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2005 DIGILAW 1055 (BOM)

State of Maharashtra v. Dadarao s/o. Bapurao Jivtode

2005-08-17

J.N.PATEL, R.C.CHAVAN

body2005
R.C. CHAVAN, J.:- Taking exception to the acquittal of six persons sent up for trial for gang rape, the State of Maharashtra has preferred this appeal. 2. The facts which led to the prosecution of the Respondents are indeed pathetic. A. family of labourers from Andhra Pradesh was working for Reheman Sheikh Farid at village Khapa. The family resided in a shed in Reheman's agricultural land at Khapa. On 27 -05-1992 two boys came on a motor cycle and sat for some time near a well in the field. They were noticed by the members of the family of the migrant labourer, Varhal Reddy, comprising of his deaf and dumb daughter Vrundavati, aged 20 years and wife Tulsamma. The two boys who had come in the afternoon visited the field again around midnight. The electricity supply to the shed was disconnected. The boys were accompanied by five others. Varhal Reddy, victim's father, was tied up and Tulsamma was restrained from moving by one of the boys. Others then committed rape upon Vrundavati. All of them left after the heinous act. 3. Next morning the victim and her parents informed their master. On finding that two of the seven miscreants were Dadarao and Bhimrao, Raheman called them at his residence and asked Varhal, his wife Tulsamma and daughter Vrundavati to identify them. The victim and her parents identified the boys. Then on the next day a report was given at Police Station, Khaperkheda, whereupon an offence was registered and investigation commenced. 4. The police caused the victim to be medically examined. They also seized the clothes which victim was wearing. Panchanama of the spot was also drawn up. The accused persons were arrested: The Police caused them to be medically examined. A test identification parade was held. On completion of the investigation charge-sheet was sent to the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Saoner who committed the case to the Court of Sessions at Nagpur. 5. The learned Additional Sessions Judge to whom the case was assigned charged the six accused persons, who were sent up for trial, of the offences punishable under Sections 341, 324, 452 read with Section 34 and 376(2)(g) of the Indian Penal Code. All the accused pleaded not guilty and hence, were put on trial. In its attempt to bring home the guilt of the accused the prosecution examined in all ten witnesses. All the accused pleaded not guilty and hence, were put on trial. In its attempt to bring home the guilt of the accused the prosecution examined in all ten witnesses. The defence taken by the accused was that of denial if involvement in the unfortunate incident. Upon consideration of the evidence tendered in the light of arguments advanced, the learned Additional Sessions Judge held that the prosecution had failed to prove complicity of the accused in the offences allegedly committed. He therefore, proceeded to acquit all of them of all the offences with which they were charged. Aggrieved thereby the State has appealed. 6. We have heard the learned Additional Public' Prosecutor for the State and learned Adv. Thakur for the respondents/ original accused. 7. The incident occurred at night when admittedly electricity supply had been disconnected. P.W. No.4 Varhal Subba Reddy, victim's father, has stated that he suffers from night blindness and therefore, obviously could not identify any of the miscreants. P.W. No.2 victim Vrundavati, who was examined with the help of an interpreter and P.W. No.6 Tulsamma identified first four and first two accused·, respectively before the Court as the miscreants. 8. During the course of investigation the Police has caused test identification parade to be held by P.W. No.5 Tahsildar, Shri. Sawarkar. At this test identification parade only accused Nos.1 to 4 had been put up for identification. Apart from other procedural deficiencies in conduct of the identification parade it is surprising that the victim Vrundavati identified the dummies Chandrakant Neware, Chandrashekhar Barde also alongwith four accused persons set up at the parade. Tulsamma too identified dummy Chandrakant Neware at the parade. If the witnesses can commit a mistake by identifying totally innocent persons as the miscreants at the test identification parade, the identification of accused Nos.1 to 4 by P.W. No.2 Vrundavati or identification of accused Nos.1 and 2 by P.W. No.6 Tulsamma at the trial would be extremely doubtful. It would be too risky to rely on such identification to hold respondents the guilty of the ghastly act committed in the dead of night in total darkness by the people who were perfect strangers to the victim and her family. 9. Further the victim and her mother had already been shown accused Nos.1 and 2 by P.W.1 Reheman as suspects. 9. Further the victim and her mother had already been shown accused Nos.1 and 2 by P.W.1 Reheman as suspects. They come to be summoned by P.W.1 Raheman because P.W.7 Pusaram said that accused Nos.1 and 2 were the boys who had came in the afternoon at the well. P.W. No.7 Pusaram turned hostile and said that he had not seen the accused. Thus, possibility of entirely wrong persons being identified is distinct. 10. Though incriminating article were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory, report at Exh.105 shows that there were no semen stains on victims garments or vaginal swab. Finding of semen stains on under garments of accused does not connect them to intercourse with victim. Their undergarments do not have any stains of any body fluid of victim. 11. In view of this glaring deficiency in evidence regarding identification of the miscreants it is not necessary to discuss the other aspects of the matter. Therefore, the view taken by the learned trial Judge cannot be said to be improper or perverse. It is settled principle of law that when two views of a matter are possible and the trial Judge takes one view it would not be open for an appellate Court to upset such findings because the appellate Court on appreciation of evidence, could have come to another conclusion. In this view of the matter, we find no merit in the appeal and therefore, dismiss the same. Bail bonds, if any, furnished by the Respondents, shall stand cancelled.