Full Judgment Text
$~R-68 & 69
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
th
Judgment reserved on: 13 February, 2020
th
Judgment pronounced on: 20 February, 2020
+ CRL.A. 1084/2018
TINKU SINGH ..... Appellant
Through: Mr.Joginder Tuli and Ms.Joshini Tuli,
Advocates.
versus
STATE ..... Respondent
Through: Ms.Neelam Sharma, APP for State with
Inspector Jitender, PS Prashant Vihar
+ CRL.A. 4/2018
SHASHI ..... Appellant
Through: Mr.Joginder Tuli and Ms.Joshini Tuli,
Advocates.
versus
THE STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI ..... Respondent
Through: Ms.Neelam Sharma, APP for State with
Inspector Jitender, PS Prashant Vihar
CORAM:
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MANMOHAN
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL
J U D G M E N T
SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL, J
1. Present appeals are directed against judgment dated 23.09.2017 and
order of sentence dated 12.10.2017 passed by the learned Additional
Sessions Judge, North East, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi in Sessions
case No. 44453/2015 arising out of FIR No. 282/2014, under
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 1 of 20
Sections 302/201/182/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter
referred to as ‘IPC’) registered at Police Station New Usmanpur,
Delhi whereby the learned Sessions Judge found the appellants-
accused persons namely Tinku Singh and Shashi Bala guilty and
sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay
a fine of Rs.5,000/- (each) for offence under Section 302 IPC, and to
undergo further simple imprisonment for six months (each) in default
to pay the fine. Convict Shashi Bala was further sentenced to
undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months for the offence
punishable under Section 182 of the IPC. However, the learned Trial
Court acquitted Sandeep (the third accused before the trial court) for
the offence under Section 201 of the IPC and the state has not
preferred any appeal against the said acquittal.
2. The brief facts of the case, as mentioned by the learned Trial Court
are reproduced as under:
“1. Prosecution case: it is the case of prosecution that on
20.03.2014, a DD No. 26A was lodged by accused Shashi
Bala that her husband namely Inder Pal, R/o K-296,
Street No. 5, Gautam Vihar, Delhi was missing since
18.3.2014. DD was assigned to HC Shri Pal. On
23.3.2014, accused Tinku Singh was called to PS as
suspect to interrogate in missing of deceased. He was
produced before Inspector and during interrogation, he
confessed that on 17.3.2014, he committed the murder of
deceased Inder Pal in his room and thereafter, dead body
wrapped in plastic and jute bags was thrown in the area
of 3½ pusta, Usmanpur near bushes, Yamuna Khadar.
He further disclosed that he could get recovered dead
body. On the basis of this information, Inspector
constituted a police team comprising of police officials
and relatives of deceased namely Dinesh and Sanjay
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 2 of 20
Kumar. Accused led police team to the spot between 3 -
3½ pusta, near IGL Board and pointed out a plastic bag
near bushes and disclosed that the same was containing
the dead body of deceased. Foul smell was emitting of
that bag. Crime team was called to the spot. On arrival
of crime team bag was opened and was found containing
five plastic bags and two jute bags besides one red and
yellow colour printed cloth in which dead body was
wrapped and then was put in that bags. Head of body
was missing one chocolate colour underwear was on the
body and body was tied by a rope. After recovery of
torso, accused Tinku Singh was interrogated again and
further disclosed and pointed out the spot where a big
plastic bag was lying in water log which was recovered
from some distance ahead of the recovery of torso.
Accused Tinku Singh disclosed that it was the head of
deceased Inder Pal. Meanwhile, Inspector called a
private photographer Amal Chand Tiwari for
videography of recovery proceedings. Body was
identified by Dinesh and Sanjay Kumar to be of
deceased. Body was sent to mortuary of GTB Hospital
through Ct. Sachin. Thereafter, police team went to the
spot of incident i.e. at ground floor room at K-296, Street
No. 5, Gautam Vihar thereby leaving HC Shri Pal at the
spot of recovery of body. Crime team also inspected the
room. A case u/s 302/201 IPC was lodged. Accused was
arrested.
1.1. It is further alleged that during investigation,
accused disclosed that he had illicit relations with the
wife of deceased Inder Pal namely Shashi Bala and they
also developed physical intimacy between them, but
deceased was suspicion about this relation and used to
quarrel with Shashi Bala under the influence of liquor. It
is further disclosed that on 17.3.2014, on the occasion of
Holi, Inder Pal quarreled with Shashi Bala under the
influence of liquor and scuffled with her. In the
meanwhile, Tinku Singh who was also there intervened
and during that scuffle, at the instance of Shashi Bala he
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 3 of 20
strangulated the deceased, and Shashi Bala asked him to
remove the dead body and she was going to house of her
sister. Tinku Singh called his friend Sandeep and both of
them beheaded the body of Inder Pal and packed inside
plastic bags and jute bags and threw at two spots
wherefrom it was recovered. Accused Sandeep and
Shashi Bala were also arrested. During investigation,
accused Tinku Singh led police to the house of Sandeep
wherefrom blood stain clothes of Tinku Singh and
Sandeep worn at the time of incident were recovered
besides a briefcase containing two photographs of Tinku
Singh with Shashi Bala were also recovered. Accused
Tinku Singh vacated the tenanted premises and put his
briefcase at the house of Sandeep as he leave Delhi. One
weapon of offence i.e. dav / choppar was also recovered
from the area of Titiksha Model Public School in
pursuance of his disclosures statement. Postmortem was
conducted on the dead body and viscera was preserved.
Subsequent opinion about use of weapon was also
sought. Mobile phone of deceased was recovered from
Sandeep and, all the accused were in contact with each
other by mobile phone. CDRs of those mobiles were also
collected. All the accused were chargesheeted u/s
302/201/182/34 IPC.
3. Accused persons/appellants Tinku Singh and Shashi Bala were
charged under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and an
additional charge u/s 182 IPC was also framed against the
accused/appellant Shashi Bala. All accused persons/appellants
pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
4. In order to bring home the guilt of the accused persons/appellants,
the prosecution examined 26 witnesses in all. Thereafter, statement
of the accused persons/appellants was recorded under Section 313
Cr.P.C.
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 4 of 20
5. Mr. Joginder Tuli appeared for both the appellants in the present
case. For the appellant Shashi Bala, the learned counsel contended
that the prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the
involvement of the appellant Shashi Bala in the present crime; that
the appellant Shashi Bala was living with her sister during the
relevant period and she was occasionally visiting the house where the
deceased and the appellant Tinku Singh were residing; that no
incriminating article has been recovered at the instance of the
appellant Shashi Bala in order to connect her with the murder of the
deceased; that the only allegation against her is the illicit relationship
with the appellant Tinku Singh which the prosecution has alleged on
the basis of two photographs (Mark PW-7/2) and (Mark PW-7/3) of
the appellant Shashi with the appellant Tinku Singh; that the
prosecution has failed to prove the photographs (Mark PW-7/2) and
(Mark PW-7/3) on record, hence, the appellant Shashi should be
acquitted for the said offence.
6. So far as the appellant Tinku Singh is concerned, the learned counsel
confined his arguments only to the quantum of sentence contending
that as per the confessional statement of the appellant Tinku Singh,
the death of the deceased was caused due to a sudden quarrel
between the deceased and the appellant Tinku Singh wherein the
appellant Tinku Singh throttled the deceased which led to the death
of the deceased, hence, the case of the appellant Tinku Singh falls
within the exception 4 of Section 300 of the IPC, consequently, the
appellant Tinku Singh should be convicted for a lesser offence under
Section 304 of the IPC.
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 5 of 20
7. On the other hand, learned APP for the State Ms. Neelam Sharma
contended that the case of the prosecution has been established
beyond reasonable doubt; that the body of the deceased was
recovered at the instance of the appellant Tinku Singh from 3 ½
Pusta, near IGL Board; that the appellant Tinku Singh has confessed
that he was having an illicit relationship with the appellant Shashi
Bala; that the deceased Inderpal quarreled with the appellant Shashi
Bala on the day of Holi i.e. 17.03.2014 and on her instance, the
appellant Tinku Singh throttled the deceased; that the appellant Tinku
Singh at the instance of the appellant Shashi Bala beheaded the
deceased in order to get rid of his body; that two photographs of the
appellant Tinku Singh with the appellant Shashi Bala were recovered
at the instance of the appellant Tinku Singh from a brief case which
was at the house of the appellant Tinku Singh; that the appellant
Tinku Singh further led to the recovery of the weapon of offence
from the area of Titiksha Model Public School, Sadatpur, Delhi.
8. So far as the appellant Shashi Bala is concerned, the learned APP for
the state contended that the conduct of the appellant Shashi Bala is
unnatural as she lodged a missing report of her husband on
20.03.2014 even though she was aware that he was missing since
17.03.2014 i.e. the day of Holi; that the prosecution witnesses prove
that there was close proximity between the two appellants as the
appellant Shashi Bala herself got inducted the appellant Tinku Singh
as a tenant, the latter shared no blood relation with the former; that
the perusal of the record reflects that the deceased was murdered in
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 6 of 20
furtherance of the common intention of both the appellants and
pleaded that the judgment of the Trial Court be upheld.
9. We have heard the learned counsel for both the sides and perused the
material on record.
10. The case of the prosecution originates from the filing of a missing
report by the appellant Shashi Bala that her husband i.e. the deceased
went missing on 18.03.2014. The missing report was lodged with the
investigating agency as DD No. 26A and proved on record as
Ex. PW-3/1. Further, in pursuance of the missing report, the
investigating agency arrested the appellant Tinku Singh vide arrest
memo Ex. PW-16/B and pursuant to his disclosure statement
Ex. PW-23/A , the dead body of the deceased was recovered from
3 ½ Pusta which was identified by the brother of the deceased vide
memo Ex. PW-8/A . Further, the appellant Tinku Singh led to
recovery of weapon of offence from the road in front of the Titiksha
Model Public School, Sadatpur, Delhi and was seized vide pointing
out and seizure memo of weapon Ex. PW-16/E. So far as the
appellant Tinku Singh is concerned, the counsel for the appellants
submitted that he does not dispute the said incriminating evidence
against him and also the findings of the learned Trial Court in these
aspects.
11. However, the main thrust of the arguments of the learned counsel for
the appellant is that there is no incriminating evidence on record
against the appellant Shashi Bala. On the other hand, the learned APP
for the State has argued that the appellant Shashi Bala was having
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 7 of 20
illicit relations with the appellant Tinku Singh and this relationship of
the two appellants paved the way for commission of the said offence.
12. In order to ascertain the role of the appellant Shashi Bala, we deem it
appropriate to refer to the evidence on record. The elder brother of
the deceased Sh. Mahipal Singh was examined in the court as PW-7
who deposed that:
| “On 18.03.2014, at about 9 PM, I received phone call of | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shashi Bala at my phone. It was told to us by Shashi | ||
| Bala that her husband Inder Pal Singh is missing and he | ||
| had left the house under influence of liquor and he is not | ||
| traceable. On 19.03.2014, I along with my nephew | ||
| Amardeep came to Delhi at house of my brother Inder | ||
| Pal at K-296, Gali No 5, Gautam Vihar, Usmanpur, | ||
| Delhi. Room of Inder Pal and his wife Shashi Bala was | ||
| situated at second floor of the aforesaid premises which | ||
| was found lock. I made inquiries about the presence of | ||
| Shashi Bala. One boy took me and my nephew at the | ||
| house of sister of Shashi Bala which was at a distance of | ||
| 200 meter away from the rented accommodation of my | ||
| brother Inder Pal Singh. We reached there. Shashi Bala | ||
| met us at the house of her sister namely Sushma. I asked | ||
| about the presence of my brother Inder Pal Singh. She | ||
| replied that Inder Pal is missing and he had left the | ||
| house under influence of liquor on 18.03.2014 also made | ||
| inquiries here and there in Delhi but no clue come | ||
| forward about my brother Inder Pal Singh. I and my | ||
| nephew returned to my native village. | ||
| 13. The landlord of the deceased, Sh. Pawan Sharma was examined as | ||
| PW-10 who deposed that: | ||
| “I am registered owner of H.No.K-296, Gali No.4, | ||
| Gautam Vihar, Delhi About 2 years prior to present date, | ||
| one Inder Pal had joint tenancy in aforesaid house. I | ||
| had let out two rooms at the ground floor of aforesaid |
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 8 of 20
house. He was residing alongwith his wife and two
children. Wife of Inder Pal is present in court and
standing in dock (correctly identified by face). Inder Pal
used to pay rent Rs.2.500/- per month excluding
electricity charges. There was one room at first floor of
my aforesaid house. Student Shivam was residing as
tenant at the first floor in those days.
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
Tinku was earlier known to me as he was residing in my
house along with Inder Pal and Shashi Bala. Once, I had
gone to my house to take rent from Inder Pal Singh
where Tinku and Shashi Bala had met me and accused
Shashi Pal got introduced me to Tinku saying that he is
known to her. In those days, Tinku was residing in one
room out of two which had been let out the Inder Pal
Singh.
On 23.03.2014, police took me to my aforesaid
house and at that time accused Tinku was with police
officials. At that time, the room of Inder Pal and room of
Tinku both were locked. It also came into my notice on
reaching at aforesaid house that accused Shashi Bala
used to visit her rented accommodation for a short period
for last 2/3 days. It also came into my notice that accused
Shashi Bala had lodged missing report of her husband
Inder Pal at P.S. Usmanpur. Inder Pal was lastly seen by
me on the day of Holi and thereafter, he found
disappeared. Police had recovered dead body of Inder
Pal in parts as it was told to me.”
In his cross-examination PW-10 (Pawan Sharma) deposed that:
“… I had not taken any ID Proof of tenant either Inder
Pal Singh and accused Tinku. Vol. Inder Pal was
rickshaw puller and earlier known to me and my family
and accused Tinku got introduced by wife of Inder Pal. I
am not aware whether there was dispute / quarrel
between Inder Pal and his wife Shashi Bala on petty
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 9 of 20
Issues. I have no personal knowledge about the murder
of Inder Pal.”
14. Sh. Shubham Singh who was a tenant at the first floor of the house at
which the deceased was residing was examined as PW-11 who
deposed that:
“I had joined my tenancy at the first floor of house no. K
296, gali no. 5, Gautam Vihar, Usmanpur, Delhi in the
month of August, 2013. The said house belongs to one
Pawan Sharma. I used to pay rent Rs. 2000 per month to
landlord Pawan Sharma. In those days, accused Tinku
present in court (correctly identified) was residing in a
one room of ground floor of aforesaid house which
belongs to Pawan Sharma. Another room of ground floor
was being used as tenant by Inder Pal Singh and his
family comprising of his wife Smt. Shashi bala (accused)
present in court (correctly identified) and his two
daughters aged about 5 years and 2 years. Prior to my
joining the tenancy, Inder Pal and his family and accused
Tinku were residing in two rooms of ground floor of the
house. On the day of Holi i.e. 17.03.2014, I had seen
Inder Pal in noon hours in his room alongwith family.
Inder Pal used to take liquor occasionally and he was
rickshaw puller.
On the day of Holi, a quarrel had taken place
between Inder Pal and his wife accused Shashi Bala on
the issue of consuming liquor by Inder Pal. At that time,
accused Tinku was at the first floor of house and both the
daughters of Inder Pal were also with him. I left my room
at about 3 PM and went to the house of my relative. As
far as I Remember, accused Tinku had vacated his room
on the next day of Holi.
After 3 or 4 days from Holi of year 2014, two
police officials had visited the premises where I was
residing. At that time, neither accused Shashi Bala nor
accused Tinku were present and their rooms were locked.
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 10 of 20
| Police officials made inquiries from house owner Pawan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kumar about the presence of Shashi Bala and Tinku. | ||
| During aforesaid 3/4 days, in day hours, accused | ||
| Shashi Bala used to visit her tenanted room for a short | ||
| while. As far as I remember, in aforesaid 3/4 days, | ||
| accused Shashi Bala was residing at the house of her | ||
| sister who was residing in the same locality. | ||
| In his cross-examination PW-11 (Shubham Singh) deposed that: | ||
| Police had recorded my statement after 3-4 days from the | ||
| day of Holi. I do not remember the exact date of | ||
| recording of my statement. I heard the altercation | ||
| (kaha suni) between accused Shashi Bala and her | ||
| husband Inder Pal on the day of Holi when I was going | ||
| to take bath, I had not gone to pacify the matter between | ||
| both. I had not gone in the room where altercation was | ||
| going on between accused Shashi Bala and Inder Pal. I | ||
| heard the altercation for about 15minutes.” | ||
| 15. HC Shripal Sharma was examined as PW-15 who deposed that: | ||
| “On 20.03.2014. I was posted at P.S. N.U.Pur. On that<br>day, at about 3 or 4 P.M., copy of DD no.26A already<br>Ex PW-3/1 was assigned to me to take action in matter<br>which was missing report lodged by Smt Shashi Bala. I<br>had read over the contents of DD no 26A. I came into my<br>notice that Shashi Bala lodged a missing report for her<br>husband Inderpal Singh saying that her husband is<br>missing from 18.03.2014. I took steps regarding missing<br>person with the help of other authorities. Carbon copy of<br>missing person form is Ex.PW-15/A which bears<br>signatures of SHO Insp. Mahavir Singh at point A.<br>xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx<br>On 23.03.2014 1 was at P.S. and at about 7 or 8<br>A.M., relatives of Inderpal namely Dinesh Kumar<br>(chacha of Inderpal), Sanjay Kumar (cousin brother of<br>Inderpal) along with other persons came at P.S. They met<br>me and disclosed that they have suspicion against Tinku |
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 11 of 20
| for missing/disappearance of Inderpal who was residing | |
|---|---|
| as a tenant in adjacent room of Inderpal. I called Tinku | |
| from his tenanted room through Ct. Sonu. He came at | |
| P.S. I interrogated him. It was told to me by Tinku that | |
| on17.03.2014, he and Shashi Bala committed murder of | |
| Inderpal in their room and he had thrown the dead body | |
| in the area of Khajuri Pushta at Yamuna Khadar. I | |
| narrated the aforesaid facts of incident to Insp. Jitender | |
| Singh and produced Tinku before him. He also verified | |
| the aforesaid facts from Tinku. | |
| In his cross-examination PW-15 (Shripal Sharma) deposed that: | |
| The dead body was lying at a place in bushes at a | |
| distance of 15-20 feet ahead from IGL Board in between | |
| Pushta No. 3 and 3½, New Usmanpur.Firstly torso was | |
| recovered then head of the deceased was recovered. The | |
| distance between the place where torso was lying and | |
| place where head was lying was about 100 meter. We | |
| were seven police officials besides driver. Accused Tinku | |
| was also with us. Dinesh Kumar, chacha of deceased and | |
| Sanjay, cousin of deceased were also with us at the time | |
| of recovery of torso and head.” |
16. From the aforesaid testimonies, the following facts are culled out:
• That the appellant Shashi Bala got the appellant Tinku Singh
inducted as a tenant in the same house where she was residing
with her husband as well as two daughters even though the
appellant Tinku Singh was not related to her through
consanguinity or any other relation made out of law;
• That a quarrel took place between the deceased and the
appellant Shashi Bala on 17.03.2014 which is evident from the
testimony of PW-11 (Shubham Singh) who has deposed that
On the day of Holi, a quarrel had taken place between Inder
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 12 of 20
Pal and his wife accused Shashi Bala on the issue of
consuming liquor by Inder Pal. However, she did not disclose
the said fact in the missing complaint ( Ex. PW-3/1) made to
the investigation agency;
• That it was the case of the appellant Shashi Bala in the Trial
Court that she was residing in her matrimonial home with the
deceased during the relevant period and it was the deceased
who had gone missing from the said house. Consequently, the
contention advanced by the learned counsel for the appellant
Shashi Bala that she was not residing with the deceased at the
relevant time is contrary to the record;
• That a lackadaisical attitude was adopted by the appellant
Shashi Bala in filing the missing complaint as she was aware
of the absence of the deceased since the day of Holi which is
evident from the missing complaint ( Ex. PW-3/1) and filed it
only on 20.03.2014 stating that her husband was missing since
18.03.2014;
• That she kept visiting the tenanted house even after the quarrel
which took place on the day of Holi and was aware of the
absence of her husband i.e. the deceased which is evident from
the testimony of PW-10 (Pawan Sharma) who deposed that It
also came into my notice on reaching at aforesaid house that
accused Shashi Bala used to visit her rented accommodation
for a short period for last 2/3 days and PW-11 (Shubham
Singh) who deposed that During aforesaid 3/4 days, in day
hours, accused Shashi Bala used to visit her tenanted room for
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 13 of 20
a short while. As far as I remember, in aforesaid 3/4 days,
accused Shashi Bala was residing at the house of her sister
who was residing in the same locality, however, she made no
efforts to trace her husband and remained calm.
• That the appellant Shashi Bala in the missing complaint
( Ex. PW-3/1) filed by her clearly mentioned that she had no
doubt on any person even though she was aware of the fact
that the deceased was last seen along with the appellant Tinku
th
Singh on the 17.03.2014 (as the festival of Holi was on 17
March in the year 2014 and not 18.03.2014) which emerges
from the testimony of PW-11 (Shubham Singh) who deposed
that On the day of Holi, a quarrel had taken place between
Inder Pal and his wife accused Shashi Bala on the issue of
consuming liquor by Inder Pal. At that time, accused Tinku
was at the first floor of house and both the daughters of
Inder Pal were also with him , still she did not mention the
said fact in her missing report ( Ex. PW-3/1) . The said conduct
of the appellant Shashi Bala gives reason to draw adverse
inference against her that she was trying to protect the
appellant Tinku Singh being aware of the fate of her husband.
17. Hence from the aforesaid discussion, we are of the view that the
overall conduct of the appellant Shashi Bala is unnatural. The acts of
the appellant reflect that she was aware about the happening of the
unfortunate incident with her husband, which led to the concocting of
a story in order to protect the other appellant Tinku Singh.
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 14 of 20
18. Moreover, we are in consonance with the findings of the Trial Court
to the extent of recovery of two photographs which are
(Mark PW-7/2) and (Mark PW-7/3). The photographs were
recovered at the instance of the appellant Tinku Singh from House
No. C-136, Chandan Vihar, Nangloi and seized vide memo
(Ex. PW-16/K) wherein the appellant Shashi Bala and the appellant
Tinku Singh have been portrayed as a newly wedded couple. The
recovery of the said photographs has not been disputed by the
counsel for the appellants in the present proceedings. The only
contention is that the prosecution has failed to prove them on record
for want of negatives. It is an established fact that the photographs
were recovered at the instance of the appellant Tinku Singh and only
he could have elaborated upon the fact as to the place where the
negatives could have been procured. The presumption under Section
106 of the Indian Evidence Act is applicable as to this particular fact
as the whereabouts of the two photographs were within the exclusive
knowledge of the appellant Tinku Singh. Moreso, it was for both the
appellants to explain the demonstration being done in the said two
photographs as the appellant Tinku Singh was well aware of the
marital status of the appellant Shashi Bala.
19. It is settled law that the common intention or the intention of the
individual concerned in furtherance of the common intention could
be proved either from direct evidence o r by inference from the acts
or attending circumstances of the case and conduct of the parties.
Direct proof of common intention is seldom available and, therefore,
such intention can only be inferred from the circumstances appearing
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 15 of 20
from the proved facts of the case and the proved circumstances.
In Asif Khan vs. State of Maharashtra and Ors. reported at AIR
2019 SC 1286 the Apex Court while reiterating the principles of
common intention as covered under Section 34 of the IPC has held as
under:
“21. The judgment of Privy Council in Mehbub Shah v.
Emperor AIR 1945 PC 118 has elaborately considered
the ingredients Under Section 34 and the said judgment
of Privy Council has been relied on and approved by this
Court time and again. The Privy Council in above case
laid down that Under Section 34, the essence of that
liability is to be found in the existence of a common
intention animating the Accused leading to the doing of a
criminal act in furtherance of such intention. In
Paragraph No. 13, following has been laid down:
13. In 1870, it was amended by the insertion of the
words "in furtherance of the common intention of
all" after the word "persons" and before the word
"each," so as to make the object of the Section
clear. Section 34 lays down a principle of joint
liability in the doing of a criminal act. The Section
does not say "the common intentions of all" nor
does it say "an intention common to all." Under
the section, the essence of that liability is to be
found in the existence of a common intention
animating the Accused leading to the doing of a
criminal act in furtherance of such intention. To
invoke the aid of Section 34 successfully, it must be
shown that the criminal act complained against
was done by one of the Accused persons in the
furtherance of the common intention of all; if this
is shown, then liability for the crime may be
imposed on any one of the persons in the same
manner as if the act were done by him alone. This
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 16 of 20
being the principle, it is clear to their Lordships
that common intention within the meaning of the
Section implies a pre-arranged plan, and to
convict the Accused of an offence applying the
Section it should be proved that the criminal act
was done in concert pursuant to the prearranged
plan. As has been often observed, it is difficult if
not impossible to procure direct evidence to prove
the intention of an individual; in most cases it has
to be inferred from his act or conduct or other
relevant circumstances of the case.”
20. In terms of the aforesaid discussion, we are of the considered view
that the incident which took place on the day of Holi in the year 2014
which led to the death of the deceased Inderpal was committed in
furtherance of the common intention of both the appellants Shashi
Bala and Tinku Singh and taking into consideration the dicta of the
Apex Court in Asif Khan (Supra) , the contention of the counsel for
the appellants that there is no incriminating evidence against the
appellant Shashi Bala is answered in the negative.
21. As discussed above, the counsel for the appellant has not disputed the
incriminating evidence against the appellant Tinku Singh, however,
the counsel contends that even though the death was caused, the
same was caused due to sudden quarrel which took place between the
appellant Tinku Singh and the deceased, which is evident from the
confessional statement made by the appellant Tinku Singh before the
Investigating Officer. For bringing in operation of Exception 4 to
Section 300 IPC , it has to be established that the act was committed
without premeditation, in a sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a
sudden quarrel without the offender having taken undue advantage
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 17 of 20
and not having acted in a cruel or unusual manner. Moreover, the
onus is upon the appellant to prove that his case falls within the said
exception. The said position of law has been reiterated by the Apex
Court in Nandlal v. State of Maharashtra reported at (2019) 5 SCC
224 wherein it has been held that:
“12. The only point falling for consideration is whether
the appellant-accused has made out a case for
modification of his conviction under Section 304 Part II
IPC instead of Section 302 IPC?
13. In order to bring the case within Exception 4 to
Section 300 IPC, the following conditions enumerated
therein must be satisfied: (i) The act must be committed
without premeditation in a sudden fight in the heat of
passion; (ii) upon a sudden quarrel; (iii) without the
offenders having taken undue advantage; and (iv) the
accused had not acted in a cruel or unusual manner.
14. Even if the fight is unpremeditated and sudden, if the
weapon or manner of retaliation is disproportionate to
the offence and if the accused had taken undue advantage
of the deceased, the accused cannot be protected under
Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC. Considering the scope of
Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC, in Sridhar Bhuyan v.
State of Orissa (2004) 11 SCC 395 , this Court held as
under: (SCC pp. 396-97, paras 7-8)
7. For bringing in operation of Exception 4 to
Section 300 IPC, it has to be established that the
act was committed without premeditation, in a
sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a sudden
quarrel without the offender having taken undue
advantage and not having acted in a cruel or
unusual manner.
8. The fourth exception of Section 300 IPC covers
acts done in a sudden fight. The said exception
deals with a case of prosecution not covered by the
first exception, after which its place would have
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 18 of 20
been more appropriate. … There is no previous
deliberation or determination to fight. A fight
suddenly takes place, for which both parties are
more or less to be blamed. It may be that one of
them starts it, but if the other had not aggravated it
by his own conduct it would not have taken the
serious turn it did. There is then mutual
provocation and aggravation, and it is difficult to
apportion the share of blame which attaches to
each fighter. The help of Exception 4 can be
invoked if death is caused: (a) without
premeditation; (b) in a sudden fight; (c) without
the offenders having taken undue advantage or
acted in a cruel or unusual manner; and (d) the
fight must have been with the person killed. To
bring a case within Exception 4 all the ingredients
mentioned in it must be found. It is to be noted that
the “fight” occurring in Exception 4 to Section
300 IPC is not defined in IPC. It takes two to make
a fight. Heat of passion requires that there must be
no time for the passions to cool down and in this
case, the parties have worked themselves into a
fury on account of the verbal altercation in the
beginning. A fight is a combat between two and
more persons whether with or without weapons. It
is not possible to enunciate any general rule as to
what shall be deemed to be a sudden quarrel. It is
a question of fact and whether a quarrel is sudden
or not must necessarily depend upon the proved
facts of each case. For the application of
Exception 4, it is not sufficient to show that there
was a sudden quarrel and there was no
premeditation. It must further be shown that the
offender has not taken undue advantage or acted
in a cruel or unusual manner. The expression
“undue advantage” as used in the provision means
“unfair advantage”.”
(emphasis supplied)
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 19 of 20
22. The facts of the case are clear that the appellant Tinku Singh at the
instance of the appellant Shashi Bala caused death of the deceased
and the causing of harm to the deceased did not stop there, who went
on to brutally behead the body of the deceased. Keeping in view the
manner in which the appellant Tinku Singh acted at the instance of
the appellant Shashi Bala, we are of the view that the present case
fails to fulfill the requisites as enunciated in Nandlal (Supra) in order
to give the benefit of exception 4 of Section 300 of the IPC.
23. Having considered the material on record, we are of the view that the
prosecution has been able to prove the incriminating evidence against
both the appellants Shashi Bala and Tinku Singh for the offence
punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC.
Further, the charge for the offence under Section 182 of the IPC
against the appellant Shashi Bala is also upheld. Accordingly, the
appeals are dismissed.
24. Copy of the judgment be sent to the Jail Superintendent, Tihar Jail.
25. Trial Court record be sent back along with a copy of this judgment.
SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL, J.
MANMOHAN, J.
th
FEBRURARY 20 , 2020
afa
CRL.A. 1084/2018 & 4/2018 Page 20 of 20