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2013 DIGILAW 1635 (BOM)

Rajesh Rajaram Jadi v. State of Maharashtra

2013-08-20

MRIDULA BHATKAR, V.K.TAHILRAMANI

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JUDGMENT : Mrs. Tahilramani, J. 1. This appeal is directed by the appellant against the judgment and order dated 21.2.2009 passed by the learned Adhoc Additional Sessions Judge, Bombay in Sessions Case No.772 of 2008. By the said judgment and order, the learned Sessions Judge convicted the appellant under Section 302 of IPC and sentenced him to imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.500/-, i/d R.I. for one year. 2. The prosecution case briefly stated, is as under: The first informant PW2 Shiva was working as a watchman at Hamilton Court building, Tagore Road, Santacruz, Mumbai. PW2 Shiva was working as a night watchman. The appellant and the deceased Durgayya were both working in Hamilton building as servants. The appellant was working as a servant in flat of one Jayantibai located on the 7th floor. The deceased was working as a servant with PW3 Ramesh whose flat was situated on the 3rd floor. After the appellant and the deceased finished their work, they used to sleep on the ground floor of the building near the pump room. The incident occurred on the night between 1.9.2008 and 2.9.2008. At about 3 to 3.30pm, on 2.9.2008, PW2 Shiva, who was working as the night watchman was sitting infront of the building. He heard noise from the backside. Hence, he went towards the backside. He noticed that the appellant was holding a piece of tile and he found that Durgayya was lying near the pump room in a pool of blood. PW2 Shiva asked the appellant what he had done whereupon the appellant said that he had killed Durgayya. The appellant then said that he is going to the police. Then PW2 Shiva took the appellant to the police station. PW2 Shiva lodged his FIR (exhibit 14). Thereafter, investigation commenced. The appellant was arrested. The blood stained clothes on his person were seized under panchanama. After completion of investigation, chargesheet came to be filed. 3. Charge came to be framed against the appellant under section 302 of IPC. The accused pleaded not guilty to the said charge and claimed to be tried. The defence of the appellant is that of total denial and false implication. After going through the evidence adduced in this case, the learned Sessions Judge convicted and sentenced the appellant as stated in para 1 above. Hence, this appeal. 4. The accused pleaded not guilty to the said charge and claimed to be tried. The defence of the appellant is that of total denial and false implication. After going through the evidence adduced in this case, the learned Sessions Judge convicted and sentenced the appellant as stated in para 1 above. Hence, this appeal. 4. We have heard the learned Advocate for the Appellant and the learned APP for the State. After giving our anxious consideration to the facts and circumstances of the case, arguments advanced by the learned Advocates for the parties, the judgment delivered by the learned Sessions Judge and the evidence on record, for the reasons stated below, we are of the opinion that the appellant assaulted Durgayya with a tile on the head and other parts of the body and caused his death. 5. The conviction is mainly based on the evidence of PW2 Shiva. Shiva was working as a watchman in Hamilton building at Santacruz (West), Mumbai. On the day of the incident, he was the night watchman. Shiva knew the appellant and the deceased as both were working as servants in Hamilton building. The appellant was working as a servant in flat of one Jayantibai located on the 7th floor. The deceased was working as a servant with PW3 Ramesh whose flat was situated on the 3rd floor. After the appellant and the deceased finished their work, they used to sleep on the ground floor of the building near the pump room. PW2 Shiva has stated that the incident occurred on the night between 1.9.2008 and 2.9.2008. At about 3 to 3.30pm, on 2.9.2008, PW2 Shiva, who was working as the night watchman was sitting infront of the building. He heard noise from the backside. Hence, he went towards the backside. He noticed that the appellant was holding a piece of tile and he found that Durgayya was lying near the pump room in a pool of blood. PW2 Shiva asked the appellant what he had done whereupon the appellant said that he had killed Durgayya. The appellant then said that he is going to the police. Then PW2 Shiva took the appellant to the police station. PW2 Shiva lodged his FIR (exhibit 14). 6. Ms.Ayubi tried to submit that as far as the extra judicial confession made by the appellant to PW2 Shiva is concerned, it has come by way of improvement. The appellant then said that he is going to the police. Then PW2 Shiva took the appellant to the police station. PW2 Shiva lodged his FIR (exhibit 14). 6. Ms.Ayubi tried to submit that as far as the extra judicial confession made by the appellant to PW2 Shiva is concerned, it has come by way of improvement. But we find that no such omission has been got proved by the defence by putting it to the police officer, who recorded the statement of PW2 Shiva. Thus, the evidence of PW2 Shiva shows that at 3.30 pm, he heard a noise and he saw the appellant standing with a tile in his hand near the deceased and deceased Durgayya was lying in the pool of blood and thereafter the appellant confessed to him that he had committed the murder of Durgayya. Thus, the evidence of PW2 shows that it was the appellant, who was the only person who could have assaulted the deceased. The evidence of Shiva excludes any possibility of any other person assaulting Durgayya. It is pertinent to note here that in his statement u/s 313, the appellant has admitted that he was sleeping next to the deceased. 7. The defence raised by the appellant is that PW2 Shiva received injuries due to fall. However, PW1 Dr.Gajare has clearly stated that injuries as found on the body of Durgayya are not possible if a person falls down under the influence of liquor. Thus, there is no merit in the defence raised by the appellant that Durgayya died on account injuries received due to fall. 8. The prosecution case that the appellant assaulted Durgayya with a tile and caused his death is further corroborated by the evidence of PW1 Dr.Gajare, who conducted the postmortem. During the post-mortem, Dr.Gajare found the following external injuries: 1. Laceration 7X12 cm Wedge shaped, on left fore head 3 cm. about left eyebrow bone deep, red within –24 hrs. 2. Abrasion – 2 X ½ cm., oblique, in between both eyebrows, red, 0-24 hrs. 3. Fracture of nasal bone – grievous. 4. Laceration of chin, anterior, 5X1/2 cm., red, 0-24 hrs. 5. Fracture at chin at center – grievous with right front three teeth and lower second front teeth broken. 6. Abrasion on right lower ramus of Mandible, 2 x ½ cm. 2 cm from right angle of Mandible red, 0-24 hrs. 7. 3. Fracture of nasal bone – grievous. 4. Laceration of chin, anterior, 5X1/2 cm., red, 0-24 hrs. 5. Fracture at chin at center – grievous with right front three teeth and lower second front teeth broken. 6. Abrasion on right lower ramus of Mandible, 2 x ½ cm. 2 cm from right angle of Mandible red, 0-24 hrs. 7. Abrasion 3 x/ ½ cm., oblique, 3 cm below left eye brow on left cheek, red 0-24 hrs. 8. Abrasion 1 ½ x ½ cm. horizontal on left cheek 2 cm. from left angle of mouth, red, 024 hrs. 9. Abrasion 2 ½ x ½ cm. horizontal on right shoulder joint, 4cm below the joint, red, 0-24 hrs. 10. Contusion – (1) 2x ½ cm., (2) 2 ½ X 1cm, one above other 3 cm apart from each other, round, on right shoulder, red, 0-24 hrs. All these injuries are antemortem. Dr.Gajarefound internal injuries as mentioned below: 1. Contusion, 7 ½ x 3cm. On left frontal region under the scalp region. 2. Fracture of left frontal bone with fracture of left orbital plate crossing through Cribriform plate and through pituary fossa inside skull. 3. The injuries on brain-meninges congested, oedamatous, extradural, subdural and intracerebral, haemorrhages seen. According to Dr.Gajare, the cause of death was due to head injury unnatural are internal injuries mentioned by him are sufficient to cause death. In Dr.Gajare's opinion, all injuries are possible by pieces of granite and pieces of floor stones (tiles). As stated earlier, Dr.Gajare has categorically denied the defence put forward by the appellant that Durgayya died on account of injuries received due to fall. 9. At the time of arrest, the clothes on the person of the appellant were found blood stained. These were seized under panchanama (exh. 24). PW5 panch witness Mukesh has deposed on this aspect. These clothes were sent to the C.A. As per the C.A. report (exh. 34), the pant and shirt of the appellant were found to be stained with human blood. In this connection, we may usefully refer to the decision of the Supreme Court in the case GuraSingh Vs. 24). PW5 panch witness Mukesh has deposed on this aspect. These clothes were sent to the C.A. As per the C.A. report (exh. 34), the pant and shirt of the appellant were found to be stained with human blood. In this connection, we may usefully refer to the decision of the Supreme Court in the case GuraSingh Vs. State of Rajasthan (2001) 2 SCC 205 ), wherein it has been observed as under: "In view of the authoritative pronouncement of this Court in Teja Ram Case (1999) 3 SCC 507 ) we do not find any substance in the submissions of the learned Counsel for the appellant that in the absence of the report regarding the 'origin of the blood, the trial Court could not have convicted the accused. The Serologist & Chemical Examiner has found that the chadar seized in consequence of the disclosure statement made by the appellant was stained with human blood. As with lapse of time the classification of the blood could not be determined, no bonus is conferred upon the accused to claim any benefit on the strength of such a belated and stale argument. The trial Court as well as the High Court were, therefore, justified in holding the circumstance as proved beyond doubt against the appellant.” 10. On going through the evidence on record, we find that there is sufficient evidence to connect the appellant to the crime. Thus, we find no merit in the appeal. 11. Appeal is dismissed. 12. Office to communicate this order to the Appellant and the Superintendent of jail where the appellant is lodged i.e., Nashik Road Central Prison. 13. At this stage, we must record our appreciation for the able assistance rendered by the learned advocate Ms.Ayubi, who has very ably conducted the matter. We quantify total legal fees to be paid to her in this appeal by the High Court Legal Services Committee at Rs.2,500/-.