S. ANIL KUMAR @ ANIL KUMAR GANNAversusSTATE OF KARNATAKA

                        [2013] 7 S.C.R. 408


A           S. ANIL KUMAR @ ANIL KUMAR GANNA
                                v.
                     STATE OF KARNATAKA
                (Criminal Appeal No. 937 of 2006)
                            JULY 3, 2013
B
            [A.K. PATNAIK AND SUDHANSU JYOTI ·
                    MUKHOPADHAYA, JJ.]

        PENAL CODE, 1860:
c
        ss. 304-8 and 498-A - Suicide committed by bride in her
  matrimonial home - Acquittal by trial court - Conviction of
  husband by High Court - Held: Once prosecution failed to
  prove the basic ingredients of harassment or demand of
0 dowry and the evidence brought on record was doubted by trial
  court, it was not open to High Court to convict the appellant
  on presumption referring to s. 113-A or s. 113-8 of Evidence
  Act -- Presumption of innocence of accused being primary
  factor, in absence of exceptional compelling circumstances
  and perversity of the judgment, it was not open to High Court
E to interfere with the judgment of trial court in a routine manner
  - Impugned judgment of High Court set aside - Evidence Act,
  1872 - ss.113-A and 113-8.

        APPEAL:
F
        Judgment of acquittal - Interference with, by appellate
    court - Scope of - Explained.
      The appellant and 4 others were prosecuted for
  offences punishable u/ss 304-B, 498-IPC and ss. 3, 4 and
G 6 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The prosecution case
  was that the marriage of the sister of PW1 was
  solemnized with the appellant on 13.12.1990; that she
  was treated with cruelty and was harassed for bringing
  insufficient dowry and not fulfilling the further demand of
H                                408
·· S. ANIL KUMAR @ ANIL KUMAR GANNA v. STATE           409
                 OF KARNATAKA
the accused; that on 20.01.1992 she was found hanged          A
inside the house. The trial court noticed that accused no.
2 was the neighbour's wife. It held that statements of
material witnesses and some others were contradictory,
and acquitted all the accused persons. On appeal, the
High Court held that the trial court did not consider the     B
provisions of ss. 113-A and 113-B of the Evidence Act,
and convicted the appellant u/ss 304-B and 498 IPC and
sentenced him to RI for 7 years and 2 years, respectively,
under the two counts.

     Allowing the appeal, the Court.
                                                              c
     HELD: 1.1 In the case of Rohtash* this Court has held
that only in exceptional cases where there are compelling
circumstances and where the judgment in appeal is found
to be perverse, the High Court can interfere with the order   D
of acquittal. In the instance case, the evidence of the
prosecution witnesses PWs.1, 10to16 and 21 shows that
there are contradictory statements which cannot be stated
to be a minor contradiction. The improvement in the
statements of PW.1 and 12 is clear. The allegation about      E
the demand of dowry and harassment and torture made
by accused No.1 on deceased was not disclosed/
mentioned either in the FIR or before the Tahsildar (PW.21)
who recorded the initial evidence. Further, payment of
stated cash and gold to accused No.1 as dowry was also        F
not established beyond reasonable doubt. [para 12 and
13) [417-G-H; 418-A, D·G]

      Rohtash Vs State of Haryana 2012 (6) SCR 62   =2012
 (6) sec 589 - relied on.
                                                              G
    1.2 Once the. prosecution failed to prove the basic
ingredients of harassment or demand of dowry and the
evidence brought on record were doubted by the trial
court, it was not open to the High ·court to convict the
appellant on presumption referring to s. 113-A or s.113-      H
    410      SUPREME COURT REPORTS                [2013) 7 S.C.R.


A B of the Evidence Act. The presumption of innocence of ,
  the accused being primary factor, in absence of
  exceptional compelling circumstances and perversity of
  the judgment, it was not open to the High Court to
  interfere with the judgment of the trial court in a routine
B manner. The impugned judgment of the High Court is set
  aside. [para 14-15) [418-G-H; 419-A-B]
                         Case Law Reference:
          2012 (6) SCR 62           relied on          para 12
c       CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
    No. 937 of 2006.
                                ~
      From the Judgment and Order dated 04.01.2006 of the
  High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore in Criminal Appeal No.
D 1042 of 1999.
         Brijesh Kalappa, Gopal Singh, Divya Nair, N. Ganpathy for
    the Appellant.
      K. Parameshwar, V. Raghupathy, Sanjay R. Hegde for the
E Respondent.
          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
        SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J. 1. This
  appeal has been preferred' by the appellant against the
  judgment dated 4th January, 2006 in Criminal Appeal No.1042
F of 1999 passed by the learned Single Judge of the High Court
  of Karnataka at Bangalore, whereby the learned Single Judge
  reversed the judgment of acquittal dated 2nd August, 1999
  passed by the :Xth Additional City Sessions Judge at Bangalore
  in S.C.No.86 /96 and convicted and sentenced the appellant
G for the offences under Section 304-B and Section 498=A of the
  IPC.                            .

       The Appellate Court imposed sentence of rigorous
  imprisonment for seven years for the offence punishable under
H Section 304-B of the IPC and rigorous imprisonment for two
   S. ANIL KUMAR @ ANIL KUMAR GANNA v. STATE OF               411
   KARNATAKA [SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J.]
  Section 304-B of the IPC and rigorous imprisonment for two         A
- years and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000/-:in default. to undergo
  simple imprisonment for three months for the offence
  punishable under Section 498-A of the IPC. The App!')llate
  Court further ordered that the sentences shall run concurrently.
                                                                     B
      2. The case of the prosecution is briefly stated below:

       The. complainant-Parasmal's sister Meena Kumari was
  married to accused No.1, Anil Kumar on 13th December, 1990.
  In relation to the s_aid marriage a demand was made by
  accused Nos.1 and 3 to 5 for dowry of an amount of C
  Rs.1,50,000/- and gold weighing 800 gms. It was agreed by
 the bride's party to pay a sum of Rs.50,000/- and 500 gms. of
  gold as dowry and, accordingly, the marriage was performed:
  After the marriage, Meena Kumari came to know that her
  husband Anil Kumar, accused No.1 (appellant herein) had D
  developed illicit intimacy with accused No.2, Sumithra alias
  Savitri, wife of Kailaschand, (PW-8). After some time, accused
  Nos.1 and 3 to 5 began to treat Meena Kumari with cruelty
  since she failed to bring the amount demanded by accused
  No.1 for expansion of his business. Whenever Meena Kumari E
  came to her brother's house, she complained about ill treatment
 ·meted out to her by accused No.1. After some days, the amount
  demanded by accused No.1 was given, but his d~mand did not
  subside. On 20th January, 1992 at about 7.00 a.m., Meena .
  Kumari took milk and went inside her house. After some time, F
  accused No.1, Anil Kumar left the house. Thereafter Meena
  Kumari came out of t~e house and requested Smt.
  Kamalamma, a neighbour to bring a nipple for putting the same
  to tap. When Kamalamma brought the nipple, she found the
  door of the house closed. Meena Kumari did not open the door G
  in spite of knocking by Kamalamma. At that time, Sarojamma,
  (PW-6) was also present. At about 9.00 a.m. the mother of PW-
 6, Kailas and Anil Kumar came and knocked the door, but the
  door was not opened. Despite their efforts, door was not
  opened and there was no response from inside. Therefore, Anil
                                                                  H
    412    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2013] 7 S.C.R.


A Kumar put his hand through the ventilator and unlatched the door
  and opened it. When they went inside, they found that Meena
  Kumari had hanged herself from the fan and had committed
  suicide. The news spread and later, a friend of the accused Sri
  Shanthilal (PW-9) came and he gave on phone a message to
a Meena Kumari's elder brother S. Parasmal (PW-1), who was
  residing in Mysore. Intimation sent to him was that Meena
  Kumari was seriously ill and they should come immediately. On
  their way to Bangalore, Parasmal (PW-1), learnt that Meena
  Kumari had committed suicide. They reached the house of the
c accused at about 5.00 p.m. and after ascertaining the matter,
  Parasmal (PW-1) went to the Police Station and informed the
  Police. The Police came to the house and after inspecting the
  spot, took the complaint of PW-1. On the basis of the same,
  he registered a case in Cr.No.33/92 against the accused Nos.1
D and 2. Sri. M.V. Chengappa, PSI, Hebbal Police Station (PW-
  23) started with the investigation and further investigation was
  taken up by, Praveena, ACP, Yeshwanthpur Sub-Division (PW-
  24). The investigation disclosed that accused Nos.3 to 5 were
  also involved in the matter. Therefore, they were added in the
E list of the accused. After further investigation by S.V.D. Souza
  (PW-25), Police Inspector, ADC, COD, Bangalore and his
  successor, B. Venkataramana, Police Inspector, ADC, COD,
  Bangalore (PW-26) a chargesheet was placed against the
  accused for the offences punishable under Section 498-A and
  304-8 of the IPC and Sections 3,4 and 6 of the Dowry
F Prohibition Act, 1961.

       3. The accuseij pleaded not guilty of the charges and
  claimed to be tried. The prosecution examined in all 26
  witnesses and closed its case. As per prosecution PWs-1,
G 10,11,12,13,15 and 18 were examined with regard to the
  payment of dowry. To substantiate the allegation of the dowry
  harassment they examined PWs-10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 21 and
  other witnesses who saw the body hanging with fan. PWs~2, 7
  and 19 were Panch witnesses. PW-17, Dr. Thirunavakkarasu
H was the Professor, Forensic Medicine, who conducted the
 S. ANIL KUMAR@ANIL KUMAR GANNA v. STATE OF                    413
 KARNATAKA [SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J.]

post-mortem examination. PW-21, was the Taluk Executive                A'
Magistrate, who conducted inquest proceedings. PWs.22 to 26
are the Police Officers.

     4. The accused in their statements under 313 Cr.P.C.
denied the a.llegations made against them. On behalf of                8
defence one Vimal Kumar (DW-1) was examined to show that
there was no demand for dowry and no harassment was made
to Meena Kumari. It was suggested on behalf of the defence
that Meena Kumari had extra affinity towards PW-10, Ashok
Kumar Jain and perhaps on the objection raised by the                  C
accused she might have committed suicide.

     5. The trial court on appreciation of evidence on record
came to hold that the statements of material witnesses, PW-1
and PW-12 and some others are contradictory and there
statements are not trustworthy. In view of such finding the trial      D
court acquitted the accused of all the charges levelled against
them.

     6. One of the reasons shown by the trial court to come to
the conclusion that the statements are not trustworthy, was that       E
PW-1, complainant nowhere mentioned in the complaint that
demand of Rs.1,50,000/- in cash and 800 gms. of gold as
dowry was made as pre-condition to marry Meena Kumari.
SL!Ch allegations were also not made before the Tahsildar
(PW.21), as evident from the observation of the trial court:
                                                                       F
    "12 ..... lt is an undisputed fact that nowhere in the complaint
    Ex.P3, it is mentioned that the accused persons
    demanded Rs.1.5 lacks and 800 grams of gold as dowry
    as a pre-condition to marry the deceased Meenakumari.
    In the second para of the complaint, Ex.P.3, it is mentioned       G
    that the marriage was done as per their request and that
    to their satisfaction. At the time of marriage, they gave 500
    grams of gold ornaments and Rs.50,000/- cash and
    household articles, further, nowhere in the complaint Ex.P.3
    any mentioned is made with regard to the payment of                H
    414       SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2013) 7 S.C.R.


A         Rs.10,000/- during 1991 to the first accused and
          subsequent payment of Rs.25,000/- to the first accused in
          the house of PW. at Mysore ........ Now I will see the cross-
          examination of PW.21, the Tahsildar. He states that PW.1
          has not stated before him that the accused persons
B         demanded 800 grams of gold and Rs.1.50 lacks of as
          dowry. Likewise, PW.1 has not stated before him that the
          first accused and his familf members participated in the
          marriage talks. He admits that PW.10 stated before him
          vide Ex.D.2. He admits that PW.1 has not stated before ·
c         him that the third accused sent deceased Meenakurnari
          to bring the balance of Rs.1.00 lack and 300 grams of gold.
          Likewise PW.1 has not stated before him that he gave
          Rs.10,000/- to accused Nos.1 and 3 and sent deceased
          Meenakumari. He also admits that PW.1 has not stated
          before him that PW.1 went to Devgarh and requested
D
          accused No.3 to send Meenakumari with him for which he
          refused. He also states that PW.1 has not stated before
          him that he sent his brother Sampathlal to bring
          Meenakumari and that he-brought her to his house at
          Mysore in June, 1991. Likewise, he has also not stated
E         that the first accused did not take back Meenakumari to
          his house and therefore she stayed in her house for about
          2 ~ months, PW.1 has not stated before PW.21 that
          Meenakumari was telling before him that she was insulted
          by her in-laws for having not taken the dowry articles. It is
F         also admitted by PW.21 Tahsildar that PW.1 has not
          stated before him during November, 1991, accused Nos.1
          and 2 and one Sampathlal came to his house and his
          father PW.22 gave Rs.25,000/- to the first accused.
          PW.21 also states that PW.1 Parasmal has not
G         specifically stated phone that the second accused was ill-
          treating her. PW.10 also not stated before PW.21 the
          Tahsildar on 13.01.1992. He sent Mohanlal to Bangalore
          to see Meenakumari and that in turn they told him about
          the harassment given to her by the first accused. PW.21
H         also states that PW.18 A. Suresh Jain has not stated
 S. ANIL KUMAR @ ANIL KUMAR GANNA v. STATE OF             415
 KARNATAKA [SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J.]
    before him that deceased Meenakumari came to Mysore           A
    six months after the marriage and stayed in the house of
    PW.1 for about 1 % months and that she complained of
    harassment by her in-laws for the same of dowry.

    13. From the evidence of PW-21 the Tahsildar it is crystal    8
    clear that at no point of time, either PW-1 or as matter of
    fact, this PW-18 never stated that the accused persons
    made a demand for Rs.1.5 lakhs and 800 grams of gold
    as dowry. Likewise, whatever PW-1 states in the chief
    examination are all omissions which were not stated           C
    before PW-21 the Tahsildar immediately after this incident.
    Absolutely there is no substance in PWs-1 and 12 telling
    that they paid Rs.10,000/- at Benali and Rs.25,000/- in the
    house of PW-1 at Mysore to the first accused"

     7. The High Court relied substantially on the submission     D
made by the learned Addi. SPP appearing for the prosecution
who stated that there are abundant material placed on the
record by the prosecution including depositions of PWs-1, 10
to 16 and 21, many of whom spoke about the demand of dowry,
payment of dowry and dowry harassment. It was contended that      E
the learned Sessions Judge because of minor discrepancies
in the statements of the prosecution witnesses has given the
benefit of doubt in acquitting all the accused. The Sessions
Judge had not considered the provisions of Sections 113-A
and 113-8 of the Evidence Act to be drawn against the             F
accused. In view of such argument, the Appellate Court re-
appreciated the evidence and observed as follows:

    "8.Though it is submitted by the learned Addl.SPP that
    there is abundant material regarding demand for dowry
    and payment of dowry for the settlement of marriage, on       G
    perusal of the depositions of PWs.1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and
    18, we are unable to agree with his view. It is an admitted
    fact that an amount of Rs.50,000/- and gold ornaments
    weighing about 500 gms were given at the time of
    marriage. The evidence is not sufficient to raise a           H
    416       SUPREME COURT REPORTS                      [2013) 7 S.C.R.


A         presumption that this payment of money as dowry was on
          demand by the accused nos.1 and 3 to 5. As rightly
          observed by the learned Sessions Judge, they appear to
          be customary presents given from the bride's side."

         Again       on    re-appreciation        of evidence       of
8
    PWs.1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 21, the Appellate Court while
    holding that it was unable to find the allegations involve accused
    Nos.2 to 5 observed as follows:

                "9 ......... lt is not the case of the prosecution that from
C         those distant places the accused Nos.3 to 5 tutored
          accused No.1 to demand dowry or ill-treat Meena Kumari.
          Therefore, we do not find sufficient ground to interfere in
          the conclusion of the learned Sessions Judge with regard
          to the demand for dowry payment of dowry and dowry
D         harassment so far as the allegations relate to accused
          Nos.3 to 5."

        8. So far as accused No.2 is concerned she being a
  neighbour's wife the trial court held that she cannot be held
E responsible for any demand of dowry or dowry harassment. The
  trial court acquitted all the accused No.1 to 5 for offences
  punishable under Sections 3,4 and 6 of the Dowry Prohibition
  Act and accused Nos.2 to 5 for an offence punishable under
  Section 498-A of the IPC with the following observation:

F               "10 ..... 0f course, a suggestion has been made that
          as informed by Meena Kumari, there was illicit relationship
          between the accused nos.1 and 2. But this has not been
          substantiated by any material. Merely because some
          witness says that they learned from Meena Kumari that
G         there was illicit relationship between accused Nos.1 and
          2 and of that it was the cause for marital discord between
          accused nos.1 and Meena Kumari, that cannot be
          accepted. Considering all these materials, we hold that the
          acquittal of accused nos. 1 to 5 for offences punishable
H         under Sections 3,4 and 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and
 S. ANIL KUMAR @ ANIL KUMAR GANNA v. STATE OF               417
 KARNATAKA [SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J.]
    accused nos.2 to 5 for an offences punishable under             A
    Sections 498-A of the IPC does not need interference."

     9. In spite of such finding referring to the statements made
by PWs.1,10 to 16 and 21 the Appellate Court held that
accused No.1-appellant herein is liable to be convicted for the     8
offences for dowry harassment and dowry death and made the
following observations:

          "The learned Sessions Judge lost sight of the
    presumption that is available in Sections 113-A and 113-
    B of the Evidence Act and ignoring the evidence of PWs.1,       C
    10 to 16 and 21, held that there was no dowry harassment,
    so far as the allegation relates to the accused no.1. We
    find absolutely no reason to discard the evidence of these
    witnesses so far as the allegations relate to the accused
    no.1 and consequently he is liable to be convicted for the      D
    offences under Sections 498-A, 304-B of the IPC. Since
    the dowry harassment by the accused nos.2 to 5 has not
    been proved, the acquittal granted to them does not need
    any interference."
                                                                    E
     10. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that if one
view has been taken by the trial court which is not perverse, it
was not open to the Appellate Court to substitute such view to
re-appreciate the evidence for coming to a different conclusion.

     11. Per contra, according to the learned counsel for the       F
State, the High Court was right in reversing the judgment of
acquittal passed by the trial court in view & sufficient evidence
of PWs.10 to 16 and 21 recorded to show that the appellant
has subjected deceased to harassment due to which she was
compelled to commit suicide.                                        G

     12. This Court in the case of Rohtash vs. State of Haryana,
(2012) 6 sec 589, held that only in exceptional cases where
there are compelling circumstances and where the judgment
in appeal is found to be perverse, the High Court can interfere     H
    418       SUPREME COURT REPORTS                    [2013] 7 S.C.R.


A with the order of acquittal. In the said case the following
  observation was made by this Court:

          "27. The High Court interfered with the order of acquittal
          recorded by the trial court. The law of interfering with the
          judgment of acquittal is well settled. It is to the effect that
B
          only in exceptional cases where there are compelling
          circumstances and the judgment in appeal is found to be
          perverse, the appellate court can interfere with the order
          of the acquittal. The appellate court should bear in mind
          the presumption of innocence of the accused and further
c         that the trial court's acquittal bolsters the presumption of
          innocence. Interference in a routine manner where the other
          view is possible should be avoided, unless there are good
          reasons for interference."

D      13. We have gone through the evidence of the prosecution
  witnesses PWs.1, 10 to 16 and 21 relied on by the prosecution.
  We find that there are contradictory statements which cannot
  be stated to be a minor contradiction as was suggested by the
  learned Addl.SSP before the Appellate Court. The
E improvement in the statements of PW.1 and 12 is clear. The
  allegation about the demand of dowry of Rs.1,50,000/- and 800
  gms. of gold ornaments and harassment and torture made by
  accused No.1 on deceased was not disclosed and mentioned
  in the First Information Report or before the Tahsildar(PW.21)
F who recorded the initial evidence. In Ex.P.2 and complaint
  Ex.P.3 absolutely there is no evidence to show that Rs.25, 000/
  - was demanded and Rs.10,000/-was given to accused No.1
  either at Benali or at Mysore. Further, payment of Rs.50,000/-
  and 500 gms. of gold to accused No.1 as dowry was also not
G established beyond reasonable doubt.

      14. Once the prosecution failed to prove the basic
  ingredients of harassment or demand of dowry and the
  evidence brought on record were doubted by the trial court, it
  was not open to the High Court to convict accused No.1 on
H presumption referring to Section 113-P. or 113-B of the
 S. ANIL KUMAR @ANIL KUMAR GANNA v. STATE OF                  419
 KARNATAKA [SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J.]
Evidence Act. The presumption of innocence of the accused            A
being primary factor, in absence of exceptional compelling
circumstances and perversity of the judgment, it was not open
to the High Court to interfere with thejudgment of the trial court
in a routine manner.
                                                                     B
     15. For the reasons aforesah;I, we set aside the impugned
judgment dated 4th January, 2006 in Criminal Appeal No.1042
of 1999 passed by the High Court; allow the appeal by restoring
the judgment dated 2nd August, 1999 of the trial· court. The
appellant is on bail, his bail bonds stand discharged.
                                                                     c
R.P.                                            Appeal allowed,