SC and HC Judgments Online at MyNation

Judgments of Supreme Court of India and High Courts

Dilip Bera vs The State Of West Bengal on 7 February, 2020

1

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction
Appellate Side

CRA 683 of 2010
with
CRAN 3352 of 2018

Dilip Bera
-Vs.-
The State of West Bengal

Before: The Hon’ble The Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan

The Hon’ble Justice Arijit Banerjee

For the appellant : Mr. Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee, Adv.
Mr. Sandip Das, Adv.
Mr. Apalak Basu, Adv.
Mr. Dwaipayan Biswas, Adv.
Ms. Moumita Pandit, Adv.
Mr. Nazir Ahamed, Adv.
Mr. Supreem Naskar, Adv.
Mr. Abhradip Jha, Adv.
Mr. Rupam Chatterjee, Adv.

For the State : Mr. A. K. Maity, Learned A.P.P.
Mrs. Kakali Chatterjee, Adv.

Heard On : 03.07.2019, 22.07.2019, 15.01.2020
22.01.2020

CAV on : 22.01.2020

Judgment On : 07.02.2020
2

Arijit Banerjee, J.: –

1. This is an appeal against the judgment and order dated 27.09.2010

and 28.09.2010 passed by the Learned Additional Sessions Judge, 4th

Court, Alipore, South 24 Parganas in Sessions Trial No.2(12) 04 arising out

of Sessions Case No.68(9) 04 convicting the appellant for commission of

offences punishable under Sections 302/201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860

(in short ‘IPC’) and sentencing him to suffer life imprisonment for

commission of offence punishable under Section 302 IPC and to suffer

rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-, in

default to suffer further rigorous imprisonment for three months for

commission of offence punishable under Section 201 IPC. All the sentences

were directed to run concurrently.

2. The written complaint was filed on 04.07.2004 by one Mahadeb

Mondal (P.W.1). The complaint was to the effect that his daughter Pratima

Bera (Mondal) had got married with the appellant. After about one year of

the marriage a contention regarding doing of household works arose and

Pratima was subjected to mental torture. Village level arbitrations were held

more than once to resolve the dispute. On 03.07.2004 at about 8 p.m. in the

night the appellant and his two brothers viz., Pradip Bera and Sandip Bera

beat up Pratima with a rod and subsequently strangulated her to death with

a piece of cloth. Thereafter they poured kerosene on her body and tried to

put fire on her. The villagers around noticed the incident and on arrival they

found that different parts of Pratima’s body had got burnt and discoloured.
3

3. The fact remains that Pratima (‘the victim’) died although the factum

of death is not mentioned in the written complaint. The dead body of the

victim was discovered in the morning of 04.07.2004 about 60 feet away from

the house of the appellant on a paddy field of the appellant’s father. The

dead body was found in half burnt condition. Pursuant to investigation a

Charge-sheet was issued charging the appellant and his two brothers Pradip

and Sandip on the following three counts:

“(i) That you, all since after day of marriage of Pratima
Bera till 03.07.2004 at her matrimonial house at Vill.
Chack Fuldebi within P.S. being the matrimonial relations
subjected cruelties both physically and mentally upon her
and thereby committed an offence punishable under
Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, and within the
cognizance of this Court.

(ii) That you, along with others brothers within your
common intention on 03.07.2004 at about 20-00 hours in
your house at village Chack Fulbedi, P.S. Sagar committed
murder by intentionally assaulting with iron rod which
caused the death of Pratima Bera and thereby committed
an offence punishable under Section 302/34 of the Indian
Penal Code, and within the cognizance of this Court.

(iii) That you, along with others viz. Pradip Bera and
Sandip Bera in furtherance of your common intention on
03.07.2004 at about 20-00 hours at your house of village
Chack Fuldebi, committed murder of Pratima Bera
intentionally by assaulting her which is punishable with
death or imprisonment of and fine and you thereafter
hanged her on a tree by saree and (torn) Kerosene oil on
her person and thereafter, set fire by straw to disappear
the evidence of murder with intention of screening all of
names as offenders from the legal punishment and
thereby committed an offence punishable U/s.201 read
4

with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, and within the
cognizance of this court.”

4. The charges were read over and explained to the accused persons to

which all of them pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. Hence, the trial.

5. The prosecution examined 18 witnesses. The defence examined none.

The statements of the accused persons were recorded under Section 313 of

the Code of Criminal Procedure (in short ‘Cr.P.C’). The case of the accused

persons was one of complete denial. The Learned Trial Judge, primarily

relying on the evidence of P.W.4, P.W.5, P.W.6 and P.W.13 held the

appellant guilty of the charge under Sections 302/201 IPC. The other two

accused persons were found not guilty of charges under Sections

498A/302/201/34 IPC and were acquitted. The Learned Trial Judge held,

inter alia, as follows:

“…but it is proved that accused Dilip Bera used to abuse
and assault his wife Pratima Bera over her not being able
to do huge domestic house hold work and there was no
peace in the house. On the date of incident many persons
heard the cry of a woman coming from the house of
accused persons and they also saw flame of fire from near
the house of accused persons. Parents and their co-
villagers came at the house of accused persons and
stayed there in the night. On the next morning dead body
of the wife of accused Dilip Bera was recovered from a
place merely at a distance of 60 feet away from the house
of accused persons. Police found severe injuries and burnt
injuries over the dead body of Pratima Bera while
conducting inquest over her dead body. Husband of
Pratima Bera or other relatives of Pratima Bera from her
matrimonial home neither made any missing dairy after
she was untraced nor lodged F.I.R after having found the
5

dead body of Pratima Bera being brutally murdered and
burnt.

…………………………….

…the Doctor conducting post mortem examination after
examination of the dead body of Pratima Bera opined that
the death was due to the effects of injuries anti mortem
and homicidal in nature proving that Pratima Bera was
brutally murdered and thereafter attempted to be burned
so as to disappear the evidence of murder. It is also
proved that the injuries sustained by Pratima Bera was of
such dimension and nature that she must have shouted
begging for her life or seeking help from a distance of mere
60 feet away from the house of the accused persons but
none of the family members heard it as if it was a family
of deaf and dumb. It is further proved that the accused
Dilip Bera used to abuse and assault Pratima Bera over
the issue of domestic household work. The chain of
circumstances leading to the guilt of the husband of
deceased Pratima Bera is so complete as to exclude any
hypothesis other than his guilt. Circumstantial evidences
conclusively proves that accused Dilip Bera brutally
murdered his wife Pratima Bera and attempted to
disappear the evidence of murder by burning her dead
body unsuccessfully to screen himself from legal
punishment. In view of the evidence on record, I am also of
the opinion that accused Pradip Bera and Sandip Bera
must have helped their brother in the whole process of
murder and attempt to disappear the dead body of
Pratima Bera but this is strong suspicion only and
therefore, accused Pradip Bera and Sandip Bera are
entitled to the benefit of doubt.”

Sustainability of the said judgment and order of conviction of the

appellant falls for determination in this appeal.

6

6. Let us consider the evidence of the key witnesses. There is no eye

witness to the alleged incident. The entire prosecution case and the order of

conviction is based on circumstantial evidence.

7. P.W.1 is the father of the victim. He has stated in his evidence that

there was marital discord between the appellant and the victim. Each time

the victim went to her paternal home, she was reluctant to return to her

matrimonial home since she was asked to do heavy household work. The

victim was of emotional character. The accused persons used to misbehave

with the victim. P.W.1 was informed about the death of his daughter at

9/9:30 p.m. on the date of the incident, whereupon he along with four of his

neighbours went to her daughter’s matrimonial home and found the dead

body of the victim in half burnt condition. After that they left the place and

reported the incident to Sagar Police Station on the following day.

8. P.W.2 is the mother of the victim. She stated that she found the

victim’s dead body near the house of the accused persons with burn injury

and other injuries on the body in the night of 03.07.2004. The police went to

the spot next morning at about 8/9 a.m. She admitted that the victim was a

woman of hot temper and was obstinate. However, she denied that the

victim did not want to return to her matrimonial home when she went to

visit her parents.

9. P.W.4 appears to be related to the appellant. He deposed that he

works in a ‘Pan Boroj’. On 03.07.2004 he was going to the ‘Pan Boroj’ from

his house at about 7/7:30 p.m. On his way, he heard crying of a woman on
7

the side of the house of the accused Dilip. He further deposed: “I then went

to ‘Boroj’ thinking it was family matter of the accused. After that I was

coming back through that way towards my house after working in my ‘Pan

Boroj’. I found, on my way, that there was fire on the north-west corner of

the house of the accused person near the side of ‘Pan Boroj’ of accused

persons. I also found on the place, where there was firing, that the accused

Dilip Bera, Pradip Bera and Sandip Bera were loitering there at that place. I

then left the place thinking many garbage was being fired. On the next

morning, I came to the house of the accused persons seeing many persons

there. I also found the dead body on burning condition was lying on that

place where there was fire. Police came and arrested the accused persons.”

In his cross-examination he stated that there were many cases, both civil

and criminal, pending between his family and the family of the accused

persons in connection with landed property. He further stated that he went

to the house of the accused persons on 04.07.2004 at about 6 a.m. At that

time there was no police there. The police arrived at about 9 a.m. The police

recorded his statement at the place where the dead body was lying. He had

narrated the incident to the police.

10. P.W.5 is a resident of the village where the appellant resided. She

deposed: “I found a flame of fire on the north-west corner of the house of the

accused Dilip Bera at a Paddy field near ‘Pan Boroj’. I found 2/3 persons

loitering there. I could not recognize them. On the following day, I found that

there was a gathering at the said spot and also the dead body of Pratima….I

found injuries and burn injuries on the person of Pratima and her neck was
8

tied with a cloth.” In cross-examination, she stated that she was the leader

of Sramajibi Mahila Samity and Paschim Banga Khet Majur Samity. She was

looking after the case on behalf of the Mahila Samity. They had filed

applications before the Trial Court as well before the High Court on behalf of

the Mahila Samity to bring one Kakali Halder as a witness in connection

with the case.

11. P.W.6 is also a co-villager. He stated, inter alia, as follows: “…It is ½

k.m. distance from my house to the house of the accused…. I found flame of

fire near the house of the accused while I was coming back from market on

that date. On the following morning I found the dead body of Pratima in

partly burnt condition on the paddy field near the house of accused….” In

cross-examination he stated: “I know the witness Pravash Bera (P.W.4). His

house is at a long distance from the house of the accused. The ‘Pan Boroj’ of

Pravash is also at a long distance from the house of the accused persons.

There is no way to the ‘Pan Boroj’ of Pravash by the side of the house of the

accused…. I met police at about 10 a.m. on 04.07.2004 in the house of

Dilip…. I did not state to any place except today before this court that I

found flame of fire while I was returning from market on 03.07.2004…”.

12. P.W.7 and P.W.8 are both related to the appellant. They were both

declared hostile. In cross-examination by the defence, P.W.8 stated:

“Pratima used to leave her matrimonial home without giving any intimation

to anyone. Pratima left her matrimonial home on the date when her dead

body was found without giving any intimation to anyone of her matrimonial

home. At that time, the accused persons were at Chakphuldebi market.”
9

13. The deposition of P.W.9 to P.W.12 is not of much consequence. P.W.13

is also a co-villager. In his examination-in-chief he stated, inter alia, as

follows: “The incident took place on 03.07.2004. On that day I had been to

Berapara at about 7 p.m. When I was passing through the side of the house

of Hrishikesh Bera (father of the appellant) I heard sound of female voice

from that house. I left the place but when I was coming back at about 8

p.m.. I found fire behind the house of Hrishikesh Bera…. From the flame of

the said fire, I found that Dilip Bera, Pradip Bera and Sandip Bera were

moving…. Thereafter, I came back to my house. On the following morning I

heard that the wife of Dilip Bera viz., Pratima Bera was murdered. Hearing

the same I had been near the house of Hrishikesh Bera. Going there I found

the dead body of Pratima lying at Albadh of the field in half burnt condition

and the neck was tied with a cloth….” In his cross-examination, he stated,

inter alia, as follows: “It is a fact that I am a leader of Trinamul Congress. It

is a fact that in the Panchayat election of 2003 I was defeated by the CPI (M)

candidate Shoharab Shah…. It is a fact that the accused persons are not

follower of Trinamul party (then says – Pradip Bera is a follower of Trinamul

Congress). It is a fact that the accused persons are rival to our party

politically….” It was suggested to him that because of political rivalry with

the accused persons, he was deposing falsely which suggestion he denied.

14. P.W.14 is also a co-villager. He deposed that after the death of Pratima

he had been to the house of Dilip Bera in the morning. She was found lying

in a place where there were some trees and grasses. There was cloth

wrapped on her neck. He did not found any mark of injury. He was declared
10

hostile. In cross-examination by the defence, he stated, inter alia, as follows:

“I know Pravash Bera (P.W.4). I know that he has a ‘Pan Boroj’ in the field. It

is not necessary to go through the side of the house of Dilip Bera to reach

the ‘Pan Boroj’ from the house of Pravash Bera. I know Saroj Bera (P.W.6)

and Ashalata Das (P.W.5). There is no road by the side of the house of Dilip

to go to the market from the house of Ashalata and Saroj. On the previous

day of my going to see the dead body, I found Dilip to play cards sitting in

the market viz., Chakphuldebi market at about 7 p.m.”

15. P.W.16 is the doctor who conducted post mortem examination on the

dead body of the victim. From the Post Mortem report that he prepared and

proved in Court, it appears that he noted several injuries on the body of the

victim. It was also noted in the post mortem report that the victim was 38

kgs. in weight. When the dead body was produced before the Doctor, the

eyes of the victim were found to be bulging out and the tongue protruded.

He also noted in the Post Mortem report that there were post mortem burn

injuries present in the left ear, left side of chest including breast, left side of

abdomen, right side of neck, right shoulder and right parietal region of the

head. Opinion of the doctor as noted in the report is that death was “due to

the effects of injuries as noted above, anti-mortem and homicidal in nature.

Further opinion will be given after receipt of chemical examiner’s report.”

16. P.W.18 is the Investing Officer. He proved the FSL report which was

merely to the effect that no poison could be indicated either in the viscera or

in the sample blood of the deceased. In his cross-examination he stated that
11

P.W.6 did not state before him that he found the flame of fire when he was

coming back from market.

17. We have given our anxious consideration to the facts of the case and

the evidence on record. We have also carefully read the judgment and order

of conviction that is before us.

18. The order of conviction is based on circumstantial evidence.

Admittedly there are no eye witnesses. The Learned Trial Judge has opined

that upon appreciation of the prosecution evidence it is found that the chain

of circumstances is so complete as to indubitably point towards the guilt of

the accused. According to him, no other hypothesis except one consistent

with the guilt of the accused can be conceived of.

19. We are unable to agree with the decision of the Learned Trial Judge

for the reasons indicated hereinafter.

20. To start with, there are unexplained inconsistencies in the evidence of

the various prosecution witnesses. The evidence of P.W.1 (father of the

victim) and P.W.2 (mother of the victim) are really of no consequence. They

were not present anywhere near the place of occurrence. Whatever they have

stated in their deposition concerning the guilt of the appellant is hearsay

and naturally cannot be relied upon. Further, while P.W.1 stated that each

time the victim went to the paternal house, she was reluctant to return to

her matrimonial home, P.W.2 has denied the same. P.W.2 stated in her

evidence that the victim was a woman of hot temper and was obstinate. This

would tend to support the statement of P.W.8 that the victim used to leave
12

the matrimonial home without informing anybody and on the date of the

alleged incident also she had left the matrimonial home without any

intimation to anyone present in the matrimonial home.

21. The evidence of P.W.4 and that of P.W.14 are contradictory. According

to P.W.4 he heard crying of a woman on the side of the house of the

appellant at about 7/7:30 p.m. on 03.07.2004 when he was going to the

‘Pan Boroj’ from his house. He also stated that while returning to his home

through the same way he found fire on the north-west corner of the house of

the appellant and he saw the appellant and his two brothers were loitering

there. However, according to P.W.14, to go from the house of P.W.4 to his

‘Pan Boroj’ it is not necessary to cross the house of the appellant. Moreover,

P.W.6 in his evidence has stated that there is no way to the ‘Pan Boroj’ of

Pravash (P.W.4) by the side of the house of the appellant. This apart, P.W.4

has admitted that several cases, civil and criminal, are pending between his

family and the family of the appellant. This makes a serious dent in the

credibility of P.W.4. He is by no means a disinterested or an independent

witness.

22. P.W.5 claims to have found a flame of fire on the north-west corner of

the appellant’s house. She does not state from what distance she saw the

fire or where she was at the time when she saw the fire. She claims to have

seen 2/3 persons loitering near the fire but could not recognize them. It also

comes out in her evidence that she was the leader of a Mahila Samity and

Khet Majur Samity and was looking after the case against the appellant on
13

behalf of the Mahila Samity. Hence, she cannot also be considered to be a

disinterested or independent witness.

23. P.W.6 claims to have found a flame of fire near the house of the

appellant while returning from market on the date of the incident. However,

P.W.14 in his evidence stated that there is no road by the side of the house

of the appellant to go to the market from the house of Saroj (P.W.6). Further,

according to P.W.6 as also P.W.18, P.W.6 did not state before the

Investigating Officer (P.W.18) that he found flame of fire by the side of the

house of the appellant while he was coming back from the market. It is quite

surprising and difficult to believe that had he really come across such an

unusual scene, he would not have mentioned the same to the Investing

Officer.

24. The evidence of P.W.13 also is difficult to accept. He claims to have

heard a female voice coming from the house of the appellant at around 7

p.m. when he was coming to Bera para. He also claims to have found fire

behind the house of the appellant when he was returning at about 8 p.m.

and claims to have seen the appellant and his two brothers moving around

there. It is again unusual that having seen such alleged suspicious

circumstances, he would quietly return home without making any enquiry

about the same. It has come out in his cross-examination that there is

political rivalry between him and the accused persons. We may take judicial

notice of the fact that in the villages of Bengal, political rivalry assumes

monumental proportions and gives rise to extreme acrimony between

members of different rival political parties. So much so, that a member of
14

one political party can go to any extent to ensure that a member of a rival

party lands in trouble. We cannot rule out that P.W.13 was not speaking the

truth while deposing in Court with the object of inculpating the appellant.

25. On an overall assessment of the evidence on record and the totality of

the facts and circumstances of the case emanating therefrom we are of the

considered opinion that the prosecution has not been able to prove its case

beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant has committed the offence that

he is charged with. It is strange that the two brothers of the appellant who

were co-accused were acquitted of all the charges on the same set of

evidence. The charge under Section 34 IPC was of complicity. While

observing that his two brothers ‘must have helped their brother in the whole

process of murder and attempted to disappear the dead body of Pratima

Bera’, the Learned Judge acquitted the brothers of the appellant but

convicted the appellant. We are not for a moment suggesting that the

acquittal of the two brothers is bad since such acquittal is not under

challenge. However, what surprises us is that we find no material on record

which would indicate that the appellant stood on a different footing

compared to his brothers.

26. There is another angle from which if we look at the matter, we find

that it is improbable that the appellant committed the alleged offence alone.

With the acquittal of the other two accused persons, the charge under

Section 34 IPC goes. The Charge-sheet is, inter alia, to the effect that after

murdering the victim, the offender(s) hung her on a tree by saree. This

however is contradicted by the fact that the post mortem doctor recorded in
15

his report that the eye balls of the victim were bulging out and the tongue

was protruded. The tongue would protrude out and the eye balls would

bulge out generally only if a living person is hung from a tree or is otherwise

throttled. This would not normally happen if a dead body is hung from a

tree. Hence, it is more probable than not that the victim, while alive, was

hung from a tree or was otherwise stifled. We note from the post mortem

report that the victim was 38 kgs in weight. Would it be possible for the

appellant alone to hang the victim while she was alive from a tree? In our

opinion, that is highly improbable if not impossible. To hang a 38kgs. heavy

person singlehandedly when that person would surely be resisting and

fighting for her life, is not something which can easily be achieved. The

aforesaid facts also create a lurking doubt in our mind as regards the guilt

of the appellant. We may also finally note that the appellant has not been

held guilty of offence punishable under Section 498A IPC. Then what was

the motive of the appellant in murdering the victim? We find no satisfactory

answer. Although the law is not that an accused can be held guilty of a

charge under Section 302 IPC only if motive is established, in certain

circumstances, the issue of motive or its absence assumes importance and

this is such a case.

27. Keeping in mind the salutary principle of criminal jurisprudence that

the prosecution has to establish the charge brought against an accused

beyond reasonable doubt, we are unable to agree with the judgment and

order of the Learned Trial Judge. On an overall consideration of the totality

of facts and the evidence adduced by the prosecution, in our opinion, it
16

would not be safe to hold the appellant guilty of the charges brought against

him. The circumstantial evidence relied upon by the Learned Trial Judge, in

our assessment, falls short of the requirement in law to refer a finding of

guilt against the appellant without any doubt whatsoever. The fact that all

the accused persons have been exonerated of the charge of cruelty under

Section 498A IPC and that the two co-accused persons who allegedly had

assisted the appellant in committing the crime have been fully acquitted by

the Court below of all the charges, also take away the wind from the sails of

the prosecution (please see Jose Alias Pappachan v. Sub-Inspector of

Police, Koyilandy Anr.: (2016) 10 SCC 519).

28. In the result the appeal succeeds. The judgment and order of

conviction of the appellant is set aside. The appellant shall be forthwith

released unless he is wanted in custody in connection with some other case.

Let the records of this case be sent back to the Learned Trial Court

immediately for necessary orders being passed by the Learned Trial Judge.

29. CRA 683 of 2010 is accordingly disposed of.

30. Urgent certified photocopy of this judgment and order, if applied for,

be given to the parties upon compliance of necessary formalities.

I agree

(Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan, CJ.) (Arijit Banerjee, J.)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Not found ...? HOW TO WIN 498a, DV, DIVORCE; Search in Above link
MyNation Times Magzine


All Law documents and Judgment copies
Laws and Bare Acts of India
Landmark SC/HC Judgements
Rules and Regulations of India.

Recent Comments

STUDY REPORTS

Copyright © 2024 SC and HC Judgments Online at MyNation
×

Free Legal Help, Just WhatsApp Away

MyNation HELP line

We are Not Lawyers, but No Lawyer will give you Advice like We do

Please read Group Rules – CLICK HERE, If You agree then Please Register CLICK HERE and after registration  JOIN WELCOME GROUP HERE

We handle Women Centric biased laws like False Sectioin 498A IPC, Domestic Violence(DV ACT), Divorce, Maintenance, Alimony, Child Custody, HMA 24, 125 CrPc, 307, 312, 313, 323, 354, 376, 377, 406, 420, 497, 506, 509; TEP, RTI and many more…

MyNation FoundationMyNation FoundationMyNation Foundation