SAROJINI AND ORS.versusSTATE OF M.P. AND ORS.

                        SAROJINI AND ORS.                                    A
                                v.
                      STATE OF M.P. AND ORS.

                           OCTOBER 16, 1992

            [KULDJP SINGH AND K RAMASWAMY, JJ.]                              B

     Indian Penal Code,. 1860 :

       Sections 302 read with 34, 201-Dowry death-Husband and mother-
in-law charged with-Convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment-High        C
Court acquitting both the accused giving them benefit of doubt-Mother-in-
/aw convicted u/s.201 and sentencetf-'Participis Criminis~ircumstances
clearly showing both the accused participating in the crime-Acquittal set
aside and conviction and sentence of both the accused restoretf-Conviction
and sentence of Mother-in-law u/s.201-Affirmed.
                                                                             D
      The appellant-accused and her son were charged with offences
under S. 302 read with S. 34 IPC or alternatively under S.306 read with
S.34 I.P.C. for causing the death of, or abetment to cause suicide by, the
daughter-in-law/wife of the accused. According to the prosecution, it was
a case of dowry death. The dead body was found in a completely burnt
condition in the matrimonial house of the deceased. The trial Court          E
convicted both the accused under S.302 IPC read with S.34 !PC and
sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life.

       On appeal the High Court acquitted both the mother and son of
their offences under S. 302 read with S. 34 IPC but convicted the mother
                                                                             F
under S. 201 IPC and sentenced her to undergo rigorous imprisonment
for five years.

      The State preferred an appeal against the acquittal and the con-
victed accused preferred an appeal against her conviction and sentence.
                                                                             G
      On behalf of the appellant accused it was contended that the
deceased either committed suicide or died due to fire accident; that the
husband of the deceased was not present at the time of occurrence; and
that the mother-in-law was entitled to acquittal under S.201 IPC.

     Allowing the appeal by the State and dismissing the appeal by the H
                                    25
    26                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS 11992) SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A accused, this Court,
          HELD: l. There is no inconsistency in the evidence of the post-mor-
    tem Doctor and the Forensic Doctor, who minutely examined all the
    factual details and came to the finding that the death was due to asphexia.
    This finding has been accepted by the trial court as well as the High Court.
B   Thus there is no conflict of medical opinions to extend the benefit of doubt
    to the accused. [32-D-E)

          State (Delhi Admn.) v. Gulzarilal Tandon, AIR 1979 SC 1982, distin-
    guished.
c         2. The conduct of the appellant-accused as evidenced by Ex.P-1 to
    )>-4 the pre-marital demand for dowry and non-compliance thereof is a
    relevant fact to establish motive as rightly found by the courts below. The
    fact that the daughter-in-law met with homicidal death within three
    months from the date of marriage is also a relevant fact to conclude ·that
D the death was due to the failure to comply with the demand for dowry. At
    the earliest the appellant accused came forward with the plea that the
    deceased committed suicide at 8.00 or 8.30 a.m. after taking meal, which
    is found to be false, is also a relevant fact in completing the chain of
    circumstances. [33-C-D)
E         3. The dead body was fonnd in the store room which is in the first
    floor. There is no other way of ingress or egress to the first floor, except
    through the stair-case I)'.ing in the ground floor of the house. As such it
    is impossible for any other person to enter into the house except the
    inmates. Admittedly, the deceased and her mother-in-law alone were
F   living in the house while her husband was working at a place 90 KMs.
    away and obviously be was coming and going to bis place of duty. The
    High Court also accepted the possibility of bis coming to bis house and
    after committing the offence he must have left the place as the journey on
    the high-way would take hardly two hours. The murder was committed
G   within hardly three months from the date of marriage. As per the
    evidence of DW-4 the deceased was happy in the marital home. It would,
    therefore, conclusively exclude the theory of suicide. Thus, she must have
    been done to death by none other than the inmates of the matrimonial
    home. [32 F-H; 33-A,B)

H          4. When the deceased was done to death by asphexia and thereafter
                         SAROJINI v. STATE OF M.P.                        27

    the dead body was burnt soaking kerosene on the naked body, it would A
    be obvious that more than one participated in committing the murder.
    The High Court also found that the appellant-accused had an associate
    to screen the evidence of murder. But the investigating officer not only
•   conducted perfunctory investigation but also gave evidence in a most
    unsatisfactory manner. He did not make any attempt during investiga· B
    lion to collect the evidence of the presence of the husband of the deceased
    at the place of occurrence during that night or thereafter. The fact that
    more than one participated in the commission of the crime and the fact
    that there is no other person enimical to the deceased to commit the
    crime and the fact that it is not impossible for the accused· husband to C
     immediately leave after committing the crime, would clearly connect him
    to be a participis criminis in committing homicide of his wife. Without his
    cooperation and participation in committing the crime, on the facts and
    circumstances, it is impossible for his mother alone to commit the crime.
     Except denial he offered no explanation in his S.313 statement. The false. D
     theory of suicide is also a circumstance t1l be taken into account. The
     remorseless conduct of the appellant is a relevant fact. Also the conduct
    of the accused~husband is inculpatory.     The 11orn1al hwnan conduct
    would be that on hearing the news of the death of his wife he was
    expected to immediately reach home; to make enquiry for the cause of
    death, and to take further actions, which are absent in this case.   E
                                                              [33-EH; 34-A]


          S. All the circumstances of the case clearly and conclusively connect
    and establish that both the accused alone have committed the crime and F
    the prosecution proved the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable
    doubt. The Sessions Court is right in its conclusion that they shared the
    common intention to commit the murder. Accordingly, the conviction
    and sentence recorded by the trial court of both the accused under s.302
    read with s.34 I.P.C. is restored. The High Court had not bestowed its G
    attention to the crucial facts, and had wrongly given the accused benefit
    of doubt leading to miscarriage of justice. The order of acquittal by the
    High Court under S.302 read with S.34 I.P.C. of both the accused are set
    aside. The conviction under S. 201 !PC and the sentence imposed on the
    appellant-accused by the High Court is affirmed. [34 C-E]                   H
    28                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1992] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A         CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No.
    626, 627 of 1992.

         From the Judgment and Order dated 23.11.92 of the Madhya
    Pradesh High Court in Cr!. A. No. 952 of 1985.                                  •
B         U.R. Lalit and S.K. Gambhir for the Appellant.

          Sakash Kumar and Uma Nath Singh for the Respondents.

          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

C         K. RAMASWAMY, J. Special leave granted.

          Vinod Bhalla and his mother Smt. Sarojini were charged under
    Sec.302 read with s.34 I.P.C. or alternatively under s.306 read with s.34
    l.P.C. by the Sessions Judge, Rewa in Sessions Trial No. 75 of 1983 for
    causing the death of or abetment to cause suicide by Smt. Rajini Bhalla,
D   aged 22 years. Rajini was married to Vined on Feb. 3,1982 and three
    months thereafter her dead body in a charred and unrecognisable condi-
    tion was found ori the first floor of the matrimonial home at Rewa on May
    27, 1982. The trial court convicted both the accused under s.302 read with
    s.34 and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life. On
    appeal, the High Court by its judgment dated November 23, 1991 acquitted
E   them of the offence under s.302 read with s.34, but convicted Smt. Sarojini
    under s.201 I.P.C. and sentenced her to undergo R.I. for five years. These
    appeals are by Sarojini and the State respectively.

           The facts lie in a short compass. PW-1, Pashupathinath Tandon and
    PW-2, Vimla, are parents PW-3, Kailash Nath and PW-4, Shiv Charan Lal,
F   are brothers of Rajini. The persecution case is that Sarojini wrote Ex.-4
    to 6, pre-marital letters, to PW-1 demanding Scooter, Tape Recorder and
    Tullu Pump (motor for pumping water to upper storey), but the same could
    not be immediately given at marriage. It is the prosecution case that it is a
    case of dowry death. The case of the accused is one of suicide. The case
    hinges upon circumstantial evidence. At about 8.00 a.m., on May 27, 1982,
G   PW-8, the Sub-Inspector of Rewa Police Station, received a message of the
    house burning which was transmitted to PW-10, Mahipal Singh, the Inspec-
    tor. When PW-10 went to the scene of occurrence, PW-8 was at the scene.
    He conducted a Panchanama of the scene of offence on the first floor of
    the house of the accused. Rajini's dead body in charred and unrecog-
    nisable condition was found with the tongue protruding, the blood was
H   oozing from the mouth, the limbs were spread on the upper side in
          SAROJINI v. STATE OF M.P. [K. RAMASWAMY. l.]                29

retracted position and the deceased was lying naked on the back in the A
supine condition. The dead body was sent for post-mortem and Dr. Moghe,
PW-9 conducted the post-mortum. According to him he could not give
the cause of death, but he noted that the lungs congested and oedematous;
both the chambers of heart were empty and found semi-digested food in
the stomach of the deceased. The entire material was transmitted to
PW-11, Harish Chandra, the Director, Medicology. On minute and
                                                                            B
detailed examination of the materials furnished to him, PW-11 opined that
the death was due to asphexia and that the deceased died after two or three
hours of her last meal. The death could not have been in the morning
between 8.00 or 8.30 a.m. He also found that the body of the deceased
continued to be burnt even after death resulting in heat cracks and cracks c
in the limbs. Vinod was working as a Cashier-cum-Clerk in the State Bank
at Sidhi, 90 km. from Rewa, well connected with thorough traffic and it
takes two hours to reach Rewa or to go back to Sidhi. The deceased and
Sarojini were Staying in their house at Rewa

       The learned Sessions Judge found that the motive to kill the young
                                                                            D
lady who was yet to blossom into womanhood was the unsatiable thirst for
dowry. The death was not suicide, but of homicide. PW-11's evidence is
conclusive that the death was due to asphcxia and that the murder could
not be committed by a single individual. After two to three hours of last
meal the death had occurred. Vinod after committing the murder must         E
have left the place .. The conduct of Sarojini after the occurrence is
unnatural. She was seen remorselessly sipping coffee and snacks. There-
fore, the accused alone were responsible for the murder of Rajini. Ac-
cordingly, the Sessions Court recorded conviction and sentences.
                                                                            F
       On appeal, the High Court affirmed that the death was homicidal
and occurred between two to three hours after the last meal. Sarojini was
present in the house and she proclaimed at Panchanama that the death was
suicidal and that it occurred during morning hours. The prosecution
established that non-compliance of demanded dowry as motive for death
and that it is not impossible for Vinod to come in the evening and to G
commit the murder and then to reach Sidhi in the same night. But it
acquitted Vinod on the ground that the prosecution did not lead any
evidence to show that Vinod was present at the time of occurrence and
that, therefore, he is entitled to the benefit of doubt. Similarly the High
Court found that Sarojini alone could not have committed the offence of H
    30                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1992] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A murder and there is no clinching evidence as to who committed the
    murder. So she wa' given the benefit of doubt. However it found that she
    and her associates a:ttempted lo destroy the evidence of murder of Rajini.
    Therefore, she was convicted under s.201 l.P.C.

          The facts are shocking, but the court should scan the evidence
B carefully to find whether there is leagal evidence to connect the accused
    with the commission of the crime. The case hinges upon circumstantial
    evidence. All the circumstances must conclusively establish with the only
    hypothesis that the accused alone committed the crime beyond reasonable
    doubt. If there is any break in the links of the chain of circumstantial
C   evidence, u~doubtedly the accused are entitled to the benefit of doubt.
    The crucial question, therefore, is whether the prosecution has brought
    home the offence against Vmod and Sarojini.

           Shri U.R. Lalit, learned senior counsel for the accused, contended
D   that there is long distance between may be true and must be true and the
    prosecution had faikd to travel all the distance in establishing conclusively
    that the accused and the accused alone had committed the crime .. The
    evidence of motive furnished from the occular evidence of PW-1 to PW-4
    is unacceptable sini::e there is improvement in their evidence from ·the
    statements under s.161. The medical evidences of PW-9 and PW-11 are
E

                                                                                    -
    in conflict. The pm.t-mortem report does not indicate the cause of death
    and the evidence of PW-11 is not conclusive. It is based on only opinion
    from circumstances, the clinching evidence establishes that Rajini died dne
    to fire accident. She committed suicide or death is due to fire accident.
    There is no evidence that Vinod was present at the time of occurrence and
F   Sarojini alone could not have committed the crime. There were inmates
    in the house, like DW-4 and others, they could have committed the offence.
    Under the circumstances the High Court is justified in giving them the
    benefit of doubt and these facts do not warrant interference under Art.136
    by this Court and Sarojini is also entitled to acquittal under s.2011.P.C.

G          We have given our anxious consideration to the contentions of Shri
    Lalit and ourselves closely and carefully scanned afresh the entire evidence
    placed on record. Normally this court would not undertake appreciation
    of evidence afresh, but in view of the doubt expressed by the High Court
    and with a view to satisfy our conscience we independently have gone
H   through the evidence. The crucial question in this case is whether the
                SAROJINI v. STATE OF M.P. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.]                  31

      death of Rajini was suicidal or homicide. Both the courts concurrently A
      found and we found no good ground to differ that the death of Rajini was
      homicide. The post-mortem report of Dr. Moghe found that the skin was


-     completely burnt. Heart, kidney, spleen and liver were also found con-
      gested. He found semi-digested food. The tongue was protruding and the
      eyes were bulging. Viscera was sent for chemical analysis. His report is
      Ex.-14. The forensic expert Dr. Harish Chandra in his report, P-20 opined
      Lhal death in all probability was homicidal and had occurred between two
                                                                                    B

      to three hours after last meal. In the Panchanama of the dead body, it was
      found that tongue of the deceased was protruding and blood was oozing
      from the mouth. Thread was seen around the waiste soaked with kerosene.
      Panchanama establishes that there was no kerosene smell in the store room C
      in which the dead body in a naked condition was found. The sewing
      machine was found not burnt. The dead body continued to be burnt even
      after the death resulting in heat cracks and cracks on the limbs. On these
      materials both the courts concluded that the deceased died two to three
      hours after the last meal in the night and not during morning hours, as D
      spoken by DW-4, the maternal aunt of Vinod (brother's wife of Sarojini).
      The death was homicidal. The High Court also conclusively held that
      protruding of the tongue and oozing of blood from the rriouth suggest, as
      a fact, that the deceased died by asphexia, may be caused by pressure on
      chest, throat or nostrils. It was not possible for further evidence to found
      because entire skin of the deceased was burnt. Accordingly it was found, E
      "Rajini met a homicidal death and the death occurred in the mid-night not
      in the morning hours". We have also gone through the report, Ex-20, and
      the only crucial evidence of Dr. Harish Chandra, PW-11. We entirely
      agree with the conclusions reached by the High Court as well as by the
      learned Sessions Judge that the death was homicidal due to asphexia and F
      not suicidal as contended for. We have seen the Panchanama of the scene
:-l   of occurrence which would establish that the roof of the room was
      blackened and burnt and the rafters had fallen down. It would thus be
      clear that large carbon smoke must have been accumulated in the stores
      and Rajini before death must have breathed and the absence of carbon
      soots or black soots or its traces in her lungs clearly proves that the death G
      was homicidal and thereafter the dead body was burnt.

             The ratio in State (Delhi Admn.) v. Gulzarila/ Tandon, AIR 1979 SC
      1382 is of little assistance to the appellant. Therein it was found as a fact
      that there is a dispute between different Doctors examined by the prosecu- H
    32                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1992] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A tion itself as to the cause of death. The trial court accepted the prosecu-
    tion case, but the High Court on detailed examination found that the
    evidence of the Doctors mutually inconsistent and given benefit of doubt.
    In that context this court held that :


B
             "Where the medical evidence on the side of prosecution
             and the accused is more or less equally balanced, the
                                                                                      -
             benefit of doubt must go to the accused. The High C~urt
             has discu:;sed the evidence threadbare and has also relied
             on the medical authorities on the various symptoms and
             other aspects of epilepsy and has held that the possibility
C            of epilep:;y cannot be ruled out' in this case. Once this
             possibili~1 is there, it will be impossible for us to interfere
             with the order of acquittal passed by the High Court."

    In this case there is no inconsistency in the evidence of the post-mortem
D Doctor and the forensic Doctor. PW-9 could not opine the cause of the
    death, and he did not await tho chemical examination report and also
    forensic opinion. Dr. Harish Chandra, PW-11, minutely examined all the
    factual details and came to the finding that the death was due to asphexia.
    This finding has been accepted by the trial court as well as the High Court.
    Thus there is no conflict of medical opinions to extend the benefit of doubt
E   to the accused.

           The question then is whether the husband and mother-in-law alone
    have committed the offence. Photography of the scene and the situation
    of the house disdose that the house consists of ground floor and the first
F   floor. In the first floor, a bed room a,cj another store room was found as
    per Panchanama. The dead body was found in the store room. There is
    no other way of ingress or egress to the first floor, except through the stair-
    case lying in the grow1d floor of the house. As such it is impossible for
    any other persons to enter into the house except the inmates. Admittedly,
    the deceased and Sarojini alone were living in the house while Vinod was
G   working at Sidhi, obviously he was coming and going to his place of duty.
    The distance between Rewa and Sidhi is 90 km. The High Court also
    accepted the po:;sibility of the Vinod's coming to Rewa and after commit-
    ting the offence leaving Rewa as the journey on the high-way would take
    hardly two houn to reach Sidhi. The murder was committed within hardly
H   three months from the date of marriage and two to three hours after night
          SAROJINI v. STATE OF M.P. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.]                 33

meal. As per the evidence of DW-4 the deceased was happy in the marital A
home. It would, therefore, conclusively exclude the theory of suicide as
pleaded by Sarojini and death was in the morning at 8.00 or 8.30 a.m.
Within a short period of three months, there is no possibility of anyone
developing such deep enimity with Rajini to put to end to the life of an
young married woman. It must, therefore, be none other than the inmates B
of the matrimonial home.

       No doubt there is improvement in the evidence of PW-1 to PW-4 on
the demand of dowry of the specified items, but in the statements under
s.161 they have stated the factum of demand for dowry, but the details were
absent. But the evidence receives corroboration from Ex. P-1 to 4 letters C
written by Sarojini. If we look into the conduct of Sarojini as evidenced
by Ex.P-1 to P-4 the pre-marital demand for dowry and non-compliance
thereof is a relevant fact to establish. motive as rightly found by the courts
below. The fact that Rajini met with homicidal death within three months
from the date of marriage is also a relevant fact to conclude that the death D
was due to the failure to comply with .the demand for dowry. At the
earliest Sarojini came forward with the plea that the deceased died due to
suicide, at 8.00 or 8.30 a.m. after tiiking meal, which is now found to be
false, is also a relevant fact completing the chain of circumstances. When
the deceased was done to death by asphexia and thereafter the dead body
was burnt soaking kerosene on a naked body, it would be obvious that more E
than one participated in committing the murder. The High Court also
found that' Sarojini had an associate to screen the evidence of murder.
Who would be the other person? Here the presence of Vinod is called
into picture. We are surprised to note that PW-10, the investigating officer,
not only conducted perfunctory investigation but also gave evidence in a F
most unsatisfactory manner. He did not make any attempt during inves-
tigation to collect the evidence of the presence of Vinod at Rewa during
the night or thereafter. The fact that more than one participated in the
commission of the crime and the fact that there is no other person enimical
to Rajini to commit the crime and the fact that it is not impossible for G
Vinod to immediately leave Rewa for Sidhi after committing the crime,
would clearly connect him to be a participis criminis i)l committing
homicide of his wife Rajini. Without his cooperation and participation in
committing the crime, on the facts and circumstances, it is impossible for
Sarojini alone to commit the crime. Except denial he offerred no explana-
tion in his s.313 statement. The false theory of suicide is also a cir- H
    34                 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1992] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A cumstance to be taken into account. The remorseless conduct of Sarojini
    is a relevant fact. conduct of Vinod also is inculpatory. The normal human
    conduct would be that on hearing the news of the death of his wife he was
    expected to immediately reach home; to make enquiry for the cause of
    death and to take further actions which are absent in this case. Under
    these circumstances we have no hesitation to agree with the Sessions Court
B   and disagree with the· High Court that Vinod also was a patticipis criminis
    in committing thf: criine. We have also no hesitation to conclude that
    Sarojini is the villain of the piece in committing the murder of Rajini.


           Accordingly we hold that all the circumstances discussed above
c clearly and conclusively connect and establish that both the accused alone
    have committed the crime and accordingly we hold that the prosecution
    proved the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt. The Sessions
    Court is right in its conclusion that they shared the common intention to
    commit the murder of Rajini. Accordingly we uphold the conviction and
D   sentences recorded by the trial court of both the accused under s.302 read
    with s.34 l.P.C. The High Court had not bestowed its attention to the
    crucial facts and given the accused benefit of doubt leading to miscarriage
    of justice. Accordingly the judgment of the High Court is reversed. The
    order of acquittal by the High Court under s.302 read with s.34 l.P.C. of
E   both Vinod and Sarojini are set aside and that of the Sessions Court is
    restored. Accordingly the State appeal is allowed and the appeal of Sarojini
    shall stand dismissed. The conviction and sentence under s.201 l.P.C. is
    affirmed and the same would run concurrently with life imprisonment.


F         Before con.eluding the case, we place our appreciation for Dr. Harish
    Chandra's sincere devotion to duty, who has correlated all the material
    facts and circumstance available from the record placed before him to
    arrive at the condusions; otherwise miscarriage of justice would have been
    ensued. The investigating officer did not even conduct inquest over the
    dead body. He did not even speak of the details which of scene of offence
G   and other material details smacks of irresponsibility. Vinod Bhalla shall
    immediately be taken into custody to undergo the sentence of R.I. for life.


    G.N.                                Criminal Appeal No. 626/92-dismissed.
                                         Criminal Appeal No. 627/92-allowed.