A SHANKARversusSTATE OF KARNATAKA

                      [2011] 6 S C.R. 999


                          A SHANKAR                               A
                                v.
                    STATE OF KARNATAKA
              (Criminal Appeal No. 1006 of 2007)
                         JUNE 9, 2011
                                                                   B
   [DR. B.S. CHAUHAN AND SWATANTER KUMAR, JJ.]

        Penal Code, 1860: ss.302 and 307, 324 - Charge-sheet
  filed ulss.302, 307 against appellant-accused - Acquittal by
  trial court on the ground that prosecution failed to prove C
  beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant had committed
  murder of the brother of the complainant or made an attempt
  to kill the complainant - Appeal against acquittal - Conviction
  by High Court u/ss.302 and 324 - Justification of- Held: Not
  justified - Contradiction between the statement of the D
  complainant made in the court as compared to his statement
  before the police regarding the weapon. of crime demolished
  the prosecution version - Delay in lodging FIR was not
  explained - Non-production of the FSL report in the court by
   the prosecution was fatal as in absence thereof it was difficult E
  for the court to reach to the conclusion as to whether the
   offence was committed with scissors or knife - More so, after
  the incident, the /. 0. was busy in searching the brother of the
   appellant and he made no attempt to search the appellant -
   These factors clearly indicated that ·investigation was not F
/ conducted fairly - High Court committed an error in recording
   the finding of fact that prosecution succeeded in proving case
  beyond reasonable doubt - Conviction set aside - FIR -
  Evidence - Investigation.

      Evidence: Contradiction/discrepancies in the evidence -      G
 Effect of - Held: In all criminal cases, normal discrepancies
 are bound to occur in the depositions of witnesses due to
 normal errors of observation, namely, errors of memory due
 to lapse of time or due to mental disposition such as shock
                               999                                 H
    1000    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 (2011] 6 S.C.R.

A and horror at the time of occurrence - Where the omissions
    amount to a contradiction, creating a serious doubt about the
    truthfulness of the witness, such evidence cannot be safe to
    rely upon ..,. Penal Code, 1860.
        Appeal: Appeal against acquittal - Acquittal by trial court
9
    - Scope of intetference by the appellate court - Held: The
    appellate court while reversing the judgment of acquittal must
    bear in mind the presumption of innocence of the accused.
       FIR: Delay in lodging FIR - Effect of- Held: In the instant
C case, the alleged occurrence took place at 2.00 p.m. and the
  police station was hardly at a distance of 1 K. M. from the place
  of the occurrence and complainant had never deposed that
  he had become unconscious - The delay was, therefore, not
  explained and was fatal to the prosecution case - Penal
D Code, 1860.

       The prosecution case was that the victim-deceased
  was the elder brother of the complainant-PW-8. On the
  fateful day, the accused-appellant came to the barber
E saloon of the deceased and demanded Rs.150/- from the
  deceased. Since the deceased did not give the money
  demanded, the appellant got angry and threatened to see
  him later. The appellant came back at 9.30 p.m. to the
  shop of the deceased, sought shelter therein, had food,
F and slept there with the deceased and the complainant·
  PW-8. At about 2 a.m., PW-8 heard sounds and woke up.
  He saw that the appellant was hitting the deceased with
  a knife on the chest and when PW·8 shouted, the
  appellant hit him also with the knife on the left abdomen
  and hands and ran away. The deceased died of assault
G and PW-8 got Injured, and was taken to the hospital for
  treatment.
     The trial court held that prosecution falled to prove
  beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant had
H committed murder of the deceased or made an attempt
      A SHANKAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                1001

                                                              :~
to kill PW-8 and acquitted the appellant of the charges      A~
under Sections 302 and 307 IPC. On appeal, the High
Court convicted the appellant under· Section 302 and
Section 324 IPC and awarded him life Imprisonment. The
Instant appeal was filed challenging the order of the High
Court.                                                       B
    Allowing the appeal, the Court

    HELO: 1.. 1. White lodging the complaint, PW-8 stated
that the appellant came to his brother's shop and
demanded money from him and since his brother did not C
give the money de.manded, the appellant got angry and
threatened that he would take care of him later. However,
the evidence of PW-8 in his deposition in the court did
not mention about the first visit of the appellant and
demand of Rs. 150/- frolll the victim. [Para 12] [1010-F-G] D
      1.2. Medical Evidence & Ocular Evidence: PW.5 who
conducted post mortem examination on the body of the
deceased explained in his deposition that it was not
normally possible to cause injuries to the deceased with E
weapon Ext.M0.1 if held with both arms together while
inflicting the injuries. However, if the sharp edge and tip
of the scissors is held open while assaulting, such
Injuries ·could be caused. PW.6 who examined PW.8
deposed that the Injuries found on his person could be F
caused by sharp edged weapon. Thus, In view of that,
there could be no dispute that as per the opinion of
doctors, lt·was possible to cause the Injuries found on
the person· of the deceased and PW-8 with scissors In
case the sharp edge and tip of the scissors .Is held open
at the time of assault In his oral complalnt on 26.3.1996, G
PW.8 had stated that the accused caused the Injuries with
knife. He deposed In the Court that the accused stabbed
his brother with a. scissors on the stomach and stabbed
PW.8 with .the scissors on his left side ofstomach, on
                                                            H
    1002   SUPREME COURT REPORTS             (2011) 6 S.C.R.

A right hand and on the left shoulder. Thus, it is apparent
  from the deposition that PW.8 was not sure as to whether
  injuries were caused by knife or scissors. No explanation
  came forward as to whether PW.8 was capable to
  understand the distinction between knife and scissors.
s The contradiction in the statement of PW.8 in the court
  as compared with his statement before the police under
  Section 161 Cr.P.C. also demolished the aspect of motive.
  [Paras 10, 12, 14] [1010-A-C; 1011-0-H; 1012-A-B; 1013-
  E]
c     2. There was delay in lodging the FIR. In the instant
  case, the alleged occurrence took place at 2.00 p.m. and
  the police station was hardly at a distance of 1 K.M. from
  the place of the occurrence and PW.8 had never deposed
  that he had become unconscious. The delay was,
D therefore, not explained. PW.17, the 1.0. consistently
  deposed that he was searching for the brother of the
  appellant. Admittedly, even as per the prosecution,
  author of the crime was the appellant and not his brother.
  There was, thus, no reason for the 1.0. to apprehend the
E brother of the appellant. [Paras 15, 16] [1013-F-G]

       3.1. In all criminal cases, normal discrepancies are
  bound to occur in the depositions of witnesses due to
  normal errors of observation, namely, errors of memory
F due to lapse of time or due to mental disposition such as
  shock and horror at the time of occurrence. Where the
  omissions amount to a contradiction, creating a serious
  doubt about the truthfulness of the witness and other ,
  witnesses also make material improvement while
G deposing in the court, such evidence cannot be safe to
  rely     upon.     However,     minor contradictions,
  inconsistencies, embellishments or improvements on
  trivial matters which do not affect the core of the
  prosecution case should not be made a ground on which
H the evidence can be rejected in its entirety. The court has
      A SHANKAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                   1003


to form its opinion about the credibility of the witness and    A
record a finding as to whether his deposition inspires
confidence. If the case in hand is examined in the light
of these settled legal proposition, the prosecution
definitely made an attempt to establish the presence of
the accused in the shop and PW.8 was the only eye               B
witness. His presence also cannot be doubted in view of
the fact that he himself got injured in the incident.
However, the question would arise as to under what
circumstances he had told his sister and brother-in-law
that his brother had been killed by accused-appellant           c
when in his substantive statement before the court he
had deposed that he came to know about the death of
his brother after being discharged from the hospital and
he remained there as indoor patient for 15 days. Such a
statement made in the court also would create a doubt
                                                                0
as to whether he could be the author of the complaint for
the reason, that in the complaint lodged by him he had
stated that his brother had died. Similarly, non-production
of the FSL report in the court by the prosecution was fatal
as in absence thereof it was difficult for the court to reach
to the conclusion as to whether the offence was                 E
committed with M.0.1. More so, after the incident, the 1.0.
was busy in searching the brother of the accused and he
made no attempt to search the accused. These factors
clearly indicated that investigation was not conducted
fairly. (Paras 17, 18) (1013-H; 1014-A-D; 1015-8-F]             F

     State Represented by Inspector of Police v. Saravanan
& Anr. AIR 2009 SC 152: 2008 (14) SCR 405; Arumugam
v. State AIR 2009 SC 331: 2008 (14) SCR 309; Mahendra
Pratap Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2009) 11 SCC 334:       G
2009 (2) SCR 1033; Dr. Sunil Kumar Sambhudayal Gupta
& Ors. v. State of Maharashtra JT 2010 (12) SC 287: 2010
(15) SCR 452; Vijay@ Chinee v. State of M.P. (2010) 8 SCC
191: 2010 (8) SCR 1150; State of UP. v. Naresh & Ors.
                                                                H
    1004    SUPREME COURT REPORTS               [2011) 6 S.C.R.

A (2011) 4 SCC 324:; Brahm Swaroop & Anr. v. State of U. P.
  AIR 2011 SC 280: 2010 (15) SCR 1; State of Rajasthan v.
  Rajendra Singh (2009) 11 sec 106 - relled on.
         3.2. It Is settled legal proposition that In exceptional
    circumstances the appellate court under compelling
8
    circumstances should reverse the judgment of acquittal
    of the court below If the findings so recorded by the court
    below are found to be perverse, i.e., the conclusions of
    the court below are contrary to the evidence on record
    or its entire approach In dealing with the evidence Is
C   found to be patently illegal leading to miscarriage of
    justice or Its judgment is unreasonable based on
    erroneous law and facts on the record of the case. While
    dealing so, the appellate court must bear in mind the
    presumption of innocence of the accused and further that
D   acquittal by the court below bolsters the presumption of
    his innocence. The High C.Jurt committed an error In
    recording the finding of fact that the prosecution
    succeeded in proving the case beyond reasonable
    doubt. The High Court failed to meet the grounds pointed
E   out by the trial court discarding the case of prosecution
    and thus, the findings of fact recorded by the High Court
    remain perverse. [Paras 19, 20] [1015-G-H; 1016-A-C]

      Abrar v. State of U. P. (2011) 2 SCC 750: 2010 (13 ) SCR
F 1217; Rukla Begum & Ors. v. State of Kamataka (2011) 4
  sec 779 - relled on.
                        Case Law Reference:
        2008 (14) SCR 405          relied on           Para 17
G       2008 (14) SCR 309          relied on           Para 17
        2009 (2) SCR 1033          relied on           Para 17
        2010 (15) SCR 452          relied on           Para 17

H
       A SHANKAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                  1005


    2010 (8) SCR 1150           relied on           Para 17     A
    (2011 > 4 sec 324           relied on           Para 17
    2010 (15) SCR 1             relied on           Para 17
    (2009) 11 sec 10s           relied on           Para 17     B
    2010 (13) SCR 1217          reli.ed on          Para 19
    (2011 > 4 sec 779           relied on           Para 19
    CRIMINALAPPELALTE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
No. 1006 of 2007.                                               c
    From the Judgment & Order dated 28.2.2007 of the High
Court Karnataka, Bangalore in Criminal Appeal No. 1069 of
2000.
                                                                .D
    Sanjay Mishra (for Dinesh Kumar Garg) for the Appellant.
    Rashmi Nandakumar (for Anitha Shenoy) for the
Respondent.
    The Judgment of the Court was delivered by                  E
      DR. 8.S. CHAUHAN, J. 1. This criminal appeal has been
filed under Section 2(a) of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of
Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970 against the judgment
and order dated 28.2.2007 of the High Court of Karnataka,
Bangalore, in Criminal Appeal No.1069 of 2000 by which the F
High Court has reversed the judgment and order dated
31.10.1998 passed by the XVth Additional City Sessions
Judge, Bangalore, in Sessions Case No.366 of 1996,
acquitting the appellant of the charges under Sections 302 and
307 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter called 'IPC't. G
     2. Facts and circumstances, as per the prosecution case
giving rise to this appeal had been that the law was put into
motion by younger brother of the deceased, Shankara (PW.8),
who lodged a complaint orally on26,3.1996that the appellant     H
    1006    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                  [2011] 6 S.C.R.


A came to the Barber Saloon of Murthy Prasad, deceased, on
  25.3.1996 at about 8 p.m. and demanded Rs.150/- from the
  deceased. Since the deceased did not give the money
  demanded, the accused got angry and threatened that he would
  take care of him later. Appellant accused again came back at
B 9.30 p.m. to the shop of the complainant, sought shelter therein,
  had food, and slept there with the deceased and the
  complainant. At about 2 a.m. the complainant heard sounds
  and after being awaken he saw that the appellant was hitting
  his elder brother with a knife on the chest and on shouting of
c the complainant the appellant hit him also with the same on the
  left abdomen and hands and ran away. Murthy Prasad died of
  assault and the complainant got injured, and was taken to the
  hospital for treatment.

       3. On the basis of the said oral complaint, an FIR No.82/
D 96 dated 26.3.1996 (Ext.P4) was recorded. The investigation
  ensued and the appellant was arrested on 31.3.1996. After
  conclusion of the investigation, charge sheet was filed against
  the appellant and he was put to trial under Sections 302 and
  307 IPC. In order to prove the guilt of the appellant, prosecution
E examined 17 witnesses. The appellant was examined under
  Section 313 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter
  referred to as "Cr.P.C.") wherein apart from denying the
  evidence against him given by the witnesses directly, he also
  denied to have gone to the Saloon of the deceased at all as
F alleged by the prosecution.

      4. After considering the entire evidence on record, the Trial
  Court came to the conclusion that prosecution failed to prove
  beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant had committed
G murder of Murthy Prasad or made an attempt to kill the
  complainant Shankara (PW.8). Thus, vide judgment and order
  dated 31.10.1998, the appellant was acquitted of the charges
  under Sections 302 and 307 IPC.

        5. Being aggrieved, the State of Karnataka preferred
H
        A SHAN KAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                    1007
              [DR. B.S. CHAUHAN. J.]

Criminal Appeal No.1069 of 2000 which has been allowed by            A
the High Court convicting the appellant under Section 302 IPC
for committing the murder of Murthy Prasad, deceased and
awarding him life imprisonment. The appellant also stood
convicted under Section 324 IPC for causing injuries to the
complainant Shankara (PW.8) and has been awarded six                 B
months imprisonment and a fine of Rs.5,000/-. In default of
depositing the fine to undergo simple imprisonment for a
period of one month. Both the sentences have been directed
to run concurrently. Hence. this appeal.

      6. Shri Sanjay Mishra, learned counsel appearing for the       C
 appellant has submitted that the High Court has committed an
·error in interfering with the well reasoned judgment of acquittal
 by the Trial Court and relying upon the evidence on record while
 ignoring the material inconsistencies between the evidence of
 the witnesses; and medical and ocular evidence. No motive           D
 was proved by the prosecution to commit the offence. There
 had been an inordinate delay of 4 hours in lodging the F.l.R.
 as the murder was alleged to have been committed at 2 a.m.
 while the complaint was lodged at 6 a.m. on the same day,
 though the Police Station was at a distance of only one             E
 kilometre. There had been discrepancy relating to the seizure
 and kind of weapon used in the offence. Therefore, the appeal
 deserves to be allowed.

     7. Per contra, Ms. Rashmi Nandakumar, learned counsel           F
appearing for the State of Karnataka vehemently opposed the
appeal contending that the High Court has rightly reversed the
findings recorded by the Trial Court being the First Court of
Appeal after appreciating the evidence properly. The Court
below had mis-appreciated the material evidence of the               G
witnesses. More so, the trial Court had failed to give due
weightage to the evidence of injured witness, namely Shankara
(PW.8). Hence, the appeal lacks merit and no interference is
required.

                                                                     H
    1008         SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2011) 6 S.C.R.

A        8. We have considered the rival submissions made by
    learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
        9. The post mortem examination report dated 26.3.1996
    revealed that following injuries were there on the person of
    Murthy Prasad:
8
           (1)     Vertically placed incised wound over the front of tip
                   of right thumb measuring 3 cm x 0-5 ems x 0-5 ems
                   deep;
c          (2)     Incised wound over top of left shoulder measuring
                   2 ems x 0-5 ems x skin deep;

           (3)     Incised wound over left side of chest situated 8 ems
                   vertically below left arm fit, measuring 2 ems x 0-5
                   ems;
D
           (4)     Incised wound over left side lower part of chest
                   situated 23 ems below later 1/3rd of left collar bone,
                   vertical measuring 2 ems x 0-5 ems x 5 ems, deep;

E          (5)     Incised wound over left side lower part of chest
                   situated 20 ems below left arm fit, oblique
                   measuring 2.5 ems x 0-5 ems x 0-5 ems, deep;
           (6)     Incised wound over left side lower part of front of
                   abdomen measuring 2.5 ems x 0-5 ems x 1 ems,
F                  deep;
           (7)     Horizontally placed stab wound present over the left
                   side of hip situated 3 ems behind and 2 ems below
                   the level of left anterior iliac spine measuring 2.5
G                  ems. x 2 ems x 9 ems deep, the front end is pointed
                   and back end blunt, margins are clean cut, the
                   wound is directed backwards, downwards, and to
                   right by cutting sciatic nerve and underlying vessels
                   edged clean cut;
H
               A SHANKAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                          1009
                     [DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]
            (8)          Incised wound. over left side upper part of neck        A
                        .situated 2 ems below middle of ramus of mandible,
                         measuring 1emsx0-5.cms x·o-5 ems, deep;
            (9) . Stab incised wound present over left side back of
                  chest situated 12 ems below .the level. of 7th                 8
                  cervicle spine 5 ems to left of midline measuring 3
                  ems x 1.5 ems chest cavity deep.

       The post mortem report further revealed that so far as injury
  no.9 was concerned, the weapon had cut the skin and muscles
  of chest had entered the chest cavity in 5th intercostals space, C
· and pierced the lower lobe of left lung on which it measures 2
  ems x 0.5 ems x 0.5 ems deep. According to the opinion of the
  Doctor, the death was due to shock and haemorrhage as a
  result of the aforesaid injuries.
                                                                                 D
       10. The medical examination report of complainant
  Shankara, aged 18 years dated 26.3.1996 revealed the
· following injuries on his person :
            (1)         Incised wound seen on the left side of abdomen
                        measuring 1-1/2 cm x 0.5 cm x just below the last        E
                        rib on the left side at mid clavicular line;
            (2)         Incised wound seen on the front of right fore at lower
                        1/3rd measuring 1-1/2 cm x 1 cm, skin deep;
                                                                                 F
            (3)         Incised wound seen on the medial side of left
                        thumb, 2-1/2 cm x 1/2 cm;
            (4)         Incised wound seen on the left upper arm on the
                        detoid muscle measuring 1-1/2 cm x 1/2 cm skin
                        deep;                                                    G
  ' '
 ~·. •l.(5)            .• Incised wound seen on the left cheek measuring 1-
 ..:;b :r1i '.·111/2cmx1/2 cm skin deep.
  ~:.n1.t   ·'"h~_. ~ ~: b ~~ <L.~
                   1




 0 ~~.. -l1::::-Pr,   •. ~:R.S.. Ka,shyap (PW.5) who conducted post              H
    1010    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2011] 6 S.C.R.


A mortem examination on the body of Murthy Prasad explained
  in his deposition in the court that it was not normally possible
  to cause injuries to the deceased with weapon Ext.M0.1 if held
  with both of its arms together while inflicting the injuries.
  However, if the sharp edge and tip of the scissors is held open
B while assaulting, the injuries can be caused. So far as the
  evidence of Dr. H. Venkatesh (PW.6) who examined Shankara
  (PW.8) complainant is concerned, he deposed that injuries
  found on his person could be caused of sharp edged weapon.
  Thus, in view of the above, there could be no dispute that as
c per the opinion of Doctors, it was possible to cause the injuries
  found on the person of the deceased and the complainant with
  scissors in case the sharp edge and tip of the scissors is held
  open at the time of assault.

        12. Material Contradictions :
D
        (I) Evidence of Witnesses:

       Murthyalappa (PW.2), and Smt. Ramanjanamma (PW.3),
  the brother-in-law and sister of the deceased, respectively,
E deposed in the Court that they made a visit to the hospital
  where Shankara (PW.8) had been admitted and he had told
  to both of them that the appellant had killed Murthy Prasad, and
  caused injuries to him. Though Shankara (PW.8) complainant
  himself deposed in his examination-in-chief that he came to
  know about the death of his brother only after being discharged
F from the hospital living therein as indoor patient for 15 days.

        Shankara (PW.8), while lodging the complaint stated as
        under:

G       "On 25.3.1996 at about 8.00 P.M. the accused younger
        brother of Rudresh came to the Super Hair Style Shop of
        the deceased, elder brother of the complainant viz., Murthy
        Prasad and demanded Rs.150/- from him. Since he did
        not give the money demanded, the accused got angry and
        threatened that he would take care of him later. He once
H
        A SHANKAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                     1011
              [DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]

     again came back at 9.30 P.M. to the shop of the A
     complainant and with intent to murder the complainant and
     his elder brother, he sought shelter in the shop, had food
     and slept there itself."

     But, in the court Shankara (PW.8) deposed:
                                                                   B
    "Last year on one day at about 8 p.m. the accused came
    to our saloon and enquired me about my brother. I
    informed the accused that my brother had gone out and
    he will be returning soon. Accused stayed in my saloon
    only. My brother Murthy Prasad returned to Saloon at about C
    9 p.m. Myself, my brother and accused took meals in the
    saloon and slept in the saloon."

     Thus, it is evident that Shankara (PW.8) in his deposition
in court did not mention about the first visit of the appellant and 0
demand of Rs.150/- from Murthy Prasad.

     (II) Medical Evidence & Ocular Evidence:

     As per the medical evidence, injury nos.7 and 9 found on
the person of Murthy Prasad deceased had been fatal and E
could be caused with the pointed part of the scissors, if used
holding sharp edge and tip of the scissors open, at the time of
assault.

     In his oral complaint on 26.3.1996, Shankara (PW.8) had       F
stated that the accused caused the injuries with knife. He
deposed in the Court:
          "Accused was stabbing my brother with a scissors.
    He stabbed on the stomach of my brother ... Accused also
    stabbed me from the scissors on my left side of stomach, G
    on right hand and on the left shoulder. .. Now I see the
    scissors M.0.1, the accused assaulted me and my brother
    with M.0.1". (Emphasis added)

                                                                   H
    1012    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                [2011] 6 S.C.R.


A         Thus, it is apparent from the above that Shankara (PW.8)
    was not sure as to whether injuries were caused by knife or
    scissors. No explanation came forward as to whether the
    complainant, Shankara (PW.8) was capable to understand the
    distinction between knife and scissors.
B
        (Ill) Identity of the accused:

       As per Ramanjanamma (PW.3), brother of one Rudresh
  murdered Murthy Prasad. According to Sriram (PW.4), the
  brother of Umesh assaulted them: "I do not know who is brother
C of Umesh. I do not know the accused." Shankara (PW.8) refers
  to the accused as brother of Rudresh. Abdul Suban (PW.17)
  stated that "I tried to ascertain and search for Rudresh but he
  was not found. I did not enquire the father of the accused and
  his family members about Rudresh".
D
       (IV) FSL Report:

        As per Abdul Suban (PW.17), he sent all the seized
  articles including M.0.1 for FSL examination through Police
  Constable 2313 on 2.6.1996 and received back on 7.6.1996.
E However, FSL report was not produced before the Court. Abdul
  Suban (PW.17) has admitted that he received the Post Mortem
  report and FSL report and after completing the investigation
  he submitted the charge sheet on 27.6.1996. No explanation
  has been furnished as to why this FSL has not been produced
F before the court as it was necessary to ascertain as to whether
  M.0.1 was actually used in the commission of offence or not.

        (V) Recovery of weapon:

       As per Abdul Suban (PW.17) the accused in the presence
G of panchas had seen the occurrence and also took out a
  scissors hidden under a stone slab near the saloon. He seized
  the scissors M.0.1 in the presence of Panchas under
  Panchnama Exh. P-8. As per the evidence of Ganganarasaiah
  (PW.9) the scissors was in the bucket which was filled with
H
        A SHANKAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                      1013
              [DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]

water. The bucket was inside the shop. The police alone saw          A
it. Narayanaswamy (PW.15) stated that the accused tola him
that he committed the offence and he took out a scissors kept
under a stone slab. Police seized the same and wrapped in a
cloth and drawn a mahazar. He signed the mahazar and stated
that M.0.1 was the scissors seized by the police.                    B

     13. The trial Court has taken into consideration each and
every discrepancy/contradictions referred to hereinabove.
However, the High Court has dealt with the case observing that
presence of Shankara (PW.8) at the place of occurrence has           C
not been disputed. Injuries found on his person are also
supported by the evidence and particularly other statements
made by Shankara ,(PW.8) in the Court which were worth
acceptance regarding his staying outside for some time. The
High Court came to the conclusion that there was nothing
unnatural in his statement. However, the High Court did not deal     D
with the contradictions referred hereinabove.

     14. The contradiction in the statement of Shankara (PW.8)
in the court as compared with his statement before the police
under Section 161 Cr.P.C. also demolishes the aspect of              E
motive.

      15. There was delay in lodging the FIR. In the present case,
the alleged occurrence took place at 2.00 p.m. and the police
station was hardly at a distance of 1 K.M. from the place of the
                                                                     F
occurrence and Shankara (PW.8) had never deposed that he
had become unconscious, the delay has not been explained.

     16. Abdul Suban (PW.17), the 1.0. consistently deposed
that he was searching for Rudresh. Admittedly, even as per the
prosecution, author of the crime had been Shankar-appellant          G
and not his brother Rudresh. We fail to understand as for what
reason the 1.0. was trying to apprehend the brother of the
accused.

     17. In all criminal cases, normal discrepancies are bound
                                                                     H
     1014    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                   [2011) 6 S.C.R.


A to occur in the depositions of witnesses due to normal errors
    of observation, namely, errors of memory due to lapse of time
    or due to mental disposition such as shock and horror at the
    time of occurrence. Where the omissions amount to a
    contradiction, creating a serious doubt about the truthfulness
B   of the witness and other witnesses also make material
    improvement while deposing in the court, such evidence cannot
    be safe to rely upon. However, minor contradictions,
    inconsistencies, embellishments or improvements on trivial
    matters which do not affect the core of the prosecution case,
c   should not be made a ground on which the evidence can be
    rejected in its entirety. The court has to form its opinion about
    the credibility of the witness and record a finding as to whether
    his deposition inspires confidence. "Exaggerations per se do
    not render the evidence brittle. But it can be one of the factors
    to test credibility of the prosecution version, when the entire
0
    evidence is put in a crucible for being tested on the touchstone
    of credibility." Therefore, mere marginal variations in the
    statements of a witness cannot be dubbed as improvements
    as the same may be elaborations of the statement made by
E   the witness earlier. "Irrelevant details which do not in any way
    corrode the credibility of a witness cannot be labelled as
    omissions or contradictions." The omissions which amount to
    contradictions in material particulars, i.e., materially affect the
    trial or core of the prosecution's case, render the testimony of
    the witness liable to be discredited. [Vide: State Represented
F   by Inspector of Police v. Saravanan & Anr., AIR 2009 SC 152;
    Arumugam v. State, AIR 2009 SC 331; Mahendra Pratap
    Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (2009) 11 SCC 334; Dr. Sunil
    Kumar Sambhudayal Gupta & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra,
    JT 2010 (12) SC 287; Vijay@ Chinee v. State of MP., (2010)
G   8 SCC 191; State of U.P. v. Naresh & Ors., (2011) 4 SCC 324;
    and Brahm Swaroop & Anr. v. State of U.P., AIR 2011 SC 280].

       Where the omission(s) amount to a contradiction, creating
  a serious doubt about the truthfulness of a witness and other
H witness also make material_ improvements before the court in
        A SHANKAR v. STATE OF KARNATAKA                    1015
              [DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]

ordet to make the evidence acceptable, it cannot be safe to         A
rely upon such evidence. (Vide : State of Rajasthan v. Rajendra
Singh, (2009) 11 sec 106).

      18. If the case in hand is examined in the light of the
aforesaid settled legal proposition, the prosecution has            8
definitely made an attempt to establish the presence of the
accused in the shop and Shankara (PW.8) is the only eye
witness. His presence also cannot be doubted in view of the
fact that he himself got injured in the incident. However, the
question does arise as under what circumstances he has told         C
his sister and brother-in-law that his brother has been killed by
accused-appellant when in his substantive statement before the
court he has deposed that he came to know about the death
of his brother after being discharged from the hospital and he
remained there as indoor patient for 15 days. Such a statement
made in the court also creates a doubt as to whether he could       0
be the author of the complaint for the reason, that in the
complaint lodged by him on 26.3.1996 he has stated that his
brother had died. Similarly, non-production of the FSL report
in the court by the prosecution is fatal as in absence thereof it
was difficult for the court to reach to the conclusion as to        E
whether the offence has been committed with M.0.1.

     More so, after the incident, Abdul Suban (PW.17) had been
busy in searching Rudresh, brother of the accused and he
made no attempt to search the accused. These factors clearly        F
indicate that investigation has not been conducted fairly.

     19. It is settled legal proposition that in exceptional
circumstances the appellate court under compellin_g
circumstances should reverse the judgment of acquittal of the       G
court below if the findings so recorded by the court below are
found to be perverse, i.e., the conclusions of the court below
are contrary to the evidence on record or its entire approach
in dealing with the evidence is found to be patently illegal
leading to miscarriage of justice or its judgment is
unreasonable based on erroneous law and facts on the record         H
    1016    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2011] 6 S.C.R.


A of the case. While dealing so, the appellate court must bear in
  mind the presumption of innocence of the accused and further
  that acquittal by the court below bolsters the presumption of his
  innocence. (Vide: Abrar v. State of UP., (2011) 2 SCC 750;
  and Rukia Begum & Ors. v. State of Kamataka, (2011) 4 SCC
B 779).

        20. In view of the above, we are of the considered opinion
  that the High Court committed an· error in recording the finding
  of fact that the prosecution succeeded in proving the case
  beyond reasonable doubt. The High Court failed to meet the
C grounds pointed out by the trial Court discarding the case of
  prosecution and thus, the findings of fact recorded by the High
  Court remain perverse.

       In view of the above, the appeal succeeds and is allowed.
D The judgment and order of the High Court dated 28.2.2007 is
  hereby set aside and judgment and order of the trial Court
  dated 31.10.1998 passed in Sessions Case No.366 of 1996
  is restored. The appellant has been enlarged on bail by this
  Court vide order dated 26. 7 .2010. The bail bonds stand
E discharged.

    D.G.                                          Appeal allowed.