REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION  CRIMINAL APPEAL NOS. 1200 ­ 1202  OF 2022 [Arising out of SLP(Criminal) Nos.8624­8626 of 2019] KHEMA @ KHEM CHANDRA ETC.          ...APPELLANT(S) VERSUS STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH     ...RESPONDENT(S) J U D G M E N T B.R. GAVAI, J. 1. Leave granted. 2. These   appeals   challenge   the   judgment   and   order dated 30 th  April 2019 passed by the High Court of Judicature at   Allahabad   in   Criminal   Appeal   Nos.   6961,   7260   and   6227 of   2006,   thereby   dismissing   the   appeals   filed   by   the appellants and confirming the judgment and order dated 28 th September   2006   passed   by   the   Additional   Sessions   Judge, Court No.4, Mathura  (hereinafter   referred to  as “trial court”) 1 in   Sessions   Trial   Nos.   515   and   655   of   2002   convicting   the appellants   for   offences   punishable   under   Section   302   read with   Section   149,   Section   307   read   with   Section   149   and Section   148   of   the   Indian   Penal   Code,   1860   (for   short   ‘IPC’) and sentencing them to undergo imprisonment for life with a fine of Rs. 5,000/­ each. 3. The prosecution case in brief is thus: The   marriage   of   two   daughters   of   deceased   Prakash was to be solemnized on 1 st  May 2002.  On 27 th  April 2002 at around 08.00 am, when deceased Prakash and his wife Kripa were   going   to   extend   invitation   to   their   relatives,   near   the house   of   accused   Deepi,   all   the   accused   persons   who   were hiding   themselves   inside   the   house,   came   out   carrying weapons.     Accused   Deepi   and   Kanhaiya   were   having   farsa with   them   whereas   accused   Khema   @   Khem   Chandra   was having  a club. Accused Jasram, Balveer  and Mahaveer  were having   country  made  pistols with  them.    All of  them  started assaulting   deceased   Prakash   and   threw   him   on   the   brick road.     Inder   (PW­2),   brother   of   deceased   Prakash,   his   sister Omwati   and   wife   Kripa   came   forward   to   save   the   life   of 2 deceased   Prakash.     However,   accused   persons   assaulted them   as   well.     In   the   said   assault,   Inder   (PW­2)   suffered gunshot injury.  On the basis of information given by Omveer (PW­1),   brother   of   deceased   Prakash,   an   FIR   came   to   be lodged  on  27 th   April  2002 at  10.10 am.    On the  basis of  the said FIR, a crime for the offences punishable under Sections 147,   148,   149,   307,   302   and   506   of   the   IPC   came   to   be registered   against   the   accused   persons.   After   completion   of investigation,   a   charge­sheet   came   to   be   filed   in   the   trial court.  Since the case was triable exclusively by the Sessions Judge, it was committed to the learned Sessions Judge.  The learned   Sessions   Judge   framed   the   charges   against   the accused   persons   for  the   offences   punishable   under   Sections 147,   148,   302   read   with   149   and   307   read   with   149   of   the IPC.  Charge was also framed against accused Balveer under Section   25   of   the   Arms   Act,   1959   (hereinafter   referred   to   as the   “Arms   Act”)   and   against   accused   Deepi   under   Section 4/25   of   the   Arms   Act.     The   accused   persons   pleaded   not guilty and claimed to be tried.  At the conclusion of the trial, the   trial   court   convicted   the   appellants   as   aforesaid.     Being aggrieved thereby, the appellants had filed appeals before the 3 High   Court,   which   were   also   dismissed,   thereby   confirming the judgment and order of conviction and sentence passed by the trial court.   Being aggrieved thereby, the appellants have approached this Court. 4. We   have   heard   Shri   Rajul   Bhargav,   learned   Senior Counsel   appearing   on   behalf   of   the   appellants,   Ms.   Garima Prashad,   learned   Additional   Advocate   General   for   the   State and   Shri   S.R.   Singh,   learned   Senior   Counsel   appearing   on behalf of the first informant. 5. Shri  Bhargav  submitted that  the  trial  court  and  the High   Court   have   grossly   erred   in   convicting   the   appellants. He   submitted   that   the   appellants   have   been   falsely implicated   in   the   case.     It   is   submitted   that   though   Omveer (PW­1)   is   projected   as   an   eye   witness,   it   is   clear   from   his testimony that he could not have witnessed the incident.  He submitted   that   even   the   trial   court   has   held   that   from   the deposition   of   Omveer   (PW­1),   it   is   clear   that   he   has   not witnessed   the   incident.     He   further   submitted   that   Inder (PW­2) who is said to be an injured witness, also appears to be a planted witness.   It is submitted that from the evidence 4 of   the   prosecution   witnesses,   there   is   serious   doubt   with regard   to   the   timing   as   to   when   Inder   (PW­2)   has   sustained injuries   and   as   to   when   he   was   medically   examined.     He submitted   that   there   are   material   contradictions   and inconsistencies   in   the   evidence   of   Inder   (PW­2)   and   Dr. Anoop Kumar (PW­6).   6. The   learned   Senior   Counsel   further   submitted   that the so­called recoveries at the instance of appellants are also false   and   could   not   have   been   relied   upon.     The   learned Senior   Counsel   submitted   that   the   prosecution   has   not examined Vijay Singh, brother of the deceased, who was the first to inform the incident to the Police Station Shergarh on telephone.  It is submitted that the station diary entry on the basis of telephonic information given by Vijay Singh has also not been brought on record by the prosecution. It is therefore submitted that the prosecution has tried to suppress the real genesis   of   the   incident.     It   is   further   submitted   that   though Kripa and Omwati, wife and sister of the deceased are said to have   received   injuries,   they   have   not   been   examined.     It   is further   submitted   that   though   independent   witnesses   were 5 available, the prosecution has failed to examine them and as such,   an   adverse   inference   is   required   to   be   drawn   against the   prosecution.   The   learned   Senior   Counsel   therefore submitted   that   the   judgment   and   order   passed   by   the   trial court   and   maintained   by   the   High   Court   is   liable   to   be quashed and set aside.   7. Ms. Prashad submitted that merely because Omveer (PW­1)   and   Inder   (PW­2)   are   relatives   of   the   deceased,   it cannot   be   a   ground   for   discarding   their   testimonies.     It   is submitted   that   both   of   them   have   undergone   cross­ examination and nothing damaging could be elicited in their cross­examination.     She   further   submitted   that   the   ocular testimonies   of   Omveer   (PW­1)   and   Inder   (PW­2)   are   duly corroborated by the recovery of incriminating material on the memorandum   under   Section   27   of   the   Evidence   Act,   1872 (hereinafter   referred   to   as   the   “Evidence   Act”).     The   learned Senior   Counsel   therefore   submitted   that   no   interference   is warranted in the concurrent orders passed by the trial court and the High Court. 6 8. Shri   Singh,   learned   Senior   Counsel   submitted   that Inder   (PW­2)   is   an   injured   witness.     He   therefore   submitted that in view of the law laid down by this Court in the case of Jarnail   Singh   and   Others   v.   State   of   Punjab 1 ,   the testimony   of   the   injured   witness   will   have   a   special evidentiary   status.     He   also   relies   on   the   judgment   of   this Court   in   the   case   of   Abdul   Sayeed   v.   State   of   Madhya Pradesh 2  to further buttress his submission. 9. Shri Singh further submitted that the findings of the trial   court   as   well   as   the   High   Court   are   based   upon appreciation   of   evidence.     He   submitted   that   this   Court   will not   normally   enter   into   re­appraisement   or   review   of   the evidence unless the decision of the High Court is vitiated by error of law or procedure.   He relies on the judgment of this Court in the case of  Smt. Dalbir Kaur and Others v. State of Punjab 3 .  10. A perusal of the judgment of the trial court as well as the   High   Court   would   reveal   that   the   conviction   is   based 1 (2009) 9 SCC 719 2 (2010) 10 SCC 259 3 (1976) 4 SCC 158 7 basically   on   the   testimonies   of   Omveer   (PW­1)   and   Inder (PW­2).     The   Court   has   sought   corroboration   to   the testimonies   of   these   witnesses   from   the   recoveries   made   on the basis of memorandum of the accused under Section 27 of the Evidence Act.  The trial court observed that the  farsa  was seized   on   the   basis   of   identification   done   by   accused Kanhaiya. The trial court further observed that the weapons farsa   and   rifle   were   seized   at   the   instance   of   accused   Deepi and Balveer. 11. To examine the correctness of these findings, we will first assess the testimony of Omveer (PW­1) and Inder (PW­2). Both   these   witnesses   are   brothers   of   deceased   Prakash.     As such, they would fall in the category of interested witnesses, being   related   to   the   deceased.     However,   their   testimonies cannot   be   discarded   only   on   the   ground   that   the   witnesses are   interested   witnesses.     The   only   requirement   would   be that   the   evidence   of   such   witnesses   is   required   to   be scrutinized with greater care and circumspection. 12. Omveer   (PW­1)   states   that   when   his   deceased brother Prakash and Kripa (wife of Prakash) along with their 8 sister   Omwati   were   going   to   extend   invitation   for   the upcoming   marriage,   all   the   accused   persons   were   hiding themselves   in   the   house   of   Deepi.     On   seeing   deceased Prakash, all of them came out.  Accused Deepi and Kanhaiya were   armed   with   farsa ,   accused   Khema   @   Khem   Chandra was   armed   with   lathi ,   accused   Jasram   and   Mahaveer   were armed   with   country   made   pistols   and   accused   Balveer   was having   a   rifle   and   they   assaulted   his   deceased   brother Prakash.     He   states   that   the   blows   were   given   from   the reverse side of the   farsa .   He states that on hearing hue and cry, he as well as other residents of the village reached at the spot and saw the occurrence. There are many improvements in   the   deposition   of   Omveer   (PW­1).     It   will   be   relevant   to refer   to   an   excerpt   from   the   cross­examination   of   Omveer (PW­1): “When   the   quarrel   started,   then   I   was   inside   my house. I heard four­five rounds of firing. I came out of   the   house   after   hearing   the   sound   of   firing   and after   reaching   the   spot,   then   I   found   that   Prakash was   lying   dead.     When   I   reached   at   the   spot,   then Inder   was   at   the   spot.   Inder   had   fallen   after sustaining   the   injury.   He   was   not   fully unconscious.” 9 13. It will also be relevant to note that even Inder (PW­2) has   also  admitted  that  Omveer  (PW­1)  was  inside   the  house when the incident occurred.   14. Not  only   this,   but  the   trial  court   itself   has  observed in its judgment thus: “It is explicit on perusal of testimony of said witness in entirety that said witness was not present at the spot   since   earlier,   but   he   reached   at   the   spot   after hearing the gunshots.   Therefore he did not see the occurrence,   but   due   to   he   having   reached   at   the spot after hearing the hue and cry, so the testimony of   said   witness   is   significant   with   respect   to presence   of   the   accused   at   the   spot   and   they   had been armed with the weapons as disclosed and that having   been   given   by   them   that   in   case   anybody would   get   the   first   information   lodged,   then   he would be killed.” 15. It is thus clear that even the trial court has come to a   conclusion   that   Omveer   (PW­1)   could   not   have   witnessed the incident. 16. That   leaves   us   with   the   testimony   of   Inder   (PW­2). No   doubt   that   Inder   (PW­2)   is   an   injured   witness   and therefore,   his   testimony   could   not   be   brushed   aside   lightly. The   reliance   placed   by   Shri   Singh   on   the   judgments   of   this Court   in   the   cases   of   Jarnail   Singh   (supra)   and   Abdul 10 Sayeed   (supra)   is   well   merited .   The   fact   that   the   witness received   injuries   establishes   his   presence   at   the   scene   of occurrence .     The   evidence   of   such   a   witness   cannot   be rejected   unless   there   are   strong   grounds   for   such   rejection. Inder   (PW­2)   has   given   detailed   narration   as   to   how   the incident   has   occurred.     He   has   stated   that   accused   Deepi and   Kanhaiya   assaulted   with   farsa ,   accused   Khema assaulted   with   lathi   and   accused   Balveer,   Mahaveer   and Jasram   assaulted   with   the   butts   of   their   guns.     Accused Balveer,   Mahaveer   and   Jasram   fired   simultaneously.     He states   that   when   Omwati   lay   on   him   to   save   him,   accused persons assaulted Omwati with stones and  danda . 17. The   incident   had   occurred   on   27 th   April   2002. However,   the   statement   of   Inder   (PW­2)   was   recorded   under Section   161   Cr.P.C.   on   21 st   May   2002.     In   his   cross­ examination,   he  admitted  that   the   police  did  not   interrogate him   on   30 th   April   2002.   Not   only   is   there   a   long   delay   in recording   his   statement   but   there   are   serious   discrepancies with   regard   to   the   medical   examination   of   Inder   (PW­2)   as well.  In the injury report (Ex.­P7), the time of examination is 11 stated to be 10.20 pm.   From the evidence of Omveer (PW­1) and Inder (PW­2), it is clear that after the incident occurred, they   had   gone   to   Police   Station   Shergarh   and   they   were   in the Police Station Shergarh from 10.00 am  to 11.00 am.   In his evidence, Inder (PW­2) has stated that he has reached the hospital at 12.00 o’clock and that his medical check­up was done during day time. In his examination­in­chief, Dr. Anoop Kumar (PW­6) has stated that there was a possibility that the injuries were inflicted at 08.00 am on 27 th  April 2002.  In his cross­examination,   he   admits   that   in   the   report   of   medical examination, he has mentioned the injuries as fresh meaning thereby that such injuries had been inflicted within a period of   2   hours   to   6   hours.     He   further   admits   that   the   medical examination   was   done   at   10.20   pm   on   27 th   April   2022.     As such, the injuries could be inflicted subsequent to 04.20 pm. He has further admitted that there are no entries made with respect   to   the   injuries   caused   to   Inder   (PW­2)   in   the concerned register.   18. It   is   pertinent   to   note   that   after   noticing   such inconsistencies with regard to time of injuries sustained and 12 the   time   of   medical   examination   of   Inder   (PW­2),   Dr.   Anoop Kumar   (PW­6)   was   recalled   at   the   request   of   the   Additional District   Government   Pleader.     In   his   re­examination,   he  has stated that due to some mistake, 10.20 pm was mentioned in the medical examination report and actually, it was done on 27 th   April   2002   at   10.20   am.     In   his   further   cross­ examination,   he   has   given   contradictory   answers.     He   has stated   that   he   had   never   done   duty   in   the   night   and therefore,   he   could   say   that   he   had   not   done   the   medical examination at 10.20 pm.   He has further admitted that the duties are fixed on the basis of the roster and the duties are not on a regular basis.  He has further admitted that they are required to do the duties on shift basis.  It could thus clearly be   seen   that   there   are   serious   discrepancies   with   regard   to the   time   of   injuries   sustained   and   the   time   of   medical examination of Inder (PW­2). 19. The version of Dr. Anoop Kumar (PW­6) that he had examined   Inder   (PW­2)   at   10.20   am   itself   is   falsified   by   the evidence   of   Omveer   (PW­1)   and   Inder   (PW­2).     According   to both  of   them,  they  were  in   the  Police  Station  Shergarh  from 13 10.00   am   to   11.00   am   and   thereafter,   Inder   (PW­2)   left   for Mathura.     Even   according   to   Inder   (PW­2),   he   reached Mathura   after   12.00   o’clock.     He   stated   that   after   reaching the hospital, he was examined after about 2 hours.  As such, even   if   the   version   of   Dr.   Anoop   Kumar   (PW­6)   in   re­ examination that he had examined Inder (PW­2) at 10.20 am is   to   be   accepted,   the   same   is   totally   inconsistent   with   the testimony of Omveer  (PW­1) and Inder (PW­2).   As such, the possibility of some fabrication in the injury certificate cannot be rejected. 20. We   are   conscious   that   on   the   ground   of   minor inconsistencies,   the   evidence   of   Inder   (PW­2)   cannot   be brushed   aside.     However,   it   is   to   be   noted   that   there   are material   improvements   in   his   evidence.     His   evidence therefore   is   required   to   be   scrutinized   with   greater   caution and   circumspection.     It   is   further   to   be   noted   that   even according   to   the   prosecution,   there   is   previous   enmity between   the   accused   and   the   deceased.     As   held   by   this Court   in   the   case   of   Ramashish   Rai   v.   Jagdish   Singh 4 , previous   enmity   is   a   double­edged   sword.     On   one   hand,   it 4 (2005) 10 SCC 498 14 provides   motive   to   the   crime   and   on   the   other,   there   is   a possibility of false implication. 21. This   Court,   in   the   celebrated   case   of   Vadivelu Thevar v. State of Madras 5 , has observed thus: “…….Hence,   in   our   opinion,   it   is   a   sound   and well­established   rule   of   law   that   the   court   is concerned   with   the   quality   and   not   with   the quantity   of   the   evidence   necessary   for   proving   or disproving   a   fact.   Generally   speaking,   oral testimony   in   this   context   may   be   classified   into three categories, namely: ( 1 ) Wholly reliable. ( 2 ) Wholly unreliable. ( 3 ) Neither wholly reliable nor wholly unreliable. In   the   first   category   of   proof,   the   court   should have no difficulty in coming to its conclusion either way   —   it   may   convict   or   may   acquit   on   the testimony   of   a   single   witness,   if   it   is   found   to   be above   reproach   or   suspicion   of   interestedness, incompetence   or   subornation.   In   the   second category,   the   court   equally   has   no   difficulty   in coming  to   its   conclusion.   It   is   in   the  third   category of   cases,   that   the   court   has   to   be   circumspect   and has to look for corroboration in material particulars by reliable testimony, direct or circumstantial..……” 5 [1957] SCR 981 15 22. We find that the testimony of Inder (PW­2) would fall under   the   3 rd   category   i.e.   his   evidence   can   be   said   to   be “neither   wholly   reliable   nor   wholly   unreliable”.     As   such,   it will   be   necessary   that   there   is   some   corroboration   to   his ocular testimony. 23. The   trial   court   had   relied   on   the   recoveries   of   the weapons on the memorandum of the accused persons alleged to have been used in the commission of crime.  Insofar as the seizure at the instance of accused Kanhaiya is concerned, he was arrested on 1 st  May 2002.  It is to be noted that there are no   independent   panchas   to   the   seizure   memo.     Apart   from that, the memorandum statement of accused Kanhaiya, as is required to be recorded under Section 27 of the Evidence Act, has also not been brought on record.   24. Insofar   as   the   recoveries   at   the   instance   of   accused Deepi   and   Balveer   are   concerned,   the   said   accused   have surrendered   in   court   on   7 th   May   2002.   Inspector   Ashok Kumar Singh, Investigating Officer (PW­7) has stated that on 8 th  May 2002, a search for the weapons was made in Burji at Kosi   Road,   but   he   could   not   recover   any   weapon.     However 16 on   17 th   May   2002,   the   recoveries   are   alleged   to   have   been made   at   the   instance   of   accused   Deepi   and   Balveer.     Even the   seizure   memo   of   the   recovery   in   respect   of   these   two accused is not signed by any independent panch witness.  In the   case   of   these   two   accused,   the   memorandum   recorded under   Section   27   of   the   Evidence   Act   is   also   not   placed   on record.  As such, the said recoveries cannot be said to be free from doubt. 25. It   is   further   to   be   noted   that   immediately   after   the incident, Vijay Singh, brother of deceased Prakash as well as Omveer (PW­1) and Inder (PW­2), informed about the incident to Police Station Shergarh on telephone which fact has come on record in the evidence of Omveer (PW­1) and Inder (PW­2). Neither   Vijay   has   been   examined   nor   has   the   station   diary entry with regard to the said telephonic message been placed on   record.     Though   Inder   (PW­2)   has   admitted   that   the incident   was   witnessed   by   Parmal,   Rajveer   and   other residents,   none   of   them   was   examined.   As   such,   the possibility of the prosecution not bringing on record the real genesis of the incident cannot be ruled out. 17 26. Shri   Singh   has   strongly   relied   on   the   judgment   of this   Court   in   the   case   of   Smt.   Dalbir   Kaur   (supra)   in support   of   the   submission   that   in   view   of   the   concurrent findings   of   fact,   this   Court   should   not   re­appreciate   the evidence.  No doubt that the reliance placed by Shri Singh  on the judgment of this Court in the case of   Smt. Dalbir Kaur (supra)   is   well   merited.     However,   it   is   to   be   noted   that   this Court, in a catena of cases, has held that though in cases of concurrent   findings   of   fact   this   Court   will   not   ordinarily interfere   with   the   said   findings,   in   exceptional circumstances,   this   Court   is   empowered   to   do   so.   If   this Court finds that the appreciation of evidence and findings is vitiated by any error of law or procedure or found contrary to the   principles   of   natural   justice,   errors   of   record   and misreading   of   the   evidence,   or   where   the   conclusions   of   the High Court are manifestly  perverse, this Court would not be powerless   to   reappreciate   the   evidence.       Reliance   in   this respect could be placed on the judgments of this Court in the cases   of   Himachal   Pradesh   Administration   v.   Shri   Om Prakash 6 ,   Arunachalam   v.   P.S.R.   Sadhanantham   and 6 (1972) 1 SCC 249 18 Another 7 ,   Mithilesh   Kumari   and   Another   v.   Prem   Behari Khare 8 ,   State   of   U.P.   v.   Babul   Nath 9 ,   and   Pattakkal Kunhikoya   (Dead)   By   LRs.   v.   Thoopiyakkal   Koya   and Another 10 .   27. Recently,   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Ashoksinh Jayendrasinh   v.   State   of   Gujarat 11   had   also   held   that when   the   High   Court   has   failed   to   appreciate   the   oral evidence, this Court would certainly be entitled to appreciate the   evidence   in   correct   perspective.     In   the   said   case   also, this   Court,   finding   that   the   conviction   was   recorded   after ignoring   the   vital   evidence,   has   set   aside   the   order   of conviction and acquitted the accused.   28. In the present case, we notice that the trial court as and the High Court have failed to take into consideration the vital discrepancies and inconsistencies in the evidence of the prosecution witnesses. 29. From   the   perusal   of   the   evidence   as   well   as   the findings of the trial court itself, it is clear that Omveer (PW­1) 7 (1979) 2 SCC 297 8 (1989) 2 SCC 95 9 (1994) 6 SCC 29 10 (2000) 2 SCC 185 11 (2019) 6 SCC 535 19 cannot be said to be an eye witness.  Though, Inder (PW­2) is an   injured   eye   witness,   there   are   serious   discrepancies   and inconsistencies  with  regard  to   time  of  the  injuries  sustained and   time   at   which   he   was   medically   examined.     Dr.   Anoop Kumar   (PW­6),   in   his   evidence,   has   changed   his   stance   on several occasions. His testimony is totally contrary to that of Omveer (PW­1) and Inder (PW­2). As held by us, it will not be safe   to   base   the   conviction   on   the   sole   testimony   of   Inder (PW­2)   though   he   is   an   injured   witness.   The   corroboration sought by the prosecution with regard to alleged recoveries of the   weapons   used   in   the   crime   is   also   not   free   from   doubt. Neither   the   station   diary   entry   with   regard   to   telephonic intimation given by Vijay Singh at 9.05 am has been brought on   record   nor   has   Vijay   Singh   been   examined.   Though independent   witnesses   were   available,   the   prosecution   has failed to examine them.  We therefore find that this is a case wherein the appellants are entitled for benefit of doubt. 30. In the result, we pass the following order: (i) The appeals are allowed; 20 (ii) The judgment and order dated 30 th  April 2019 passed by   the   High   Court   of   Judicature   at   Allahabad   in Criminal   Appeal   Nos.   6961,   7260   and   6227   of   2006 and   the   judgment   and   order   dated   28 th   September 2006 passed by the trial court in Sessions Trial Nos. 515 and 655 of 2002 are quashed and set aside; and (iii) The   appellants   are   acquitted   of   all   the   charges charged with.  Deepi, who has been enlarged on bail, shall have his bail bonds cancelled, while the rest of the accused are directed to be set at liberty forthwith, if not required in any other case. 31. Pending   application(s),   if   any,   including   application for bail, shall stand disposed of in the above terms. …..….......................J. [B.R. GAVAI] …….................................................J.        [PAMIDIGHANTAM SRI NARASIMHA] NEW DELHI; AUGUST 10, 2022. 21