we can lay down any such
absolute proposition as was laid down in Aloke Nath Dutta's case (Supra).
There is no principle of law that only direct evidence is strong and reliable
while circumstantial evidence is weak and unreliable. Circumstantial evidence
can be as strong and reliable as direct evidence, but the only requirement is F
that the prosecution must establish beyond reasonable doubt that there is a
-+
chain of links which connects the accused with the crime.

12. I may now deal with the facts of the present case which clearly
__.
__, shows the diabolical, cold blooded, evil mind of the appellant who has acted
in a most depraved, malevolent and condemnable manner, taking advantage G
of a lady's innocence .

•• 13. The deceased Smt. Shakereh was married to one Mr. Akbar Khaleeli
' who was in the Indian Foreign Service. They had four daughters. In 1983 the
deceased along with her children visited the Nawab of Rampur who was
H
-~
662 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 7 S.C.R.

A evidently a friend of the deceased and her husband. The accused was at that I
,.....
time assisting the Rampur royal family in the management of their landed
properties and he was introduced to the Khaleeli family. After getting acquainted
with them the accused gained their confidence. Since certain matters relating
to the properties of the deceased at Bangalore needed to be sorted out she
sought assistance of the accused having regard to his alleged expertise in
B dealing with property matters. The deceased Smt. Shakereh who comes from
a good family had inherited huge properties including House No.81, Richmond
Road, Bangalore, and other properties. .:
'(

14. Since, Mr.Akbar Khaleeli had to go to Iran on his posting as a
diplomat, Smt. Shakereh came to Bangalore. The accused also came to
c Bangalore and was provided accommodation in the same house. It is stated
that Shakereh had only daughters and she longed for a son. The accused
made her believe that he could bless her with a son. In 1985, Akbar Khaleeli
and Smt. Shakereh divorced, and a few months thereafter the deceased married
the accused and both started living together in House No.81, Richmond Road,
D Bangalore.

15. However, even after divorce and second marriage of Smt. Shakereh
her relationship with her parents and daughters remained unaffected and she
_.. ·-
was in regular touch with her daughter Sabah, P.W. 5 by talking with her over
telephone or meeting her personally. Sabah was a model and publisher of a
E fashion magazine in Mumbai, and she would regularly telephone her mother,
sometimes twice a day. She would also get telephone calls regularly from her
.l
mother. However, from May 1991, the deceased became unavailable and when ,)

Sabah tried to contact her on telephone, the accused informed her that her
mother had gone to Hyderabad for the marriage of a relative. Telephone calls
F from the deceased to Sabah also stopped coming from May 1991. After four
or five days Sabah again telephoned to her mother's house at Bangalore, and
+
this time she was told by the accused that Shakereh had gone to Kutch for
a marriage of a big diamond merchant. Again after four or five days Sabah
telephoned to her mother's house. This time the accused told her that her I-

mother was facing income tax problems and hence she was not in a position ~
G to talk to anyone.
I'-
'
16. Since Sabah was not able to speak to her mother despite repeated
endeavours and since telephone calls from her mother stopped coming to her,
she came from Mumbai to Bangalore and went to House No.81, Richmond
Road. She asked the accused as to where her mother was. The accused told
(""
-·- t:

H

.
,
SWAMY SHRADDANANDA @ Ml'RAll MANOHAR MISHRA 1·. ST ATE OF KARNA TAKA [KA TJU.J] 663
....... ' her that since her mother was longing for a male baby she had become
A
pregnant and wanted a peaceful atmosphere for nine months. When Sabah
asked where her mother had gone, the accused told her she was admitted in
Roosevelt Hospital, New York, since it was the best hospital. Sabah then
asked the accused to give the telephone number and address of the hospital
where her mother was admitted, but the accused refused to give her the
address or telephone number saying that since her mother wanted a peaceful B

- .,.
atmosphere the telephone number and address were unnecessary. Later Sabah
contacted the Roosevelt hospital at New York through a friend and came to
know that no woman of the name Shakereh was admitted in the hospital.
Sabah then confronted the accused and told him that there was no one in the
name of her mother in the hospital and asked the accused to tell her where
her mother was. The accused told Sabah that since her mother was pregnant
c
and wanted to keep it a secret and rest for nine months so he could not give
her the correct address. Sabah then asked the accused to at least allow her
to speak with her mother on telephone so that she could hear her mother's
voice, but the accused did not do that. Sabah came to Bangalore but did not
find her mother there. At Bangalore whenever any telephone rang the accused D
=- used to lift the receiver and tell Sabah that the telephone was from her mother,
~

but before Sabah could go near the telephone, the telephone used to get
disconnected and the accused told her that the call was from her mother.

17. Sabah then returned to Mumbai. Thereafter, the accused visited
Muobai two or three times where he used to stay at Taj hotel, which i:: a very E
costly hotel with two or three persons. These two or three persons. were
women. In December I 99 I, t!le accused came to Mumbai and stayed at Sea
Rock hotel (which is also a very expensive hotel). The accused told Sabah
that he had come to attend a marriage. Sa bah went to the room of the accused
in the hotel and saw her mother's passport there which showed that her
F
mother had not left India for any foreign country since 1989. The accused told
Sabah that her mother was in India and asked her to be patient for some more
months. In March 1992, Sabah rang the accused and told him that it was
already nine months since the time the accused told her that Shakereh was
pregnant and new he had to tell her the whereabouts of her mother otherwise
she would lodge a police complaint. To that, the accused told Sabah to remain G
patient and he would inform her in a day or two. After two or three days the
.... -~
accused informed her that her mother had given birth to a male child. When
Sabah asked him to give the address of her mother the accused evaded the
question and told her to wait for some more time. The accused then asked

H
664 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A Sabah to come to Bangalore where she could meet Shakereh and the child'.
Accordingly, Sabah informed the accused the date of her journey and came
to Bangalore by air but ·did not find either the accused, her mother or the child
at house No. 81, Richmond Road. After four hours of her arrival in the house,
the accused came to the house and told Sabah that he. along with Shakereh
were waiting for her at the airport and when they did not find Sabah there,
B the accused left Shakereh in the farm house. The accused then told Sabah
that her mother would be coming the next day and there was no need to lodge
any complaint.

18. Since the accused did not produce Shakereh and did not give Sabah
C the whereabouts of her mother, Sabah returned to Mumbai and then again
came to Bangalore and lodged an FIR in Ashoknagar police station on
10.6.1992 stating that her mother had been missing.

19. The investigation was entrusted to the Central Crime Branch (CCB),
Bangalore on 26.3.1994 since the Ashok Nagar police did not make serious
D efforts in the matter. The Central Crime Branch suspecting the role of the
accused in the disappearance of Smt. Shakereh arrested the accused. on
28.3 .1994 and interrogated him thoroughly. It is stated that during interrogatiot:t
the accused broke down and made the voluntary statement as per Ex. P.175
disclosing that he had drugged Smt. Shakereh, put her in a coffin like big box
and had buried the box in the backyard of the house i.e. House No. 81,
E Richmond Road, Bangalore.
20. The Investigating Officer then sought for necessary permission from
the Sub-Divisional Magistrate for exhumation and on 30.3.1994 exhumation
proceedings were conducted at 8 I, Richmond Road, Bangalor~ as pointed out
by the accused. At the exhumation, apart from the Taluka Executive Magistrate,
F Mahazar witnesses, investigatirtg team, a doctor trained in forensic medicine
were present. After the exact place was marked by a chalk indicating the place
as the place of burial of the box containing the body of Smt. Shakereh, the
marked area was dug up after removal of some stone slabs and after
considerable digging, a big wooden box lying inside was noticed. On removing
G the planks of the lid, it was noticed that the box contained a foam bed and
a bed-sheet on the top. The same were removed and underneath it, skeletal
remains with nightie, long hair and feminine articles like bangles, rings etc.
were noticed. The skeletal remains were subjected to autopsy.

2 I. To confirm whether the skeleton was that of Smt. Shakereh, the skull
H was sent to a forensic science laboratory along with a photograph of Smt.
SW AMY SHRADDANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STATE OF KAAAAT AKA (KATJU. J.) 665

_Shakereh. The Investigating Officer also sought the opinion of the experts
A
....,. ' through DNA finger printing .etc. The ex~rts confirmed that the skeleton
indeed was that of Smt. Shakereh. The investigating team not only recorded
the statements of witnesses (the servants, relatives etc.) but also the people
with whom the accused had dealings about the properties of the deceased,
the bank officials etc. as to the financial aspects and transaction of both the
accused and the deceased. A large number of documentary records were also B
collected. The accused was then charged under Sections 302/201 IPC.

• T
22. As many as 39 witnesses were examined by the trial court. The trial
court after considering the entire evidence sentenced. the accused to death
and the death sentence was confirmed by the High Gourt.
c
23. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that
there are no eyewitnesses in the case. In my opinion, there is convincing
circumstantial evidence to establish the guilt of the accused.

24. As already stated. above, it is not correct to say that only direct
evidence is strong evidence while circumstantial evidence is weak evidence. D
... Both kinds of evidence can be strong in a given situation. The only requirement
in circumstantial evidence is !hat the chain of links connecting the accused
?

with the crime should be established beyond reasonable doubt. In my opinion,
in this case the facts clearly establish the chain of circumstances linking the
accused with the crime. These circumstances are as follows:
E
(i) The deceased was living with the accused in house No.81,
Richmond Road, at the time when she disappeared. No one else
was there as even the servants had left (in the circumstances
mentioned below).
(ii) During this period the deceased is alleged to have executed a F
Will and a General Power of Attorney in favour of the accused,
and a large number of bank accounts in different banks were
opened in joint names of the accused and the deceased. The
bank lockers were also in the joint names. They started a private
firm called S.S. Housing Private Limited of which they were the G
only shareholders. All these facts establish the strong motive of
the accused who wanted to grab the property of the deceased.
(in) Till May 1991 whenever possible PW5 Sabah, daughter of the
~

• ..
deceased used to call the deceased over the phone and talk with
her or meet her personally whenever she was in Bangalore and
H'
666 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 7 S.C.R.

the deceased would also telephone Sabah regularly, but after ~·
A r ,,_
May 1991 she was not allowed to talk to her mother on telephone
whenever she called her, nor did the deceased call her. Instead,
the accused gave evasive and contradictory replies whenever
Sabah used to telephone to try to talk to her mother. The accused
said all kinds of lies, e.g. that the deceased had gone to Hyderabad,
B then on the next occasion that she had gone to Kutch, thereafter
that she was pregnant and had gone to Roosevelt Hospital, New
York, but on enquiry when Sabah came to know that there was
no such lady in the name of Shakereh in the hospital, he admitted 1'
..
that he had given a false statement etc. All these facts point to
the guilt of the accused who kept telling lies constantly on every
c occasion whenever Sabha contacted him.

(iii) It appears that the accused saw an opportunity to kill the deceased
when the maid-servant PW19 Josephine and her husband PWI8
Raju received a telegram informing them that the sister-in-law of
PW18 was sick in Andhra Pradesh and they were required to go
D' to that place. They got leave from Shakereh and went to Andhra
Pradesh. Thus, Shakereh was left ak'1e in the house with the
"":
-accused and he got that opportunity to kill her. +
(iv) The dead body of Shakereh was found in the backyard of the
house at the pointing out of the deceased. The statement of the
E accused was made before the Executive Magistrate PW 3. It has
come in evidence that the accused had gone to a carpenter to get
a box with wheels, which he kept in the guest house. This was
the box utilized for burying the body.

(v) During the investigation, it was disclosed that right from 1991 the
F accused alone had been operating the joint bank accounts and
was not only depositing the sale proceeds of the lands sold by
him after May 1991, but also withdrawing large sums of money
and had literally cleaned the bank lockers jointly owned by him
and the deceased.
G (vi) On 30.3.1992 and 31.3.1992 the accused sold 34 plots out of the
property belonging to the deceased· in the capacity of General
Power of Attorney holder to various people under registered sale
deeds for valuable considerations.
f
(vii) In meetings/proceedings of the SS Housing Company, he
H ,
SW AMY SHRADDANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA •·. ST ATE OF KARNAT AKA [KATJU. J.] 667

represented the presence of the deceased for each of the meetings
..... ' l
A
and signed himself alone on her behalf as a General Power of
Attorney holder and these proceedings were regularly sent to
their Chartered Account.
(viii) The accused also replied to the queries oflncome Tax Authorities
during 1993 one of which purportedly contains his signature and B
the signature of Smt. Shakereh which is apparently forged.

(ix) The accused suddenly became very rich after May 1991 (the time
't of disappearance of the deceased) which is evident from the fact
that he had done huge property and financial transactions which
benefited him, he started staying in very expensive hotels in c
Bombay etc. with women, etc. (including the then Miss India vide
statement of P.W.37 at para 29)

25. From the facts stated above it is evident that the deceased was not
seen alive from May 1991 onwards and no one was able to speak to her on

..
telephone, whereas, till May 1991 her daughter Sabah was regularly in contact D
with her. The accused was living with Shakereh as her husband and when
contacted by PWS Sabah he told all kinds of lies about the whereabout ~f
~
Smt. Shakereh.

26. The fact that Shakereh was murdered is indisputable. If she had met
a natural death, there was no question of her being buried in the backyard E
of the house without intimating any of her relatives including her daughter
and parents. There is abundant expert evidence to establish that the skeleton
discovered in the box in the backyard was that of the deceased Shakereh.
There is also uncontroverted evidence that the said box in which her body
was kept was got prepared by the accused himself prior to the death of Smt. F
Shakereh. In my opinion, there is no manner of doubt that the accused killed
Shakereh and secretly buried her in the manner mentioned above in the
backyard of the house. The fact that he kept the death news of the deceased
secret and he told lies repeatedly to her daughter Sabah (as stated above),
proves his guilty mind. His act of selling valuable property of the deceased
worth crores of rupees within a short time of the death of Shakreh with the
G
help of a defunct General Power of Attorney and the other material on record
_clearly establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. In my
opinion, the prosecution has convincingly succeeded in establishing all the
...,
links in the chain of circumstances linking the accused with the crime.
H
668 SUPREME COURT REPORTS 12007) 7 S.C.R.

A 27. In my opinion, this is case of a ~old blooded, calculated, diabolical ;
r
........l:
murder by the accused of an innocent lady who came from a good family, but·>
unfortunately due to her infatuation fell into his clutches.

28. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that there was no
reason for the appellant to murder the deceased since the deceased had
B executed a will in his favour. In my opinion, this argument is not tenable
because it is well settled that a will comes into operation only on the death
of the testator. The deceased was only in her forties, and her natural death
· may have occurred several decades later. The appellant was obviously not
willing to wait for so long before he could grab her property and hence he
T ---
c decided to murder her. No doubt no poisonous substance was detected in the
skeleton of the deceased and hence the prosecution case that the accused
mixed poison in her tea could not be finnly established. However, even if the
exact method of murder has not been established by the prosecution, I have
no manner of doubt that it was the ll.ppellant who murdered the deceased.

D 29. During the course of hearing of the case we asked learned counsel
for the appellant as to what was the profession or qualification of the accused,;
but he could not give any satisfactory answer. It seems to us that the accused
is a cold-blooded, scallywag and rascal who had no proper qualificatio~ or
profession. Such diabolical and cunning rogues are to be found in abundance
t -
nowadays. It is the total commercialization of society which is responsible for
E
this recent phenomenon. People have become greedy and wish to amass
wealth by short cuts, even by committing heinous crimes. The appellant had
changed his name and had become a 'Swamy'. By some dubious means he
had ingratiated himself into the house of the Nawab of Rampur and there he
developed contact with the deceased, who was evidently having differences •
F with her husband. The accused pretended to be a very simple and innocent
person and this made the deceased start depending on him, particularly for
('
looking after her property matters. The deceased brought the accused to her
house in Bangalore where the deceased married her and thereafter he determined
to grab all her property after killing her. All the property transactions in this
G connection and other evidence (narrated above) point only to this conclusion.
The accused is an unmitigated and diabolical rogue who could go to any
extent, including murder to achieve his object of grabbing huge amount of
property of the deceased. He was in a dominating position over the deceas'ed
who had become dependan~ on him, and he took full advantage of this
r
situation. He had motive and opportunity for committing this ghastly crime.
;..... H
SW AMY SHRAOOANANDA@ MURALI MANOHAR MISHRA v. STATE Of KARNATAKA IKATIU. J.) 669
30. In my opinion, this case clearly comes within the category of rarest A
of rare cases and there will be gross travesty of justice if the death sentence
is not affirmed. Hence, I dismiss this appeal and confirm the death sentence
on the accused.

ORDER

In view of the difference of opinion with regard to the quantam of B
punishment, the matter is referred to larger Bench.
T
K.K.T. · Referred to larger Bench.
.....