cri apeal 1413-11.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1413 OF 2011
Shri Rakesh Rajan Nayar
Age 24 years, Occ: Driver,
R/o. Dinkar Nimhan Chawl,
Nimhan Mala, Pashan
District Pune
(At present in Yerwada Jail) ..Appellant
(Org. Accused )
v/s.
1. The State of Maharashtra
2. Ku. Nandini Rajan Nayar
Age minor, Occ: Student
(since minor through her
Grand-mother Smt. Nayar
R/o. Dinkar Nimhan Chawl,
Nimhan Mala, Pashan
District Pune. ..Respondents
Ms. Nasreen Ayubi for the Appellant
Mr. Rajan Salvi APP for the respondent.
CORAM : SMT. ANUJA PRABHUDESSAI, J.
JUDGMENT RESERVED ON : 14th AUGUST, 2017.
JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED ON: 12th JANUARY 2018.
JUDGMENT.
1. The appellant herein was an accused in Sessions Case No. 343
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of 2010, and who shall be hereinafter referred to as accused, has
challenged the judgment dated 10th March, 2011 whereby the
learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Pune has convicted him for the offence
under Section 304(ii) of Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to
undergo rigorous imprisonment of 7 years and to pay fine of
Rs.5000/- in default to undergo simple imprisonment for three
months.
2. The facts necessary to decide this appeal are as under:-
The accused was married to Rohini Nayar and they were
blessed with a girl child. On 5.10.2010 at about 21.30 hours, the
accused came home with a bottle of thums up and liquor and started
consuming liquor. When his wife Rohini told him not to consume
alcohol, he flung a plate at her. He thereafter banged her head
against the wall and threatened to kill her. It is alleged that the
accused sprinkled kerosene over her and set her ablaze. The
accused thereafter tried to extinguish the fire by pouring water on
Rohini and later took her to Jeevandeep hospital. She was referred
to YCM hospital and later to Sasoon Hospital. The Police Constable
on duty at Sasoon hospital informed Chatursinghi Police Station that
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a patient with burn injuries was admitted in Sasoon Hospital. PI
Shivaji Jawale came to the hospital and upon ascertaining that Rohini
was in a fit condition to give a statement, he recorded her statement
and registered crime no.623 of 2010 for the offences under Section
307, 498A and 506 of Indian Penal Code.
3. PW7 Shivaji Jawale, PI, conducted the scene of offence
panchanama and seized the clothes of the deceased as well as the
other incriminating material found at the place of the incident. He
recorded the statements of the parents of Rohini and other witnesses.
The accused came to be arrested on 6.2.2010. Said Rohini expired
on 11.2.2010 and as such the offence which was initially registered
under Section 307 IPC was converted to Section 302 of IPC.
4. The post-mortem over the body of Rohini was conducted by
PW6 Dr. Mahesh Tengale. He opined that the death of Rohini was
due to shock as a result of burn injuries. Upon completion of
investigation, chargesheet was filed for the offences under Section
302, 408A and 596 of IPC. The case being Sessions triable, was
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committed to the Court of Sessions.
5. Upon committal of the case, charge was framed and explained
to the accused. He pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
Prosecution, in support of its case examined 7 witnesses. The
statement of accused was recorded under Section 313 Cr.P.C. The
accused had filed a written statement wherein he had claimed that
the Nylon saree of Rohini had caught fire while she was trying to
remove the milk vessel from the stove. He had stated that he had
extinguished the fire and brought her to Jeevndeep Hospital. He has
stated that he had married Rohini against the wishes of her parents
and that the parents of Rohini were not in talking terms with them.
He has stated that the parents of Rohini came to Sasoon Hospital and
that the police had prepared a false dying declaration in connivance
with the parents of Rohini.
6. Upon appreciating the evidence on record, the learned Addl.
Sessions Judge, Pune held that the prosecution had proved that the
accused had threatened to cause death of Rohini and poured
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kerosene on her and set her on fire. The learned Addl. Sessions
Judge, however, held that the evidence on record clearly indicated
that the accused had tried to put off the flames and in the process he
too had sustained injuries. The accused had himself taken Rohini to
the hospital. The learned trial Judge held that the said conduct of
the accused reveals that the accused did not have an intention to
cause death of Rohini. In the light of the said findings, the learned
trial Judge acquitted the accused of the offence under Section 302 of
IPC and held him guilty of offence under Section 304(ii) and 506 of
IPC and sentenced him as stated above. The learned Judge further
held that there was no evidence to prove that the accused had
otherwise subjected his wife to harassment and cruelty within the
meaning of Section 498A of IPC and hence acquitted the accused of
the offence under Section 498A of IPC.
7. The State has not challenged the acquittal of the accused under
Section 302 and 498A of IPC. Being aggrieved, by the conviction
and sentence for offence under Section 304(ii) IPC, the accused has
preferred this appeal.
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8. I have perused the records and considered the submissions
advanced by the learned Counsel for the applicant and the learned
APP for the State. The case of the prosecution rests mainly on the
dying declaration (Exh.10), recorded by PW10 and oral dying
declaration made by the deceased to PW3 Balika Mungale and PW4
Bhimrao Mungale.
9. Before adverting to the appreciation of evidence and
considering the submissions advanced by the learned Counsels for
the respective parties, it would be appropriate to consider the
decision of the Apex Court in Shantabai vs. State of Haryana, AIR
2007 SC 2709 the Apex Court has summarized the law on the
dying declaration as under:
“..Though the dying declaration is entitled to great
weight, it is worthwhile to note that the appellant has
no power of his cross examination. Such a power is
essential for eliciting the truth as an obligation of other
could be. This is the reason the court also insists that
the dying declaration should be of such a nature as to
inspire full confidence of the court in its correctness. The
court has to be on guard that the statement of deceasedpps 6 of 16
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product of imagination. The court must be further
satisfied that the deceased was in a fit state of mind after
the clear opportunity to observe and identify the
assailant. Once the court is satisfied that the declaration
was true and voluntary, undoubtedly, it can base its
conviction without any further corroboration. It cannot
be laid down as a absolute rule of law that the dying
declaration in form of sole basis of conviction unless it
corroborated. The rule requiring corroboration is
merely a rule of prudence. This Court has laid down in
several judgments the principles governing dying
declaration, which could be sumed up as under as
indicated in Smt. Paniben v. State of Gujrat (AIR 1992 SC
1817):
. There is neither rule of law nor of prudence that
dying declaration cannot be acted upon without
corroboration. [See Munna Raja Anr. v. State of
Madhya Pradesh (1976) 2 SCR 7640]
. If the court is satisfifed that the dying declaration is
true and voluntary it can base conviction on it, without
corroboration. [See State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ram Sagar
Yadav and Ors. [AIR 1985 SC 416 and Ramavati Devi v.
State if Bihar (AIR 1983 SC 1640]
. The Court has to scrutinize the dying declaration
carefully and must ensure that the declaration is not the
result of tutoring, prompting or imagination. The
deceased had an opportunity to observe and identify the
assailants and was in a fit state to make the declaration.
[See K. Ramchandra Reddy Anr. v. The Public
Prosecutor (AIR 1976 SC 1994)]
. Where dying declaration is suspicious, it should
not be acted upon without corroborative evidence. [See
Rasheed Beg v. State of Madhya Pradesh (1974 (4) SCC
264)]
. Where the deceased was unconscious and could
never make any dying declaration, the evidence with
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regard to it is to be rejected. [See Kaka Singh v. State of
M.P. (AIR 1982 SC 1021)].
. A dying declaration which suffers from infirmity
cannot form the basis of conviction. [See Ram Manorath
and Ors. v. State of U.P. 91981 (2) SCC 654)]
. Merely because a dying declaration does contain
the details as to the occurrence it is not to be rejected.
[See State of Maharashtra v. Krishnamurthi Laxmipati
Naidu (AIR 1981 SC 617)]
. Equally, merely because it is a brief statement, it is
not to be discarded. On the contrary, the shortness of
the statement itself guarantees truth. [See Surajdeo Oza
and Ors. v. State of Bihar (AIR 1979 SC 1505)].
. Normally the Court in order to satisfy whether
deceased was in a fit mental condition to make the dying
declaration look up to the medical opinion. But where
the eye witness said that the deceased was in a fit and
conscious state to make the dying declaration, the
medical opinion cannot prevail. [See Nanahau Ram and
Anr. v. State of Madhya Pradesh. (AIR 1988 SC 912)]
. Where the prosecution version differs from the
version as given in the dying declaration, the said
declaration cannot be acted upon. [See State of U.P. V/s.
Madan Mohan Ors. (AIR 1989 SC 1519)]
. Where there are more than one statement in the
nature of dying declaration, one first in point of time
must be preferred. Ofcourse, if the plurality of dying
declaration could be held to be trustworthy and reliable,
it has to be accepted. [See Mohanlal Gangaram Gehani v.
State of Maharashtra (AIR 1982 SC 839)] .”
10. In the case of Shaikh Bakshu and Ors. v/s State of
Maharashtra 2007 (11) SCC 269, the Apex Court has emphasized
the requirement of reading over and explaining the contents of the
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statement to the victim/deceased.
11. In the case of State of Madhya Pradesh V/s. Dal Singh and
Others AIR 2013 SC 2059, the Apex Court has reiterated the law on
the dying declaration as under :
“The law on the issue can be summarised to the effect
that law does not provide who can record a dying
declaration, nor is there any prescribed form, format, or
procedure for the same. The person who records a dying
declaration must be satisfied that the maker is in a fit
state of mind and is capable of making such a statement.
Moreover, the requirement of a certificate provided by a
Doctor in respect of such state of the deceased, is not
essential in every case. Undoubtedly, the subject of the
evidentiary value and acceptability of a dying
declaration, must be approached with caution for the
reason that the maker of such a statement cannot be
subjected to cross-examination. However, the court may
not look for corroboration of a dying declaration, unless
the declaration suffers from any infirmity.”
12. The law is therefore well settled that the dying declaration,
which is admissible in evidence on the principle of ‘ nemo
moriturus proesumitur mentiri’ – a man will not meet his maker
with a lie in his mouth’, can form basis of conviction if after careful
scrutiny, the court finds it to be true, voluntary, reliable and inspires
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full confidence.
13. In the instant case, the evidence of PW7 Shivaji Jawale
reveals that he was on duty at Chaturshinghi Police Station on
5.2.2010. At about 16.00 hours he had received a message from
Sasoon Hospital that a patient by name Rohini Nayar was admitted
in the hospital with burn injuries. PW7 deputed PHC Pansare to
verify the facts. Accordingly PHC Pansare visited the hospital and
informed PW7 that said Rohini had sustained severe burn injuries.
PW7 therefore went the hospital and verified from the Medical
Officer whether the patient was in a fit condition to make a
statement. The doctor on duty examined Rohini and made an
endorsement that the patient was conscious, well oriented and in
sound state of mind to make a statement. PW7 thereafter
recorded the statement of Rohini and treated it as First Information
Report and registered Crime No. 62 of 2010 for the offence under
Section 498, 307 and 506 of IPC. The said statement was read
over and explained to Rohini and she had confirmed that the same
was as per her say.
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14. PW2 Dr. Sharad Vaze has deposed that he was on duty in burns
ward of Sasoon Hospital as a resident doctor. A patient by name
Rohini Nayar was brought to the burns ward. He examined the
patient. She was conscious, oriented and had 72 % burns. He has
deposed that the patient had stated that her husband had set her
ablaze on 5.2.2010 at about 10 p.m.
15. PW2 has further deposed that the police had come to the
burns ward and inquired with him about the fitness of the patient.
He once again examined the patient and confirmed that she was
conscious, oriented and in sound state of mind to make a
statement. He has deposed that the police had recorded the
statement of the said patient in his presence. He had made an
endorsement on the said statement at Exhibit 10 certifying that the
patient was conscious, oriented and in a fit condition to make a
statement. He has deposed that the patient expired on 6.2.2010 at
9.45 a.m.
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16. The post-mortem over the body of the deceased Rohini was
conducted by PW6 Dr. Mahesh Ingale. The testimony of this
witness vis-a-vis the autopsy report at Exh.19 reveals that Rohini
had sustained 68% burn injuries and that the cause of her death
was “shock due to burns”.
17. The evidence on record reveals that deceased Rohini was
admitted to Sasoon Hospital with burn injuries. She was examined
by PW2 and she had informed him that the accused had set her
ablaze. PW7 had also recorded the statement of Rohini (Exh.10).
The evidence of PW7 vis-a-vi the dying declaration at Exh.10
clearly indicates that Rohini had stated that on 5.2.2010 at about
10 p.m. the accused had come home with a bottle of thums up and
liquor, and that when she prevented him from consuming liquor, he
flung a plate at her and banged her head against the wall. The
accused threatened to kill her and thereafter sprinkled kerosene
over her and set her ablaze. She rushed to the bathroom and tried
to extinguish the fire by pouring water on her body. The accused
also tried to extinguish the fire and thereafter took her initially to
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Jeevandeep Hospital and thereafter to YCM hospital and later to
Sasoon Hospital.
18. The dying declaration recorded by PW7 is consistent with the
oral dying declaration made to PW2. The evidence on record also
indicates that the deceased was conscious, well oriented and in a
mentally fit condition to make the statement. The said statement
was read over and explained to her and was as per her say. The
dying declaration at Exh.10 does not suffer from any infirmity and
can form the basis of conviction. Furthermore, the statement as
recorded in Exh.10 is also consistent with the oral dying
declaration made by the deceased to her parents PW3 Balika
Mungale and PW4 Bhimrao Mungale. These witnesses have
deposed that on being informed that Rohini was admitted in
Sasoon Hospital with burn injuries, they rushed to the hospital.
They have stated that Rohini had told them that on 5.2.2010 at
about 10 p.m. the accused had come home with liquor bottle and
when she had prevented him from consuming alcohol, he had flung
a plate at her. The accused banged her head against the wall and
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threatened to kill her. Rohini had further told them that the
accused had sprinkled kerosene over her and set her ablaze. She
had also informed them that the accused had tried to extinguish
the fire and later brought her to the hospital. The oral dying
declaration given to these witnesses is consistent with the history
given by the deceased to PW2 as well as the dying declaration
recorded by PW7. There is nothing on record to indicate that the
dying declaration was a result of tutoring or prompting. In my
considered view, the dying declaration is true, voluntary and
beyond suspicion and hence there is no reason to discard or
disbelieve the same.
19. The testimony of PW1 Namdeo Kunjia , the witness to the scene
of offence panchanama indicates that he had visited the room/ tin
shed wherein the incident had occurred. He had stated that there
was a stove and a match box in the said room. The has stated that
the room smelt of kerosene. He has stated that the burnt saree,
peticoat and some pieces of burnt blouse were found at the place of
the incident. The said incriminating articles were seized and sealed
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in his presence under panchanama at Exhibit Exhibit 8.
20. The testimony of PW7 indicates that the incriminating material
which was seized from the place of incident was forwarded to the
Government Regional Forensic Laboratory for forensic examination.
The CA Report at Exhibit 30 clearly proves that kerosene residue
was detected on the saree and peticoat of Rohini. The fact that the
room smelt of kerosene and that kerosene was also detected on the
clothes of Rohini not only falsifies the defence that the saree of
Rohini had caught fire while she was trying to remove the milk
vessel from the stove, but corroborates the case of the prosecution
that the accused had poured kerosene on Rohini and set her ablaze.
21. The evidence adduced by the prosecution amply proves that the
accused had poured kerosene over Rohini, set her ablaze and
caused her death. The prosecution had therefore proved the
complicity of the accused in the above crime.
22. Under the circumstances and in view of the discussion supra,
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the appeal has no merits and is accordingly dismissed.
(ANUJA PRABHUDESSAI, J.)
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