State of Haryana v. Yashpal

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CRA-D-772-DB-2014 Reserved on : 04.02.2026 Date of decision:06.03.2026

STATE OF HARYANA …. Appellant

Versus

YASHPAL …. Respondent

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GURVINDER SINGH GILL HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE RAMESH KUMARIo

Present : Ms.oSheenuoSura,oD.A.G.,oHaryana.

Mr. Aditya Yadav, Advocate with Mr. Viransh Ghawari, Mr. Atul Bhardwaj and Ms. Hemlata, Advocates for the respondent. ****

RAMESHoKUMARI, J.

¶1The instant appeal is filed by the State of Haryana aggrieved with the impugned judgment dated 09.05.2013 in case arising out of FIR No.71 dated 16.04.2012 registered under Sections 376 and 452 of IPC at Police Station Kosli, District Rewari vide which the respondent (hereinafter referred as accused) has been acquitted of charges for commission of aforesaid offences.

¶2The prosecution story against the accused is that prosecutrix PW-3 submitted an application Ex.P-3 on 16.04.2012 to PW-12 ASI Sunder Lal stating that on 15.04.2012 at about 8-8:30 PM, the members of her family had gone to their fields. She was alone at her house. Accused entered in her house. He forcibly caught her and took her to the bathroom in the

house of R family m (prosecutri away by p the family committed

¶3Pursuant t prosecutrix PW8 Dr. clothes an which was plan Ex.P prepared. was record arrested. underwear possession

¶4After pres and 452 o are as und

(i) CRA-D-772-DB-2014 Rampat. He forcibly had physic members returned home and

ix) was not there. She started pushing her mother. She raised a y to the spot. The victim thus d rape. to lodging of FIR Ex.P-1 by x was got medically examined. Suman Tanwar handed over nd vaginal swabs etc. to PW-12 s deposited with PW5 MHC/EAS -17 of place of occurrence and Statements of PW10 i.e. mothe ded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. O He was also medically exam r, sealed envelope and sampl n vide Ex.P-13.The samples in du sentation of challan and framing of IPC, prosecution examined 1 er:- PW3 prosecutrix herself ste narrated about the occurrence that on 15.04.2012 at about 8 her house, as her family mem harvesting and finding her alo

cal relations with her. When her her mother noticed that she searching for her. Accused ran alarm attracting the members of s alleged that the accused had PW-1 ASI Jai Bhagwan, the After her medical examination, the sealed parcels containing ASI Sunder Lal vide Ex. P-12 SI Bhagwan Das. The rough site d scaled site plan Ex.P-18 were er and father of the prosecutrix On 22.04.2012, the accused was mined. Parcel containing his le seal was taken into police ue course were sent to FSL. g of charges under Section 376 2 witnesses, whose testimonies epped into the witness box and e in detail and specifically stated 8:30PM, when she was alone in mbers had gone to the fields for one, accused took her to nearby r e n f d e , g e e x s s e s d d n r y

(ii) CRA-D-772-DB-2014 bathroom of Rampat. He g committed raped her. He also In the meantime, her mother pushed her and ran away. H She narrated about the incide also stated that when she w police met them on the way moved application Ex.P-3 to t CHC Nahar where she was m PW-10 mother of PW3 depo daughter and two sons are y that on 15.04.2012, at about 8 food. When she returned at she did not find her daughte went to the bath room of Ra and saw that accused Yashp wrong act with her daught accused fled away from th husband and her brother cam the accused but they were un narrated the entire story t committed rape after break Thereafter, they went to Polic bus stand Nahar where he application Ex. P-3 to the Po

agged her mouth and forcibly o gave elbow blows on her chest. r came on the spot and accused Her mother raised noise (alarm). ent to her family members. She was taken to police post Nahar, y near bus stand of Nahar. She the Police, Police brought her to medico-legally examined. osed that prosecutrix is her elder younger to her. She also alleged 8 PM, her daughter was cooking about 8:30 PM from the fields, er in the house. Thereafter, she ampat looking for her daughter pal @ Guddu was committing ter and upon seeking her, the e spot after pushing her. Her me on the spot and searched for nable to find him. Her daughter to her that the accused had king the string of her salwar. ce Station and Police met her at er daughter submitted written olice. She was with her daughter y . d . e , e o r d g , e r g e r r r d . t n r

(iii) CRA-D-772-DB-2014 when she was medically exa signatures on memo Ex.P containing clothes of PW3 pr swabs and sample seal and e were taken into possession by PW-12 ASI Sunder Lal con statement before the Court p was submitted to him o 15/16.04.2012 by the prosec with her parents. He sent r Kosli for registration of FIR with her parents to CHC N medically examined. After MLR was received by him.

As per his further testi handed over a parcel, an env memo Ex.P-12. He deposited seal with the MHC PS Kosli.

He also stated about v and preparation of site pla statements of the parents of th

PW-12 ASI Sunder La the accused medically exam Ex.P-5 pertaining to accused conducting medical examinat

amined. She also identified her P-12 vide which the parcel rosecutrix and sample of vaginal envelope containing documents y the Police. nducted investigation. He in his proved that the application P-3 on the intervening night of cutrix when she met him along ruqa Ex.P-15 to Police Station and took the prosecutrix along Nahar and got the prosecutrix r medico-legally examination, mony, PW8 Dr. Suman Tanwar velope, sample seal to him vide d the parcel, envelop and sample

visiting the place of occurrence an Ex.P-17. He recorded the he prosecutrix. al also deposed that he also got mined and collected the MLR d. He further deposed that after tion of accused, PW4 Dr. Suresh r l l s s

f g n g x , r e e e e t R r h

(iv) CRA-D-772-DB-2014 Kumar Kataria, handed ove underwear of accused, sealed memo Ex.P-13.

The parcel of lower of of the accused was produce recording of his statement a Ex.P-13, respectively. PW-8 Dr. Suman Tanwar, her affidavit Ex.P-9 in suppo also proved MLR Ex.P-10. opinion that possibility of sex She also exhibited salwar of t her affidavit Ex.P-9, she s medico-legally examined the injuries;-

¶1Big red colour contusion scapula and on midline colum about 15cm.x5cm.ly

¶2Local Examination; No Ex body organs. Salwar discharge hymen rupture No tenderness, liabia's admit tip of two finger e white colour discharge of

er to him a parcel containing d envelope and sample seal vide f the prosecutrix and underwear ed in the Court at the time of and exhibited vide Ex.P-11 and LMO. CHC, Nahar tendered ort of examination-in-chief and FSL report Ex.P-7 and gave xual assault cannot be ruled out. the prosecutrix vide Ex.P-11. In tated that on 16.04.2012, she prosecutrix and noted following on back right medin to of body over vertebral ying vertically. xt. injury, well developed is stained with white ed at 7'o clock position. were separated, vagina easily on P/V examined the tips of finger. g e r f d d d e . n e g o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6-

o PW8oDr.oSumanoTanwaroinoheroaffidavitoEx.P-9ostatedo thato sheo handedo overo too theo Policeo oneo sealedo parcelo containingo8osealoofoSTowhichoalsoohadobrownocolourosalwar,o twooswabs,otwooslides,opubicohairsoandoaosampleoofosealoando anothero sealedo envelopeo containingo MLRo ando ao lettero addressedotooFSLobearingo8osealoofoST.o

(v)l PW-4oDr.SureshoKumaroKatariaotenderedohisodulyosworno affidavito Ex.P-4o ino supporto ofo examination-in-chiefo ando provedoMLRoEx.P5oThisoaffidavitostatedothatoheomedicallyo examinedotheoaccusedoono22.04.2012oandoheogaveotheoopiniono thatothereoisonothingotoosuggestothatotheoaccusedoisonotocapableo ofo doingo sexualo intercourse.o Heo alsoo handedo overo oneo underwearobrownocolour,oforwardingoletteroandosampleosealo CSPotootheopolice.o

(vi)l PW-5oEASIoBhagwanoDassotenderedohisoaffidavitoEx.P-6oino supportoofoexaminationoinochief.oHeostatedoaboutodepositoofo caseopropertyowithohimoandothatoheohandedooverotheosameotoo PW-11oConstableoPritamoforodepositingotheosameowithoFSLo Madhuban.oo

(vii)l PW-11o HCo Pritamo Singho tenderedo hiso affidavito Ex.P-16o whereinoheostatedothatoono27.04.2012,oSHOohandedooverotoo himotheosampleoparcelsoofothisocaseoonotheodirectionoofoMHC,o heo depositedo theo sameo ono theo sameo dayo i.e.27.04.2012o ino officeoofoFSL,oMadhuban.oo o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7-

(viii)l PW-9o HCo Kishoreo Kumaro deposedo abouto gettingo theo prosecutrixo medicallyo examinedo ono 16.04.2012o ando aftero medicaloexamination,odoctorohandedooverotoohimotheoparcel,o sampleosealoandoenvelopeowhichoheohandedooverotooPW-12o ASIoSunderoLalovideomemooEx.P12.o

(ix)l PW1oASIoJaioBhagwanoprovedorecordingoofoFIRoEx.oP-1oono receipto ofo ano applicationo Ex.P-3o ando thato heo madeo endorsementoEx.P-2oonoruqa.o

(x)l PW-7oConstableoAshokoKumarodeposedothatoheodeliveredo theo specialo reporto too Illaqao Magistrateo ando highero policeo officers.oo

(xi)l PW-6oDharampal,oDraftsmanoprovedotheoscaledositeoplano whichoheopreparesoonotheodirectionoofoPW-12oASIoSundero Lal.oo

(xii)l PW-2oSarvsukh,otheothenoSI/SHOo(sinceoretired)opreparedo reportounderoSectiono173oCr.P.C.oo

5.o Ono 11.01.2013,o prosecutiono closedo theo evidence.o Theo statemento ofo accusedounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.owasorecorded.oAccusedoopleadedodenialo ando claimedo falseo implication.o Accusedo examinedo threeo witnesseso ino defenceowhoseotestimoniesoareoasounder:o

(i)o DW-1oRampatowhoostatedothatoheoknowsoprosecutrixoandohiso fatheroandoaccusedoasotheyoareoco-villagers.oHeohadoseenositeo placeo Ex.P-8.o Heo iso theo ownero ofo theo property/bathroomo Mark-BoshownoinoEx.P-8.oHeoisoalsooowneroofotheoadjoiningo ploto showno ino theo siteo plan.o Heo furthero statedo thato onoo o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8-

15.04.2012,oheowasopresentoinotheoaboveomentionedoplotofromo

7.30oPMotoo9.00oPM.oNooincidenceotookoplaceoinobathroomo Mark-Boduringothatoperiodoandonoorapeoincidenceohadotakeno place.o

(ii)o DW-2oASIoAnandoKumaroproducedotheoattendanceoregistero stofoGenearloBranch,oDCP,oOffice,o1 oBattalian,oDelhi,oArmedo Police,oKingswayoCampoDelhi,opertainingotooaccusedowhereo heo waso postedo aso Constable.o Heo deposedo thato aso pero attendanceo record,o Constableo Yashpalo waso ono dutyo ono

15.04.2012.o Copyo ofo attendanceo registero pertainingo too

15.04.2012oisoexhibitedovideoDW2/A.oHeofurtherostatedothato electionoofoMunicipaloCorporationoofoDelhiowasoheldoino2012o andoinothatobackground,oallokindsoofoleavesoofopoliceoofficialso wereo stoppedo video lettero Ex.DW2/B,o fromo 08.04.2012o too

17.04.2012obyoDCP,oElectionoCell.oo

(iii)o oDW-3o Constableo Amito NO.4730-DAPo postedo ato ino theo stofficeoofoDCPo1 oBattalian,oDelhi,oArmedoPoliceoKingswayo CampoDelhi,ostatedothatotheoaccusedowasoinotheirobattalion.o Ono 15.04.2012,o heo alongo witho accusedo ando othero policeo officialso wereo ono reserveo dutyo regardingo too Electiono ofo Municipalo Corporationo ofo Delhio ando theyo wereo placedo ato KingwayoCampoOfficeoDelhi.oHeoandoaccusedohadoremainedo togethero fromo 9.30AMo too 6.30PM.o o Aftero duty,o heo ando o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9-

6.o Theo learnedo trialo Court,o upono consideringo theo evidenceo ledo beforeo it,o acquittedotheoaccusedoforotheooffencesounderoSectionso376,o452oIPC.o

7.o LearnedoStateocounselocontendedothatolearnedotrialoCourtocommittedoerroro inopassingojudgmentoofoacquittal.oLearnedotrialoCourtohasonotoappreciatedo theo evidence.o Theo prosecutiono provedo thato ono 15.04.2012o ato 8:30o PM,o accusedoenteredointooherohouseoandocommittedorape.oPW10omotheroofotheo prosecutrixoalsoosawotheoaccusedocommittingotheorapeoandorunningoawayo fromotheospot.oo o LearnedoStateocounselofurtherocontendedothatotheoallegationsooforapeo areocorroboratedobyomedicaloevidenceoasoPW8oDr.oSumanoTanwarowhoo hadomedico-legallyoexaminedotheoprosecutrixoandoprovedoMLRovideoEx.P-10,oandospecificallyostatedoinoheroaffidavitoEx.P-9othatothereowasoaobigoredo colourocontusionoonoherobackoandoalsooopinedothatopossibilityoofosexualo assaultocannotobeoruledoout.o o TheopleaoofoalibioofotheoaccusedothatoheowasoonodutyoatoDelhioono

15.04.2012,o iso disbelievedo byo learnedo trialo Courto ino parao No.28o ofo itso judgment.oAccusedodeservesotoobeoconvictedobutolearnedotrialoCourtotooko intoo considerationo theo minoro contradictionso ino theo statementso ofo prosecutionowitnesses.o o LearnedoStateocounselofurtherosubmittedothatotrialoCourtofailedotoo appreciateothatoDNAoprofilingowasogotodoneoatotheoinstanceoofoaccusedoando notobyoprosecutionoandomerelyoonotheobasisoofoDNAoprofileoreport,olearnedo trialoCourtocompletelyoswayedoitsodecisionoinofavouroofotheoaccusedoando learnedo trialo Courto alsoo failedo too assigno anyo reasono aso too whyo PW3o o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10-

prosecutrixoandoPW10omotheroofotheoprosecutrixowouldodeposeoagainstotheo accused.o

8.o Learnedodefenceocounselocontendedothatoaccusedowasofalselyoimplicatedoino thisocase.oHeoneveroindulgedoinoanyooffence,oinofact,oheowasoatohisoplaceoofo workoonotheofatefulodayotilloeveningoandotheoallegationsoofotheoprosecutiono areorebuttedofromotheoDNAoreporto01.03.2013oandoheoprayedoforodismissalo ofotheoappeal.o

9.o Itoisobasicoprincipleoofocriminalojurisprudenceothatoanoaccusedoisopresumedo too beo innocento unlesso provedo contraryo byo theo prosecutiono byo leadingo cogentoandoconvincingoevidence.oTheopresumptionoinofavouroofoaccusedoiso strengthenedobyojudgmentoofoacquittaloinohisofavour.oInitiallyopresumptiono existsothroughoutotheotrialoinofavouroofotheoaccusedoandoacquittalobyotheo Courto reinforces,o reaffirmso ando strengthenso thiso presumption.o Thus,o ano acquittalocreatesoao"doubleopresumption"oinofavouroofotheoaccused.o 9(a)o Forothisopurposeorelianceocanobeoplacedouponotheojudgmentorenderedobyotheo Hon'bleoApexoCourtoinocaseotitledoChandrappaoandoOrs.oVs.oStateoofo Karnataka,o[2007o(4)oSCCo415]oowhereinoafteroelaborateodiscussionoasotoo howo theo appellateo courto shouldo approacho theo ordero ofo acquittalo whileo exercisingoappellateojurisdiction,ocertainoprinciplesoregardingotheopowerso ofotheoappellateocourtotoobeoexercisedoagainstoanoorderoofoacquittal,owereo laidodown,o "(i)o Ano appellateo courto haso fullo powero too review,o re-appreciateoandoreconsiderotheoevidenceouponowhichotheoordero o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11-

(ii)o Theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973o putso noo limitation,orestrictionooroconditionoonoexerciseoofosuchopowero andoanoappellateocourtoonotheoevidenceobeforeoitomayoreacho itsoownoconclusion,obothoonoquestionsoofofactoandoofolawo

(iii)o Variouso expressions,o sucho as,o "substantialo ando compellingo reasons",o "goodo ando sufficiento grounds",o "veryo strongo circumstances",o "distortedo conclusions",o "glaringo mistakes",oetc.oareonotointendedotoocurtailoextensiveopowersoofo ano appellateo courto ino ano appealo againsto acquittal.o Sucho phraseologieso areo moreo ino theo natureo ofo "flourisheso ofo languageotooemphasisotheoreluctanceoofoanoappellateocourtotoo interfereowithoacquittalothanotoocurtailotheopoweroofotheocourto tooreviewotheoevidenceoandotoocomeotooitsoownoconclusion.o

(iv)oAnoappellateocourt,ohowever,omustobearoinomindothatoino caseoofoacquittal,othereoisodoubleopresumptionoinofavouroofo theo accused.o Firstly,o theo presumptiono ofo innocenceo iso availableotoohimounderotheofundamentaloprincipleoofocriminalo jurisprudenceo thato everyo persono shallo beo presumedo too beo innocentounlessoheoisoprovedoguiltyobyoaocompetentocourtoofo law.oSecondly,otheoaccusedohavingosecuredohisoacquittal,otheo presumptiono ofo hiso innocenceo iso furthero reinforced,o reaffirmedoandostrengthenedobyotheotrialocourt.o

(v)oIfotwooreasonableoconclusionsoareopossibleoonotheobasisoofo theo evidenceo ono record,o theo appellateo courto shouldo noto disturbotheofindingoofoacquittalorecordedobyotheotrialocourt."o o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12-

9(b)o TheojudgmentoinooChandrappa'socaseo(supra)ohasoalsoobeenoreferredooRajo PaloSinghovs.oRajveeroandoOrs,o2026(1)oRCRo(Criminal)o177oandoitohaso beenofurtheroobservedothat:oo "9.3oInoChandrappaoandoOthersov.oStateoofoKarnatakao[2007o

(4)oSCCo415),oApexoCourtolaidodownoonotheoscopeoofopowerso ofotheoappellateocourtotoore-appreciate,oreviewoororeconsidero theoevidenceoandointerfereowithotheoacquittal.oItowasoheldothato whereotwooviewsoareopossibleoonotheoevidenceoonorecord,ooneo takenoinofavouroofotheoaccusedoacquittingohimoshouldonotobeo disturbedobyotheoAppellateoCourt.oInothatocase,otheotrialoCourto hadogivenotheobenefitoofodoubtotootheoaccusedofindingothatotheo prosecutionohado noto examinedo theo materialo witnesses,o thato theo testimonyo ofo theo witnesseso waso unreliableo ando inconsistent,o thato theo prosecutiono storyo waso unnaturalo ando thatotheoknifeoproducedobeforeotheoCourtoasomuddamaloarticleo wasonototheosameowhichowasousedobyotheoaccusedoinoinflictingo injurieso etc.o Thereo wereo alsoo othero circumstanceso whicho createdodoubtoaboutotheoprosecutionostory.oThisoCourtoheldo thato theo Higho Courto waso ino erroro ino interferingo witho theo possibleoviewotakenobyotheoTrialoCourtoonotheoevidenceoando theoreversaloofotheoorderoofoacquittalobyotheoHighoCourtowaso notojustified."o o9(c)o InoRajoPaloSingh'socaseo(supra),oitoisoalsooobservedothat:-o "9.oItoisowellosettledothatotheoguiltoofotheoaccusedoandotheo commissiono ofo theo offenceo byo theo accusedo haveo too beo o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13-

establishedo beyondo reasonableo doubt.o Theo circumstanceso shouldosuggesto"mustooroshould"oandonoto"mayobe".oItowaso statedobyothisoCourtoinoShivajioSahabraooBobadeov.oStateoofo Maharashtrao [1973o (2)o SCCo 793],o thato theo distinctiono betweeno"mayobeoproved"oando"mustobeoproved"oisonotooneoofo mereogrammatical,obutoitoisoaolegalodistinction.o

9.1oInoShivaji,otheoCourtoobserved,o "Certainly,oitoisoaoprimaryoprincipleothatotheoaccusedomustobeo andonotomerelyomayobeoguiltyobeforeoaocourtocanoconvictoando theomentalodistanceobetweeno'mayobe'oando'mustobe'oisolongo andodividesovagueoconjecturesofromosureoconclusions.."o

9.2o Ito iso ao well-settledo principleo enunciatedo byo serieso ofo judgmentsoofothisoCourtothatothereomustoexisto"substantialoando compellingoreasons"otooupsetotheoacquittal.oOnceotheocourto acquitso theo accused,o theo presumptiono ofo innocenceo iso reinforced.o Thereafter,o theo interferenceo byo theo appellateo courtowouldobeominimaloandohasotoobeoguidedobyostrongoando cogentoreasons.oReversaloofoacquittaloshouldonotobeoaomattero ofo courseo justo becauseo theo othero viewo iso consideredo toobeo possibleo byo theo appellateo court.o Eveno wheno theo appellateo courto re-appreciateso theo evidenceo whileo dealingo witho theo judgmentoandoorderoofoacquittal,otheoinnocenceoattributedotoo theoaccusedoacquittedofromotheochargesoofooffencesowouldobeo aoweightyorebuttableofactor."o o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14-

9(d)o Inotheolightoofotheseosettledoprinciples,oitoisotoobeoscrutinizedowhetherotheo judgmentoofoacquittaloinofavouroofoaccusedoisotoobeoreversedooronot.oItoiso alsoo fundamentalo principleo ofo criminalo jurisprudenceo thato defenceo witnesseso examinedo byo theo accusedo haveo sameo credibilityo aso theo prosecutiono witnesses.o Theo defenceo evidenceo cannoto beo doubtedo oro disbelievedosimplyobecauseoitoisobroughtoonorecordobyotheoaccused.oTheo defenceo evidenceo iso legallyo entitledo too sameo respect,o treatmento ando evolutionoofocredibilityoasoprosecutionoevidence.oTheodefenceoevidenceo cannotobeoautomaticallyorejected.oNoroanyopreferentialotreatmentocanobeo givenotooprosecutionoevidenceoasotheogoaloofotheoCourtoisotoounearthotheo truthoratherothanotheosoleopurposeoofoconvictionoofoaccusedobyojustorelyingo upono theo prosecutiono witnesses.o Thus,o theo defenceo evidenceo cannotobeo discardedosimplyobecauseoitowasobroughtoonorecordobyotheoaccused.oBotho prosecutionoandodefenceoevidenceoareosubjectedotoosameoleveloofoscrutinyo toodetermineoifotheofactobroughtoonorecordobyoeitheropartyoisotruthfuloando reliable.o Ifo theo defenceo evidenceo broughto ono recordo byo theo accusedo iso foundo reliable,o thato evidenceo cano beo usedo too rebuto oro discredito theo prosecution'socase.oo 9(e).o Inotheopresentocase,oFSLoReportoEx.P-7oreflectsothatohumanosemenowaso detectedoonoEx.1-ao(salwaroEx.P-11oofoprosecutrix)oandoEx.P-2o(underwearo ofoaccused),ohowever,onoosemenowasodetectedoonotheorestoofotheoexhibitso i.e.oonotwoocottonowooloswabsoonosticksostatedoasovaginaloswabsobutotheo policeodidonotogetoanyoreportowhetherotheosemenoofotheseoexhibitsowereothato ofoaccusedobecauseotheobloodosampleoofotheoaccusedowasoneverocollectedo o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-15-

byo PW-4o Dr.o Suresho Kumaro Kataria,o whoo medicallyo examinedo theo accused.o 9(f).o TheoaccusedohimselfomovedoapplicationobeforeotheoCourtoofolearnedoSDJMo toogetotheoDNAoprofilingodoneotoodetermineowhetherotheohumanosemeno detectedoonotheosalwaroandounderwearowasothatoofohimooronoto?oOnotheo basisoofothisoapplication,otheoaccusedowasotakenotooFSLoMadhubanoforo takingo sampleo ofo hiso bloodo foro DNAo profiling.o DNAo reporto datedo

01.03.2013ostatesothatotheoallelicopatternoofoitemoNo.1oi.e.osalwaroofotheo prosecutrixodidonotomatchowithotheoallelicopatternoofoitemoNo.12oi.eotheo bloodosampleoofoaccused.oThisofactoisonotedobyolearnedotrialoCourtoinoparao No.22o(viiioandoix)oofotheoimpugnedojudgment.o 9(g).o Soofaroasotheolegalopositionoinorespectoofoevidentiaryovalueotoobeogivenotoo theoDNAoreportoisoconcerned,oreferenceocanobeomadeohereotoodecisionobyo Hon'bleo theo Apexo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Anilo @o Anthonyo Arikswamyo Josephov.oStateoMaharashtraoMANU/SC/0124/2014:o(2014)o4oSCCo69,oino whichoitowasoobservedoinoparagrapho18oasounder:o

18.oDeoxyribonucleicoacid,ooroDNA,oisoaomoleculeothato encodeso theo genetico informationo ino allo livingo organisms.oDNAogenotypeocanobeoobtainedofromoanyo biologicalomaterialosuchoasobone,oblood,osemen,osaliva,o hairoskin,oetc.oNow,oforoseveraloyears,oDNAoprofileohaso alsoo showno ao tremendouso impacto ono forensico investigation.o Generally,o wheno DNAo profileo ofo ao sampleofoundoatotheosceneoofocrimeomatchesowithotheo DNAo profileo ofo theo suspect,o ito cano generallyo beo o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-16-

concludedo thato botho theo sampleso haveo theo sameo biologicaloorigin.o DNAo profileoisovalidoandoreliable,o buto varianceo ino ao particularo resulto dependso ono theo qualityo controlo ando qualityo procedureo ino theo laboratory".o 9(h).o Ino theo presento case,o aftero FSLo reporto Ex.o P-7,o theo accusedo movedo applicationoforoDNAoprofilingoandouponotheoorderoofotheoCourt,ohisobloodo sampleowasotakenobyoFSLoMadhuban.oThus,osoofaroasotheointegrityoofohiso bloodo sampleo ando integrityo ofo theo salwaro Ex.o P-11o aso sampleo iso noto questionable.oThereoisonooreasonoforonoto relyingouponotheoDNAoreporto regardingo theo DNAo profilingo ofo theo bloodo ofo accusedo witho theo semeno foundoonotheosalwaroEx.P-11oofoPW3oprosecutrix.oAsotheoDNAoofotheo semenoonotheosalwaroEx.P-11oofotheoprosecutionowasofoundonotomatchingo withotheobloodoofotheoaccusedoandosinceoDNAoreportoisovalidoandoreliableo pieceo ofo evidence,o learnedo trialo Courto committedo noo irregularityo oro illegalityotoomakeothisoreportoasooneoofotheobasis/reasoningoforoitsojudgmento ofoacquittalo 9(i).o Besideso this,o learnedo trialo Courto alsoo notedo theo discrepancieso ino theo statementoofotheoprosecutrixoandoheromotheroPW-10otoodisbelieveotheiro testimonies.oTheseodiscrepanciesoareoasounder:-o

(i)ooo oPW3oprosecutrixostatedothatoaccusedokeptoheromoutho clubbedowithohisohandothroughoutotheooccurrenceoando asosuch,osheocouldonotoraiseoalarm.oSheoalsoostatedothato accusedokeptohisohandoatoheromouthoevenowhenoaccusedo waso puttingo ofo hiso pant.o Learnedo trialo Courto rightlyo o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-17-

observedothatothisoversionoofotheoprosecutrixoisohardotoo believeo ando iso noto acceptableo aso theo sameo doeso noto appealotooaocommonosense.o

(ii)o LearnedotrialoCourtoalsoonotedothatotheohouseoofotheo prosecutrixoisosurroundedobyotheohouseoofoherouncleso andoprosecutrixofurtherostatedothatosheowasoaloneoatotheo timeoofoincidentowhenosheowasotakenobyotheoaccusedo fromoherohouseotoobathroomoofoRampatowhichoisoabouto 40-45o yardso away.o Learnedo trialo Courtorightlyo notedo thatowhenotheohouseoofotheoprosecutrixoisosurroundedo byo houseso ofo hero familyo members,o theno ito iso highlyo improbableo too takeo theo prosecutrixo too theo toileto ofo anotheropersonowithoutobeingonoticedobyotheoresidentso ofotheoadjoiningohouses.o

(iii)o Regardingotheoplaceoofooccurrence,oPW3oprosecutrixoino herocomplaintoEx.P-3oandoinoherotestimonyobeforeotheo Courto statedo thato theo incidento tooko placeo ino theo bathroomoofoRampatowhereas,osheoinformedoPW8oDr.o SumanoTanwarothatosheowasosexuallyoassaultedoatohero ownohouse.oPW8oDr.oSumanoTanwaroduringotheocrosso examinationoalsoostatedothatosheowasointimatedobyotheo prosecutrixo thato theo incidento hado takeno placeo ato hero house.oThus,othereoareotwooversionsoregardingotheoplaceo ofo occurrenceo disclosedo byo theo prosecutrixo ando thiso alsoomakesotheoprosecution'socaseohighlyodoubtful.o o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-18-

(iv)o AsoperotheoMLRoEx.oP-10,othereowasonooinjuryoonotheo privateopartsoandothereowasoonlyooneoinjuryoonotheobacko ofotheoprosecutrixoregardingowhichodoctorohadoopinedo thatotheopossibilityoofotheosaidoinjuryobeingo48ohourso oldo cannoto beo ruledo out.o Meaningo thereby,o theo saido injuryo couldo haveo beeno sufferedo byo theo prosecutrixo priorotootheooccurrenceoasotheomedicaloexaminationoofo PW3o waso conductedo withino 5o houseo ofo occurrence.o PW3oinoheroexaminationoinochiefooalsoodidonotodeposeo thatosheosufferedoinjuryoonoherobackoalthoughosheohaso statedothatoaccusedohadogivenoelbowoblowoonoherochest.o AsoperoMLRoEx.oP-10othereowasonooinjuryoonoherochest.o PW3o alsoo deposedo thato accusedo clubbedo hero moutho witho hiso hando throughouto theo occurrence.o Hado thato beenotheocase,othereowouldohaveobeenoswellingoorosomeo marko ofo injuryo ono hero face.o Theo testimonyo ofo prosecutrixothatosheowasoforciblyotakenofromoherohouseo too placeo ofo occurrenceo whicho waso ato ao distanceo ofo aroundo45ofeetofromoherohouseowasorightlyodisbelievedo byotheolearnedotrialoCourtobecauseothereowasonooinjuryo orodraggingomarksoonoherolegooroanyopartoofoherobody.o InostatementoEx.D1oofoPW10omotheroofoprosecutrix,o sheo hado statedo thato sheo hado noto seeno theo accusedo committingointercourseowithoherodaughteroandosheohado onlyoseenotheoaccusedocomingooutoofobathroom.oSooaso o CRA-D-772-DB-2014oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-19-

peroherostatementoEx.D1obeforeotheoPolice,otheoversiono oforapeoisonotocorroborated.o

(v)o oPW3o prosecutrixo ino hero examinationo ino chiefo alsoo statedo thato sheo hado giveno nailo biteo oro tootho biteo too accusedo duringo struggleo buto aso pero MLRo Ex.o P5o ofo accused,o thereo waso noo marko ono hiso body.o Thiso alsoo beliesotheostoryoofotheoprosecution.o 9(j)o oInoviewoofotheo DNAo reporto datedo01.03.2013othato negatesothatosemeno foundoonotheosalwaroEx.P-11oofoPW3owasothatoofoaccused,oandoinoviewoofo theo discrepancieso ando contradictionso notedo above,o learnedo trialo Courto rightlyorecordedoacquittaloofotheoaccused.o 9(k)o Inoviewoofoaboveodiscussion,oweodoonotofindoanyoillegalityooroirregularityoino theoimpugnedojudgment.oo Consequently,otheoappealofailsoandoisoherebyodismissed.o o o (GURVINDERoSINGHoGILL)o o (RAMESHoKUMARI)o oooooooooooooooooJUDGEooo o o oooJUDGEo o

06.03.2026oooo o o o ????????o Whether speaking/reasoned:  Yes/No.