Vikramjit Singh @ Vicky v. State of Punjab

CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -1-o InotheoHighoCourtoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoatoChandigarho o o o o o o o o o o CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)oo o o o o o Reservedoon:o24.4.2023o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o02.5.2023o o VikramjitoSingho@oVickyo o o o o o ......Appellanto o o Versuso o StateoofoPunjabo o o o o o o ooooooo......Respondento o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSURESHWARoTHAKURo ooooooooooooooooooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoKULDEEPoTIWARIoo oo Present:o Dr.oAnmoloRattanoSinghoSidhu,oSr.oAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oRaghavoGulati,oAdvocateo o o forotheoappellant.o o o o Ms.oMonikaoJalota,oSr.oDAG,oPunjab.o o o o o oooooooo****o o SURESHWARoTHAKUR,oJ.oo

1.o o Theoinstantoappealoisodirectedoagainstotheoimpugnedoverdict,oaso madeo ono 20.10.2018,o upono Sessionso Caseo No.o 182o ofo 27.7.2011,o byo theo learnedoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oAmritsar,owherebyoinorespectoofochargeso drawnoagainstotheoaccusedoquaooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso302,o307o ofotheoIPC,oand,ounderoSectiono27oofotheoArmsoAct,o1959,otheolearnedotrialo Judgeo concerned,o proceededo too recordo ao findingo ofo convictiono againsto accused-appellanto Vikramjito Singho @o Vicky.o However,o theo othero co-accused,onamely,oGurpreetoSingh,owasoorderedotoobeoacquittedoofotheochargeso framedoagainstohimoquaotheooffenceso(supra).oMoreover,othroughoaoseparateo sentencingoorderoofoevenodate,otheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,osentencedo theo convicto too undergoo rigorouso imprisonmento foro life,o foro ano offenceo punishableounderoSectiono302oIPC,obesidesoalsooimposed,ouponotheoconvicto sentenceoofofine,oasocomprisedoinoaosumoofoRs.o20,000/-,oand,oinodefaultoofo 2023.05.02 16:57 paymento ofo fineo amount,o heo sentencedo theo convicto too undergoo rigorouso CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -2-o imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofooneoyear.oMoreover,otheolearnedoconvictingo Courtoalsoosentencedotheoconvictotooundergoorigorousoimprisonmentoforoao periodoofotenoyears,oforoanooffenceopunishableounderoSectiono307oofotheoIPC,o and,oalsooimposed,ouponohimotheosentenceoofofine,oasocomprisedoinoaosumoofo Rs.o20,000/-,obesidesoinodefaultoofopaymentoofofineoamount,oitosentencedotheo convictotooundergoorigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofooneoyear.ooFurther,o theo learnedo trialo Judgeo concerned,o alsoo sentencedo theo convicto too undergoo rigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofothreeoyears,oforoanooffenceopunishableo underoSectiono27oofotheoArmsoAct,o1959,oand,oalsooimposed,ouponohimotheo sentenceoofofine,oasocomprisedoinoaosumoofoooooooooooooooooooooooRs.o10,000/-,o besidesoinodefaultoofopaymentoofofineoamount,oheosentencedotheoconvictotoo undergoorigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofosixomonths.o

2.o o Allotheoaboveoimposedosentencesoofoimprisonment,owereoorderedo toorunoconcurrentlyobutotheoperiodoofodetentionoundergoneobyotheoconvict,o duringotheoinvestigations,oand,otrialoofotheocase,owas,oinotermsoofoSectiono428o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o rathero orderedo too beo seto offo fromo theo aboveo imposedo sentence(s)oofoimprisonment.ooFurther,oasoperotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono357o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o theo injuredo ando theo LRso ofo theo deceasedo wereo grantedo compensationoofoRs.o10,000/-oeach,oand,otheosameoamountowasoorderedotoobeo paidooutoofotheofineoimposedouponotheoconvict.o

3.o o Theoaccused-convictobecomesoaggrievedofromotheoaboveodrawno verdictoofoconviction,obesidesoalso,obecomesoaggrievedofromotheoconsequento therewitho sentence(s)o ofo imprisonment,o and,o ofo fineo aso becameo imposed,o uponohim,obyotheolearnedoconvictingoCourtoconcerned,oand,ohenceohasochoseno tooinstituteothereagainstotheoinstantocriminaloappeal,obeforeothisoCourt.o FactualoBackgroundo 2023.05.02 16:57 4.o o Theogenesisoofotheoprosecutionocaseobecomesoembodiedoinotheo CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -3-o appealoFIR,otoowhichoEx.oPW-15/Coisoassigned.oTheonarrationsocarriedoinoooooooooooooo Ex.oPW-15/Coare,othato03.03.2011.oSI/SHOowasopresentoatoPoliceoStation,o whereoheoreceivedocallofromoEscortoHospital,othatoKanwardeepoSinghosonoofo Ranjito Singhoando JiwanjotoSingho wereounderotreatmento dueo too fireoshots.o Theno SI/SHO,o alongo witho othero policeo officialso reachedo ato theo Escorto Hospital,o whereo brothero ando uncleo ofo Kanwardeepo Singho wereo present.o ComplainantoGurpinderoSingh,owhoogotorecordedohisostatementotootheoeffecto thatoheoisoanoagriculturistobyoprofessionoandotheyowereotwoobrothers.oHeohado hisoyoungerobrotheroagedoabouto20oyearsoandoheowasostudyingoinoB.oComoIsto Year,oGuruoArjanoDevoKhalsaoCollege,oAmritsar.oOno03.03.2011,oBhogoofo AkhandoPath,owasotoobeoperformedoinohisocollege,oand,oatoabouto10:30oAM,o hisobrotheroKanwardeepoSinghoandohisofriendsoAmritpaloSinghoandoManpreeto Singho proceededo fromo theiro home.o Ato abouto 03:30o PMo Manpreeto Singho calledohimoonohisomobileothatohisobrotherowasogoingotoofaceofightoatoaddao(Buso Stand)oBundala.oHeoalongowithohisopaternalouncleoSukhwinderoSinghoreachedo ato bridgeo canal,o slightlyo aheado ofo Bundalao Adda,o heo sawo thato oneo Gopio residento ofo Ganowalo Havellian,o Karnio r/oo Nandeo Bundalao ando Vickyo ofo MahabalioClub,oTarnoTaranoandohisobrotherobutoheodoesonotoknowohisonameo ando4-5ounknownopersonsotoowhom,oheocanoidentifyoonobeingoproduced,owereo fightingowithohisobrother.oHisouncleotriedotoointerveneotoopreventothemofromo fighting.oButoinotheomeanwhile,oVickyoofoMahabalioClubotookooutotheopistolo fromounderohisobelt,oand,oopenedofireouponothem,oand,ooneobulletohitoonotheo chestoofohisobrotheroKanwardeepoSingh,oand,otwoobulletsowereohitoonoJiwanjoto Singh.oHeoandohisofatherostartedolookingoafterohisobrotheroKanwardeepoSingh.o Dueotooopenofire,oallotheopeopleoranoawayofromotheospot.oAfteroarrangingo vehicle,oKanwardeepoSinghowasotakenotooEscortoHospital,owhere,otheyocameo 2023.05.02 16:57 tooknowothatohisobrotheroKanwardeepoSinghohadodied.oTheoreasonobehindotheo CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -4-o enmityowasothatoAmritpaloSinghoresidentoofoBandalaohadoanoaffairowithooneo GurpreetoKaur,oforowhichoGopioandoVickyohadogrudge,oso,otheyokilledohiso brotheroKanwardeepoSinghoandoseverelyoinjuredoJiwanjotoSinghobyofiring.oo Ono theo basiso ofo thiso statemento ofo complainant,o theo presento FIRo waso registered.oInvestigationoofotheocaseowasorolledointoomotion.oo Investigationoproceedingso

5.o o Duringo investigation,o Formo No.o 25.35,o and,o siteo plano wereo prepared.oForogettingoconductedotheopostmortemoofotheodeadobody,onecessaryo papersowereohandedooverotooofficialoandotheodeadobodyowasokeptoinomortuary.o D.S.P.ohasoalsooreachedotheospot,owhooalsooconductedotheoinvestigationoando twooofficialsowereodeputedoatotheoplaceoofooccurrence.oOneoswordo(Kirpan),o whichowasoleftobyopersonsoduringofight,owasorecoveredofromotheoplaceoofo occurrence.o Statementso ofo witnesseso wereo recorded.o Statemento ofo injuredo JiwanjotoSinghowasonotorecordedoasoheowasounconscious.oOno04.03.2011,o postmortemo ofo deceasedo Kanwardeepo Singho waso goto conductedo ando theno cameobackotooMedicaloCollege,oAmritsar,owhereooneoparceloofoclothesoalongo witho oneo plastico boxo containingo oneo bulleto bearingo sealo ofo doctor,o waso handedooverotoohim,owhichowasotakenointoopoliceopossessionovideorecoveryo memo.o Accusedo Vikramjito Singho @o Vickyo sono ofo Jogindero Singho waso arrestedoono05.03.2011oandofromohisopossessionooneo.32oboreorevolveroalongo withothreeocartridgesoandotwooemptiesowereorecovered.oOno06.03.2011,ooneo applicationo waso movedo too doctoro foro gettingo recordedo theo statemento ofo injuredoJiwanjotoSinghobutotheodoctorogaveoopinionoregardingounfitnessoofo injuredo too giveo anyo statement.o Thereafter,o Vikramjito Singho aso pero hiso disclosureostatementogotorecoveredotheolicenseoofo.32oboreorevolverofromohiso house.oOno09.03.2011,oaccusedoGurpreetoSingho@oGopiowasoarrested.oOno 2023.05.02 16:57 10.03.2011,oasoperodisclosureostatementomadeobyoaccusedoVikramjitoSingh,o CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -5-o heo goto recoveredo motorcycle,o whicho waso usedo duringo occurrence.o Aftero conclusionoofoinvestigations,otheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,oproceededo tooinstituteoaoreportounderoSectiono173oofotheoCr.P.C.,obeforeotheolearnedo committaloCourtoconcerned.oo CommittaloProceedingso

6.oo o oSinceotheooffencesounderoSectionso302/307oofotheoIPC,owereo exclusivelyo triableo byo theo Courto ofo Session,o thus,o theo learnedo committalo Courto concerned,o througho ao committalo ordero madeo ono 13.7.2011,o o henceo proceededotoocommitotheoaccusedotoofaceotrialobeforeotheoCourtoofoSession.o TrialoProceedingso

7.o o TheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,oafteroreceivingotheocaseoforo trial,o subsequento too itso becomingo committedo too him,o madeo ano objectiveo analysisoofotheoincriminatoryomaterial,oadducedobeforeohim.ooResultantly,oheo proceededo too drawo chargeso againsto theo accused,o foro offenceso punishableo underoSectionso302,o307oreadowithoSectiono34oofotheoIPC,oand,ounderoSectiono 27oofotheoArmsoAct,o1959.ooTheoaforeodrawnochargesowereoputotootheoaccused,o toowhichotheyopleadedonotoguilty,oand,oclaimedotrial.ooo

8.o o Ino proofo ofo itso case,o theo prosecutiono examinedo 17o witnesses,o and,othereafterotheoprosecutionoevidenceowasoclosedobyoanoappositeoorder.o Afterotheoclosureoofoprosecutionoevidence,otheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,o drewo proceedings,o undero Sectiono 313o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o buto thereins,o theo accusedopleadedoinnocence,oand,oclaimedofalseoimplication.oTheyoalsoochoseo tooadduceodefenceoevidence,oand,oledooneowitnessointootheowitnessobox.o

9.o o Asoaboveostated,otheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,oproceededotoo convictotheoaccusedoforotheochargeso(supra),oasobecameodrawnoagainstohim,o and,oalsooasoaboveostated,oproceededoto,oinotheohereinaboveomanner,oimposeo 2023.05.02 16:57 theosentence(s)oofoimprisonment,oasowelloasoofofine,ouponotheoconvict.o CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -6-o Submissionsoofotheolearnedocounseloforotheoappellanto

10.o o Theo learnedo counselo foro theo aggrievedo convict-appellanto haso arguedo beforeo thiso Court,o thato theo impugnedo verdicto ofo conviction,o and,o consequentotherewithoorderoofosentence,orequireoanointerference.oHeosupportso theo aboveo submissiono ono theo ground,o thato ito iso basedo ono ao grosso misappreciation,oand,onon-appreciationoofoevidenceogermaneotootheocharge.o SubmissionsoofotheolearnedoStateocounselo

11.o o Onotheootherohand,otheolearnedoStateocounselohasoarguedobeforeothiso Court,o thato theo verdicto ofo conviction,o and,o consequento therewitho sentence(s)o (supra),oasobecomeoimposedouponotheoconvict,oisowellomerited,oand,odoesonoto requireo anyo interference,o beingo madeo byo thiso Courto ino theo exerciseo ofo itso appellateo jurisdiction.o Therefore,o heo haso arguedo thato theo instanto appeal,o aso preferredobyotheoconvict,obeodismissed.o Post-mortemoreporto

12.o o PW-9,oDr.oKuldipoKumar,oonohisosteppingointootheowitnessobox,o hasodeposedothatoheomadeoanoautopsyoonotheobodyoofodeceasedoKanwardeepo Singh,oono4.3.2013,oato12.10oP.M.ooTheoanteomortemoinjuries,oasofoundoonotheo bodyoofotheodeceased,oareotestifiedobyohimotoobecomeocarriedoinotheopost-mortemo reporto Ex.oPW-9/Ao ando Ex.o PW-9/B,o and,otheosaido anteo mortemo injuriesoareoextractedohereinafter.o "Laceratedowoundo1.1oxoti.8ocm,oalmostocircularowasopresentoono theofrontoofochestoonoleftoside,o6.5ocmsoaboveoleftonippleoato11'Oo clockopositionoandoitsomarginsowereoinvertedoandoclottedobloodo wasopresent.ooBlackoringowasopresentoaroundotheowound."o

13.o o Heohasoalsoodeposedothatoaometallicoobjectoofobulletoshapeowaso lodgedo ino theo posterioro thoracico wall.o Furthermore,o heo has,o ino hiso examination-in-chief,o madeo articulationso thato allo theo injurieso wereo anteo ITHLESH KUMAR mortemoinonature,oand,otheocauseoofodemiseowasohaemorrhageoandoshock,oasoao CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -7-o resultoofofireoarmoinjury,owhichowasosufficientotoocauseodeathoinotheoordinaryo courseoofonature.o

14.o o Beo thato aso ito may,o merelyo ono theo basiso ofo theo depositiono ofooooooooooooooo PW-9,o whoo provedo theo post-mortemo report,o aso waso preparedo aftero hiso conductingoanoautopsyoonotheobodyoofotheodeceased,oisonotosufficientotoocoaxo thisoCourtotooupholdotheoverdictoofoconviction,oand,oconsequentotherewitho sentence(s)oofoimprisonment,oasobecameoimposedouponotheoconvict,obyotheo learnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned.o Reasonsoforosettingoasideotheoimpugnedoverdictoofoconvictionoando conse9uentotherewithosentence(s)oofoimprisonmentoasowelloasoofofine,oaso becameoimposedouponotheoconvictobyotheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned.o

15.o o Theo prosecutiono foro provingo theo charge,o drawno againsto theo accused,ohasoreliedouponotheodepositionoofotwoopurportedoocularowitnessesotoo theooccurrence,owhoorespectivelyosteppedointootheowitnessoboxoasoPW-1,oand,o PW-2.o o However,o ino theiro respectiveo examinations-in-chief,o theyo dido noto supportotheoprosecutionocase,oratherotheyoturnedohostile,oleavingotheoPublico Prosecutoroconcerned,otooaskoforoleaveobeingograntedotoohimotoomakeocross-examination(s),o upon,o theo aboveo purportedo ocularo witnesseso too theo occurrence.oSinceotheoaboveoleaveobecameogranted,obyotheolearnedotrialoJudgeo concerned,o too theo Publico Prosecutoro concerned,o resultantly,o theo Publico Prosecutoroconcerned,omadeoaogrillingocross-examination,ouponobothoPW-1,o and,oPW-2.oHowever,oevenoinotheoprocessoofotheirsobecomingosubjectedotooao grillingocross-examination,oratherobothoPW-1,oand,oPW-2ocompletelyodeniedo theirsomakingotheirorespectiveopreviousostatementsoinowritingotootheopoliceo officero concerned,o noro dido theyo makeo anyo affirmativeo answero too anyo incriminatoryoaffirmativeosuggestion,oasobecameoputotooeachoofothem,obyotheo PublicoProsecutoroconcerned.oConsequently,onoocapitalowasoamenableotoobeo I attest to the accuracy and rawnobyotheoprosecution,othusoonotheostatementsoofotheopurportedoocularo CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -8-o witnessesotootheooccurrence,owhoorespectivelyosteppedointootheowitnessoboxo asoPW-1,oand,oPW-2.ooContrarily,ogivenotheopurportedoocularowitnessesotootheo occurrenceoratherocompletelyoresilingofromotheirorespectivelyomadeopreviouso statementso ino writingo too theo policeo officero concerned,o thuso stemso ano inference,o thato therebyo theo prosecutiono haso beeno unableo too invinciblyo substantiate,otheocharge(s)odrawnoagainstotheoaccused.o

16.o o Beothatoasoitomay,oanoinjuredoocularowitnessotootheooccurrence,o wasoalsoocitedoasoaoprosecutionowitnessobyotheoprosecution.oTheosaidoinjured-eyeo witnesso steppedo intoo theo witnesso boxo aso PW-15.o Theo factumo ofo theo injuriesobecomingoentailed,oonotheopersonoofotheosaidoinjuredoeyeowitness,oiso though,osupportedobyotheodepositionoofoPW-14,owhoouponohisosteppingointoo theowitnessobox,ohasoprovenotheobedoheadoticketopreparedoinorespectoofotheo saidowitness,oand,otoowhichoEx.oP-13/Aobecameoassigned.oHowever,omerelyo uponoproofoofoinjuriesobecomingoentailed,ouponotheosaidoinjuredoeyeowitness,o thusonooimmenseoevidentiaryovigourocanobeoassignedotoohisodeposition.oTheo reasono foro discardingo theo testificationo ofo theo injuredo eyeo witness,o whoo steppedo intoo theo witnesso boxo aso PW-15,o becomeso planked,o upono theo hereinafteromadeoreasons.o

17.o o Theo injuredo eyeo witness,o duringo theo courseo ofo investigations,o beingomadeointootheocrimeoFIR,ohadomadeoaopreviousostatementotootheopoliceo officero concerned,o and,o too whicho Ex.o PW-14/A,o iso assigned.o Theo saido previouslyomadeostatementobyoPW-15otootheopoliceoofficeroconcerned,oisoado verbatimoextractedohereinafter.o "Statedo thato Io amo theo residento ofo theo aboveo mentionedo addresso ando preparingoforoIELTSoinoaoprivateocenteroatoRanioKaoBagh,oAmritsar.oOno everyo Masya,o I,o usedo too goo too payo obeisanceo ato Tarno Tarano Sahibo Gurudwara.oDueotoobeingobusyoonothisoMasya,oIoono03.03.11oono14"oday,oIo wasocomingobackotooJandialaoafterotakingobathofromoGurudwara,oTarno 2023.05.02 16:57 TaranoSahib.oOnotheoway,oonotheobridgeoofovillageoNone,osomeoboysowereo CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -9-o fighting.oDueotoohumanity,oIostoppedomyomotorcycleoandowasotryingotoo pacifyingothemofromofighting.oAtoabouto03:30-04:00oPM,o1olistenedovoiceo ofosomeoneoandoIoconcentratedotoothatovoice.oThatopersonowasowithomuffledo faceoandoheosaidotooshootomeobecauseoIoamotheopersonoofothatoparty.oIno betweenotheopersonowhoohavingogun,oshootedome.oIocanoidentifyothatovoiceo andofaceothoroughlyoifoheowasoproducedobeforeome,obecauseothatopersono waso facedo meo prioro somewhere.o Theo person,o whoo shootedo me,o Io cano identifyo him.o ifo heo waso producedo beforeo meo becauseo hiso faceo waso uncovered.oAfterohittingoofobulletoshot,oIobecameounconscious.oIodidonoto knowowhoogotomeoadmittedoinotheohospital.oAfterogainingoconsciousness,oIo cameotooknowothatoIowasoinohospital.oTillonow,omyotreatmentowasogoingoon.o Dueotoothis,oIowasomentalodistressoandobulletowasoinflictedoinomyochest,o Today,oono23.03.11,oIoamogettingorecordomyostatementowithoyouowithofullo consciousness.oStatementohasobeenogotorecorded,oheardoandofoundocorrecto andogotounderstand.oActionobeotakenoagainstotheoaccusedopersons."oo

18.o o Aoperusaloofotheoaboveostatement,odisclosesothatooneoJiwanjoto Singh,odidonotothereinsonameotheoaccused,oratherorevealedohisocapacityotoo identifyooneoaccused,o(hisofaceobeingomuffledoatotheorelevantotime),oratheroono theobasisoofohisoidentifyingohisovoice,oand/or,othatoheothereinostatedothatoheo couldoidentifyo theo accusedo concerned,o whoo firedo atohim,o aso hiso faceo waso uncovered.ooTherefore,ounlessotheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,oduringotheo courseoofohisocarryingoinvestigationsointootheocrimeoFIR,ohadoheldoaovalido identificationoparadeowithotheoparticipationothereinsoofoPW-15,othusotooenableo theo lattero too theno identifyo theo accusedo concerned,o especiallyo fromo theo respectiveovoice(s),oand,oface(s),othereuponotheoidentificationoofotheoaccusedo byoPW-15,oinoCourtowasobutoaofrail,oand,ouncreditworthyoidentificationoofotheo accused,obyotheosaidowitness.o

19.o o Aoreadingoofotheorecordsoreveals,othatotheosaidotestoidentificationo paradeo nevero becameo carriedo byo theo investigatingo officero concerned,o buto whicho participationo thereinso ofo PW-15.o Therefore,o PW-15o waso legallyo incapcitatedotooidentifyoforotheofirstotime,otheoaccusedoinoCourtowhichoyetoheo ratherodid.oTheoidentificationoofotheoaccusedoforotheofirstotimeobyoPW-15,o CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -10-o beforeotheotrialoCourt,othusowithoutopriorotheretooaovalidotestoidentification,o beingoheldobyotheoinvestigatingoofficeroconcerned,owithoparticipationothereinso ofo PW-15,o and,o witho hiso thereinso identifyingo theo accusedo concernedo respecitvelyofromohis/theirorespectiveovoice(s),oand,oface(s),oisobutoaolegallyo frailo oro legallyo uncreditworthyo identificationo ofo theo accusedo byo PW-15.oo Therefore,onooevidentiaryovigourocanobeoassignedothereto.o

20.o o Theoeffectoofotheoaboveoinference,oisothat,otheoprosecutionocaseo whichobecomesorested,ouponotheodepositionoofoPW-15,othusocannotosucceed,o norocanoonoanviloofotheodepositionoofoPW-15,otheochargeoagainstotheoaccused,o canobeoconstruedotoobecomeocogentlyoestablished.o SignaturedodisclosureostatementsoofoconvictoVikramjitoSingho@oVickyoando pursuantotheretoorecoveryomemoso

21.o o Duringotheocourseoofoinvestigations,obeingomadeointootheoappealo FIR,o convicto Vikramjito Singho @o Vickyo madeo ao signaturedo disclosureo statement,o too whicho Ex.o PW6/Bo iso assigned.o Theo signaturedo disclosureo statement,oasomadeobyotheoaccusedoisoadoverbatimoextractedohereinafter.o "xo xo xo xo Thatoono03.3.11,ouponowhichoPulsaromotorcycleoIocameofromoTarnoTaran,o thatomotorcycleohasobeenokeptoconcealobyomeoinomyohouseoatoTarnoTaran,o aboutowhomoIoknowoonlyoandoIocanogetothatorecoveredoonoidentification.oo Onothis,odisclosureomemooofoaccusedowasopreparedoandoaccusedoVikramjito Singhoputohisosignatures."o o

22.o o Duringotheocourseoofoinvestigations,oconvictoVikramjitoSingho@o Vickyomadeoanotherosignaturedodisclosureostatement,otoowhichoEx.oPW11/Ho isoassigned.oTheosignaturedodisclosureostatement,oasomadeobyotheoaccused,oiso adoverbatimoextractedohereinafter.o "xo xo xo xo o Thatotheorevolvero32oboreowhichoIohaveogivenoyouoisomineoandowasousedobyo meo ino ano incidento whicho iso ao licenceeo revolver.o Itso licenseo waso goto preparedo fromo DCo office,o Tarno Taran.o o Io haveo kepto concealo theo saido licenceoinotheobedroomoofomyohouseoandoaboutoitoIoknowoonly.ooIocanogetoito recoveredoonoidentification.ooOnothis,otheostatementoofoaccusedoVikramjito Singhowasorecordedoandoheosignedounderohisomemo"o o ITHLESH KUMAR 23.o o Pursuantotoohisoaboveosignaturedodisclosureostatements,oconvicto CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -11-o Vikramjito Singho @o Vickyo goto recoveredo oneo Pulsaro motoro cycleo bearingo registrationoNo.oPB-06-D-0338oofoblueocolour,oand,olicenceoofooneo.32oboreo revolver,owhichowereotakenointoopoliceopossession,othusorespectivelyothrougho recoveryomemosoEx.oPW6/CoandoEx.oPW11/I.oo

24.o o Duringo theo personalo searcho ofo appellanto Vikramjito Singho @o Vicky,ooneo.32oboreorevolverowasorecovered,oand,oafterounloadingotheosaido revolver,othreeoliveocartridgesowereorecovered.ooTheosaidorevolverowasotakeno intoopoliceopossessionothroughorecoveryomemooEx.oPW11/D.oo Noocredenceotootheodisclosureostatementsoofotheoaccusedoconcernedoino Ex.PW6/BoandoinoEx.PW11/H,oand,oalsootootheoconse9uentotherewitho recoveries,oasomadeothroughotheoappositeorecoveryomemoso o

25.o o Sinceo theo aboveo disclosureo statementso areo uncontrovertedlyo signaturedo byo theo convict,o aso such,o wheno heo haso obviouslyo neithero ablyo deniedohisosignatures,oasocarriedothereons,onorohasoprovenotheorelevantodenial,o thus,osanctityoisotoobeoassignedotootheodisclosureostatementsoofotheoaccused,otoo whicho respectivelyo Ex.o PW6/B,o and,o Ex.o PW11/H,o becomeso assigned.oo Moreover,othoughoinopursuanceotootheosaidodisclosureostatements,otheoaccusedo causedo theo recoveries,o too theo policeo officero concerned,o respectivelyo ofo ao motoro cycle,o and,o ofo theo licenceo o ofo .32o boreo revolver,o thuso respectivelyo througho recoveryo memoo Ex.o PW6/C,o and,o througho recoveryo memoo Ex.o PW11/I.ooHowever,oforotheoreasonsotoobeoassignedohereinafter,onoocredenceo cano beo yeto assignedo too theo aboveo disclosureo statements,o and,o alsoo too theo consequento therewitho recoveries,o aso becameo respectivelyo madeo througho recoveryomemosoEx.oPW6/C,oandoEx.oPW11/I.o

26.o o Theo primeo reasono foro makingo theo aboveo inference,o becomeso restedo upono theo factum,o thato theo anteo mortemo injuries,o whicho becomeo pronouncedoinotheopost-mortemoreport,orelateotooaofireoarmoinjury.oooMoreovero 2023.05.02 16:57 alsooPW-9,owhooprovedotheoposte-mortemoreporto(Ex.oPW-9/AoandoEx.oPW-CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -12-o 9/B),ohas,oinohisoexamination-in-chief,odeposedothatoaometallicoalikeoobjecto wasofoundoinotheobodyoofotheodeceased.ooTherefore,otheoweaponoofooffenceoiso theofireoarmoconcerned,owhichobecameorecoveredothroughorecoveryomemoo Ex.oPW11/I,obutoinopursuanceotootheodisclosureostatementoEx.oPW11/H,oaso becameomadeobyotheoaccusedotootheopoliceoofficeroconcerned.ooResultantly,o theoreportoofotheoballisticoexpertoisoofograveoimportance,oasoonly,oupon,otheo ballisticoexpertoopining,othatotheosaidorecoveredofireoarmowasousedoinotheo commissionoofotheooffence.oTherefore,othereuponoalone,oirrespectiveoofotheo purportedoocularowitnessesotootheooccurrence,oresilingofromotheiropreviouslyo madeo statementso ino writing,o too theo policeo officero concerned,o and,o alsoo irrespectiveo ofo thiso Courto thuso assigningo noo probativeo vigouro too theo depositiono ofo PW-15,o yeto rathero theo reporto ofo theo ballistico expert,o thuso makingocandidoechoings,oaboutotheorecoveredofireoarmothus,oasoaomatteroofo fact,o beingo theo weapono wherefrom,o theo fatalo bulleto becameo fired,o rathero wouldocompriseotheomostopotentoincriminatoryoevidenceoagainstotheoaccused.o However,oaoreadingoofotheoreportoofotheoballisticoexpert,oasocarriedoinopageo No.o271oofotheoloweroCourtorecords,orevealsothatonooconclusiveoopinionowaso madeo byo theo ballistico experto concerned,o witho respecto too leado bulleto marko CB/1o containedo ino parcelo 'D'o becomingo firedo fromo 0.32o incho revolvero bearingoNo.oN-5387.o

27.o o Therefore,otheoaboveoinconclusivityoofoopinionoaboutotheoleado bulletomarkoCB/1obecomingofiredofromotheorecoveredofireoarm,oleadsotooano inference,othatotheorecoveryoofoti.32oinchorevolver,obearingoNo.oN-5387,oaso madeo througho recoveryo memoo Ex.o PW11/I,o thus,o ino pursuanceo too theo disclosureostatementoEx.oPW11/H,owasobutoaorecoveryowhichoisonotorelated,o tootheocrimeoevent,onoroalsootheoaccusedocanobeoconclusivelyosaidotoomakeo 2023.05.02 16:57 useroofotheosaidorecoveredofireoarmoinohisocommittingotheofataloassault,oupon,o CRA-D-996-DB-2018o(O&M)o o o o o o o o -13-o deceasedoKanwardeepoSingh.ooThus,othereoisoaogrossomisappreciation,oand,o non-appreciationo ofo evidenceo germaneo too theo charge.o Therefore,o theo impugnedo verdicto ofo conviction,o and,o alsoo consequento therewitho ordero imposingosentence(s)oofoimprisonmentoasowelloasoofofine,oupon,otheoappellant,o bothoareorequiredotoobeoquashedoandosetoaside.o Finaloordero

28.o o Theoresultoofotheoaboveodiscussion,oisothat,othisoCourtofindsomerito inotheoappeal,oand,oisoconstrainedotooallowoit.ooConsequently,otheoappealoiso allowed.oTheoimpugnedojudgmentoconvicting,oand,oalsootheosentencingoorderoo imposedouponotheoaccused,othusobyotheolearnedotrialoJudgeoconcerned,oareo quashed,oand,osetoaside.oAppellantoVikramjitoSingho@oVickyoisoacquittedoofo theochargesoframedoagainstohim.ooTheofineoamount,oifoany,odepositedobyohim,o be,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,orefundedotoohim.oTheopersonal,oand,osuretyobondso ofotheoaccusedoshallostandoforthwithocancelled,oand,odischarged.ooTheocaseo propertyobeodealtowith,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,obutoafterotheoexpiryoofotheo periodoofolimitationoforotheofilingoofoanoappeal.ooTheoappellant,oifoinocustody,o and,oifonotorequiredoinoanyootherocase,obeoforthwithosetoatoliberty.oReleaseo warrantso beo preparedo accordinglyo byo theo Registryo ofo thiso Court,o and,o beo forthwithosentotootheoSuperintendentoofoJailoconcerned,owhereotheoconvictoiso undergoingodetention.o

29.o o Recordsobeosentodownoforthwith.o

30.o o Theomiscellaneousoapplication(s),oifoany,ois/are,oalsoodisposedo of.o o o o o o o o(SURESHWARoTHAKUR)o o o o oooooo o o o oooooJUDGEo o o o o o o o o o oooo(KULDEEPoTIWARI)o Mayo02,o2023o o o o o o oooooJUDGEo Gurpreet/Ithlesho 2023.05.02 16:57 Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo authenticity of this order/juWdgmheentheroreportableo o :o Yes/Noo