Rajinder Pal Anand v. C B I

o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABo&oHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo

1.o o o o o oooooooooCRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008o(O&M)o o RAJINDERoPALoANANDo o o o o o o o .....Appellanto o VERSUSo CBIo(STATE)o .....Respondento o

2.o o o o o oooooooooCRA-DoNo.137-DBoofo2008o(O&M)o o VINODoKUMARo o o o o .....Appellanto o VERSUSo CENTRALoBUREAUoOFoINVESTIGATIONo .....Respondento o

3.o o o o o ooooooooooCRA-SoNo.107-SBoofo2008o(O&M)o o JASDEVoSINGHo o o o o .....Appellanto o VERSUSo STATEoOFoPUNJABo .....Respondento o

4.o o o o o oooooooooCRA-DoNo.132-DBoofo2008o(O&M)o o CONSTABLEoMOHINDERoSINGHo o o o o .....Appellanto o VERSUSo CBIo(STATE)o .....Respondento o

5.o o o o o oooooooooooCRA-DoNo.87-DBoofo2008o(O&M)o o DARSHANoSINGHo o o o o o o o .....Appellanto o VERSUSo CBIo(STATE)o .....Respondento o tho o o o o Reservedoon:oAugusto5 ,o2025.o o o o o o Pronouncedoon:oSeptembero15,o2025.o o o CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -2-o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMANJARIoNEHRUoKAULo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoH.S.oGREWALo o Arguedoby:ooMr.oVinodoGhai,oSenioroAdvocateoo o o withoArnavoGhaioandoMr.oDhruvoTrehan,oAdvocateso o o forotheoappellanto(inoCRA-D-140-DB-2008).o o o o Mr.oNareshoGopaloSharma,oAdvocateo o o forotheoappellantoo o o (inoCRA-D-107oando137-DB-2008).o o o o o o Mr.oGhulamoNabioMalik,oAdvocateo o o forotheoappellanto(inoCRA-132-DB-2008).o o o o o Mr.oRandeepoSinghoWaraich,oAdvocateo o o withoMs.oPawandeepoKaur,oAdvocateo o o forotheoappellanto(inoCRA-D-87-DB-2008).o o o o Mr.oPrateekoGupta,oAdvocateo o o foroCBI.o o o o o o Mr.oAmitoRana,oSenioroDeputyoAdvocateoGeneral,oPunjab.oo o H.S.oGREWAL,oJ.o o o o Byothisojudgment,oweodisposeoofotheoabove-mentionedoappealso asotheyoariseooutoofoaocommonojudgmentoofoconvictionodatedo06.12.2007o ando ordero ofo sentenceo datedo 07.12.2007o passedo byo learnedo Additionalo SessionsoJudge,oPatiala,owherebyotheoappellantsohaveobeenoconvictedoando sentencedoasofollows:o Offenceo Periodoofosentenceo Fineo Periodoofosentenceo undero imposedo inodefaultoofo Sectiono paymentoofofineo 302/34o ofoImprisonmento foro life,o ₹25,000/-o R.I.oforothreeoyearso theoIPCo each.o eacho each.o 120-Bo ofoR.I.oforotwooyears,oeach.o -o -o theoIPCo 218o r/woR.I.oforotwooyears,oeach.o ₹1,000/-o R.I.oforosixomonthso 120-Bo ofo eacho each.o theoIPCo 331/34o ofoR.I.oforofiveoyears,oeach.o ₹5,000/-o R.I.oforooneoyearo theoIPCo eacho each.o 342/34o ofoR.I.oforosixomonths,oeach.o -o -o theoIPCo 364/34o ofoR.I.oforotenoyears,oeach.o ₹10,000/-o R.I.oforotwooyearso CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -3-o o eacho each.o 201/34o ofoR.I.oforothreeoyears,oeach.o ₹5,000/-o R.I.oforooneoyearo theoIPCo eacho each.o o o o CASEoOFoTHEoPROSECUTION:o

2.o o Aso pero theo caseo ofo theo prosecution,o Balbiro Singho sono ofo ModanoSingh,oresidentoofoVillageoShahpur,oPoliceoStationoBhawanigarh,o DistrictoSangruro(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'deceased')odiedoduringopoliceo custody.o Theo caseo ofo theo prosecutiono waso initiatedo pursuanto too ano FIRo registeredobyotheoCBIoonotheobasisoofoanoorderopassedobyothisoCourtoino CRM-M-15496oofo1996,ofiledounderosectiono482oofotheoCr.P.C.obyofathero ofotheodeceased.oByotheosaidoorder,otheoinvestigationowasoentrustedotootheo CBI,o whicho registeredo FIRo No.o RC-12(S)/97/SIU-XV/CHGo datedo

13.06.1997ounderoSectionso302/34oofotheoIPCoandoundertookoanoextensiveo investigation.o

3.o o Duringo theo courseo ofo itso investigation,o theo CBIo claimedo too haveo seizedo fabricatedo policeo records,o medico-legalo documents,o photographsoofotheorecoveryositeo(ExhibitsoPW-22/11otooPW-22/19),oando statementsorecordedobyotheoSuboDivisionaloMagistrateo(SDM).o

4.o o Accordingotootheoprosecution,oono27.07.1996,odeceasedowaso illegallyo takeno intoo custodyo byo Inspectoro Rajindero Palo Anando (sinceo expired),othenopostedoasoIncharge,oCIAoStaff,oNabha.oThisodetentionowaso allegedlyoinoconnectionowithoanoinvestigationointootheotheftoofoutensilsoando otheroarticlesofromoGurdwaraoTibbioSahib,oNabha,obasedoonoaocomplainto filedobyoGurmeloSinghoaliasoPanchi.oItowasoallegedothatoduringothisoillegalo detention,odeceasedowasosubjectedotoobrutalophysicalotortureobyotheopoliceo officials,o includingo ASIo Rajpalo Singh,o Constableso Darshano Singh,o Mohindero Singh,o ando Vinodo Kumar,o undero theo directiono ofo Inspectoro CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -4-o o RajinderoPaloAnand.oo

5.o o Theo deceasedo reportedlyo sustainedo multipleo injuries,oo includingo bruises,o fractures,o ando burno marks.o Wheno hiso conditiono deterioratedoseverely,otheopoliceopersonneloallegedlyoattemptedotooobtaino medicaloassistance.oHeowasofirstotakenotooaoprivateonursingohome,owhicho refusedoadmissionodueotoohisocriticalocondition.oHeowasothenobrieflyotakeno tooCiviloHospital,oNabha,owhereotheomedicalostaffodeclinedotreatmentoinotheo absenceo ofo propero medico-legalo formalities.o Thereafter,o ino ano allegedo attemptotooeraseoevidenceoofocustodialotorture,otheopoliceotookodeceasedoino ano officialo Allwyno Nissano vehicleo too theo Thuhio canalo bridge.oooooooooooooooooooo Atoapproximatelyo4:30opmoono28.07.1996,oheowasothrownoaliveointootheo canalowhileoinoaogrievouslyoinjuredoandoincapacitatedostate.oo

6.o o Severalopersonsoengagedoinokarosewaoatoanoadjacentoreligiouso siteowitnessedotheoincidentoandoraisedoanoalarmoinoanoattemptotoosaveotheo victim/deceased.oDespiteotheiroefforts,odeceased-BalbiroSinghosuccumbedo toohisoinjuriesoandodrowned.oHisobodyowasorecoveredobyolocalovillagersoono

29.07.1996.o

7.o o Ao post-mortemo examinationo waso conductedo atoooooooooooooooooooo CiviloHospital,oNabha,obyoaoMedicaloBoardocomprisingoDr.oParamviroSingho (PW-14),oDr.oRajeshoGoelo(PW-15),oandoDr.oRaminderoKauroBedio(PW-20).oTheoPost-MortemoReporto(ExhibitoPA/15)onotedomultipleoantemortemo injuries,oincluding:o

(i)o extensiveobruisingoonotheohipsoandoscapularoregion,o

(ii)o aoburnomarkoonotheorightowrist,o

(iii)o bruisesoaroundotheoneck,oaxillae,oandogroin,o

(iv)o bruisingoonotheoleftopinna,oando

(v)o fractureso ofo multipleo cervicalo vertebraeo accompaniedo byo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -5-o o haemorrhage.oo

8.o o Theo causeo ofo deatho waso opinedo too beo asphyxiao dueo too drowning,ocomplicatedobyocervicalospineoinjuryoandohaemorrhagicoshock.o Internaloorgansolikeotheolungs,oliveroandospleenowereofoundopale,oindicatingo internalobleeding.oTheostomachocontainedomuddyowateroandosandoparticles,o confirmingothatotheodeceasedowasoaliveowhenothrownointootheocanaloando hadodrownedoantemortem.o

9.o o Theo Medicalo Boardo categoricallyo opinedo thato theo injurieso couldonotohaveobeenoself-inflictedoorotheoresultoofoanoaccidentalofall,oando thatotheocervicaloinjuriesowouldohaveorenderedotheodeceasedoincapableoofo movementooroescape.oTheopresenceoofoaoburnomarkowasoconsistentowithotheo applicationoofoaoheatedoobject.oTheseoobservationsocollectivelyoledotootheo medicalo conclusiono thato deceasedo hado beeno torturedo whileo ino policeo custodyoandolaterodisposedoofoinoaomannerointendedotooobliterateoevidenceo ofocustodialoabuse.oo

10.o o Ino responseo too medico-legalo querieso posedo byo theo CBIo (ExhibitoPA/16oandoPA/17),otheoMedicaloBoardoaffirmedothatovoluntaryo jumpingointootheocanalowasomedicallyoimplausibleoinolightoofotheoinjuryo pattern.oItowasoalsoobroughtoonorecordothatoInspectoroRajinderoPaloAnando wasopresentoduringotheopost-mortemoandoallegedlyoattemptedotooinfluenceo theodoctorsotoomodifyotheirofindings.oo

11.o o Ao magisterialo inquiryo waso conductedo byo theo theno SDM,o Nabha,oKulbiroSingho(PW-21),oonotheodirectionoofotheoDistrictoMagistrate.oo Ono 30.07.1996,o heo recordedo theo statementso ofo ASIo Rajpalo Singho ando Constableso Darshano Singh,o Mohindero Singh,o ando Vinodo Kumar.o Theseo statements,omarkedoasoExhibitoPW22-Xoseries,owereowrittenoinotheiroowno writingo ando boreo theiro signatures.o Althougho theo statementso dido noto CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -6-o o explicitlyo admito too causingo deceased-Balbiro Singh'so injuries,o theo policeo officialsoacknowledgedothatotheyohadotakenohimotootheocanalofororecovery,oo duringowhichoheoallegedlyojumpedointootheowater.oo

12.o o Too concealo theo trueo circumstanceso ofo theo deatho ofo theo deceased,o theo policeo allegedlyo concoctedo ao falseo narrative.o FIRo No.65o datedo 28.07.1996o undero Sectiono 380o ofo theo IPCo waso registeredo atoooooooooooo PoliceoStationoKotwali,oNabha,oonotheocomplaintoofoGurmeloSingh,ofalselyo implicatingoBalbiroSingho(deceased)oinoaotheftocase.oTheoinvestigationoofo thiso FIRo waso entrustedo too ASIo Rajpalo Singh,o ando ito waso showno thatoooooooooooo BalbiroSinghoescapedoduringoaorecoveryovisit.oo

13.o o Simultaneously,oFIRoNo.63odatedo28.07.1996ounderoSectiono 224o ofo theo IPCo waso registeredo ato Policeo Stationo Sadar,o Nabhao byo ASIo JasdevoSingh,ooneoofotheoappellantsobeforeothisoCourt,oallegingothatotheo deceasedoescapedofromocustody.oo

14.o o Duringoitsoinvestigation,otheoCBIoseizedoseveraloentriesofromo theoDailyoDiaryoRegisteroofoPoliceoStationoKotwali,oNabha.oTheseoentrieso wereoallegedo too beo forgedotoo falselyo reflectotheo eventso surroundingotheo custodyoofoBalbiroSinghoandodisappearance.ooSpecifically:ooo l DDRoNo.o21odatedo28.07.1996o(ExhibitoPA/11),orecordedoato 3:15opm,onotedoreceiptoofotheocomplaintobyoGurmeloSingh.oo l DDRo No.22o datedo 28.07.1996o ato 3:40o pmo recordedo theo registrationoofoFIRoNo.65oandotheoassignmentoofotheocaseotoo ASIoRajpaloSingh.oo l DDRso No.23o too 28o datedo 28.07.1996o showedo theo arresto ofo deceasedo ato 4:15opm,o interrogation,o recoveryo attempts,o ando escapeoato5:00opmobyojumpingointootheocanal.oPursuantotootheo orderoofothisoCourt,odatedo02.08.1996,oinoCRM-M-15496oofo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -7-o o 1996,o theo CBIo formallyo registeredo RC-12(S)/97/SIU-XV/CHGodatedo13.06.1997o(ExhibitoPW-33/1).o

15.o o Aftero completingo itso investigation,o theo CBIo filedo ao chargeo sheetoagainstoInspectoroRajinderoPaloAnand,oASIoRajpaloSingh,oASIoJasdevo SinghoandoConstablesoDarshanoSingh,oMohinderoSinghoandoVinodoKumaro andotheoaccusedowereoformallyochargedoandocommittedotoostandotrialoundero Sectiono302,o364,o331,o342,o201,o218oreadowitho120-BoofotheoIPC.o

16.o o Theoprosecutionoexaminedo34owitnessesoinosupportoofoitsocase,o including:oo l PW-14o Dr.o Paramviro Singh,o PW-15o Dr.o Rajesho Goel,o ando PW-20o Dr.o Ramindero Kauro Bedi-memberso ofo theo Medicalo Board,oo l PW-21oKulbiroSingh,oSDM,owhooconductedotheomagisterialo inquiryo ando provedo theo statementso ofo theo accusedo (Exhibito PW-22/X-Series),oo l PW-28oInspectoroKrishanoLal,oCBI,owhooinvestigatedotheocaseo andoprovedotheodocumentaryoevidence,oo l PW-33oAdvocateoRanjanoLakhanpal,owhoohadofiledoCRM-Mo No.15496oofo1996oandoprovedotheoorderoofotheoHighoCourto (ExhibitoPW-28/3).oo

17.o o Theo prosecutiono alsoo reliedo ono extensiveo documentaryo evidence,o includingo FIRso (Exhibito PA/12o ando Exhibito PA/13),o DDRsoo (ExhibitoPA/11otooPA/20),oPost-MortemoReporto(ExhibitoPA/15),oMedico-o Legalo Reportso (Exhibito PA/16o ando PA/17),o photographso (Exhibito PW-22/11o too PW-22/19)o ando magisterialo inquiryo documentso (Exhibito PW-22/X-Series.oo

18.o o Ino theiro statements,o recordedo undero Sectiono 313o ofo theo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -8-o o Cr.P.C.,oalloaccusedodeniedotheoallegations.oInspectoroRajinderoPaloAnando claimedoheomerelyoassignedotheocaseotooASIoRajpaloSinghoandohadonooroleo inotheocustodyooroallegedotortureoofodeceased.oASIoRajpaloSinghocontendedo thatodeceasedohadovoluntarilyoaccompaniedohimoandoescapedoduringotheo processooforecovery.oAccused-ConstablesoDarshanoSingh,oMohinderoSingho andoVinodoKumaromaintainedothatodeceasedojumpedointootheocanaloduringo theirolawfulocustody.oAccusedoASIoJasdevoSinghostatedothatoheoregisteredo FIRo No.63o datedo 28.07.1996o undero Sectiono 224o ofo theo IPCo basedo ono informationo fromo hiso superiors,o withouto anyo intentiono too misleado oro fabricateorecords.oo

19.o o Noneoofotheoaccusedoexplainedotheoinjuriesoobservedoinotheo Post-Mortemo Reporto oro theo signedo statementso recordedo byo theo SDM,oo whichostoodoprovedobyoPW-21oKulbiroSingh.o

20.o o Inodefence,otheofollowingofiveowitnessesowereoexamined:o

(i)o o DW-1o Jarnailo Singh,o carto driver,o testifiedo thato heo sawo deceasedojumpointootheocanalowhileoinopoliceocustody.oo

(ii)o o DW-2oHarpaloSingh,oformeroSarpanch,odeposedothatoheowaso informedoofotheoincidentobyoJarnaloSinghoandotookopartoinotheosearchoando recoveryoofotheobody.oo

(iii)o o DW-5oDroHarishoTuli,oaoprivateomedicalopractitioner,oopinedo thatotheocervicalofractureocouldohaveoresultedofromoaofalloandothatodrowningo couldonotobeoruledooutoasotheosoleocauseoofodeath.o

21.o o Onoaocomprehensiveoappraisaloofotheoevidence,otheolearnedo trialoCourtoheldothatotheoprosecutionohadosucceededoinoprovingoitsocaseo beyondo reasonableo doubt.o Ito heldo thato theo deceasedo hado beeno illegallyo detainedo ando subjectedo too severeo custodialo tortureo fromo 27.07.1996,o resultingoinograveoinjuries,oincludingocervicalofractures.oHeowasothrowno CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -9-o o intoo theo canalo ino ao criticallyo injuredo ando helplesso state,o leadingo too hiso homicidalodeath.o

22.o o TheolearnedotrialoCourtorejectedotheonarrativeoofotheodefenceoofo escapeoandoaccidentalodrowningoasofalseoandounsubstantiated.oTheopost-mortemofindingsobyoaoGovernmentoMedicaloBoardoruledooutoaccidentooro suicide,o confirmingo antemortemo injurieso consistento witho custodialo violence.oo

23.o o DW-5oDr.oHarishoTuli'sotestimonyowasofoundospeculativeoando inconsistentowithotheoconclusionsoofotheoMedicaloBoard.o

24.o o Further,otheotrialoCourtoheldothatotheosubsequentoFIRs,oDDRo entries,oandorecoveryomemosowereofabricatedoinoaoconcertedoeffortotoocreateo aofalseoexculpatoryonarrative.oTheopostofactooregistrationoofoFIRsoundero Sectionso223oando224oofotheoIPCoandotheomanipulatedopoliceorecordsowereo viewedobyotheotrialoCourtoasodeliberateoattemptsotooconcealotheotruth.oo

25.o o Accordingly,o theo learnedo trialo Courto convictedo accusedo Inspectoro Rajendrao Palo Anand,o ASIo Rajpalo Singh,o Constableso Darshano Singh,oMohinderoSinghoandoVinodoKumaroasodetailedoinotheoearlieropartoofo theojudgment.o

26.o o Theodefenceopleaoforobenefitoofodoubtowasorejected,oandotheo Courtoheldothatotheoevidenceoofotheoprosecution,oparticularlyotheomedicalo andodocumentaryoevidence,owasocogent,ocredibleoandounimpeached.o o o o SUBMISSIONSoONoBEHALFoOFoTHEoAPPELLANT:o o

27.o o Learnedo senioro counselo appearingo foro theo appellantso haso assailedotheiroconvictionounderoSectiono302oofotheoIPC,ocontendingothatoito isolegallyounsustainable,obeingopremisedoonopresumptions,omisreadingoofo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -10-o o medicaloevidence,oandoanoerroneousoappreciationoofocircumstantialofacts.o Theo primaryo thrusto ofo theo submissionso iso beingo delineatedo undero theo followingoheads:o

(i)o Entireocaseobasedoonocircumstantialoevidence-nooovertoacto attributed.o o o o Learnedo senioro counselo submitso thato theo caseo ofo theo prosecutionoisoentirelyopredicatedoonoaotheoryoofocustodialodeath,owhicho lackso anyo directo evidence.o Noo witnesso haso deposedo too havingo seeno theo accusedoassaulting,opushingoorothrowingotheodeceasedointootheocanal.oThereo isoneitherorecoveryonoroanyoconfessionalostatementonoroanyoforensicolinko connectingotheoappellantsotooanoactoofocommissionoleadingotoodeath.ooTheo convictionoofotheoappellantsorestsosolelyouponotheopresumptionoarisingofromo theo "lasto seeno theory"-i.e.,o thato theo deceasedo waso lasto seeno ino policeo custody.oHowever,olearnedoseniorocounselosubmitsothatothisopresumptiono standso completelyo rebuttedo byo theo medicalo evidence,o theo Post-Mortemo Reporto(ExhibitoPA/15),oentriesoinotheoDailyoDiaryoRegisterso(DDRs),oando theoabsenceoofomotiveoorocausativeonexus.oTheorelianceobyotheotrialoCourto onotheo"lastoseen"otheoryowithoutoanyocorroborationois,othus,ospeculativeo andountenable.oo

(ii)o Medicalo evidenceo misappreciated-supportso accidentalo drowning,onotohomicide.o o o o Ito iso submittedo thato theo entireo edificeo ofo theo caseo ofo theo prosecutionocollapsesouponoaocorrectoappreciationoofotheomedicaloevidence,o which,oratherothanosupportingoaocaseoofocustodialodrowning,otorture,oalignso withotheodefenceoversionoofoaccidentalodeathodueotoodrowning.oo o o Theopost-mortemowasoconductedoono29.07.1996obyoaoBoardo comprisingoPW-14oDr.oParamviroSingh,oPW-15oDr.oRajeshoGoel,oandoPW-CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -11-o o 18oDr.oRaminderoKaur.oTheounanimousoconclusionoofotheoMedicaloBoardo wasothatotheocauseoofodeathowasoasphyxiaodueotoodrowning,ocoupledowitho injuryotootheocervicalospine.oo o o Theopresenceoofomuddyowateroinotheostomachoandofrothoatotheo nostrilsowasoindicativeoofotheodeceasedobeingoaliveoatotheotimeoofoenteringo theocanal.o o o Inocross-examination,otheodoctorsoopinedothatoinjuryoNo.6-ao fractureoofotheocervicalovertebra-couldohaveobeenosustainedobyofallingofromo aoheightoofo18otoo23ofeetoontooaohardoconcreteosurface,osuchoasotheocanalo bed.oo o o Theowristoinjuryo(injuryoNo.2),oaccordingotootheodoctors,ocouldo haveoresultedofromoroutineoactivitiesosuchoasocookingoorohandlingoutensils,o andowasonotosuggestiveoofocustodialoviolenceoororestraint.o o o PW-14oDr.oParamviroSinghospecificallyoaffirmedothatodeatho dueotoodrowningofollowingoaofallointootheocanalowasoaodistinctopossibility.o PW-15o Dr.o Rajesho Goelo whileo referringo too theo authoritativeo medicalo literatureoofoModi'soMedicaloJurisprudenceoreiteratedothatodrowningoisonoto possibleopost-mortem.o o o PW-18oDr.oRaminderoKauroalsooconfirmedothatotheodeceasedo wasoaliveowhenoheoenteredoandocouldohaveodiedodueotoodrowningoaftero sustainingotheocervicaloinjury.oo

28.o o Ito waso furthero arguedo thato eveno aftero seekingo clarificationso fromotheoMedicaloBoard,otheoCBIodidonotoreceiveoanyoopinionoattributingo theo injurieso too custodialo torture.o Theo defenceo alsoo examinedo DW-5oooooooooooooooo Dr.o Harisho Tuli,o ano independento forensico expert,o whoo corroboratedo theo findingsoofotheoPost-MortemoReportoandocategoricallyoruledooutotortureooro homicidaloviolence.oHisoopinion-thatodrowning,ocoupledowithoaocervicalo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -12-o o fractureo causedo byo impacto duringo ao fall,o waso theo mosto plausibleo explanation-remainedounshakenoinocross-examination.oo

29.o o Learnedo senioro counselo accordinglyo contendedo thato theo medicaloevidence,obeingoaopreciseoandoscientificosourceoofoproof,ooverrodeo speculativeo inferences,o especiallyo ino ao caseo lackingo directo evidence.oooooooooooo Theo convictiono foro murder,o ino theo faceo ofo overwhelmingo medicalo consensuso pointingo too accidentalo death,o was,o therefore,o manifestlyo erroneous.oo o o InquiryoreportoofoSDM-notoproofoofoguilt:o

30.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloarguedothatotheoinquiryoconductedobyo theoSDMounderoSectiono176oofotheoCr.P.C.ocouldonotobeoreliedouponotoo proveo criminalo culpability.o Ito waso contendedo thato sucho inquirieso areo administrativeo ino nature,o conductedo withouto administeringo oathso oro affordingopartiesotheorightotoocross-examination.oTheiropurposeowasolimitedo too ascertainingo circumstanceso surroundingo ao custodialo deatho ando recommendingo furthero inquiry,o ando certainlyo noto too determineo criminalo liability.oo

31.o o Learnedoseniorocounselocontendedothatoinotheopresentocase,otheo reportoofotheoSDMomerelyonotedothatoBalbiroSinghodiedoinocustodyoandothato theofractureoofotheocervicalovertebraowarrantedofurtheroinvestigation.oTheo SDModidonotofixoresponsibilityoonotheoappellantsooroattributeoanyospecifico actoofoassault.oInofact,otheodoctorsoexaminedobyotheoSDMostatedothatoaofallo intoo deepo watero couldo alsoo causeo sucho injuries.o Thus,o relianceo ono theo findingsoofotheoSDM,oinoabsenceoofocorroborativeoevidence,owasowhollyo misplaced.oo o o Hostileowitnesses-collapseoofotheoprosecutionocase:o

32.o o Learnedo senioro counselo stillo furthero submittedo thato ao CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -13-o o significantonumberoofowitnesses,oincludingoallomaterialowitnesses,oPW-6otoo PW-11o namelyoNaziro Singh,o Mewao Singh,o Jagjito Singh,o Jagtaro o Singh,ooo Giano Singho ando Amritpalo Singho respectively,o PW-13o -o Vijayo Kumaroo Trikha,oPW-17o-oAmarjitoSinghoSidhuv,oPW-19o–oHarbansooSinghoando PW21-oGulzaroSinghorespectivelyoturnedohostileoduringotrial,oandodidonoto supportotheoversionoofotheoprosecution.oNotoaosingleooneoofothemodeposedo tooanyoactoofoassault,ocoercionooroviolenceobyotheopoliceopersonnel.oThereo waso noo ocularo testimonyo supportingo theo theoryo thato theo deceasedo waso thrownointootheocanal.oInoaocaseoofoallegedocustodialotorture,oabsenceoofo independento ando credibleo publico testimonyo aso pero theo learnedo senioro counselowasofatalotootheocaseoofotheoprosecution.oo Proveno ando corroboratedo DDRs-supporto theo versiono ofo theodefence:o o o

33.o o Theo sequenceo ofo events,o aso recordedo ino theo DDRs,o waso submittedo too haveo beeno dulyo provedo ando consistento witho theo defenceo version.oLearnedocounselosubmittedothatotheseoentriesoincludedoaowritteno complaintoreceivedofromoGurmeloSingh,oGranthioofoGurdwaraoTibbioSahib,o ono28.07.1996,oallegingotheftoofoutensilsobyoBalbiroSingho(deceased);oo o o DDRoNo.o21orecordedoato3:15opm,oandoDDRoNo.22oato3:40o pm,onotingoregistrationoofoFIRoNo.65ounderoSectiono380oofotheoIPC.oo o o DDRoNo.23orecordedoato3:45opmoregardingotheodepartureoofo ASIo Rajpalo witho constableso Darshano Singho ando theo appellantso ando MohinderoSinghotootheoGurdwaraoforoinvestigation.o o o DDRoNo.25oato4:15opm,orecordedotheoarrestoofoBalbiroSingho fromotheoGurdwaraoandohisoreturnotootheoPoliceoStation.oItonotedothatoBalbiro Singho waso handcuffed,o ando theo handcuffo waso attachedo too theo belto ofo appellantoMohinderoSingh-standardocustodyoprotocol.oo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -14-o o o o DDRoNo.27oato4:35opmorecordedodepartureofororecoveryoofo stolenoitemsopursuantotootheodisclosureostatementomadeobyoBalbiroSingh.oo

34.o o TheoDDRsowereoprovedothroughoPW-12oNirmaloSingh,owhoo confirmedotheoentriesoandoauthenticatedotheohandwriting.oItowasoarguedobyo theo learnedo senioro counselo thato theo trialo Courto erroneouslyo rejectedo theo DDRsocitingooverwritingoinoDDRoNo.o24oregardingotimingo(changedofromo 4:45opmotoo3:55opm).oHowever,othisocorrectionowasominor,oroutine,oandodido notoaffectotheointegrityoofotheosequenceoorotheoversionoofotheodefence.oNoo motiveoorobenefitowasoattributedotootheosaidocorrection.o

35.o o Ito waso alsoo submittedo thato theo appellanto ando otherso wereo earlieroprosecutedounderoSectiono223oofotheoIPCoforonegligenceoinoallowingo theoaccusedotooescapeofromocustody,oandowereoacquittedobyotheocompetento Courtovideojudgmentodatedo04.05.1999.oTheosaidoCourtofoundothatoBalbiro Singho hado escapedo custodyo byo slippingo outo ofo hiso handcuffsowhileo theo vehicleowasoslowingodownonearoaobullockocartoonoaonarrowobridge,oandothato theopoliceohadoexercisedodueocare.oo o o Absenceoofomotive:oo

36.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloarguedothat,oinoaocaseofoundedosolelyo ono circumstantialo evidence,o motiveo assumeso crucialo importance.o Noo motiveowasosuggestedooroestablishedoasotoowhyotheoappellants,owhooareo trainedo policeo officers,o wouldo murdero ano accusedo ino broado daylight,o particularlyowhenotheochargeowasoofopettyotheftounderoSectiono380oofotheo IPC.oo o o

37.o o Thereo waso noo allegationo ofo enmity,o prioro conflict,o oro extraneousoinfluence,omakingotheoprosecutiononarrativeohighlyoimprobable.oo o o Presumptionoofocustodialoguiltorebutted:oo

38.o o Learnedo senioro counselolastlyosubmittedothatowhileo theo lawo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -15-o o permitsoaopresumptiono ino casesoofocustodialodeath,o sucho ao presumptiono arisesoonlyowhereotheochainoofocircumstancesoisocompleteoandounbroken.oo

39.o o Ino theo presento case,o aso pero theo learnedo senioro counsel,o theo chaino iso fracturedo ato multipleo points.o Theo defenceo version,o aso pero theo learnedo senioro counsel,o waso medicallyo supportedo ando consistentlyo explained-thatoBalbiroSingh,owhileoattemptingoescapeoafterotheohumiliation,o heo wouldo haveo sufferedo ono accounto ofo theo thefto committedo ino theo Gurdwara,o jumpedo intoo theo canal,o strucko ao pillaro oro structureo duringo descent,o fracturedo hiso neck,o ando subsequentlyo drowned.o Learnedo senioro counseloassertedothatothisotheoryofoundosupportoinotheoDDRs,otheositeoplan,o medicaloevidence,oandoexpertoopinion.o

40.o o Aoprayerowas,otherefore,omadeobyotheolearnedoseniorocounselo thatosinceotheoburdenoofoproofoinoaocriminalocase,oliesowithotheoprosecutiono andomustobeodischargedobeyondoreasonableodoubt,otheosaidoburdenohadonoto beenometoinotheopresentocase,oentitlingotheoappellantsotoobeoacquittedoofotheo chargesoframedoagainstothem.oo o o o SUBMISSIONSoONoBEHALFoOFoTHEoRESPONDENT-o o CBI:oo o

41.o o Learnedo standingo counselo foro theo CBIo supportedo theo impugnedojudgmentoofoconviction,obyosubmittingothatoitowasobasedoonoao thoroughoandometiculousoappreciationoofoevidenceoonorecord,obothooraloando documentary,o and,o therefore,o warrantedo noo interferenceo ino appeal.ooooooooooooooo Itowasosubmittedothatotheocaseowasoaoclearoinstanceoofocustodialodeath,oando theoconvictionounderoSectiono302oofotheoIPCostoodofirmlyoprovedoonotheo followingogrounds:oo o o Custodialodeathoclearlyoproven-presumptionoarose:oo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -16-o o

42.o o Learnedocounselocontendedothatoitowasoanoadmittedopositiono thato theo deceased,o Balbiro Singh,o waso lasto seeno aliveo ino theo exclusiveo custodyoofotheoappellantsoandootheropoliceopersonnel.oHeohadobeenoarrestedo inoconnectionowithoaotheftocaseoandowasotakenoforoaopurportedorecoveryoofo stolenoitemsowhenoheoallegedlyo"escaped"oandowasolaterofoundodeadoinotheo canal.oo

43.o o Ito waso arguedo thato theo defenceo versiono thato theo deceasedo jumpedo intoo theo canalo ando drownedo waso whollyo speculativeo ando unsupportedobyocontemporaneousoofficialorecords.oNooDDRooroFIRowaso immediatelyo registeredo recordingo theo escape.o Theo FIRo concerningo theo escapeo waso registeredo onlyo aftero theo bodyo waso recovered,o indicatingooooooooooo post-factoo attemptso ato justificationo rathero thano genuine,o preventiveo oro responsiveoaction.oTheodelayoinorecordingosuchocriticaloinformationocreatedo aoseriousodentoinotheocredibilityoofotheonarrativeosetooutobyotheodefenceoando pointedotooconcealment.o

44.o o Itowasoarguedothatoinosuchocases,owhereoaopersonodiesowhileoino theo exclusiveo custodyo ofo police,o ando whereo theo explanationo offeredo iso neithero immediateo noro satisfactory,o theo lawo permitso ao presumptiono ofo culpability,oshiftingotheoonusoonotootheocustodialoauthoritiesotooprovideoao plausibleoexplanation.oItowasosubmittedothatoinotheopresentocase,onoosucho explanationohadobeenocrediblyoorotimelyofurnished.oo o o Antemortemoinjuriesoconsistentowithocustodialotorture:o

45.o o Learnedocounselofurtherocontendedothatotheomedicaloevidenceo doesonotoexonerateotheoaccusedobut,oonotheocontrary,osupportsotheocaseoofo theo prosecution.o Theo Post-Mortemo Reporto provedo aso (Exhibito PA/15)oo recordedotheofollowingoantemortemoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofotheodeceased,o includingobruisingoand,onotably,oaofractureoofotheocervicalovertebrao(injuryo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -17-o o No.6):o o

46.o o Whileotheomedicalocauseoofodeathowasostatedotoobeoasphyxiao dueotoodrowning,olearnedocounselosubmittedothatothisodidonotonegateotheo occurrenceoofophysicaloassaultoprecedingotheodrowning.oTheopresenceoofo significanto injuryo too theo cervicalo regiono raisedo theo possibilityo thato theo deceasedowasosubjectedotoocustodialotortureopriorotoohisodeath.oo

47.o o Ito waso submittedo thato ino caseso ofo custodialo violence,o theo occurrenceoofoinjuries-especiallyounexplainedoinjuriesotoovitaloparts-isoao criticalo factor.o Ino theo presento case,o theoprosecutiono hado showno thato theo deceasedowasoaliveoinocustodyoandodiedounderosuspiciousocircumstanceso soonothereafter.oTheoburdenotooexplainotheocauseoofosuchoinjuriesolayoonotheo accused;ohowever,onooplausibleooromedicallyoconsistentoexplanationowaso forthcoming.o o SDMo inquiry-independento fact-findingo supportingo theo caseoofotheoprosecution:o o

48.o o Learnedostandingocounselosubmittedothatotheoinquiryobyotheo SDM,oconductedopromptlyounderoSectiono176oofotheoCr.P.C.,oconstitutedo anoimportantopieceoofocontemporaneousoandoindependentofact-finding.oTheo saidoreport,odatedo08.08.1996oandoprovedothroughoPW-22o___,orecordedo statementso ofo variouso personso includingo localo villagers,o Panchayato members,oandopoliceoofficials.oo

49.o o TheoreportoofotheoSDMoclearlyoestablishedotheofactothatotheo deceasedo waso ino policeo custodyo ato theo timeo ofo theo allegedo incident.o Notably,oitowasorecordedothatoBalbiroSinghowasohandcuffedoandoattachedo byo chaino too appellanto Constableo Mohindero Singh-therebyo renderingo theo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -18-o o theoryo ofo escapeo implausible.o Furthermore,o theo reporto foundo glaringo inconsistencieso ino theo versiono giveno byo theo policeo ando notedo thato noo injurieso wereo foundo ono theo wristso ofo theo deceased-ao circumstanceo incompatibleowithotheoallegedohandcuffing.oo

50.o o TheoSDMoalsoonotedothatocertainomembersoofotheopoliceoteam,o includingoMHCoJaspaloSingh,owereonotonamedoinotheodepartureoregister,o indicatingo manipulationo ando attemptso too concealo theo actualo events.o StatementsorecordedoinotheoinquiryoalsoorevealedothatoBalbiroSinghowaso forciblyoliftedoandothrownointootheocanalobyopoliceopersonnel.oWhileotheo reportoofotheoSDMomayonot,obyoitselfoconstituteoproofoofoguilt,olearnedo counselocontendedothatoitocorroboratedotheoversionoofotheoprosecutionoando providedo valuableo insighto intoo theo immediateo aftermatho ando officialo responseotootheoincident.o o Unbrokeno chaino ofo circumstantialo evidenceo establishingo guilt:o o o

51.o o Ito waso stillo furthero submittedo thato theo learnedo trialo Courto rightlyo foundo thato theo prosecutiono hado succeededo ino establishingo ao continuousoandounbrokenochainoofocircumstancesopointingounmistakablyotoo theoguiltoofotheoaccused.oTheseocircumstancesoincluded:oo

(i)o Theodeceasedowasolastoseenoaliveoinotheoexclusiveocustodyoofo theoaccused;o

(ii)o Heowasotakenofororecoveryoandoneveroreturned;o

(iii)o Noo contemporaneouso DDRo oro FIRo recordedo theo allegedo escape;o

(iv)o Theorecoveryoofotheodeadobodyofromotheocanalooccurredotheo followingo morning,o pursuanto too informationo byo localo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -19-o o villagers;o

(v)oo Antemortemoinjuriesowereofoundoonotheobody,oforowhichonoo adequateoexplanationowasooffered;o

(vi)o Theoentireosequenceoofopost-incidentopoliceoconductoclearlyo appearedotoobeocontrivedoandoorientedotowardofabricatingoao cover-up,oratherothanoreflectingogenuineoofficialoaction.o o

52.o o Inoviewoofotheoaboveofacts,olearnedocounselosubmittedothatotheo circumstancesounerringlyopointedotoocustodialoviolenceoleadingotootheodeatho ofotheodeceased.oTheoconvictionounderoSectiono302oofotheoIPC,otherefore,o wasobotholegaloandofactuallyojustified.oo Hostilityoofowitnessesowouldonotoundermineotheocaseoofotheo prosecution:o o

53.o o Itowasonextocontendedothatoalthoughoseveralopublicowitnesseso turnedohostileoduringotrial,othisodidonotoipsoofactoovitiateotheoprosecutiono case.o Theo learnedo trialo Courto rightlyo appreciatedo thato hostilityo ino caseso involvingopoliceoofficialsoisonotounusual,oowingotoointimidation,ofearooro influence.oo

54.o o Theo convictiono waso basedo noto merelyo ono theo testimonyo ofo witnesseso buto waso reinforcedo byo medicalo ando forensico evidence,o theo inherentoinconsistenciesoinotheocaseoofotheodefence,oandotheoabsenceoofoanyo plausibleo alternativeo explanationo fromo theo accused.o Learnedo counselo arguedothatoitoisowellosettledothatoaoCourtoisoentitledotoorelyouponocredibleo portionsoofotheotestimonyoevenoofohostileowitnessesoandotooassessotheoentireo evidenceoinoaoholisticomanner.oInotheopresentocase,oitowasoassertedothatotheo trialoCourtohadodoneosoowithodueocare.oo Legalopresumptionoinocustodialodeathocases-accusedofailedo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -20-o o toorebut:o o

55.o o Learnedocounselosubmittedothatotheolawoisowell-settledothatoino casesoofocustodialodeath,owhereotheodeceasedowasolastoseenoinotheoexclusiveo custodyoofotheopoliceoandodeathosubsequentlyooccurredounderosuspiciouso circumstances,otheoburdenoshiftsoonotootheoaccusedotooofferoaosatisfactoryo andocredibleoexplanationoasotoohowotheodeceasedohadodiedowhileoinopoliceo custody.o Moreo so,o theo deceasedo waso too beo chainedo witho Constableo MahinderoSinghowithohisobelt.oItohasonotobeenoexplainedothatoatowhatotimeo ConstableoMahinderoSighoopenedohisobelt,oreleasedotheochainoandoopenedo theohandcuffsoofotheodeceased,owhichocouldoenableotheodeceasedotoojumpo outoofotheopoliceovehicle,oescapeofromotheohandsoofofouropoliceoofficialso ando jumpo intoo theo canal.o Thiso aspecto haso noto beeno explainedo byo theo appellants.o

56.o o Theo policeo officialsohado beeno influencingo theotrialo aso well,o whichocanobeopresumedofromotheofactothatotheoprosecutionowitnesses,owhoo wereostatedotoobeotheoeyewitnesses,oresiledofromotheirostatementsobeforeotheo Courto ando dido noto supporto theo versiono ofo prosecution.o Eveno theo complainant,owhoohadofiledoCriminaloMisc.oPetitionoandogototheoorderoofo registrationoofotheocaseowasoalsoowonooverobyotheoappellantsotootheoextento thatoheofurtheromovedoanoapplicationobeforeothisoCourtothroughohisocounselo too withdrawo theo petitiono ando alsoo foro seekingo recallo ofo theo ordero foro registrationoofotheocaseoagainstotheoappellants.o

57.o o Nowotheofactowhichoisotoobeodeterminedobyousoisowhetherotheo deceasedohadobeenothrownointootheocanalooroheoescapedofromocustodyoofo policeo ando jumpedo intoo theo canal.o Too examineo thiso aspect,o theo injurieso whichowereonoticedoonotheodeadobodyoofodeceasedoduringopostmortemoareo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -21-o o againorequiredotoobeolookedointo.oTheopostmortemoonotheodeadobodyoofo deceasedo waso conductedo byo ao Medicalo Boardo comprisingo ofo variouso doctorsoincludingoDr.oRajeshoGoel,oSMO/InchargeoCiviloHospital,oNabhao

(PW15).oTheofollowingoinjuriesowereonoticedobyotheoMedicaloBoard:o

1.oo Anoareaoofo6"oxo8"oofopinkishoblueobruisingowereopresento overotheoanteriorolateraloaspectoofoxorightohip.o

2.oo Ao1ocm.oxo.5ocm.oburnomarkowasopresentooverotheodorsoo medialoaspectooforightowristojustooverotheoloweroendoofo ulna.o

3.oo Aopinkishoblueobruisingowasopresentooverotheoleftopinna.o

4.oo Multipleobruisingoofopinkishoblueocolouroandodifferento sizesoandoshapeowereopresentooverotheobuttocks,oback,o leftoscapularoregionoandoknitobackoofoneck.o

5.oo Pinkishoblueoirregularoshapedobruisesowereopresentoino o bothotheoaxillaeoandojoints.o

6.oo Onodissectionocraniumomeningesowereofoundohealthyoono dissectiono ofo neck,o multipleo vertebraeo wereo fracturedo andohaematomaowasoseenoinotheofacialocompartmentoofo theoneck.o

58.o o Fromo ao perusalo ofo aboveo injuries,o ao burno marko waso foundo presentooverotheodorsoomedialoaspectooforightowristojustooverotheoloweroendo ofoulna.oTheoinjuriesowereodeclaredotobeoantemortemoinonature.oItoisoalsoo opinedo thato theo cervicalo spineo injuryo iso possibleo eveno beforeo oro aftero jumpingointootheocanal.oTherefore,othisoinjuryocouldobeopossibleobeforeotheo deceasedo enteringo theo watero ofo theo canal.o Theoquestiono iso thato couldoao personowithosuchoanoinjuryoescapeofromopoliceocustodyoandojumpointootheo canalowater.oTheocaseoputoupobyotheodefenceoisothatotheoinjuryohasobeeno CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -22-o o causedodueotoofalling/landingoonotheobedoofotheobridgeofromowhereotheo deceasedoisostatedotoohaveojumpedointootheocanal.oItohasocomeoinotheocross-examinationoofoPW-15othatoinjuryoNo.6ocanobeocausedoasoaoresultoofofallingo ofo theo deceasedo fromo theo topo ofo theo bridgeo ando strikingo ono theo hardo concreteosurfaceoneck-wise.oPW15ofurtherodeposedothatodrowningocanobeo theoresultoofofallingoagainofromotheohardoconcreteosurface/bedoofotheobridgeo intootheocanal.oHeoalsoodeposedothatoinjuriesoexceptoinjuryoNo.2,ocouldobeo resultoofofallingoifooneojumpsofromotheobridgeoonotheohardobed/surfaceoando buttocksopartostrikesoonotheohardosurface/bedoofotheobridge.o

59.o o Ifoweotryotoopictureotheoscenario,otheoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofo deceasedoareoonotheoneckoasowelloonotheobuttocks.oInocaseoheohadojumped,o heo shouldo haveo landedo ono hiso legso intoo theo canalo water,o however,o theo injuriesoareonotoinoconsistenceowithojumpingofromobridgeoasothereoisonoo injuryoonohisolegs.oSecondly,oinocaseotheodeceasedohadodivedointootheowater,o thenoheocouldohaveoinjuredohisoneckoasomadeooutoinoinjuryoNo.6,ohowever,o inothatocase,otheoinjuryoonohisobuttocksowouldoremainoinexplicable.oItois,o therefore,omoreoprobableothatodeceasedowasothrown/tossedofromotheobridge.oo

60.o o Anotherofactowhichohasocomeoonorecordoandoasomentionedoino theoFIRoisothatoono22.07.1996,oRajenderoPaloSingh,oInspectorohadoarrestedo theodeceased.oThereafter,oheowasobrutallyotorturedobyotheoappellants,oasoao resultoofowhich,oheosufferedomultipleofracturesoincludingofractureoinohiso spine.oThereafter,otheoconditionoofoBalbiroSingh-deceasedodeterioratedoando RajenderoPaloSingh,oInspectoroalongwithohisostaffotookohimotooaoprivateo nursingohome,ohowever,otheodoctoroofotheosaidonursingohomeorefusedotoo admitohim.oThereafter,oheowasotakenotooCiviloHospital,owhereoheowasonoto admittedobyotheopoliceopartyotooavoidotheoproofoofoinjuries.oThereafter,oono

28.08.1996,osinceotheodeceasedowasotorturedotoocertainoextentothatoheocouldo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -23-o o noto recover,o theo appellantso decidedo too throwo himo intoo theo canalso ando concoctoaostoryoofoescapingofromocustody.oTheoincidentoofotheodeceasedo falling/jumpingointootheocanaloisorecordedoaso5:00oPMoono28.07.1996ovideo DDRoNo.28o(Ex.PA/7).oVideoDDRoNo.29odatedo28.07.1996,otheopoliceo partyoleftoforosearchingotheodeceased/accusedoato5:10oPM.oOneopoliceopartyo leftoforosearchoonoaoprivateomotorcycleoato05:20oPMoasoisorecordedoinoDDRo No.29odatedo28.07.1996.oVideoDDRoNo.49odatedo28.07.1996,oInspectoro RajenderoPaloSinghoreturnedotoopoliceostationoato04:00oAMo(Ex.PA/10).o Video DDRo No.43o datedo 28.07.1996o ato 4:30o AM,o theo remainingo policeo partyoalsooreturnedotoopoliceostationo(Ex.PA/11).oVideoDDRoNo.15odatedo

29.07.1996oatoabouto01:00oPM,oDSPoNabhaoreceivedoaoletter,oasoperowhich,o ASIo Rajo Palo Singh,oConstableo Mahindero Singho ando Constableo Darshano Sighowereosuspendedofromoserviceoowingotoonegligenceoinotheiroduties.o Video DDRo No.6o datedo 29.07.1996o (Ex.PA/13)o ato 08:30o A.M.o Surjeeto SinghoASIoalongwithopoliceopartyoproceededotoosearchoforotheodeadobodyo ofodeceased.oInspector/SHOoRajenderoPaloSinghoalongwithohisostaffoalsoo leftosearchingoforotheodeadobodyoato09:05oAMoasoisorecordedoinoDDRoNo.8o datedo 29.07.1996.o Aso pero theo FIR,o theo deceasedo waso arrestedo ono

22.07.1996,owhereasotheoFIRounderoSectiono380oIPCoagainstotheodeceasedo wasoregisteredoono28.07.1996oatoPoliceoSationoKotwali,oNabha.oTheocaseo regardingotheftoofoutensilsoisoregisteredoato03:15oPM;oato04:05oPM,otheo accusedo iso showno arrested;o ato 04:30o PMo theyo proceededo foro effectingo recoveryoandoato05:00oPModeceasedojumpedointootheocanal.oDDRoNo.43o datedo28.07.1996oshowsotheotimeoaso04:30oAMowhenotheopoliceoofficialso returnedoback,owhoohaveobeenoshownotoohaveodepartedovideoDDRoNo.27o datedo29.07.1996oforoeffectingorecovery.oTheofactumoofojumpingointootheo canaloisorecordedoinoDDRoNo.28odatedo28.07.1996oato5:00oPM.oAllotheseo CRA-DoNo.140-DBoofo2008oandootheroconnectedocasesoo o -24-o o datesoandotimesoareoincorrectlyomentionedoasocomingobackoafterorecoveryoiso shownoato4:30oAMoono28.07.1996.oAllotheseothingsoshowothatofalseoando fakeoentriesohaveobeenomadeoinotheoDailyoDiaryoRegisteroinoorderotoocovero theolapsesoandoguiltoofotheoappellants,owhichosufficientlyoprovesothatotheo deceasedohadoneitheroescapedofromocustodyonorohadoheojumpedointootheo canal;oratheroheowasothrownointootheocanalobyotheoappellants.o

61.o o Inoviewoofotheofactsoandoscenariooasonoticedoandodiscussedo above,oweodoonotofindoanyomeritsoinotheoinstantoappealsoandotheosameoareo accordinglyodismissed.oTheojudgmentoofoconvictionodatedo06.12.2007oando orderoonoquantumoofosentenceodatedo07.12.2007oareoherebyosustainedoando upheld.o

62.o o Theo Chiefo Judicialo Magistrate,o Patialao iso directedo too takeo necessaryostepsotooensureothatotheoappellantsoareotakenointoocustodyoando madeotooundergootheoremainingosentenceoinoaccordanceowitholaw.o

63.o o Allootheromisc.oapplication(s),oifoany,oalsoostand(s)odisposedoofo accordingly.o o o o o o oooooo oooooo (MANJARIoNEHRUoKAUL)o o o o o o o o oooooooJUDGEo o o o o o o o o o o (H.S.oGREWAL)o Septembero15,o2025.o oooooo oooooo ooooooooo ooooooooJUDGEo Puneeto/Rajendero o o o o o ooooooo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oo Yes/Noo o o o o Whetheroreportableoo o :oo Yes/Noo