Bhupinder Singh v. Manjit Singh & Ors

o o o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o BhupinderoSingho ….Petitionero versuso o ManjitoSinghoandootherso ….Respondentso o o:oMayo07,o2026oReservedoon Mayo07,o2026 DateoofoPronouncement/Decision:oMayo11,o2026o DateoofoUploadingo:oMayo11,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oB.D.oSharma,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o NoneofororespondentsoNo.1otoo4.oo o o o Mr.oAdhirajoSinghoThind,oAAGoPunjab.o o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o o o o Presento Criminalo Revisiono Petitiono haso beeno filedo seekingo settingoasideoofotheoimpugnedoJudgmentodatedo21.02.2013opassedobyolearnedo Additionalo Chiefo Judicialo Magistrate,o Amritsaro (foro shorto 'trialo Court'),o whereby,orespondentsoNo.1otoo4owereoacquittedoofotheochargeoframedoagainsto themo byo givingo benefito ofo doubt;o ando theo impugnedo judgmento datedo

05.09.2014opassedobyolearnedoAdditionaloSessionsoCourt,oAmritsaro(foroshorto 'SessionsoCourt'),owhereby,oappealopreferredobyotheopetitionero–ocomplainanto againstotheoaforesaidojudgmentodatedo21.02.2013owasodismissed.oo

2.o o Factso pertinento foro adjudicationo areo thato theo petitioner,o beingo complainant,olodgedoanoFIRoNo.113odatedo11.08.2007,ounderoSectionso452/o o o o 2o o 325/o 324/o 323/o 34o ofo theo Indiano Penalo Code,o 1860o (foro shorto 'IPC'),o registeredoatoPoliceoStationoKathunangal.oInotheosaidoFIR,oitowasoallegedothato complainant,onamely,oBhupinderoSinghostatedothatoono05.08.2007,oheoalongo witho Ranjodho Singho waso proceedingo ono footo fromo theiro villageo towardso villageoNibarwind.oAtoabouto6:00oPM,oJasbiroSinghometothemooutsideotheo village.o Theyo requestedo himo too lendo hiso motorcycleo foro goingo too villageo Nibarwind,obutoheorefused.oThisoledotooaominoroaltercation,oafterowhichoJasbiro Singhoallegedlyoabusedothemoandowentobackotoohisohouse.oo o o Thereafter,oafterohavingodinner,otheocomplainantoandohisofamilyo membersowereosleepingoonocotsoinotheocourtyardoofotheirohouse,owhereoano electricobulbowasoilluminated.oAtoabouto11:30oPM,otheocomplainantowokeoupo onohearingosomeonoiseoandoallegedlyofoundoManjitoSinghoarmedowithoaodang,o SukhbiroSinghoarmedowithoaodang,oJasbiroSinghoarmedowithoanoironobar,oando Manioarmedowithoaokirpanostandingoinotheocourtyard.oo o o Ito iso allegedo thato Jasbiro Singho raisedo ao lalkarao exhortingo theo othersotooteachotheocomplainantoaolessonoforousingofilthyolanguageoagainsto them.o Thereupon,o Manio allegedlyo inflictedo ao kirpano blowo ono theo complainant'sohead.oJasbiroSinghoaliasoSabioallegedlyogaveoanoironobaroblowo onohisorightokneeoandoanotheroironobaroblowoonotheoleftosideoofohisoforehead,o causingohimotoofalloonotheoground.oThereafter,oManjitoSinghoallegedlyostrucko twoodangoblowsoonohisoleftoleg,owhileoSukhbiroSinghoaliasoBittuoallegedlyo inflictedothreeodangoblowsoonohisobackoandorightoshoulder.oo o o Ono hearingo theo hueo ando cry,o theo complainant'so fathero Piarao Singh,obrotheroGurmejoSinghoandowifeoParamjitoKauroreachedotheospotoando rescuedo himo fromo handso ofo theo accusedo persons.o Thereafter,o theo accusedo o o o 3o o allegedlyo fledo fromo theo spoto alongo witho theiro respectiveo weaponso aftero causingoinjuriesotootheocomplainant.oo

3.o o Aftero theo completiono ofo investigation,o challano waso presentedo andorespondentsoNo.1otoo4owereoputotootrial.ooTheolearnedotrialoCourt,oupono appreciationoofotheoevidenceoonorecordoasoalsootheosubmissionsoadvancedobyo theo rivalo parties,o acquittedo respondentso No.1o too 4,o video judgmento datedo

21.02.2013.oBeingoaggrievedobyotheosaidojudgmentoofoacquittal,otheopetitionero –o complainantohadopreferredo ano appealowhicho waso alsoodismissedobyo theo learnedoSessionsoCourtovideojudgmentodatedo05.09.2014,otherebyoaffirmingo theofindingsorecordedobyotheotrialoCourt.o

3.1.o o Theopetitionero–ocomplainant,oaggrievedobyotheofindingsoofobotho theoCourtsobelow,ohasonowoinvokedotheorevisionalojurisdictionoofothisoCourt,o seekingosettingoasideoofotheoaforesaidojudgmentsopassedobyotheolearnedotrialo CourtoasoalsooSessionsoCourt.oHowever,oitoisowell-settledolawothatotheoscopeo oforevisionoisolimitedoandodoesonotoentailore-appreciationoofoevidenceounlesso thereoisoaomanifestoillegalityooroaoseriousomiscarriageoofojustice.oo

4.o o Theopetitionoinohandoseeksotooimpugnotheojudgmentoofoacquittalo passedobyotheolearnedoCourtsobelow.oHowever,oSectiono401o(3)oofoCr.oP.C.,o 1973,o imposeso ano explicito statutoryo prohibitiono againsto theo Higho Courto convertingo ao findingo ofo acquittalo intoo ao convictiono ino exerciseo ofo itso revisionalo jurisdiction.o Theo issueo regardingo maintainability,o giveno thiso unequivocalostatusoembargo,owasodealtowithobyothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofo CRR-647-2023otitledoasoAjeetoSinghoversusoInderjeetoandoothers,odecidedoono

13.10.2025,owhereinoitowasoheldoasounder:o "7.1.o o Theo Higho Courto wieldso ao crucialo revisionalo jurisdictiono underoSectionso397oando401oofotheoCr.P.C./oSectionso438oando442oofotheo o o o 4o o BNSS.o Thiso jurisdictiono iso fundamentallyo supervisoryo ino nature,o empoweringo theo superioro courtso too scrutinizeo theo recordso ofo anyo subordinateocriminalocourt.oTheoprimaryoobjectiveothereofoisotooascertaino theocorrectness,olegality,ooroproprietyoofoanyofinding,osentence,ooroordero passedo byo theo subordinateo court,o ando too ensureo theo regularityo ofo itso proceedings.o Theo legislativeo designo behindo theseo provisionso iso too vesto broadopowersoinotheorevisionalocourt(s).oThisoexpansiveolanguageoreflectsoao clearo intentiono too establisho ano effectiveo mechanismo foro rectifyingo anyo manifestoerror,oillegality,ooroimproprietyothatomayo haveooccurredoinotheo proceedingsobeforeoaosubordinateocourt.oInoessence,orevisionalojurisdictiono servesoasoaovitaloavenueoforoanoaggrievedoindividualotooseekoredressoagainsto anoerroneousoorderooroproceedingoofoaosubordinateocourt.oHowever,oevenoino thiso broado granto ofo power,o theo legislature,o ino itso wisdom,o haso imposedo specific,ocircumscribedolimitations.oTheorevisionalojurisdiction,omucholikeoao carefullyo calibratedo instrument,o iso explicitlyo unavailableo againsto interlocutoryoordersoand,ocrucially,oagainstoordersowhichoareoappealableoino nature.Ao furthero restrictiono placedo upono theo exerciseo ofo sucho revisionalo jurisdictionobyotheoHighoCourtoisoenvisagedounderoSectiono401(3)oofoCr.o P.C.―tootheoextentothatoaofindingoofoacquittalocannotobeoconvertedointoothato ofo conviction―therebyo renderingo theo petitionso ino hando aso non-maintainableoinotheopresentoform.oo

7.2.o o Pertinently,o theo petitionso ino handpreferredo byo theo complainantolayingochallengeotootheoacquittaloareogovernedobyoprovisootoo Sectiono 372o ofo Cr.o P.C.o Thus,o notwithstandingo theo statutoryo embargoo containedoinoSectiono401(3)oofoCr.oP.C.,otheolegaloframeoworkoprovidesoao mechanismotooaddressothisoproceduralolacunae―Sectiono401(5)oofoCr.oP.C.o actso aso ano enablingo provision,o empoweringo theo Higho Courto witho theo discretionotootreatoaorevisionopetitionoasoaoformaloappeal.oThisosalvagingo powero iso contingento upono theo Courto beingo satisfiedo thato theo revisiono petitiono haso beeno filedo undero theo erroneouso beliefo thato noo appealo waso availableoandothatosuchoaocorrectionoisonecessaryoinotheointerestoofojustice.o Tooruminateoonotheoaspectoofo'interestoofojustice',othisoCourtowillohaveotoo delveointootheomeritsoofotheopetitionsoinohand.oAoprofitableoreferenceoinothiso regard,ocanobeomadeotootheodictaopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofo IndiaoinocaseoofoMahabirovs.oStateoofoHaryana,o2025oINSCo120,owhereinoito isoheldoasounder:o "40.o ThisoCourtoinoJosephoStepheno&oOrs.ov.oSanthanasamyo&o Ors.oreportedoino(2022)o13oSCCo115,olaidodownothatoonoaoplaino readingoofosub-sectiono(3)oofoSectiono401oCrPC,oitohasotoobeoheldo thatosub-sectiono(3)oofoSectiono401oCrPCoprohibits/barsotheoHigho Courtotooconvertoaofindingoofoacquittalointoooneoofoconviction.o Parao10oreadsothus:-o "10.oApplyingotheolawolaidodownobyothisoCourtoinotheo aforesaidodecisionsoandoonoaoplainoreadingoofosub-sectiono

(3)oofoSectiono401CrPC,oitohasotoobeoheldothatosub-sectiono

(3)oofoSectiono401CrPCoprohibits/barsotheoHighoCourtotoo converto ao findingo ofo acquittalo intoo oneo ofo conviction.o Thoughoandoasoobservedohereinoabove,otheoHighoCourto haso revisionalo powero too examineo whethero thereo iso manifestoerroroofolawooroprocedure,oetc.ohowever,oaftero givingoitsoownofindingsoonotheofindingsorecordedobyotheo courtoacquittingotheoaccusedoandoafterosettingoasideotheo orderoofoacquittal,otheoHighoCourtohasotooremitotheomattero tootheotrialocourtoand/orotheofirstoappellateocourt,oasotheo caseomayobe."o

41.oo ThisoCourtoinoJosephoStepheno(supra),oholdsothatofirst,otheo HighoCourtohasotoopassoaojudicialoorderotootreatoanoapplicationoforo revisiono aso petitiono ofo appeal.o Theo Higho Courto haso too passo ao judicialo ordero becauseo sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPCo providesothato ifo theo Higho Courtoiso satisfiedothato sucho revisiono o o o 5o o applicationowasomadeounderotheoerroneousobeliefothatonooappealo liesotheretooandothatoitoisonecessaryoinotheointerestsoofojusticeosootoo do.oWhileotreatingotheoapplicationofororevisionoandotoodealowitho theosameoasoaopetitionoofoappeal,otheoHighoCourtohasotoorecordotheo satisfactiono aso providedo undero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPC.oParao14oreadsothus:-o "14.oNowosoofaroasotheopowerotoobeoexercisedobyotheoHigho Courto undero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPC,o namely,o theo Higho Courto mayo treato theo applicationo foro revisiono aso petitiono ofo appealo ando dealo witho theo sameo accordinglyoisoconcerned,ofirstlyotheoHighoCourtohasotoo passoaojudicialoorderotootreatotheoapplicationofororevisiono aso petitiono ofo appeal.o Theo Higho Courto haso too passo ao judicialo ordero becauseo sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPCo providesothato ifotheo Higho Courto iso satisfiedothato suchorevisionoapplicationowasomadeounderotheoerroneouso beliefothatonooappealoliesotheretooandothatoitoisonecessaryo inotheointerestsoofojusticeosootoodo.oWhileotreatingowitho theoapplicationofororevisionoasopetitionoofoappealoandodealo withotheosameoaccordingly,otheoHighoCourtohasotoorecordo theo satisfactiono aso providedo undero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono401oCrPC.oTherefore,owhereounderotheoCrPCoano appealo lies,o buto ano applicationo foro revisiono haso beeno madeotootheoHighoCourtobyoanyoperson,otheoHighoCourto hasojurisdictionotootreatotheoapplicationofororevisionoasoao petitionoofoappealoandodealowithotheosameoaccordinglyoaso pero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPC,o however,o subjectotootheoHighoCourtobeingosatisfiedothatosuchoano applicationowasomadeounderotheoerroneousobeliefothatonoo appealoliesotheretooandothatoitoisonecessaryoinotheointerestso ofojusticeosootoodooandoforothatopurposeotheoHighoCourto hasotoopassoaojudicialoorder,omayobeoaoformaloorder,otoo treatotheoapplicationofororevisionoasoaopetitionoofoappealo andodealowithotheosameoaccordingly."o o o o InoviewoofotheodictaopassedoinMahabiro(supra),oforotreatingo petitionsoinohandasoappeal(s)obyotheocomplainant,othisoCourtoisoboundotoo recordo ao satisfactiono thato ito iso necessaryo too doo soo ino theo 'interesto ofo justice'.Inoorderotoorecordoanyosuchosatisfaction,othisocourtohasotoogoointoo theomeritsoofotheogroundsoputoforthoonobehalfoofotheopetitioneroseekingotoo challengeotheoimpugnedojudgmentoofoacquittal."o o o o Thiso Courtohas,o thus,o proceededo too adjudicateo theo petitiono ino handointooitsomerits.oo

5.o o Onobehalfoofotheopetitioner,oitohasobeenoarguedothatotheofindingso recordedo byo theo Courtso belowo areo perverse,o contraryo too theo evidenceo ono recordo ando suffero fromo misreadingo ando non-appreciationo ofo materialo evidence.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero arguedo thato theo Courto belowo haveo gravelyoerredoinonotobelievingotheoprosecutionostory,owhichoisocorroboratedo byotheostatementsoofotheoPWsoinorespectoofotheogrievousoandosimpleoinjurieso o o o 6o o causedo byo respondentso No.1o too 4o too theo complainanto byo meanso ofo sharpo edgedoweaponsobyoforciblyoenteringointootheohouseoofotheocomplainant.oItohaso beeno arguedo thato PW1o (complainant)o corroboratedo theo versiono ofo theo prosecution,oPW2o(GurmejoSingh),oanoeyeo witnessotootheooccurrenceoando supportedo theo prosecutiono version,o PW3o (Ranjodho Singh)o ando PW5o (Inspectoro Balwindero Singh)o whoo deposedo regardingo investigationo ofo theo caseoandosupportedotheoprosecutionoversion.oTheoocularoversionoregardingo number,onatureoandoseatsoofoinjuriesoisocorroboratedobyoMedicaloEvidenceoofo PW6o(Dr.oKirpaloSingh).oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatotheoCourto belowohaveowronglyoacquittedotheorespondentsoonotheogroundoofodelayoino lodgingotheoFIRoinoquestion.oLearnedocounselohasoassertedothatoimmediatelyo afterotheooccurrence,otheomatterowasoreportedotootheopoliceoono05.08.2007oando theopoliceovisitedotheoHospitalotoorecordotheostatementoofotheopetitionero–o complainant,o buto sinceo theo petitionero waso noto fito too recordo statement,o therefore,otheosameowasodoneoono11.08.2007oand,othus,otheoFIRoinoquestiono wasoregistered.oHowever,otheoCourtsobelowodidonotocorrectlyoappreciateotheo evidenceoofoPW5o(InspectoroBalwinder),oinothisoregard.oLearnedocounselohas,o thus,o arguedo thato theo impugnedo judgments/orderso suffero fromo patento illegality,operversityoandomiscarriageoofojusticeoand,oareotherefore,oliableotoobeo setoaside.oOnotheseosubmissions,ograntoofopetitionoinohandoisoprayedofor.oo

6.oo o Learnedo Stateo counsel,o whileo raisingo submissionso ino tandemo witho theo submissionso raisedo byo learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero –o complainantohasosubmittedothatotheoimpugnedojudgmentsopassedobyotheoCourto belowo requireo interferenceo byo thiso Courto aso theo sameo areo basedo ono non-appreciationoofoevidence/ofactsoonorecord.oTheoprosecutionohadodulyoprovedo o o o 7o o itsocaseoagainstorespondentsoNo.1otoo4oandotheosameowasocorroboratedobyotheo Prosecutiono Witnesseso aso alsoo byo wayo ofo statemento ofo PW6o (Dr.o Kirpalo Singh)oinorespectoofomedicaloevidence.oOnotheseosubmissions,oitohasobeeno arguedo thato theo impugnedo judgmentso ofo theo Courtso belowo requireo interferenceoandotheopetitionoinohandodeservesotoobeogranted.oo

7.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheorecordoavailableoonocaseofile.oo

8.oo o Theo trialo Court,o aftero discussingo theo versiono ofo allo theo prosecutiono witnesseso alongo witho PW6o (Dr.o Kirpalo Singh),owhileo dealingo withotheoargumentoofodelayoinolodgingotheoFIR,oobservedothatotheodefence/o respondentsoNo.1otoo4ohadostronglyocontendedothatotheoFIRoinoquestionowasoao falseocase.oEarlier,oonotheocomplaintoofooneoJabiroSingh,oaocriminalocaseohado alreadyobeenoregisteredoagainstopetitionero–ocomplainantoBhupinderoSingho andoRanjodhoSinghoregardingotheosnatchingoofoaomotorcycle.oInosupportoofo thiso contention,o theo defenceo counselo referredo too theo cross-examinationo ofo PW2oGurmejoSingh,owhereinoheoadmittedothatosuchoaocaseohadoindeedobeeno registeredoagainstoBhupinderoSinghoandoRanjodhoSingh.oOnothisobasis,otheo defenceoassertedothatotheoFIRoinoquestionowasolodgedoonlyoasoaocounterblasto tootheoearlierocase.oItowasofurtheroobservedothatotheodefenceoemphasizedothato theoallegedooccurrenceotookoplaceoono05.08.2007owhereasotheoFIRocameotoobeo registeredoonlyoono11.08.2007,otherebyocreatingoanounexplainedodelayoofosixo days.oAccordingotootheodefence,othisodelayodemonstratedothatotheoprosecutiono storyowasonotospontaneousobutoratheroaowell-plannedoandoconcoctedoversion.o Ito waso alsoo pointedo outo thato duringo cross-examination,o theo Investigatingo Officeroadmittedothatoheowasoawareoofotheoincidentoearlierobecauseoheohimselfo o o o 8o o hadoissuedotheomedicalodocketotootheoinjured.oLearnedotrialoCourtofurthero observedothatotheodefenceoarguedothatoifotheopoliceohadoknowledgeoofotheo occurrenceo fromo theo veryo beginning,o thereo waso noo justificationo foro noto registeringotheoFIRoimmediately.oo

8.1.o o LearnedotrialoCourt,oafteroconsideringotheoarguments,oobservedo thatothereocanobeonoodisputeowithotheosettledopropositionoofolawothatoprompto lodgingoofotheoFIRoisoofoconsiderableoimportance.oTheoobjectobehindoinsistingo upono ano earlyo FIRo iso too obtaino theo earliesto accounto ofo theo occurrence,o includingotheonamesoofotheoculprits,otheoroleoplayedobyothem,otheoweaponso used,oandotheonamesoofowitnesses,oifoany.oTheotrialoCourtofurtheroobservedo thatodelayoinoregistrationoofotheoFIRooftenogivesoriseotoosuspicionoregardingo embellishmentooroafterthought,oandothereforeosuchodelayomustobeoscrutinizedo carefully.oo

8.2.o o Learnedo trialo Court,o accordingly,o acquittedo theo accused/o respondentsoNo.1otoo4oofotheochargeoframedoagainstothemoasotheoprosecutiono evidenceodidonotoinspireoconfidenceoandoalsoogaveobenefitoofodoubtotootheo accusedopersons.oo

9.o o Further,ouponochallengeotootheoaforesaidojudgmentoofotheotrialo Court,o learnedo Sessionso Courto alsoo dismissedo theo appealo ando upheldo theo judgmento passedo byo theo trialo Court,o video judgmento datedo 05.09.2014.o RelevantoofotheojudgmentoofotheolearnedoSessionsoCourtoreadsoasounder:o "12.o Asoperoallegationsoofotheocomplainant/victimoBhupinderoSinghoino hiso statemento Ex.P-1,o accusedo Manjito Singho sono ofo Gurbachano Singho armedowithodang,oSukhbiroSinghoaliasoBittuosonoofoGurbachanoSinghoarmedo withodang,oJasbiroSinghosonoofoGurnamoSinghoarmedowithoironobaroando Manioarmedowithokirpanocameotoohisohouseoono5.8.2007oatoabouto11.30oPMo andoonoraisingolalkaraobyoJasbiroSingh,oManiogaveokirpanoblowowhichohito onohisohead,oJasbiroSinghogaveoironobaroblowowhichohitoonohisorightokinee,o Jasbiro Singho gaveo anothero irono blowo whicho hito ono theo lefto sideo ofo hiso foreheadoonowhichoheofellodownoandoManjitoSinghogaveotwoodangoblowso o o o 9o o whichohitoonohisoleftolegoandoSukhbiroSinghogaveothreeodangoblowsowhicho hitoonohisobackoandorightoshoulder.oButowhenoheocameointoowitnessobox,oheo hasoexplainedoinjuryoinflictedoonohisorightokneeobyoJabiroSinghoandoinjuryo inflictedo ono hiso heado byo accusedo Manio only.o Bhupidnero Singh,o complainant/victimohasoallegedothatomotiveobehindotheoallegedooccurrenceo wasothatotheyodemandedomotorcycleofromoJasbairoSinghosonoofoGurbachano Singhoono5.8.2007oatoabouto6.00oPMoforogoingotooNibberwindoandoheohaso refusedotoogiveotheosameodueotoowhichoanoaltercationotookoplaceobetweeno them.oRespondents/accusedohaveoallegedothatomotorcycleowasosnatchedobyo complainanto Bhupindero Singho ando Ranjodho Singho fromo accusedo Jasbiro Singhoono5.8.2007oforciblyoandowhenotheyowereocomingobackoafterotakingo liquoro fromo villageo Nibberwind,o ano accidento tooko placeo dueo too whicho complainanto Bhupindero Singho receivedo injurieso ono hiso persono ando motorcycleowasodamaged.oItoisoadmittedobyoallegedoeyeowitnessoGurmejo Singho PW-2o thato Bhupindero Singho ando Ranjodho Singho snatchedo motorcycleofromoJasbiroSinghoforciblyoforogoingotoovillageoNibberwind.oHeo hasoalsooadmittedoinohisocross-examinationothatoatothatotimeocomplainanto wasoinodrunkardoconditionoandoanoapplicationoagainstoBhupinderoSinghoando Ranjodho Singho waso movedo byo Jasbiro Singho regardingo snatchingo ofo motorcycleofromohimobyothemoandocaseoregardingosnatchingoofomotorcycleo wasoregisteredoagainstoBhupinderoSinghoandoRanjodhoSinghobyotheopoliceo authority.oRanjodhoSinghoPW-3ohasoadmittedoinohisocross-examinationothato whenotheyostoppedoJasbiroSinghoono5.8.2007obyogivingosignal,oBhupidnero Singhowasoinodrunkardoconditionoandoaofalseocaseowasogotoregisteredowheno JabiroSinghohasonotogivenomotorcycleotoothem.oHeohasoalsoostatedothatoheo didonotoknowoasotoowhenocomplainantoreceivedoinjuriesoonohisopersonoasoheo waso toldo byo theo familyo memberso ofo theo complainanto ono telephone.o Complainanto Bhupindero Singho PW-2o haso alsoo admittedo ino hiso cross-examinationothatoquarrelotookoplaceobetweenohimoandoJasbiroSinghowheno heo demandedo motorcycleo fromo Jasbiro Singho foro goingo too villageo NibberwindoandoanoapplicationowasomovedoagainstothemobyoJasbiroSingho ono5.8.2007oregardingotheftoofosaidomotorcycle.oHeohasoalsoostatedothatosaido motorcycleowasoreturnedobyothem.oMeaningotherebyomotorcycleowasotakeno byo theo complainanto fromo accusedo Jasbiro Singho forciblyo aso ifo saido motorcycleohadonotobeenosnatchedobyocomplainantoformoaccusedoJasbiro Singho forcibly,o theno motorcycleo shouldo haveo noto beeno returnedo byo complainantotooaccused.oTheoaboveodiscussedoevidenceoofotheocomplainanto andoeyeowitnessesoprovesotheodefenceopleaotakenobyorespondents/accusedo aso wheno complainanto ando eyeo witnesseso themselveso haveo admittedo theo movingoofoanoapplicationobyoaccusedoJasbiroSinghoagainstocomplainantoando RanjodhoSinghoregardingosnatchingoofohisomotorcycleobyothemofromohimo forciblyo ono 5.8.2007,o theno nono producingo ofo saido applicationo byo respondents/accusedoinotheirodefenceoisonotofatalotootheoaboveosaidopleao takenobyoaccusedoinotheirodefence.oNoodoubt,oDoctoroKirpaloSinghoPW-6o hasoprovedotheoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofocomplainant/injuredoBhupidnero SinghobyoprovingocopyoofoMRoEx.PW-6/1oandopictorialodiagramoshowingo seatsoofoinjuriesoEx.PW-6/2,obutoinoviewoofotheoaboveodiscussedoevidenceo ofotheocomplainantoandoeyeowitnessoitocanonotobeobelievedothatosaidoinjurieso wereoinflictedoonotheopersonoofocomplainantobyoaccusedopersonsoasoratheroito iso complainanto Bhupidnero Singho ando Ranjodho Singho whoo snatchedo motorcycleo ofo accusedo Jasbiro Singho forciblyo ono theo dateo ofo allegedo occurrenceo itselfo ando theyo scuffledo witho himo wheno heo refusedo too giveo motorcycleo too them.o Noo doubt,o motiveo iso doubleo edgedo weapono ando ito couldohaveobeenousedobyoaccusedoforoinflictingoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofo complainantoasocomplainantohasosnatchedohisomotorcycle,obutoifoaccusedo personsohadoreallyobeenoinflictedoinjuriesoonotheopersonoofocomplainantodueo too snatchingo ofo hiso motorcycleo byo complainanto Bhupindero Singho ando RanjodhoSingh,othenoJasbiroSinghoshouldohaveonotomovedoanoapplicationo o o o 10o o againstocomplainantoandoRanjodhoSinghoforosnatchingohisomotorcycleoando ratherogetobackohisomotorcycleofromocomplainantoimmediatelyobyoinflictingo injuriesoonohisoperson.oo

13.o Asoperoallegationsoofoprosecutionoallegedooccurrenceotookoplaceoono

5.8.2007;owhereasoFIRoinothisocaseowasolodgedoono11.8.2007.oNoodoubt,o complainantoBhupinderoSinghohasotriedotooexplainotheodelayoinolodgingoFIRo inohisostatementoEx.P-1orecordedobyoSIoBalwinderoSinghobyostatingothato respectableo triedo too effecto compromiseo betweeno himo ando accusedo buto compromiseodidonotoeffectoandoheogotolodgedoFIR.oButowhenoheocameointoo witnessoboxoasoPW-1oheohasonotostatedoanyoiotaoofowordoinohisostatementoono oatho too explaino delayo ino lodgingo FIR.o Noo respectableo ando membero ofo panchyatowhootriedotoogetomatterocompromisedobetweenocomplainantoando accusedowasogotoexaminedobyotheocomplainantotooexplainotheosaidodelay.o So,oitocannotobeosaidothatoprosecutionohasosatisfactorilyoexplainedotheodelayo ofo6odaysoinolodgingoFIRoinothisocase."o o

10.o o Atothisojuncture,oitoisoimperativeotooreiterateotheosettledolegalo positiono governingo theo scopeo ando ambito ofo revisionalo jurisdictiono undero Sectionso 397o reado witho 401o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973,o particularlyowhileoexaminingotheocorrectnessoofoanoorderoofoacquittal.oItoiso triteolawothatotheoRevisionaloCourtodoesonotofunctionoasoaoregularoCourtoofo Appealo andotheo powerso exercisableoino revisiono areosignificantlyo narrowero thano thoseo availableo ino appellateo jurisdiction.o Theo objecto ofo revisionalo jurisdictiono iso primarilyo too satisfyo theo Courto regardingo theo legality,o correctnessoandoproprietyoofotheofindings,osentenceooroorderopassedobyotheo subordinateoCourtoandotooensureothatothereohasobeenonoomiscarriageoofojusticeo ono accounto ofo anyo patento illegality,o jurisdictionalo erroro oro materialo irregularityoinoprocedure.o

10.1.o o Ito iso equallyo wello settledo thato interferenceo witho ano ordero ofo acquittaloinorevisionalojurisdictionoisotoobeoexercisedosparingly,ocautiouslyo andoonlyoinoexceptionalocircumstances.oTheoRevisionaloCourtoisonotoexpectedo tooundertakeoaofreshoororovingore-appreciationoofotheoentireoevidenceomerelyo becauseoanotheroviewoisopossibleoonotheobasisoofotheomaterialoavailableoono record.oWhereotwooviewsoareoreasonablyopossibleoandotheotrialoCourtohaso o o o 11o o adoptedo oneo sucho plausibleo view,o theo Revisionalo Courto oughto noto too substituteo itso owno opiniono merelyo becauseo ito mayo beo inclinedo too takeo ao differentoviewoono appreciationo ofo evidence.o Theo revisionalo powero cano beo invokedoonlyowhereothereoexistsoaoglaringodefectoinoprocedure,omanifestoerroro ofolaw,oflagrantomiscarriageoofojusticeooropalpableoperversityoinoappreciationo ofo evidence.o Unlesso theo conclusionso arrivedo ato byo theo Courtso belowo areo demonstratedotoobeoarbitrary,ocapriciousoorowhollyounsustainableoinolaw,otheo RevisionaloCourtowouldorefrainofromointerferingowithoconcurrentofindingsoofo fact,oparticularlyowhenotheosameoareofoundedouponoappreciationoofooraloando documentaryoevidenceoadducedoduringotrial.o

11.o o Accordingly,o theo presento criminalo revisiono beingo devoido ofo meritoisodismissed,oaccordingly.o

12.o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o o o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooJUDGEo Mayo11,o2026o mahaviro o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo