JUDGMENT R. S. SARKARIA, J. :— This appeal by special leave is directed against a judgment of acquittal rendered by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. 2. The facts may now be stated. 3. There are three villages, Konda Kala Vatala, Konda Papaya Palli and Govinda Palli situated at a short distance from each other. There were two warring factions in these villages. One was led by Vellugoti Pedda Eswara Reddy deceased and MumagalaNarayana Reddy, the Sarpanch of Konda Kala-Vatala. The rival faction was headed by Akkammaredigari Venkata Kondareddy Accused No. 1 (for A-1). There was bad blood between the two factions. Both the factions were proceeded against under Sections 107/151, Cr. P. C. also. 4. The deceased was a resident of Konda Papayapalli village. On May 16, 1968, the deceased accompanied by PW 1, K. Venkatareddy, went to Jammalamadugu and stayed for the nightthere in the hotel of PW 12 (Dastagiri). On the following morning at about 8.30 a.m., they boarded bus No. APD 2083 for proceeding to their village. L. Venkata Ramanna (PW 14) was checking tickets on that bus. When the bus stopped at Sanjamalavari House, Accused 2, 3, 5 to 8 (for short, A-2, A-3, A-5 to A-8) boarded it. On seeing the accused, who belonged to his opposite faction, the deceased got apprehensive of his safety. He therefore alighted from the bus, and, accompanied by PW 1, returned to the hotel of Dastagiri. After remaining at the hotel for some time they returned to the bus stand, and boarded bus No. APD 2276, at about 9.30 A. M. for going to their village. P. W. 11 (E. Solomon) was the driver and P. W. 9 (V. Bala Subbanna), the conductor of that bus. There were about 30 passengers, including PW 2, Pw 3 and PW 4, in the bus. At about 10.30 a.m., the bus halted at Nossam near the hotel of Rangappa, PW 10. This bus-stop is at a distance of about 60 or 65 yards from the Police Outpost and is located in populated quarter of the which has a population of 3,000 souls. The conductor, the driver some of those passengers got down to take refreshments in the nearby hotel. Some passengers including the deceased and P.Ws. 1, 2 and 4, however, remained inside the vehicle. A-4 then came there. The conductor, the driver some of those passengers got down to take refreshments in the nearby hotel. Some passengers including the deceased and P.Ws. 1, 2 and 4, however, remained inside the vehicle. A-4 then came there. He peeped into the bus through the door and went away towards the house of Yerikala Reddy situated at a distance of 200 from the bus towards the north. Soon thereafter A-1 and A-2, armed with revolvers and A-3 to A-13, all armed with daggers, came there from Yerikala Reddys house, encircled the bus and at the point of dagger forced the passengers including PWs. 1 and 4, to get out of the bus. The deceased also tried to get away but the accused prevented him from doing so. A-1 and A-2 took positions in the doors of the vehicles. They fired revolvers in the air while their companions immediately entered the bus and there stabbed the deceased to death causing no less than 44 injuries. The assailants were yelling : "Stab! Kill!" P. Ws. 1 to 4 witnessed the occurrence. P. W. 1 while raising an alarm proceeded towards the Police Outpost but the accused obstructed and chased him over a short distance. P. W. 1 took to his heels, went away from the village and concealed himself somewhere. After about two hours he came out his hiding, and returned to the spot at about 12.30 p.m. 5. After murdering the deceased the miscreants went away towards the north taking their weapons with them. Thereafter, P. Ws. 2, 3 and 4 entered the bus and found the deceased lying dead in a pool of blood. P. W. 2 then went to Papayapalli, five miles away, and informed the wife and the relations of the deceased about the occurrence. He returned to the scene of the crime in the company of those relations at about 4 p.m. 6. In the meantime the village Munsiff (P. W. 15) on hearing about this incident, also came there. At the dictation of P. W. 1, the Munsiff recorded the complaint, Ex. P-3, and then prepared an injury statement of the deceased. At about 3 p.m., he sent complaint together with other documents prepared by him, through the Talyari to the Police Station, Vuyyalawada. A copy of the complaint was sent to the Judicial Magistrate, Koikuntla. 7. At the dictation of P. W. 1, the Munsiff recorded the complaint, Ex. P-3, and then prepared an injury statement of the deceased. At about 3 p.m., he sent complaint together with other documents prepared by him, through the Talyari to the Police Station, Vuyyalawada. A copy of the complaint was sent to the Judicial Magistrate, Koikuntla. 7. Prior to the making of this complaint, Head-Constable Abdul Khadar, PW 16, of the Police Out-Post had sent an oral information to the Police Inspector about this murder. The Head Constable had heard the reports of revolver-fire about 10.30 a.m. Thereupon, he along with a Constable went out to the bus stand. At the spot, he heard from the by-standers that the deceased had been killed inside the bus. But, despite inquiries, no one told him about the identity or particulars of the culprits. He looked for the complainant, if any. No one came forward to a complaint. The driver and the conductor of the bus were also found absent. He therefore sent an oral information to the Inspector through the Taylari, Pollana. 8. On receiving the information, Inspector Santhoji Rao (P. W. 25) reached the place of the murder at 6 P.M. He examined P.Ws. 1, 15, 16 and 19 and recorded their statements under Section 161, Cr. P. C. Thereafter he held an inquest over the dead-body from 2.30 a.m. to 6 a.m. on May 18, 1968. During the inquest he examined P.Ws. 2, 9 and 11. The Inspector searched for the accused but could not find them. A-4 to A-8 surrendered on May 22, 1968 and were taken into custody. A-2, A-3, A-9, A-10, A-11 and A-13 were arrested by the police on June 24, 1968. Thereafter, on some date before August 10, 1968, A-1, A-6 and A-12 were arrested. 9. All the accused persons were not previously known to eye-witnesses. They were put up for test identification at three parades held by Mr. Johnson Magistrate 1st Class (P. W. 20) on June 7, 1968, July 18, 1968 and August 10, 1968. 10. After completing the investigation the police sent 13 accused persons under a charge-sheet before the Magistrate for preliminary enquiry. The Magistrate committed all the 13 accused for trial to the Court of Session. Johnson Magistrate 1st Class (P. W. 20) on June 7, 1968, July 18, 1968 and August 10, 1968. 10. After completing the investigation the police sent 13 accused persons under a charge-sheet before the Magistrate for preliminary enquiry. The Magistrate committed all the 13 accused for trial to the Court of Session. The Sessions Judge acquitted A-5, A-6, A-8, A-9 and A-11, but convicted the remaining seven under Section 302, Penal Code and sentenced each of them to imprisonment for life. 11. Against that judgment, two appeals were preferred to the High Court, one by the State against the acquittal of A-5, A-6 and A-8, and the other by the convicted accused against their conviction. The High Court dismissed the appeal preferred by the State, but accepted the other filed by the accused and acquitted all of them. 12. Aggrieved, the State made a petition in this Court under Article 136 of the Constitution seeking leave to appeal against the acquittal of A-1 to A-9 and A-12. This Court however granted special leave toappeal against the acquittal of A-1 to A-4, A-7, A-9 and A-12 only, and refused it against A-5, A-6 and A-8. 13. Mr. Ram Reddy appearing for the appellant-State contends that the judgment of the High Court acquitting all the accused persons is perverse in law and has occasioned gross failure of justice. It is maintained that the reasons given by the High Court for wholesale rejection of evidence of P. Ws. 1, 2, 3, 9, and 11 are manifestly erroneous and contrary to the fundamental canons of appraising evidence. 14. As against this Mr. Govind Das maintains that the reasons given by the High Court for rejecting the evidence of these witnesses are quite sound and cannot, by any stretch of imagination be branded as perverse. According to the Counsel since the view taken by the High Court is also reasonable possible, this Court should not, in deference to the well-established rule of practice, interfere with the order of acquittal. 15. To appreciate the rival contentions, it is necessary to examine the reasons given by the High Court for not accepting the evidence of these five witnesses. 16. P. W. 1 is the prime-mover of the gear. The case was registered on his complaint (Ex. 15. To appreciate the rival contentions, it is necessary to examine the reasons given by the High Court for not accepting the evidence of these five witnesses. 16. P. W. 1 is the prime-mover of the gear. The case was registered on his complaint (Ex. P-3) logged with the village Munsiff (P. W. 15) at 12.30 p.m. At the trial, he narrated more or less the same story which has been set out at the commencement of this judgment. The High Court found his evidence unworthy of credit for these reasons: (i) P. W. 1 is a confirmed partisan of the deceased. (ii) He was unable to give a consistent and satisfactory account of the purpose of his going to Jammalamadugu on May 16, 1968. (iii) In the First Information Ex. P-3, he did not state many material facts. For instance, he did not mention there that, in the first instance, he and the deceased had boarded the Nandyal-Koilkuntla but at 8.30 a.m. and thereafter alighted from it on seeing the accused getting into the bus. (iv) If P. W. 1 was really in the ill-fated bus, at the time of the occurrence, he could not have been left unharmed; (v) the conduct of P. W. 1 was so unnatural that it improbabilises his presence at the time and place of the incident; (a) If he had really seen A-4 peeping into the bus and going back to the house of Erikala Reddy 60 or 70 yards away to inform the other accused, it was unlikely that P. W. 1 and the deceased would have remained sitting in the bus. P. W. 1 knew that A-4 was a partisan of the other accused; (b) The conduct of P. W. 1 after the occurrence was also artificial, unnatural and strange. He did not go to the Police Out-post which was at a stones throw. His explanation that he was prevented by the accused from going there and had to remain in hiding at some unspecified place towards the West for two hours till he returned to the bus-stand at 12.30 p.m. was incredible. Although he had ample opportunity and time to go to his villageand inform the co-villagers about the incident, he did nothingof the kind. (vi) No bus-ticket was found with P.W.1. (vii)The evidence of the witnesses produced to corroborate the version of P. W. 1 was also unsatisfactory. Although he had ample opportunity and time to go to his villageand inform the co-villagers about the incident, he did nothingof the kind. (vi) No bus-ticket was found with P.W.1. (vii)The evidence of the witnesses produced to corroborate the version of P. W. 1 was also unsatisfactory. P. W. 14 Ticket- Checker of bus No. APD 2083 which the deceased and P.W.1 are said to have boarded earlier at Jammalamadugu, admittedly did not know P. W. 1 prior to that date P. W. 14 was not asked to identify P. W. 1 at any test identification or even in court. Moreover, P. W. 14 was examined by the investigating Police Officer about a week after the occurrence. The evidence of Dastgiri, P. W. 12, owner of the hotel at Jammalamadugu was no better. He had no record to show that the P. W. 1 and the deceased had spent the night between the 16th and 17th May at his hotel. His testimony was at variance with his statement recorded under section 164, Cr. P.C. In that statement, he had not say that the sons (i.e. A-2, A-3 and A-6) of Kalavatale Reddy were also reported by the deceased to be in the bus and he had simply stated there that Kalavatale (Reddy) and his men were in the bus. At the trial, he stated that the deceased had informed him about the presence of A-2, A-3 and A-6 also, in the bus P. W. 12 was not a disinterested witness. Admittedly, the deceased had helped him in getting assignment of land for raising a building, before the revenue authorities. His statement was also recorded by the police several days after the occurrence. (viii) There was unexplained delay in registration of the case. The Police Station Vuyyalawadais 12 miles from Nossam. The complaint EX. P-3 was received there at 8 p.m. Copy of the complaint reached the Magistrate, Koilkuntla, 16 miles away, at 6 p.m. There was a bus leaving Nossan at 4.30 p.m. for Koikuntla. It was more likely that the copy of the complaint was sent to the Magistrate by that bus at 4.30 p.m. and not at 3 p.m.as the Munsiff P. W. 15 wanted to have it believed. This inordinate delay in registering the F.I.R. shows that the First Information was lodged after confabulation with other persons who had come from the village of the deceased. This inordinate delay in registering the F.I.R. shows that the First Information was lodged after confabulation with other persons who had come from the village of the deceased. In these circumstances, the F.I.R. had little value as a corroborative piece of evidence. 17. These reasons given by the High Court for not relying on the evidence of P. W. 1 cannot by any standard be said to be unsound or puerile. There is a good deal of force in them. 18. We will now take up P. W. 2 Mr. P. Rama Reddy contents that the High Court was in error in dubbing this witness as on interested witness. It is maintained that his relationship or affinity with deceased or his party had not been established. It is augured that his evidence was almost impeccable. 19. The High Court has found that P. W. 2 is closely related to the deceased. This is an inference drawn from the conduct of the witness in not denying a suggestion of such relationship put to him in cross-examination by the defence. The pointed suggestion was, whether the son of his junior paternal uncle was married to the daughter of the deceased. The witness replied that he did not know. The relationship suggested was so near that the witness could not be unaware of it. If the suggestion was wrong he ought to have registered a categorical denial. The High Court was therefore justified in presuming that the witness was the first cousin of the son-in-law of the deceased. 20. The next infirmity in his evidence noted by the High Court is that his conduct in not trying to go to the Police Out-post or in not reporting the matter to the village Munsiff was not the natural conduct of an eye-witness of the murder. The third weakness in his evidence noted by the High Court is that he was not examined by the investigator on the 17th May although he claimed to be present at the spot at that time. Anotherreasons given by the High Court for doubting his veracity was that there was no necessity for him to go to Proddutur to ascertain the price of castor oil cake because the sameinquiry could be conveniently made telephonically. Anotherreasons given by the High Court for doubting his veracity was that there was no necessity for him to go to Proddutur to ascertain the price of castor oil cake because the sameinquiry could be conveniently made telephonically. The High-Court further found that he could not give a satisfactory account asto why he adopted the circuitous route via Nossam when buses starting at 6.30 and 7.30 a.m. from Jammalamadugu and playing directly to Allagadda were available. We need only add that this witness also unable to produce any bus ticket. 21. We agree with the High Court that in view of the infirmities enumerated above, the evidence of P. W. 2 could not be safely acted upon without corroboration from independent sources. 22. This takes us to the evidence of P. W. 3. 23. The High Court found that P. W. 3 also was not an independent witness. He stood surety for five partisans of the deceased in security proceeding under Sec. 107, Cr. P. C. This fact was borne out by the documentary evidence furnished by the copies of the surety bonds. Exhs., D-10 to D-14, although the witness had the temerity to deny it. 24. Mr. Rama Reddy laid great stress on the fact that the evidence of this witness with regard to his being among the passengers in the ill-fated bus at the time of occurrence, stands corroborated from the testimony of an independent witness, the bus conductor (P.W.9) It is further maintained that this witness (PW3) was examined during the inquest held on the night between the 17th and 18th May. Reference on this point has been made to the inquest report Ex. P-6. These twin circumstances, proceeds the argument, were sufficient to lend assurance to the interested testimony of this witness so as to make it acceptable against A-1, and A-2, if not against the other accused-respondents. These circumstance were noticed by the High Court. In its opinion, they did not furnished adequate confirmation of the testimony of P. W. 3. In this connection, the High Court observed: "We do not think much assurance can be taken from the evidence of P. W. 9 about the presence of P. W. 3 on that day in that bus. It is true that the name of P. W. 3 was mentioned as an eye-witness in the inquest report. In this connection, the High Court observed: "We do not think much assurance can be taken from the evidence of P. W. 9 about the presence of P. W. 3 on that day in that bus. It is true that the name of P. W. 3 was mentioned as an eye-witness in the inquest report. Even though the inquest according to P. W. 25 was held in early hours of the morning of 18-5-1968 and the inquest report was said to be ready on that morning, the inquest report was received in Court at 6 p.m. on 19-5-1968. As provided u/s. 174(2), Cr. P. C. the inquest report shall be forthwith forwarded to the Court. P.W.3 was examined on 19-5-68 only. With regard to the inquest report no other independent panchayatdar was examined apart from P.W.15, the village Munsiff. Having regard to these circumstances we do not think much can be taken from the fact that the name of P.W. 3 finds a place in the inquest report". 25. Another infirmity in the testimony of PW 3, according to the High Court, was that documentary evidence of the sales allegedly made by the witness at the Shandy (periodical market) and receipt of the fees/cess paid on such sales to the Panchayat was not forthcoming and that the explanation given by the witness for non-production of such documentary evidence was unsatisfactory. 26. It will be seen from the synopsis of the reasoning of the High Court above that whereas the evidence of P.W. 1 was considered to be wholly unreliable, the possibility of P. Ws. 2 and 3 being witness of the occurrence was not positively ruled out. The conclusion reached in respect of these two witnesses was that their evidence suffered from several infirmities and as such in the absence of corroboration from independent sources, it could not accepted as a safe basis for convicting the accused. We are also of the opinion that as a matter of prudence, it was not safe to convict any of the accused-respondents merely on the basis of the testimony of P. W. 2 and P. W. 3. We however do not agree with the High Court that evidence of P. Ws. 9 and 11 did not furnish reliable corroboration of the testimony of the interested witnesses (P.Ws.2 and 3) against any accused-respondent whatever. 27. We however do not agree with the High Court that evidence of P. Ws. 9 and 11 did not furnish reliable corroboration of the testimony of the interested witnesses (P.Ws.2 and 3) against any accused-respondent whatever. 27. The sum and substance of the testimony rendered by the P.W.9, the conductor of the bus was that when the bus halted at Nossam at about 10.30 a.m., the witness accompanied by the Driver (P.W. 11) got down and both of them went to the nearby hospital for getting an injury on his leg (P.W. 9s) dressed up. They, however, did not find the Doctor there. Consequently, both of the returned to the hotel of Rangappa which is hardly 18 ft. from the scene of occurrence. While the witness was standing in the varandah of the hotel, the driver took his meals inside, and then came out and went to the adjacent hotel of pullayya to take coffee. The witness asked Rangappas wife to give him some water. He was waiting in the door-way when he saw some persons coming from the northern side and going to the bus and encircling it. Some of them were armed with daggers. The witness heard the sound "dama-dama" of the firing of a revolver. The witness heard cries from the bus "kill! stab!". After the disturbance had subsided, the witness went out and saw the deceased lying dead inside the bus in a pool of blood. Due to fear, the witness and the driver (P.W. 11) went into the nearby Vaisyas house and remained there till 7.30 or 8 p.m. when they came out on learing that the Police Inspector had come to the spot. 28. At the test identification parades, the witness had identified Accused 2 and 7. He stated that P.W. 3 was one of the passengers who travelled in the ill-fated bus. 29. The driver (P.W. 11) substantially corroborated P. W. 9. He stated that he had seen five or six persons carrying white things like daggers in their hands going behind the bus. The witness was then taking coffee at the hotel of Pullayya. He then heard the "dum dum" sound from the bus. At the test identificationparades held before the Magistrate, the witness has identified A-7 and A-11. 30. The High Court while conceding that P.Ws. The witness was then taking coffee at the hotel of Pullayya. He then heard the "dum dum" sound from the bus. At the test identificationparades held before the Magistrate, the witness has identified A-7 and A-11. 30. The High Court while conceding that P.Ws. 9 and 11 were the "proper persons to have spoken about the occurrence" brushed aside their evidence even against the accused identified by them at the test identifications mainly on the ground that they were "unwilling witnesses" and were not prepared to speak the whole truth. The High Court noticed that there was a discrepancy with regard to the receipt of injury by P.W. 9 between his statement before the police and the subsequent statement recorded under section 164, Cr. P. C. Before the Police P.W. 9 had stated that he had received an injury. But in his statement recorded under Section 164, Cr. P. C.he said that he had a boil on his leg. It appears to us that this discrepancy was of no consequence. P.Ws. 9 and 11 were the conductor and the driver of the bus. It is undisputed that the bus was parked close the hotels of Rangappa (P. W. 10) and Pullayya. Their presence near the bus at the hotels was a highly probable fact. Even if the reasons for their going to the nearby hospital was disbelieved, it could not affect their being eye-witnesses of the incident. Might be that they did not disclose all that they had seen and had not identified all the culprits whom they could identify but that is no ground to hold that their evidence could not furnish valuable corroboration of the testimony of the interested witness (P.Ws. 2 and 3 ) even against the accused whom they identified at test identification and later in court. 31. The statements of PWs. 2, 9 and 11 were recorded by the Investigating Officer during the night between 17th and 18th May, 1968 from 2.30 a.m. to 6 a.m. There was thus no good reasons for wholesale rejection of the evidence of P.Ws. 9 and 11. It therefore remains to seen to what extent the independent testimony of P. Ws. 9 and 11 lends corroboration to the statements to the interested witnesses (P.Ws.2 and 3). 32. At the test identification parade held on June 7,1968, A-4, A-5, A-7 and A-8 were paraded along with 12 other prisoners. 9 and 11. It therefore remains to seen to what extent the independent testimony of P. Ws. 9 and 11 lends corroboration to the statements to the interested witnesses (P.Ws.2 and 3). 32. At the test identification parade held on June 7,1968, A-4, A-5, A-7 and A-8 were paraded along with 12 other prisoners. P. Ws. 2,3,9 and 11 were called upon to identiy the accused at this parade, P.W. 2 while identifying A-7 at the parade, said: "I saw him while killing the deceased in the bus." P. W. 3 also identified A-7 as Konda Kalavatalavadu. He also identified A-4 and A-8 bytouching their hands. P. W. 9 identified A-7 saying "I suspect this man". He could not identify others. P. W.11 also at this parade picked out A-7 who was then standing at No.15 in the parade and said that he had seen him. 33. The second batch of the accused persons consisting of A-2, A-3, A-9, A-10, A-11 and A-13 was arrested on June 24,1968. These six accused persons were paraded at the test identification on July 18, 1968. P.Ws.1, 2, 3, and 9 were called upon to identify them at the parade. P.W. 3 picked out A-2, A-3, A-9 and A-10 at the parade. P.W.9 similarly identified A-2 by touching his hand. A-2 objected that in 1962 or 1963 P.W.9 had served him as driver of his bus for 10 days. 34. The third test identification parade was held on August 10,1968. At this parade nine accused persons A-1 to A-3, A-6 A-9 to A-13were paraded. P. Ws. 1, 2, 3, and 11 were called upon to identify, P. W. 2 identified A-8 while P.W.11 identified A-11 only. He could not identify A-2 or the other accused who were in this parade. 35. Thus the net result is that at the test identifications, P. Ws. 9 and 11 had correctly identified A-7. P. Ws. 9 had identified A-2 also. But P.W. 11 could not identify him. 36. The question is whether the evidence of P.Ws. 9 and 11 can be safely relied upon as against A-7 and A-2. In our opinion so far as A-7 and is concerned, chances of mistake in identification by these witnesses were extremely remote. 37. Mr. P. Ws. 9 had identified A-2 also. But P.W. 11 could not identify him. 36. The question is whether the evidence of P.Ws. 9 and 11 can be safely relied upon as against A-7 and A-2. In our opinion so far as A-7 and is concerned, chances of mistake in identification by these witnesses were extremely remote. 37. Mr. Gobind Das, Counsel for the respondents contends that the evidence oftest identification parades was of little value because - (a) the Magistrate holding the parade did not mix up with the accused adequate number of other prisonersand did not hold separate paradesfor individual accused; (b) at the time of picking out A-7 and A-2at theparade, the identifying witnesses did not say as to in what connection they were identifying them. It is stressed that the evidence of the test identification is not substantive evidence. It can be used only to corroborate or lend assurance to the identification made by the same witness in the court. If at the time of picking out a particular accused at the parade, a witness does not does not say anything about the role of the persons thus identified in the commission of the crime such test identification has little evidentiary value. Further it is pointed out that P. W. 9 was not called upon to identify A-2 and A-7 in court at the time of his examination as a witness. Reference has been made to a number of decisions including Kamal Gope v. State of Bihar, Cr. App. No. 45 of 1965, D/-23-11-1967; *Kanta Prasad v. Delhi Administration, 1958 SCR 1218 and Sampat Tatyade Shinde v. State of Maharashtra, (1974) 4 SCC 213 . * Reported in 1967 Cri App R (SC) 270. 38. In our opinion so far as the identification of A-7 by P.Ws. 9 and 11 isconcerned it can safely be relied upon as confirmatory of their evidence in court. A-7 was identified by P.Ws. 9 and 11 at the test identification parade held on June 7,1968. It is true that while picking out this accused at the parade these witnesses did not say anything with regard to the specific part played by him in the commission of the crime. That however does not render the evidence of such identification inadmissible. 9 and 11 at the test identification parade held on June 7,1968. It is true that while picking out this accused at the parade these witnesses did not say anything with regard to the specific part played by him in the commission of the crime. That however does not render the evidence of such identification inadmissible. The Magistrate (P. W. 20)who held the parade had mixed up 12 other persons at this parade with the four accused including A-7. It could not therefore be said that the number of the other persons mixed with the accused was inadequate. The very fact that both P. Ws. 9 and 11 commonly identified A-7, dispels any suspicion of such identification being a chance identification. In the witness box, at the trial, however P. W. 9 specifically stated: "I could identify only accused 2 and 7 among those persons who came to the bus from the northern side armed with daggers". Referring to the test identification parade, the witness added : "I identified A-7 as one of the persons who came with dagger to the bus." 39. In cross examination, the witness reaffirmed : "It is not true ......... that A-2 and A-7 were not among the persons who came to the bus ...... It is not true that I have identified A-2 and A-7 at the parades not because they were seen near the bus but because Police showed them to me earlier to facilitate identification". 40. From the very fact that the witness while testifying as to the fact of identification was referring to this accused as A-7 implies that he had identified him in court also and had in that connection elucidated why he had picked out A-7 at the identification parade. The evidence given by the witness in the Court was substantive testimony while the identification made by him at the parade was confirmatory of that fact. The proposition is well established and it is not necessary to discuss the rulings cited at the bar on this point. 41. No capital can be made out of the fact that the trial judge recorded the evidence of the witness with regard to identification of A-7 in Court in an inartistic, laconic manner. 42. In the case of P. W. 11, however, the trial judge recorded this fact more clearly. 41. No capital can be made out of the fact that the trial judge recorded the evidence of the witness with regard to identification of A-7 in Court in an inartistic, laconic manner. 42. In the case of P. W. 11, however, the trial judge recorded this fact more clearly. The witness stated : "I can identify 2 persons among the 5 or 6 persons who were seen going behind the bus with white things like daggers. They are accused 7 and 11 (witness identified accused 7 and 11 )." 43. With reference to the test identification, the witness stated : "I identified A-7 in the 1st parade and A-11 in the second parade." 44. In cross-examination he refuted a suggestion made by the defence that he had identified accused 7 at the parade because the police had shown him to the witness earlier. 45. For these reasons we think that the High Court was clearly in error in discarding the evidence of these independent witnesses (P. Ws. 9 and 11) so far as the Participation of A-7 in the commission of the crime was concerned. 46. The evidence of the interested witnesses (P. Ws. 2and 3) was sufficiently corroborated as against A-7 by the credible testimony of P. Ws. 9 and 11. It could therefore be safely acted upon for convicting A-7 as one of the participants in the commission of the murder of P. Eswara Reddy, deceased. 47. As regards A-2, it is to noted that neither P.W. 9nor P.W.11 stated that this accused was armed with a revolver. Neither of these witnesses had stated that any of the five or six persons whowere seen by them going to the bus and encircling it, was armed with a revolver. They only say that those persons were carrying daggers. The prosecution case however is that A-2 was armed with a revolver only, which he fired in the air. Further when P. W. 9 picked out A-2 at the identification parade, the latter had objected that P. W. 9 was already known to him because he had served him as a driver for about 10 days. The prosecution case however is that A-2 was armed with a revolver only, which he fired in the air. Further when P. W. 9 picked out A-2 at the identification parade, the latter had objected that P. W. 9 was already known to him because he had served him as a driver for about 10 days. It is true that this suggestion was not repeated in the cross-examination of P. W. 9; but we have also a keep in mind in this connection that P. W. 11 had failed to identify A-2 at the test identification parade although both these witnesses had seen the culprits more or less from the same situation and distance. As a matter of abundant caution, while hearing this appeal, we do not consider the identification of A-2 at the test identification parade by P. W. 9, can lend sufficient assurance to the testimony of P. Ws. 2 and 3 as to justify the conversion of his acquittal into the conviction. 48. Thus the position that the emerges is that the evidence of P. Ws. 2 and 3 has been adequately confirmedby the reliable and the independent testimony of P. Ws. 9 and 11 as against A-7, while no such corroboration is forthcoming against any of the other accused-respondents. The High Court was therefore not justified in acquitting A-7. 49. The only question that remains to be considered is : what offence has been made out against A-7. The charge-sheet by the police in this case was submitted against 13 named persons including A-7.The charge under Section 302 read with Sec. 34, Penal Code was also framed by the Sessions Judge against all the 13 named accused. In the charge, it was not mentioned that the besides these named accused, there were some unidentified or un-named persons who acted conjointly with the charged accused, A-1 to A-13. But there was positive evidence on the record that besides the 13 named accused, there were four or more unidentified persons who participated in the commissions of the crime. 50. Now the position which emerges is that excepting A-7, the participation of the other12 named accused the commissions of the crime has not been established. The effect of their acquittal is that they would be deemed to have never participated in the criminal enterprise which resulted in the death of the deceased. 50. Now the position which emerges is that excepting A-7, the participation of the other12 named accused the commissions of the crime has not been established. The effect of their acquittal is that they would be deemed to have never participated in the criminal enterprise which resulted in the death of the deceased. There is nothing on the record to showas to who out of these persons dealt the fatal blows to the deceased. The questions that falls to be determined is : Can A-7, in such circumstances, be held vicariously liable by invoking Section 149 or Section 34, Penal Code for the murder in question. 51. In Criminal Appeal No. 242of 1971 (Maina Singh v. State of Rajasthan) decided on March 17,1976 (reported in AIR 1976 SC 1084 ) after reviewing earlier decisions viz. Dalip Singh v. State of Punjab, 1954 SCR145; Bharwad Mepa Dana v. State of Bombay, (1960)2 SCR 172 ; KartarSingh v. State of Punjab (1962) 2 SCR 395 ; Krishna Govind Patil v. State of Maharashtra, (1964) 1 SCR 678 ; Mohan Singh v. State of Punjab, (1962) Supp (3) SCR 848; Yashwant v. State of Maharashtra, (1973) 1 SCR 291 on this point, this Court speaking through Shinghal, J. reiterated the law, thus : "It would thus appear that even if, in a given case, the charge disclose only the named persons as co-accused and the prosecution witnesses confine their testimony to them, even then it would be permissible to come to the conclusion that others named or unnamed, besides those mentioned in the charge or the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, acted conjointly with one of the charged accused if there was other evidence to lead to the conclusions, but not otherwise." (Emphasis supplied) 52. Let us now have another look at the case in hand, in the light of the above enunciation. 53. In the F.I.R., it was alleged by the informant that 8 named persons and 10 unnamed persons who were not known to the informant, had conjointly committed the crime. At the trial, PW 2 testified that the total number of the culprits who had participated in the commission of the murader was 20. He named A-2 to A-5 and identified A-7, A-10 and A-12 as 8 out of those 20 culprits who had committed the crime. At the trial, PW 2 testified that the total number of the culprits who had participated in the commission of the murader was 20. He named A-2 to A-5 and identified A-7, A-10 and A-12 as 8 out of those 20 culprits who had committed the crime. The evidence of P.W. 3 on this point was that the number of the culprits who committed the murder, while acting in concert was 17.This means according to the evidence, there were acting conjointly with A-7 at least 4 or 7 more persons in addition to the 13 who were charged by the Committing Magistrate. The medical evidence shows that there were no less than 44 incised injuries including penetrating wounds, apart from one lacerated wound, two contusions and one abrasion on the body of the deceased. Practically, he was made minced meat. The extremely large number of injuries on the body of the deceased also lends assurance to the testimony of PWs. 2 and 3 that the number of assailants was more than 13 including some unnamed and unidentified persons. This evidence on the record is thus sufficient to base a firm finding that apart from the accused named in the charge, there were at least one or more unidentified persons who participated in the criminal action against the deceased conjointly with A-7. While the precise number of those unidentified persons, other than 13 named in the charged cannot be ascertained with certitude, it can safely be said that apart from 13 named in the charge, there were some more confederates of A-7 and all of them participated in the fatal assault on the deceased in the manner alleged by the prosecution. A-7 can therefore be safely convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34, Penal Code. Accordingly we allow this appeal against A-7, reverse his acquittal, convict him under Sec. 302 read with section 34, Penal Code and sentence him to imprisonmentfor life. Appeal partly allowed. For Citation : AIR 1976 SC 2207