Rambir v. State of Haryana

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-1-INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAT CHANDIGARH ooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oo DateoofoDecision:oo11.07.2025 RAMBIRo o ..oAppellant Versus STATEoOFoHARYANA o...Respondent CRA-S-460-SB-2004oo KULDIP o ooooooooo..oAppellant Versus STATEoOFoHARYANA ooooooo...Respondent CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoGURVINDERoSINGHoGILL HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEooJASJIToSINGHoBEDI Present: Mr.oSanjeevoKadian,oAdvocateo forotheoappellants. Mr.oR.S.oArya,oAddl.oA.G.,oHaryana. **** JASJIToSINGHoBEDI,oJ. Thisojudgmentoshallodisposeoofotwoocriminaloappealsoi.e.oCRA-D-204-DB-2004otitledoasoRambiroVs.oStateoofoHaryanaoand oCRA-S-460-SB-2004otitledoasoKuldipoVersusoStateoofoHaryanaoasotheosameoareoarisingooutoof theosameoFIR.oHowever,oforotheosakeoofoconvenienceotheofactsohaveobeen takenofromoCRA-D-204-DB-2004.

¶2Theopresentoappealsohaveobeenofiledoagainstotheojudgmentoof convictionoandoorderoofosentenceodatedo30.01.2004opassedobyotheoAddl. SessionsoJudge,oRohtak. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2-

¶3The o FIR o was o registered o on o 10.07.2003, othe o judgment o of convictionoandoorderoofosentenceopassedobyotheoAddl.oSessionsoJudge,oRohtak isodatedo30.01.2004,otheoappealowasofiledoono25.02.2004oandotheomatterois beingotakenoupoforohearingonowoi.e.oafteroaoperiodoofomoreothano21oyearsofrom theodateooforegistrationoofotheoFIR.

4.o Theobriefofactsoofotheocaseoareothatoono10.07.2003oatoabouto05:10 PM,oDr.oPawanoKumar,owasosittingoinohisoclinicowithohisobrother-in-lawoShri RajbiroKashyap,oAdvocateo(PW10)oandoanotherorelativeoTokhoRajo(PW17). HisoMultioPurposeoHealthoWorkeroShamsheroSingho(PW8)owasoalsoopresent. MeanwhileoaccusedoRambir,oarmedowithoaopistoloEx.P15oandoaccusedoKuldip armedowithoaocountyomadeopistoloEx.P2,ocameointootheoclinic.oOneoofothem askedotheodoctoroasotoowhyoheohadodaredonototoogiveotheodemandedoransom amountoofoRs.50,000/-oandoonosayingoso,oaccusedoRambirofiredoaoshotoatothe doctor.oShamsheroSinghoPW8,ointervenedotoosaveotheodoctoroandotheoshot piercedothroughotheorightohandoofoShamsheroSingh.oAllotheofouropersonsotried tooover-powerotheotwooaccusedopersons.oAoscuffleotookoplace,oinowhich, Dr.PawanoKumaroandoTokhoRajoalsooreceivedosomeominoroinjuriesoonotheir persons.oMeanwhileootherostaffomembersoofotheohospitalogatheredothere.oThe accusedopersonsofiredoanotheroshot,owhichohitotheoglassopaneoofotheoouterogate afterowhichotheoaccusedopersonsoranoawayotowardsoNiganaoroadoonoaomotor cycle o No.HR-14/8665, o which o was o parked o outside o the o clinic. o Injured ShamsheroSinghowasotakenotooCHCoKalanaurobyoSubhash,oanotheroemployee ofotheoclinic,owhereoShamsheroSinghowasomedico-legallyoexaminedobyoDr. SubeoSinghoPW3,owhooinoMLRoEx.PD,onotedotheofollowingoinjuriesoonohis person:-ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3-

1.oAolaceratedowoundoofosizeoti.75ocmoxoti.75ocmopresentooverothe palmeroaspectooforightohand,omarginsowereoirregular,oinverted andoblackishoinocolour.oBlackishodepositsopresentoonotheomargins withofreshobleedings.

2.oAolaceratedowoundopresentoonotheodorsaloaspectooforightohand ofosizeo1oxo1ocm,omarginsowereoirregularoandooutward,owithofresh bleeding. Injuriesowereocausedobyofirearm.

5.o Theodoctorosentotheo'ruqa'oEx.PEoandocopyoofotheoMLRotoothe police.oThereafter,oASIoOmoParkashoPW14,oreachedoCHCoKalanauroandomet ShamsheroSinghoatotheoouterogateoofotheohospital.oHeorecordedohisostatement Ex.PL,onarratingotheosaidooccurrence.oASIoOmoParkash,osentothisowritingoto theoPoliceoStation,othroughoC.SatbiroSingh,owithohisoendorsementoEx.PL/1 thereon,oandoonoitsobasis,oformaloFIRoEx.PL/2owasoregisteredobyoHCoMahabir Singh,oforooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso307,o323,o427,o452oreadowith Sectiono34oofoIPCoandoalsoounderoSectiono25oofoArmsoAct.oSpecialoreport thereoforeachedotheoIllaqaoMagistrateoonotheonextomorningoato8.30oa.m.

6.o ASIoOmoParkash,oreachedotheoplaceoofooccurrence.oHeogotothe siteophotographedofromotheoofficialophotographeroC.PawanoKumaroPW12.oEx P7otooEx.oP10oareotheophotographsoofotheosite,owithonegativesoEx.P11oto Ex.P14.oASIoOmoParkash,oalsoopreparedotheovisualositeoplanoEx.PSoandopicked upotwoofiredocartridgeocasesoandooneobulletofromotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoand seizedothemoinoaosealedoparcel,owithosealo"OP"ovideorecoveryomemooEx.PN. Heoalsoopickedoupobloodstainedoearthobyomeansoofocottonoswabsoandobroken glassopiecesovideoanotherorecoveryomemooEx.PO.oBothotheorecoveryomemos, wereoattestedobyoPWoDr.PawanoKumaroPW9oandoTokhoRajoPW17. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4-

7.o Afterotheomedico-legaloexaminationoofoShamsheroSingh,oDr.oSube SinghoPW3ohandedooverotoopolice,ohisobloodstainedoshirt,oinoaosealedopacket, whichowasoseizedobyotheopolice,ovideorecoveryomemooEx.PO.

8.o TokhoRajoPW17ohadoalsooreceivedosomeoinjuriesoonohisopersonoin theooccurrence,oASIoOmoParkash,opreparedohisoinjuryoreportoEx.PBoandosent himoforomedicaloexamination.oDr.oSubeoSinghoPW3,oalsoomedico-legally examinedohimoandoinoMLRoEx.PC,onotedotheofollowingoinjuriesoonohis person:-

1.oAocontusionoandoswellingopresentoonotheorightohandoonodorsal aspectoofosizeo2oxo2ocm,otenderotootouch.oAdvisedoX-rayoright handoandoAPoandolateraloview.

3.oAocontusionopresentoonotheoleftoforearmoonotheomedicaloaspect ofosizeo1oxo1ocm,otenderotootouch,oreddishoinocolour.

3.oComplaintoofogeneralizedobodyoache.

9.o Dr.oRajeshoJainoPW4,oRadiologistoexaminedoShamsheroSinghoon theosameodayoi.e.o10.07.2003oandogaveohisoreportoEx.PH,ofindingoaofractureoof ndtheo2 ometacarpaloboneoofohisorightohand.oOnoitsobasis,oonopoliceoapplication Ex.PGodatedo03.09.2003,oDr.oSubeoSingh,oopinedothatosaidoinjuryoonothe personoofoShamsheroSingh,owasogrievousoinonatureovideohisoendorsement Ex.PG/1.

10.o SI/SHOoNarinderoSinghoPW15ovisitedotheositeoono10.07.2023oand conductedofurtheroinvestigation.oOno14.7.2003,oonotheobasisoofopriorosecret information,oSI/SHOoNarinderoSinghoPW15,oalongwithoASIoOmoParkash PW14,oASIoAjitoSinghoandoconstableoJaibir,oapprehendedotheotwooaccused persons,onearoaominoroculvertowhileotheyowereoonoaomotorcycleowhichowas beingodrivenobyoaccusedoKuldip,owhereas,oaccusedoRambirowasosittingoonoits ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5-pillionoseat.oTheomotorcycleowasotakenointoopoliceopossession,ovideomemo Ex.PU,oattestedobyoASIoOmoParkashoandoASIoAjitoSingh.

¶11Onointerrogation,obothotheoaccusedopersonsodisclosedoaboutotheir involvementoinoaonumberoofocriminalocases,oincludingotheoinstantocase.oItowas disclosedobyothemothatoaccusedoSumerohadoarrangedoaopistol,owhichowasogiven tooaccusedoRambiroandoaccusedoOmkarohadoarrangedoaocountryomadeopistol, whichowasogivenotooaccusedoKuldip.oTooexecuteotheiroplan,otheyowereosentoto theoclinicoofoDr.PawanoKumar,oasoheodidonotopayotheodemandedoransom amount.oOnotheobasisoofotheseostatements,ooffenceopunishableounderoSection 120-BoofoIPCowasoadded.

¶12Onotheosameodayoi.e.o14.07.2003,oaccusedoRambiroandoKuldip alsoogototheirodisclosureostatementsorecordedoofferingotoogetotheosaidotwo weaponsorecordedofromoaoplaceonearoRaigarhoinoStateoofoUttaroPradesh.oOnothe next o day, o dated o 15.07.2003, o when, o in o pursuance o to o their o disclosure statements,otheopoliceowasotakingothemotoothatoplace,oonotheoway,onear RailwayoStationoofoRaigarh,otheyodisclosedothatoinofactotheirosaidodisclosure ndstatementsowereofalse.oRambirothenogotohiso2 odisclosureostatementoEx.PV, recordedotootheoeffectothatoheohadokeptoconcealedotheosaidopistoloinotheobackoof theooldoDharamshala,onearoDevioTemple,oKalanaur,owithinohisoexclusive knowledgeoandocouldogetotheosameorecovered.oAccusedoKuldeepoalsoogotohis nd2 o disclosureostatementoEx.PX,orecordedotootheoeffectothatoheohadokept concealedoaocountryomadeopistol,oalongowithocartridges,oinotheobackoofothe uninhabitedo'kotha'oofoIshwaroSingh,onearotheocremationogroundoofovillage Gudhanoandocouldogetotheosameorecovered.

¶13Onotheonextoday,odatedo16.07.2003,oinopursuantotootheirosaid subsequent o disclosureo statements,oaccused oRambiro goto recovered opistol ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6-Ex.P15oofo.32obore,owithofourocartridgesoEx.P16otooEx.P19.oSketchoEx.PV/1 ofotheorecoveredopistolowasopreparedoandotheoweaponowasotakenointoopolice possessionovideorecoveryomemooEx.PV/2,oshowingotheoplaceoinoroughosite planoEx.PV/3.oSimilarly,oaccusedoKuldeepoinopursuanceotoohisosubsequent disclosureostatement,ogotorecoveredocountryomadeopistoloEx.P2,owithofour cartridgesoEx.P3otooEx.P6,oofotheosameobore,ofromothatoplace.oSketchoofothe recoveredopistolowasopreparedoandotheoweaponotakenointoopoliceopossession, videorecoveryomemooEx.PX/2,oshowingotheoplaceoinoroughositeoplanoEx.PX/3. Bothotheodisclosureostatements,orecoveryomemosoandosketches,owereoduly attestedobyoASIoOmoParkashoandoC.oUdhamoSingh.

14.o Initially,oaccusedoSumeroandoOmkar,ocouldonotobeoarrested.oOn

06.08.2003oonogettingoinformationothatoaccusedoSumerowasoproducedobyothe policeoofoPoliceoStationoJhajjar,oatoBahadurgarh,oinosomeootherocase,oSHO NarinderoSinghoPW15,oreachedothereoandothenodulyoarrestedohimoinotheoinstant case.oAccusedoSumeroSingh,othenogaveohisostatementotootheopoliceodisclosing hisoinvolvementoinotheopresentocaseoandoshowedotheoplaceoofooccurrence whichowasoalreadyoinotheoknowledgeoofotheopolice.oHeoadmittedothatoaccused RambiroandoKuldeepowereosentobyohimoonotheosaidomotorcycleotootheoclinicoof theodoctorotoocommitotheooffence.oPistoloEx.P15ohadobeenostolenoandopistol Ex.P2,owasoprocuredobyohimofromotheoareaoofoAligarh.

¶15Ono02.09.2003,otheoaforesaidosealedoparceloofocountryomade pistoloEx.P2,owasoproducedobyoASIoOmoParkash,obeforeotheoArmoureroASIoSat NarainoPW7,owithopoliceoapplicationoEx.PK.oAfteroopeningotheosealedoparcel andopreparingoroughosketchoEx.PK/2oofotheoweapon,otheoarmoureroexaminedoit andotheocartridges.oHeogaveohisoreportoEx.PK/1othatotheopistolowasoinoworking conditionoandotheocartridgesoEx.P3otooEx.P6,owereoliveocartridges.oThereafter, ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7-heoreturnedotheosameotooASIoOmoParkash,oinoanotherosealedoparcel,owithohis ownoseal.

16.o AllotheoaforesaidosealedoparcelsoremainedoinosafeocustodyoofoHC MahabiroSinghoPW16,oandowereodulyosentotooFSL,oMadhuban,othrough C.RamdharioPW13.oFSLoreportoEx.PY,owasoreceived,otootheoeffectothatopistol Ex.oP15,orecoveredofromoaccusedoRambir,owasoaofirearm,owithinotheomeaning ofotheoArmsoAct,o1954oandoitsofiringomechanismowasoinoworkingoorder.oTwo firedocartridgeocasesoandooneobulletoliftedofromotheospotoandosentotooFSL,owere alsoofoundotoohaveobeenofiredofromothisopistol.oHumanobloodowasoalsoofound onotheoshirtoofoShamsheroSinghoandoalsooinotheobloodstainedoearthopickedoup fromotheospot.

17.o OnoobtainingosanctionsoEx.PAoandoEx.PA/1,oofotheoDistrict Magistrate,oforotheotrialoofoaccusedoRambiroandoKuldeep,ounderoSectiono25oof ArmsoAct;ogettingotheoscaledositeoplanoEx.PJodatedo29.08.2003opreparedofrom officialodraftsmanoC.SamitoKumaroPW6oandoalsooafterocompletionoofoother necessaryoinvestigations,oaccusedoRambir,oKuldeepoandoSumerowereoduly challanedobyoSHOoNarinderoSingh,oasobyothatotimeoaccusedoOmkarocouldonot beoarrested.oAccusedoOmkarowasoarrestedolateroono21.08.2003.oDuring interrogation,oheodisclosedotootheopoliceoregardingohisoinvolvementoinoa numberoofocriminalocasesoincludingotheopresentocaseoandosubsequently, supplementaryochallanoagainstohimowasoalsoosentobyoSHOoNarinderoSingh PW15.

18.o Bothopoliceochallansowereocommittedoandodulyoconsolidated. AccusedoRambiroandoKuldipowereochargedoforooffencesopunishableounder Sectionso323oreadowithoSectiono34,o427,o452,o307oando120-BoofoIPCoandoalso underoSectiono25oofoArmsoAct.oAccusedoSumeroandoOmkarowereochargedofor ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8-offencesopunishableounderoSectionso307,oreadowithoSectiono120-BoofoIPCoand underoSectiono323oreadowithoSectiono34oofoIPC.oAllotheoaccusedopersonsodid notopleadoguiltyotootheochargesoandoclaimedotrial.

19.o Inoorderotooproveotheocharges,otheoprosecutionoexaminedoasomany aso17owitnesses,onamelyoRamoBhagatoPW1oReaderotooDistrictoMagistrate, Rohtak;oSumeroSinghoRecordoKeeperoPGIMSoPW2;oDr.oSubeoSinghoPW3; Dr.RajeshoJainoPW4;oDr.oGulshanoGulyanioPW5;oofficialodraftsmanoC.Sumit KumaroPW6;oArmoureroASIoSatoNarainoPW7;ocomplainantoandoinjured ShamsheroSinghoPW8;oDr.PawanoKumaroPW9;oRajbiroKashyapoPW10; C.Ram o Niwas o PWI; o official o photographer o C.Pawan o Kumar o PW12; C.RamdharioPW13;oASIoOmoParkashoPW14;oSI/SHOoNarenderoSinghoPW15; HCoMahabiroSinghoPW16oandoTokhoRajoPW17.

20.o RamoBhagatoPW1,oReaderotooDistrictoMagistrate,oRohtakobrought onorecordosanctionsoEx.PAoandoEx.PA/1oofotheoDistrictoMagistrateoforotheotrial ofoaccusedoRambiroandoKuldip,oforotheooffencesopunishableounderoSectiono25 ofoArmsoAct.

21.o SumeroSingh,oRecordoKeeperoPGIMS,oRohtakoPW2oplacedoon recordotheomedicalotreatmentofileoofoPW8-ShamsheroSinghoasoperowhichohe hadoreceivedobulletoinjuriesoandoconsequentialofractureoofotheorightohand.

22.o Dr.oSubeoSinghoPW3oprovedoMLRoEx.PD,oforotheoinjuriesoupon theopersonoofocomplainantoShamsheroSinghoPW8,osendingo'ruqa'oEx.PEotoothe policeoinformingoaboutohisomedicaloexaminationoinotheohospitaloandohis subsequentomedicaloopinionoEx.PG/1,ogivenotootheopoliceothatoinjuryoonothe personoofoShamsheroSingh,owasogrievousoinonature,obecauseoofofractureoofothe secondometacarpaloboneoofohisorightohandoandothatotheosaidoinjuryowasocaused byoaofirearmofiredofromocloseorange.oTheodoctoroalsooprovedotheoinjuriesoon ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9-theopersonoofoTokhoRajoPW17,oexaminedoonopoliceoapplicationoEx.PB.

23.o Dr.oRajeshoJainoPW4oprovedohisoreportoEx.PH,oregardingofracture inotheosecondometacarpaloboneoofotheorightohandoofoShamsheroSingh.

24.o Dr.oGulshanoGulyanioPW5ostatedoaboutotheomedicalotreatmentoof PW8-ShamsheroSinghoinotheohospital.

25.o C.oSumitoKumaroPW6odeposedoaboutotheoscaledositeoplanoEx.PJ, onotheopointingooutoofoDr.PawanoKumar.

26.o ASI o Sat o Narain o PW7 o Armourer o proved o the o mechanical examinationoreportoEx.PK/1oofocountryomadeopistoloEx.P2oandothreeolive cartridgesoproducedobeforeohimoinosealedoparcelobyoASIoOmoParkash.oTheosaid weaponowasofoundoinoworkingoorderoandotheocartridgesowereoalsoolive cartridges.

¶27ShamsheroSinghoPW8otheoinjuredofirstoinformantoprovedohisofirst informationoreportoEx.PL,ogivenotootheopolice.oHeotestifiedoasoperotheocaseoof theoprosecution.oHowever,oheodidonotoidentifyoaccusedoRambiroandoKuldipoin Court,ostatingothatoatotheotimeoofooccurrenceoitowasodark.

28.o SubsequentlyoDr.oPawanoKumaroPW9,oRajbiroKashyap,oAdvocate PW10oandoTokhoRajoPW17otestifiedoasoperotheocaseoofotheoprosecution,oasofar asotheooccurrenceoisoconcernedoandoasoregardsotheomotiveoi.e.odemandoof ransom.oDr.PawanoPW9oprovedohisoattestationouponorecoveryomemosoEx.PO andoEx.PO/1,ovideowhichotwoofiredocartridgeocasesoandooneobullet,oinoone sealedoparcel;obloodstainedoearthoandopiecesoofobrokenoglass,oinoanother sealedoparcel,owereoliftedofromotheospot,obyotheopolice.oTokhoRajoPW17oalso admittedohisosignaturesoonotheseorecoveryomemosobutoalsoostatedothatoatothat ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10-

¶29RamoNiwasoPW11ostatedothatoheohadohandedooveroaosealedoparcel ono10.7.2003otooASIoOmoParkash,owhichowasogivenotoohim,obyotheodoctor afteromedicaloexaminationoofoShamsheroSingh.oTheosameowasotakenointo policeopossessionovideorecoveryomemooEx.PO.

30.o PhotographeroPawanoKumaroPW12otestifiedowithoregardotoothe photographsoEx.P7otooEx.P10.

31.o EvidenceoofoC.oRamdharioPW13oandoMHCoMahabiroSinghoPW16 wasoalsooformaloinonature.

32.o ASIoOmoParkashoPW14oandoSI/SHOoNarenderoSinghoPW15 testifiedoaboutotheodifferentofactsoofoinvestigations.o

33.o Allotheoaccusedopersonsoinotheirorespectiveostatementsounder Sectiono313oofoCr.P.C.odeniedotheoincriminatingocircumstancesoappearing againstothemoinoevidenceoandopleadedoinnocence.o

¶34Basedoonotheoevidenceoled,owhileoaccusedoSumeroandoOmkar wereoacquittedoRambiroandoKuldipocameotoobeoconvictedoandosentencedoby theoCourtoofoAddl.oSessionsoJudge,oRohtakovideojudgmentoandoorderoof sentenceodatedo30.01.2004oasounder:-Convicts Offence Sentence Fine RI/SI o in under RI/SI default o of Section payment o of fine Rambiro 307/34oIPC Imprisonment Rs.20,000/-RI o for o 03 forolife years 427/34oIPC RIoforo01oyear Rs.1000/-RI o for o 03 months 452oIPC RIoforo03oyears Rs.3000/-RI o for o 09 months 323/34oIPC RI o for o 06 Rs.500/-RI o for o 01 months month 25oofoArms RIoforo03oyears Rs.3000/-RI o for o 09 Act months Allotheosentencesowereoorderedotoorunoconcurrently Kuldip 25oofoArms RIoforo03oyears Rs.3000/-RI o for o 09 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11-

¶35Itoisotheoaforementionedojudgment,owhichoisounderochallenge,oin theopresentoappeals.

¶36Theolearnedocounseloforotheoappellantsocontendsothatotheofour materialowitnessesonamely,oPW8-ShamsheroSingh,oPW9-Dr.oPawanoKumar, PW10-RajbiroKashyapoandoPW17-TokhoRajohaveonotoidentifiedotheoaccused inoCourtoandohaveothusonotosupportedotheoprosecutionocase.oTheoFSLoreport regardingotheoweaponopurportedlyorecoveredofromoRambiromatchingowithothe firedopistolocartridgesocasesoandofiredobulletowouldonotofurtherotheocaseoofothe prosecutionoinotheoabsenceoofotheoaccusedobeingoidentifiedobyotheowitnesses. RelianceoisoplacedoonotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocase ofoPremoSinghoVersusoStateoofo(N.C.T.)oDelhi,o2010(1)oRCRo(Criminal)o608. Heofurtherocontendsothatoasoperotheoprosecutionocase,otheoaccusedohadoearlier demandedoransomofromoPW9-Dr.oPawanoKumaroandoasoheohadonotopaidothe sameotheopresentooccurrenceotookoplace.oForotheodemandooforansom,oFIR No.85odatedo14.06.2003oU/so385,o506oIPCoP.S.oKalanaurohadobeenoregistered againstotheoaccusedopersons.oInotheosaidocase,otheoaccusedohadobeenoacquitted videojudgmentodatedo05.03.2005opassedobyotheoCJM,oRohtak.oHeothus contendsothatotheoveryobasisoofotheoinstantoFIRowasotheoallegedodemandoof ransomoleadingotootheoregistrationoofoFIRoNo.85odatedo14.06.2003oU/so385, 506oIPCoP.S.oKalanauroinowhichotheoaccusedostandoacquitted.oHeotherefore, contendsothatotheoimpugnedojudgmentowasoliableotoobeosetoasideoandothe accused/appellantsobeoacquittedoofotheochargesoframedoagainstothem.o

¶37Onotheootherohand,otheolearnedoStateocounselocontendsothatothe accusedowereohabitualooffendersowithomultipleootherocasesoregisteredoagainst them.oInothisoscenariooitowasobutonaturaloforotheowitnessesonototoohave identifiedotheoassailantsoasotheoaccusedopresentoinoCourt.oThereowasonooreason ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12-forotheoInvestigatingoAgencyotoohaveofalselyoimplicateotheoaccused.oHe, therefore,ocontendsothatonoofaultocouldobeofoundowithotheowell-reasoned judgmentoofoconvictionopassedobyotheoAddl.oSessionsoJudge,oRohtakoandothe presentoappealsowereoliableotoobeodismissed.

¶38Weohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandogone throughotheorecord.

¶39Asoperotheoprosecutionocase,oaofewodaysopriorotootheooccurrence theoaccusedohadodemandedoaoransomoamountofromoDr.oPawanoKumaroleading tootheoregistrationoofoFIRoNo.85odatedo14.06.2003oU/so385,o506oIPCoP.S. Kalanaur.oLater,otheoinstantooccurrenceotookoplaceowhereinotheoaccusedoare statedotoohaveofiredouponotheocomplainantoparty.oDuringotheocourseoofotheotrial allotheomaterialowitnessesowhileoadmittingotheofactumoofooccurrenceohaving takenoplaceodidonotoidentifyoanyoofotheoaccusedopersons.oItowouldobeorelevant toomentionohereothatoinoFIRoNo.85odatedo14.06.2003oU/so385,o506oIPCoP.S. Kalanaurotheoaccusedostandoacquittedovideojudgmentodatedo05.03.2005opassed byotheoCJM,oRohtak.oTherefore,otheoveryobasisoforotheocommissionoofothe instantooffenceobecomesodoubtful.

¶40Further,otheoaccusedohaveonotobeenoidentifiedoasotheoassailantsoby anyoofotheoeyewitnessesoinoCourt.o

¶41AsoregardsotheoFSLoreportoasoperowhichotheoweaponorecovered fromoaccusedoRambiromatchedowithotheofiredopistolocartridgesoandofired bullet,otheosaidomatchingowouldonotofurtherotheocaseoofotheoprosecutionoinothe absence o of o the o accused o identified o by o the o eye-witnesses. o In o similar circumstancesotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoInoPremoSingho(supra)oheldoas under:- "3.oBackgroundofactsoinoaonutshelloareoasofollowso: ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13-Preetam Pyare had agreed to purchase a plot from Prem Singh and Sunder Lal and had paid Rs. 2000/& as earnest money to them. They, after accepting this earnest money, did not sell the plot to Preetam Pyare and had sold it to someone else and when Preetam Pyare demanded back his earnest money, they refused to return it. On 25.12.1992 at about 10.30 p.m. Prem Singh, Sunder Lal and Kakoo, came to the house of Preetam Pyare and took him away saying that they will return his earnest money. Preetam Pyare and his two sons Bhusan Lal and Kamal Kishore came along with them for having talks on the return of money and they reached in front of H.No. 407&D, while talking. The wife of Preetam Pyare, Smt. Shanti Devi also followed them and while they were talking, the talks became uncordial and abuses were hurled. Sunder Lal and Kakoo were having lathis in their hands and Sunder Lal exhorted them to beat them. On this Prem Singh took out a revolver and shot him in his chest. He also shot at Bhushan Lal S/o Preetam Pyare, in his chest saying that, this is the way to return the money. Kakoo and Sunder Lal had beaten Kamal Kishore, the younger son of Preetam Pyare as a result of which he received injuries on his head. When Smt. Shanti Devi complainant, W/o Sh. Preetam Pyare raised an alarm, the accused persons ran away from the spot. The Mohalla people took the injured to the hospital. She then lodged a complaint with the police on the basis of which, rukka was sent and on the basis of which case under sectiono307/34oIndian Penal Code read with of Arms Act 1959 was registered against the accused persons. The MLC for the injured was obtained and the accused persons were arrested. The revolver and the recovered bullet was seized and was sent for analysis to the CFSL and after completion of the formalities, the challan was filed in the court. As accused abjured guilt, trial was held, accused was convicted and sentence was imposed. Questioning correctness of the conviction and sentence as imposed the appellant filed an appeal. The primary stand of the appellant was that there was no evidence worth a name and even the so called injured witnesses refused to identify the assailant. The only evidence against the appellant was the alleged recovery of the pistol which was tested by the CFSL. It was found by CFSL that the bullet ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14-recovered from the body of the injured matched those test fired through the same pistol. The caliber also was the same. The High Court held that since pistol has been recovered from the appellant, he can be convicted under Sectiono307oIndian Penal Code. The High Court found that the appellant who was a non&political leader belonging to a National Political Party was a man of great means and he appeared to have terrorised witnesses. The High Court held but he could not tamper with scientific evidence. The scientific evidence connects his weapon with the crime. That being so the High Court held that the conviction was in order.

¶4In support of the appeal learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the conclusions of the High Court had clearly unsustainable. Merely because the appellant was the owner of the weapon that did not bring out a case under Sectiono307oIndian Penal Code so far as he is concerned, and in any event Section 27 has no application.

¶5Learned counsel for the respondent&State on the other hand supported the judgment.

6.oWe find that thisois a case where even the injured did not identify the appellant to be the person who had fired the short. Merely because he is the owner of the weapon that cannot be a ground to convict him in terms of Sectiono307oIndian Penal Code. Further, no question was put to the appellant in his examination under Sectiono313oof the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short the 'Code') regarding his purported role. The judgment of the High Court is clearly unsustainable and is set aside. The appellant is acquitted of the charges. The bail bonds executed to give effect to the order of bail passed by this Court on 15.2.2002 shall stand discharged. The appeal is allowed. Appeal allowed. (Emphasisosupplied) )'. The o pshot o of o the o afore"entioned o disc ssion o is o that o the prosec tionohasonoto+eenoa+leotooesta+lishoitsocaseo+eyondoreasona+leodo +t. Therefore,o#eofindoconsidera+leo"eritoinotheopresentoappeals.oTheosa"eoare accepted.oTheoi"p !nedoj d!"entodated o1(.(2.'(()opassedo+yotheoAddl. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CRA-D-204-DB-2004oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-15-SessionsoJudge,oRohtak.oisosetoasideoandotheoaccused/appellantsoareoacquitted ofotheochargesoframedoagainstothem. (JASJIToSINGHoBEDI) ooooooooo(GURVINDERoSINGHoGILL) JUDGE oJUDGE

11.07.2025 JITESHo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:-ooYes/No Whetheroreportable:- oooooooooYes/No