REPORTABL E

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 891 of 2004

Dr. Sunil Kumar Sambhudayal Gupta & Ors. …Appellants

Versus

State of Maharashtra …Respondent

J U D G M E N T

Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.

1.This appeal has been preferred against the judgment and order

of the High Court of Bombay, dated 29.4.2004, passed in Criminal

Appeal No. 865 of 1987, by which the High Court has reversed the

judgment and order of the Trial Court acquitting the appellants of the

charges under Sections 306/34 and 498A/34 of the Indian Penal Code,

1860 (hereinafter called as `IPC’).

2.Facts and circumstances giving rise to this case are that

appellant No.1 got married to one Neeru Gupta (hereinafter called as

`the deceased’) on 1.12.1978 by way of an arranged marriage. Out of

the said wedlock, a female child named Mili was born in 1981. There

had been some disputes between the husband and wife on petty

matters. Neeru committed suicide on 28.9.1985 by hanging herself in

the bathroom when all the other family members had gone outside.

Rajesh (PW.2), brother of the deceased, filed a complaint dated

30.9.1985, against the appellants i.e. the husband and parents in law of

the deceased, alleging that they had been demanding dowry and had

given ill treatment to the deceased, and that is why Neeru committed

suicide. The police investigated the matter and filed the charge sheet

against all the three appellants on 9.1.1986 under Section 306 read

with Section 34 IPC and Section 498A read with Section 34 IPC. The

prosecution examined a large number of witnesses to substantiate its

case. After the conclusion of the trial, the Sessions Court vide its

judgment and order dated 21.5.1987, held that the deceased had

committed suicide. However, no role could be attributed to any of the

appellants for the same, and the prosecution failed to prove any of the

charges beyond reasonable doubt against the appellants. The

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witnesses examined by the prosecution improved their version with

regard to claims of the alleged demands, particularly in respect of the

gold ornaments and ill treatment of the deceased. The Trial Court

came to the conclusion that the deceased was suffering from epilepsy,

psychosis and depression and had been getting regular treatment for

the same. Therefore, it was not a case of dowry demand or treating her

with cruelty.

3.Being aggrieved, the State of Maharashtra preferred Criminal

Appeal No.865 of 1987 before the High Court of Bombay and the

High Court reversed the order of acquittal, convicted the appellants

vide its judgment and order dated 29.4.2004 and imposed the

punishment of 3 years RI on the husband, appellant No.1, and 2 years

on the other appellants i.e. the in-laws of the deceased. Hence, this

appeal.

4.Shri K.T.S Tulsi, learned senior counsel appearing for the

appellants, has submitted that the High Court failed to appreciate the

medical evidence and depositions of the prosecution witnesses in the

right perspective, as the same could not establish conclusively that the

suicide by the deceased could be attributed to the appellants to any

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extent. It was a clear cut case of suicide because of depression, as the

deceased had been suffering from epilepsy and other mental disorders.

The deceased had developed an illicit relationship with a family

friend, Kake, and a letter written by the said Kake had been in the

possession of the other family members and, therefore, they had

informed her parents and brother about the said illicit relationship.

The medical evidence, particularly, the deposition of Dr. Daulatram

Nekumal Gurbani (PW.10) made it clear that the deceased had been

suffering from serious depression and such a patient often develops

suicidal tendencies. The deceased had also made an attempt earlier to

commit suicide in 1985 and she had been taken to the local hospital.

Subsequently, she had also been treated at Kanpur. The findings of

fact recorded by the Trial Court that there was neither any demand of

gold ornaments or any kind of dowry, nor had the deceased been

subjected to cruelty, could not be held to be perverse by the High

Court to bring home the charges against the appellants under Sections

306 or 498A IPC. The parents-in-law of the deceased were not living

at Kalyan, as the appellant No.2 had been transferred to Kurudwadi in

1983 and the deceased was living with her husband i.e. appellant

No.1, at Kalyan. The High Court committed an error in shifting the

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burden of proof to the defence as the court observed that the defence

failed to prove its version. In fact the prosecution has to prove its case

beyond reasonable doubt and the failure of the defence to prove the

defence version cannot be a ground for conviction. More so, as there

has been no abetment to suicide, the provisions of Section 306 IPC

could not be attracted. Thus, in view of above, the appeal deserves to

be allowed.

5.On the contrary, Shri Sushil Karanjakar, learned counsel

appearing for the State has vehemently opposed the appeal contending

that the High Court’s judgment is based on cogent reasons and on a

proper appreciation of the evidence on record. The High Court has

correctly reached the conclusion that the findings of fact recorded by

the Trial Court were perverse. The High Court is the final court of

facts, its findings do not deserve to be disturbed by this Court in a

routine manner. There is sufficient evidence on record to prove the

demand of dowry and abetment to suicide. Therefore, no interference

is required by this Court with the findings of fact recorded by the

High Court. The appeal lacks merit and, thus, is liable to be dismissed.

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6.We have considered the rival submissions made by learned

counsel for the parties and perused the record.

7.Before proceeding further, it may be pertinent to mention here

that Shri K.T.S Tulsi, learned senior counsel appearing for the

appellants, has informed us that appellant No.3, Sou. Pushamalati

Sambhudayal Gupta died in the month of February, 2010. In view

thereof, the appeal by appellant No.3 stands abated and we only have

to consider the case of appellant Nos. 1 and 2, i.e., the husband and

the father-in-law of the deceased.

8.The Trial Court after appreciating the depositions of the

witnesses and examining the documentary evidence on record came to

the conclusion that the alleged demand of gold ornaments or ill-

treatment of the deceased could not be established and none of the

letters produced by the prosecution has been suggestive of either of

ill-treatment or demand of dowry. None of the prosecution witnesses,

i.e. the family members of the deceased, made such allegations either

while lodging the FIR or in their statements recorded under Section

161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter called

‘Cr.P.C.’). Such allegations had been made for the first time while

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making statements before the court during trial. There were material

contradictions and improvements, which were not mere elaborations

of their statements already made. Thus, their statements in regard to

those allegations were liable to be discarded.

9.The High Court reversed the findings of fact recorded by the

Trial Court, mainly relying upon the evidence of Dr. Daulatram

Nekumal Gurubani (PW.10), as he had deposed that when he had

examined the deceased, she told him that she had been deprived of

love and affection by her family members. She had no faith in any

member of her family. He had also opined that it was not a case of

psychosis, but the deceased had been suffering from a mental

disorder. The High Court also reached the conclusion that the defence

failed to establish that the deceased was suffering from epilepsy

before her marriage. The stay of the deceased along with her parents

in a Guest House for two-three days after going from Kanpur to

Kalyan has also been taken by the High Court as a circumstance

adverse to the appellants. The High Court also came to the

conclusions that the intimacy between the deceased and Kake did not

mean that she had illicit relationship with Kake; and there had been a

demand of a gold chain by appellant No.3.

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10.As the High Court has reversed the order of acquittal and taken

a view contrary to the view taken by the Trial Court, we have taken

upon ourselves the task of appreciation of evidence and considered the

legal and factual issues involved in the case.

11.Letters written by the parties to each other:

(A)A large number of letters had been placed on record before the

Trial Court by both the parties. Letter dated 24.2.1979 (Ext.P-26),

written by the deceased to her husband, about 3 months after the

marriage reveals that there was no problem in the relationship

between the husband and wife. In fact, it suggests that they had deep

love and affection for each other.

(B)Letter dated 3.4.1985, written by appellant no. 2 to the father of

the deceased, makes it evident that something had gone wrong and the

behaviour of the deceased had been totally unwarranted, as it revealed

that she had gone out of the house i.e. on the main road, half-naked

and she had brought disrepute to the family of her in-laws. However,

they had been tolerating such behaviour. She had lowered their

prestige so much that they had not been able to show their faces to

anyone. It suggested an illicit relationship between the deceased and

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one family friend, Kake. It also suggested that the deceased wanted to

live with the said Kake, as she had developed love for him and she

was willing to elope with him. It also suggested that it was wrong on

the part of Smt. Shanti (mother of the deceased) to have been giving

wrong advice to the deceased and making false allegations that her in-

laws were not treating her properly. According to this letter, the

deceased had declared that she was no longer interested in Sunil, her

husband, as she did not like him any more and in the end appellant

No.2 had expressed great concern about his grand daughter Mili and

stated that he was willing to keep her in a hostel so that she could be

spared humiliation because of the illicit relationship between the

deceased and Kake. The author of the letter suggested to the father of

the deceased that he should call the deceased to Kanpur as there could

be some untoward/disastrous incident in future.

(C)The undated letter (Ext. P-2) purported to have been written by

Kake to the deceased, gives an impression that the deceased had not

only deep intimacy, but something more with Kake. Kake was also in

possession of some of her photographs which he claimed to be his

fortune and said that the same would not be returned to her as she had

requested and would be burnt only with the end of his life. This letter

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also suggested that he had the opportunity to have a physical

relationship with her.

(D)There are several other letters on record showing that after the

development of the intimacy between Kake and the deceased, both

families were disturbed and attempts had been made from both the

sides to patch up the matter. However, none of the letters suggests any

demand of dowry or ill treatment to the deceased amounting to cruelty

by the appellants.

(E)The letter dated 7.7.1985 written by the complainant, Rajesh,

brother of the deceased to appellant No.1, is suggestive in nature. It

suggests that appellant no. 1 should try to save the prestige of the

family at any cost and forget all that had happened in the past, as the

deceased was willing to improve herself and accept any advice given

by her husband. Another letter dated 9.7.1985, written by the

informant, Rajesh, brother of the deceased to the appellant No.2

revealed that the entire family of the deceased had been making

serious attempts at re-conciliation. Even in this letter there was not

even a whisper/mention of any demand of dowry or of ill treatment.

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(F)The letter dated 18.7.1985 written by the father of the deceased

to his son Rajesh (PW.2) from Kalyan made it clear that the author

along with the deceased had gone to Kalyan to meet the family of the

appellants, and they were not welcomed by the mother-in-law of the

deceased at the initial stage. They had been staying in Modern Guest

House in the same colony. Appellant No.1, the husband of the

deceased suggested that the deceased should meet her mother-in-law

and apologies, which was accepted by the deceased. The deceased met

her mother-in-law and apologized. After some time, the mother-in-

law became quiet and calm and started behaving properly and all the

appellants treated them well.

(G)The un-dated letter (Ex.P-21) written by the deceased to her

father revealed that her mother-in-law wanted her to separate herself

from the other members of the family and her parents. It also gave the

impression that her mother-in-law was asking for a gold chain

(“zanzir ke liye keh rahi thi”) and created problems for her in meeting

her husband and daughter. After the arrival of her brother-in-law to

Kalyan, the behaviour of her mother-in-law had improved a lot, but

her husband being busy in his practice and did not have sufficient time

to be with her.

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(H)From the original record, a letter dated 1.4.1985 (Ext. 16), by

the mother-in-law to the father of the deceased seems to have been

written after losing hope completely and concluding that the deceased

had become incorrigible. The said letter suggests that the relationship

between the deceased and her husband had come to an end. The

deceased had become a woman of bad character. They had tolerated

her to a great extent. The deceased had been tutored by her mother;

she had been misbehaving with them and it had become difficult for

them to tolerate her any more. The deceased had been using abusive

language to all the family members. She had lowered their reputation

and they had been very unlucky to have such a daughter-in-law. As

she wanted to live with Kake and not with her husband, they did not

want to have any relationship with her. [Appellant No. 3 had denied

writing the said letter].

(I)Another letter dated 22.5.1985, is on record written by Jai

Narain Gupta from Sandila, U.P. (who seems to be relative of the

deceased) wherein a suggestion had been made to patch up the matter.

The author has drawn the inference that the problems were being

created for the deceased, and she has been treated with cruelty as her

in-laws did not receive dowry according to their expectations, though,

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there is no allegation that there has been any demand of dowry and for

not giving the same.

(J)The undated letter written by the deceased to her aunt Manorma

Gupta at Barabanki does not suggest anything against the accused, as

the deceased had written that everything was fine and that she would

discuss things when they met. The undated letter written by her aunt

in reply, suggests that there was something amiss. She had mentioned

that the whole family was very disturbed, but they were not able to

suggest any solution. There was nothing to worry or fear as all of

them were with the deceased and she also told the deceased to face

things with courage, as she had equal rights to stay in the house and to

fight for justice.

12. Depositions of Prosecution witnesses (Relevant parts):

(I)Dr. Mohan Kulkarni, a practicing doctor

residing in the same building (PW.1)-

“I know both accused Nos. 2 and 3 used to

occasionally visit their block at Waldhuni (Kalyan)

after transfer of accused No.2 at Kurduwadi…..I

have no any personal knowledge about the

relations in between accused No.1 and his

deceased wife…..It is true that I was told by

accused No.1 some four or five month before the

incident that his wife Guddi was getting the attacks

of epileptic fits. The ailment of epileptic fits is of

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neurological problems. I say that these medicines

namely used in neurological problems as gardenal,

have their side effects on the patient. E.C.T.

(Electro Convulsive Therapy) treatment is given to

mental patients of some sort. If a person shows

abnormal signs then he is branded as a mental

patient. I say that those who have tendency of

mental depression they tend to commit suicide. It

is true that mental disorder in some cases creates

mental depression.”

(II)Rajesh (PW.2) (Brother of the deceased)-

“It is true that there was nothing wrong in

between the accused and Neeru till the delivery of

a female child and everything was smooth and

cordial, in between them……

I cannot say why it is not disclosed

specifically in my complaint that as accused no.3

instructed Neeru to fetch golden ornaments on

account of my marriage ceremony, my father

presented with four golden bangles in the

ceremony…….

I cannot say why it is not stated in my

complaint that after the birth of her daughter we

presented Neeru with two golden ear rings and

golden chain of two tolas because those were

demanded by her husband’s family members…..

As I did not remember the exact account of

the remaining ornaments presented to Neeru by us

as and when demanded by her in laws. I did not

narrate about them in the complaint. Except my

words I have no documentary evidence to show

how many golden ornaments were presented to

Neeru and when……

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There is no reference to golden chain any

other letters except letter (Exh.21) sent by Neeru to

my parents and myself. That golden chain we give

to Neeru in 1985 was weighing 2 and ½ tolas…..

The only reference about the golden chain

asked for by accused no.3 appears in letter

(Exh.21) sent by Neeru to us after she was reached

at her in laws place on 24.8.1985.”

(III)Manorma (PW.7) Aunt of deceased-

“She told me that accused persons had

demanded a golden chain from her and hence she

was not being called back now shown inland letter

dated 10.7.1985 which is written by me to Neeru

alias Guddi at Kanpur…..

I have not stated before the police that when

I met Neeru in March 1985 she told me that

accused persons were demanding more golden

ornaments from her and that they were keeping her

starving and were not allowing her to meet her

daughter Mili, and that she was craving to meet

Mili. As I was not well at that time I forgot to

narrate the things before the police. I have told

this fact for the first time to the court…...

I have not written specifically in my two

letters (Exh.39 and 40) addressed to my brother

and sister in law that Neeru told me that she was

subjected to physical assault by the accused and

that she was kept starving by the accused and

further accused demanded golden ornaments from

her.”

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(IV)Ramkishan Gupta (PW.8) Father of deceased-

“I then arranged for a golden chain and sent

Rajesh along with Neeru with a golden chain to

Kalyan on 24.8.1985. Rajesh handed over golden

chain to accused, and left Neeru in her in laws

house and returned back to Kanpur. After 15 days

we received a telegram sent by brother of accused

no.1 Pradeep Kumar that all was well in the house

at Kalyan. On 29.9.1985 we received a phone call

informing us the said news of death of Neeru…..

I have not stated in letter (Exh.23/1) that

while we were standing out side the house of

accused and requesting them to accept Neeru,

accused no.3 demanded a golden chain from us

and refused to allow Neeru to see her daughter in

side the house, because Rajesh already knew all

these things at Kanpur. I have no documentary

evidence except my words to show that I had

written to my sister Manorama and to my brother

that accused persons were demanding……

I have not stated in either of my two

statements before the police that when accused

no.3 came to attend the wedding of my son Rajesh

she demanded golden ornaments for herself

(Accused no.3). I have not stated in either of my

two statements before the police that even after the

delivery of Neeru in 1981 none of the accused

persons came to Kanpur to visit her. I have not

stated in my first statement dated 1.10.1985 before

the police that when Neeru came for delivery at

Kanpur she informed us that accused no.3 was

demanding golden ornaments from her…..

I have not stated in either of my two

statements specifically that when I and my wife

went to the house of accused on 17.2.1985 we met

all three accused at the entrance and all of them

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asked me whether I had brought golden ornaments

or had come empty handed, and that they had

already asked Rajesh to bring along golden

ornaments and whereupon I told all three accused

that I had not brought along golden ornaments as I

was not having them and where upon all three

accused pointed out towards Neeru and said as to

how all those accused had driven Neeru to such a

condition and that they would further make her

condition miserable. I have not stated in either of

my two statements before the police that when

Neeru returned back to our house in March 1985

she told us that all accused told her that till their

demand for cash and ornaments was not made,

they would not allow Mili to go along with Neeru.

I have not stated in either of my two statements

before the police that when accused nos.2 and 3

had come to attend the marriage ceremony at

Kanpur in the month of March 1985 accused nos.2

and 3 did not allow me to meet Mili. I had not

stated in either of my two statements before the

police that when Rajesh brought back Neeru in the

month of June 1985 at Kanpur Neeru told me that

she was not allowed to meet her daughter Mili in

the house of her husband and accused no.3 asked

her if she had brought golden chain or not.”

(V)Daulatram Nekumal Gurubani (PW.10), Doctor-

“In the mid of February, 1985 accused No.1

told me that his wife has become aggressive and

was not co-operative and also used to become

violent. When I reached the house of accused

No.1, there I met accused No.2 and Accused No.3.

I examined Neerubai, the wife of accused No.1.

She was lying in store room and was not in a mood

to talk anything with me even she become

aggressive with me in the sense she was not co-

operative with me. Accused No.1 told Neerubai

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that I was psychotherapist of Thane Mental

Hospital and then Neeru asked me whether I

treated my wife in the same way she was being

treated by her husband accused No.1. She showed

me injury marks bruises on her both knees and a

small injury on the lower lip and also bruises on

the back. She also told me that she was beaten by

her family members and by a ward boy of hospital.

She also told me that she had been maltreated by

her husband, by her mother in law. She also told

me that, her ornaments were being worn by

accused No.3. On seeing the injury marks on her

person I talked with accused No.1 and asked for

details. Accused No.1 told me that as Neeru had

become violent and we were controlling her it was

possible that she sustained small bruises…..

Accused No.1 told me that his wife was

suffering from epileptic fits since before her

marriage and that she was on Geroin tablets. I told

him that there were side effects of this drug and the

drug should be stopped after 3 years. He told me

that she was on drug for so many years and she is

maintained on that drugs. I told him to continue

with above tablets and consult Neurologist if she is

suffering from the above ailments. I visited her

place for 4 times in the same month i.e. February,

1985. During all those visits I never found any

signs of epileptic fits……

Cross examination:

I started my practice in January 1985 at

Ulhasnagar and handed the case of Neeru in

February 1985 after I passed my M.D. Degree in

Psychiatry in July 1984 though I joined mental

hospital at Thane as Medical Officer……

I agree that even in major epilepsy this

medicine Geroin is prescribed. It will not be

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correct to say that because I prescribed medicine

Geroin I was convinced that the patient was

suffering from major epilepsy. Even though I knew

that drug Geroin carried side effect yet I prescribed

it though I knew she had no sign of epilepsy

because once the drug is started it cannot be

abruptly discontinued otherwise the patient may

get fits. I stick to the proposition that if an anti-

convulsent drugs such as Geroin is given for long

period and withdrawn abruptly then she may get

convulsions. I am backed by authority. Clinical

examination alone cannot decide whether a patient

is suffering from epilepsy or not. Patient of

epilepsy may have a grand-mal or petit-mal. It is

true that dose of Geroin daily is more in case of

grand-mal than in the case of petit-mal. It is true

that a maximum dose of Geroin tablets is 4 tablets

3 times a day. I agree that brain scan, EEG and X-

ray of all the skull are required for investigations

in cases of epilepsy….

It is true that drugs at Sr. Nos. 1 to 5

prescribed by me to Mrs. Neeru wife Exh.46 are

normally prescribed in a case of epilepsy with

psychoses and in depressive state….I have

prescribed to Neeru E.C.T. treatment…..It is not

stated in my prescription letter (Exh.46) that if the

drug as Sr. Nos. 1 to 5 prescribed to Neeru do not

work out, then E.C.T. therapy should be started to

her, though verbally told her so. It is true that I have

not specifically stated in my prescription letter

(Exh.46) at any time during my visits to Mrs. Neeru

on 4 or 5 occasions that as the drugs at Sr.Nos. 1 to

5 in (Exh.46) were working, E.C.T. therapy was not

essential…..I have not stated in my police statement

that the room in which Neeru was found was an

unkept room or a store room. I have not stated

before the police that when I was introduced to

Neeru as a psychiatrist, Neeru asked me whether I

treat my wife in the same way as she was treated by

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her husband. I have not stated before the police that

before Neeru was examined by me she told me that

she was harassed by accused persons and that her

ornaments were worn by accused No.3……

I have not stated before the police that I

examined Neeru and found that there was not any

gross psychological problem but she was mentally

disturbed and I found that she had no faith in any of

the members of the family and I found that she was

deprived of love, affection and sympathy of her

family members. I have not stated before the police

that accused No.1 told me she was also epileptic but

I did not find any signs and symptoms of that

disease with her. I have not stated before the police

that I requested accused No.1 where was the X-ray

of skull and other investigation papers and accused

No.1 told me that his wife was suffering of epileptic

fits since before her marriage and that she was on

geroin tablet. I have not stated before the police that

I told him that there were side effects of this drug

and the drug should be stopped after 3 years…..

I agree that Mrs. Neeru did not meet me in

April 1985 but she brought the letter of April 1985

of Dr. S. Mahendru in the month of June 1985. I

have not stated before the police that Neeru either

met me in April 1985 or in June 1985. Beyond my

word there is no any other evidence to show that in

September 1985 accused Nos. 1 and 2 came to me. I

have not stated before the police that both accused

Nos. 1 and 2 later on told me that Neeru committed

suicide and that they needed certificate about her

mental condition…..”

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(VI)Dr. Ramesh Kumar Mahendru (PW.12) – Doctor

from Kanpur :

x x x

“…..I say that the experts prescribed E.C.T. (Electro

Convulsive treatment) in cases of retarded

depression and, manic depressive psychosis. I am

shown the chart today by the learned Defence

counsel in which the prescription of medicines

advised by Dr. Gurubani for Niru and by me are

practically same except with a difference that the

medicines mentioned at Sr.No.4 does not potentiate

as anti depressants but it prevents the reactions

caused by the medicines stated at Sr.No.3 in the

chart…..

Narco therapy is a kind of suggestive psycho

therapy under the influence of narcotic drugs such as

barbiturates.”

13.The above referred letters and the depositions of the witnesses

have to be understood/appreciated within the four corners of law,

particularly dealing with the issues of reversal of the order of acquittal

by the appellate court and discrepancies/improvement/embellishment

and contradictions in the statements of the witnesses.

14.Material Contradictions:

While appreciating the evidence, the court has to take into

consideration whether the contradictions/omissions had been of such

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magnitude that they may materially affect the trial. Minor

contradictions, inconsistencies, embellishments or improvements on

trivial matters without effecting the core of the prosecution case

should not be made a ground to reject the evidence in its entirety. The

Trial Court, after going through the entire evidence, must form an

opinion about the credibility of the witnesses and the appellate Court

in normal course would not be justified in reviewing the same again

without justifiable reasons. (Vide: State Represented by Inspector of

Police v. Saravanan & Anr., AIR 2009 SC 152).

15.Where the omission(s) amount to a contradiction, creating a

serious doubt about the truthfulness of a witness and other witness

also make material improvements before the court in order to make

the evidence acceptable, it cannot be safe to rely upon such evidence.

(Vide : State of Rajasthan v. Rajendra Singh, (2009) 11 SCC 106).

16.The discrepancies in the evidence of eye-witnesses, if found to

be not minor in nature, may be a ground for disbelieving and

discrediting their evidence. In such circumstances, witnesses may not

inspire confidence and if their evidence is found to be in conflict and

contradiction with other evidence or with the statement already

22

recorded, in such a case it cannot be held that prosecution proved its

case beyond reasonable doubt. (Vide: Mahendra Pratap Singh v.

State of Uttar Pradesh, (2009) 11 SCC 334).

17.In case, the complainant in the FIR or the witness in his

statement under section 161 Cr.P.C., has not disclosed certain facts

but meets the prosecution case first time before the court, such version

lacks credence and is liable to be discarded. (Vide: State Represented

by Inspector of Police, Tamil Nadu v. Sait @ Krishnakumar, (2008)

15 SCC 440).

18.In State of Rajasthan v. Smt. Kalki & Anr., AIR 1981 SC

1390, while dealing with this issue, this Court observed as under:

“In the depositions of witnesses there are always

normal discrepancies, however honest and truthful

they may be. These discrepancies are due to

normal errors of observation, normal errors of

memory due to lapse of time, due to mental

disposition such as shock and horror at the time of

the occurrence, and the like. Material

discrepancies are those which are not normal, and

not expected of a normal person.”

19.The courts have to label the category to which a discrepancy

belongs. While normal discrepancies do not corrode the credibility of

a party’s case, material discrepancies do so. (see: Syed Ibrahim v.

23

State of A.P., AIR 2006 SC 2908; and Arumugam v. State, AIR

2009 SC 331).

20.In Bihari Nath Goswami v. Shiv Kumar Singh & Ors.,

(2004) 9 SCC 186, this Court examined the issue and held:

“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 evidence is put in a crucible for being

tested on the touchstone of credibility.”

21.While deciding such a case, the Court has to apply the aforesaid

tests. Mere marginal variations in the statements cannot be dubbed as

improvements as the same may be elaborations of the statement made

by the witness earlier. The omissions which amount to contradictions

in material particulars i.e. go to the root of the case/materially affect

the trial or core of the prosecution’s case, render the testimony of the

witness liable to be discredited.

Appeal against Acquittal:

22. It is a well-established principle of law, consistently re-iterated

and followed by this Court is that while dealing with a judgment of

acquittal, an appellate court must consider the entire evidence on

record, so as to arrive at a finding as to whether the views of the trial

24

Court were perverse or otherwise unsustainable. Even though the

appellate court is entitled to consider, whether in arriving at a finding

of fact, the trial Court had placed the burden of proof incorrectly or

failed to take into consideration any admissible evidence and/or had

taken into consideration evidence brought on record contrary to law;

the appellate court should not ordinarily set aside a judgment of

acquittal in a case where two views are possible, though the view of

the appellate court may be the more probable one. The trial court

which has the benefit of watching the demeanor of the witnesses is the

best judge of the credibility of the witnesses.

23.Every accused is presumed to be innocent unless his guilt is

proved. The presumption of innocence is a human right. Subject to the

statutory exceptions, the said principle forms the basis of criminal

jurisprudence in India. The nature of the offence, its seriousness and

gravity has to be taken into consideration.

The appellate court should bear in mind the presumption of

innocence of the accused, and further, that the trial court’s acquittal

bolsters the presumption of his innocence. Interference with the

decision of the Trial Court in a casual or cavalier manner where the

25

other view is possible should be avoided, unless there are good

reasons for such interference.

24.In exceptional cases where there are compelling circumstances,

and the judgment under appeal is found to be perverse, the appellate

court can interfere with the order of acquittal. The findings of fact

recorded by a court can be held to be perverse if the findings have

been arrived at by ignoring or excluding relevant material or by taking

into consideration irrelevant/inadmissible material. A finding may

also be said to be perverse if it is ‘against the weight of evidence’, or

if the finding so outrageously defies logic as to suffer from the vice of

irrationality. (See: Balak Ram & Anr. v. State of U.P., AIR 1974 SC

2165; Shailendra Pratap & Anr. v. State of U.P., AIR 2003 SC

1104; Budh Singh & Ors. v. State of U.P., AIR 2006 SC 2500; S.

Rama Krishna v. S. Rami Reddy (D) by his LRs. & Ors., AIR 2008

SC 2066; Arulvelu & Anr. v. State, (2009) 10 SCC 206; Ram Singh

alias Chhaju v. State of Himachal Pradesh, (2010) 2 SCC 445); and

Babu v. State of Kerala, (2010) 9 SCC 189).

25.The instant case is required to be examined in light of the

aforesaid legal principles.

26

Undoubtedly, the record reveals that at an initial stage the

relationship between husband and wife had been very cordial and they

had love and affection for each other. At a later stage when the family

suspected an illicit relationship between the deceased and Kake, the

appellants were very much disturbed. Both the families made serious

attempts to re-concile and patch up the matter and the appellants

agreed that the deceased may be given an opportunity to improve her

behaviour. Thus, admittedly there was a doubt that the deceased had

developed serious intimacy with Kake, which was much more than

what happens in normal course with a family friend. Therefore, the

finding recorded by the High Court that the intimacy between them to

the extent of having an illicit relationship was not there, loses its

significance, for the reason that even the suspicion of such a matter

becomes the talk of the town and the reputation of the family remains

at stake. The protests on the part of the appellants even on a mere

suspicion and asking the deceased to keep distance from Kake or

improve her behaviour is not something which can be termed to be

unwarranted or uncalled for.

26.There is ample evidence on record to suggest that the deceased

had been suffering from psychosis/mental dis-order. According to Dr.

27

Daulatram Nekumal Gurubani (PW.10) the ailment was not of a very

serious nature. However, the prescriptions given by Dr. Gurubani

(PW.10) reveal that the deceased had been suffering from serious

mental dis-order, otherwise such medicines could not have been

prescribed by him. He has prescribed the deceased the medicine

Geroin because he was convinced that the deceased was suffering

from major epilepsy, in spite of the fact that he was fully aware that

the said drug has side effects. He also deposed that mere clinical

examination alone is not sufficient to decide whether the patient is

suffering from epilepsy. He further deposed that such medicine can

be given to a person suffering from grand-mal epilepsy. More so, had

it not been the case of serious ailment of mental dis-order, the

question of prescribing and giving E.C.T. to the deceased could not

arise.

27.There had been a lot of improvements and contradictions in his

statements. The witness deposed for the first time in the court during

the trial, that when he went to examine the deceased, she was found

in an unkept room/store room and that he was introduced to the

deceased as a Psychiatrist and that the deceased had asked him

whether he treated his wife in the same way as she had been treated by

28

her husband. None of this was mentioned in his statement recorded by

the police. Nor it had been recorded therein that the deceased had told

him that she was harassed by the appellants and her ornaments were

taken away/worn by her mother in law (A.3). More so, he had not

stated in his police statement that the deceased was merely mentally

disturbed and not suffering from a gross psychological problem. Nor

had he stated therein that the deceased had told him that she was not

having any faith in any of her family members and she was deprived

of their love, affection and sympathy. Such contradictions in his

statements cannot be held to be mere explanations or elaborations of

his version, but are tantamount to material contradictions or vital

omissions. The Rules of appreciation of evidence requires that court

should not draw conclusions by picking up an isolated sentence of a

witness without adverting to the statement as a whole. In such a fact-

situation, it is not safe to rely on his testimony for the simple reason

that he had made a lot of improvements/embellishments while

deposing in court and vital contradictions exist with his earlier

recorded statement. Thus, no reliance can be placed on his depositions

to hold that appellants had ill-treated the deceased or that appellant

No.3 had taken away/worn her ornaments or that she had been

29

deprived of their love and affection or that she was not suffering from

epilepsy etc.

28.The deposition of Dr. Mohan Kulkarni (PW.1) reveals that

E.C.T. treatment is given only to mental patients, who have mental

depression and tend to commit suicide; the ailment of epileptic fits is

a neurological problem. His statement also suggests that her in-laws

had not been living with her after 1983, as the appellant No.2 stood

transferred to Kurudwadi and had shifted to the said transferred place

and her in-laws had been visiting Kalyan occasionally.

This view stands fully corroborated by the deposition of Dr.

Ramesh Kumar Mahendru (PW.12), Reader in Psychiatric Medicine,

Mental Hospital, Kanpur, as referred to herein above. He had

examined the deceased and prescribed medicines for manic depressive

Psychosis. The prescription of this witness substantially remained the

same as of Dr. Daulatram Nekumal Gurubani (PW.10).

The cumulative effect of the medical evidence given by three

Doctors leads us to the conclusion that deceased had been suffering

from manic depression and certainly had some mental/epileptic/

psychosis problem.

30

29.So far as the other witnesses are concerned, they are the father,

brother and aunt of the deceased. Thus, being close relatives, in such

facts and circumstances they might have developed inimical feelings

towards the appellants, since they came to the conclusion that the

appellants were responsible for the death of the deceased. However,

their depositions are full of contradictions and have marked

improvements from their statements recorded earlier. The

exaggerations and improvements are of such a nature that they make

their whole statements in respect of the demand for gold ornaments

and/or the ill-treatment of the deceased liable to total disregard on

these counts. Gold ornaments had been given by the complainants to

the deceased out of love and free will at the time of the marriage of

Rajesh (PW.2) and at the time of delivery of her daughter Mili.

Undoubtedly, Rajesh (PW.2) had alleged in the FIR that there had

been demand of gold ornaments by the appellants without any details

of the same, however, he could not furnish any explanation as why

this fact had not been disclosed to the police when his statement and

supplementary statement was recorded. Also no such inference can

be drawn from any of the letters on record. Only one un-dated letter

(Ext.P-21) written by the deceased to her father suggests that her

31

mother in-law had been asking for a chain. More so, as the chain had

been given by the complainants to the deceased just 2/3 months before

her death, and there is no evidence that any further demand had been

there, the issue became totally irrelevant in terms of proving the

motive, and it cannot be presumed that any demand had been made.

More so, even if it is presumed that there was some demand by

appellant No.3, as she is no more, and her appeal stands abated, this

issue becomes totally irrelevant for the reason that no such allegation

had ever been made against the remaining two appellants.

30.So far as the stay of the deceased with her parents after coming

from Kanpur to Kalyan at the guest house is concerned, admittedly at

that time the relations between the parties were strained because of the

suspicion that the deceased was having an illicit relationship with

Kake. However, it has been admitted by Ramkishan (PW.8), father of

the deceased, that subsequently the relations became normal and they

were invited at the house of the appellants after the deceased tendered

an apology to her mother-in- law. The said witness did not state in his

statement before the police that when he went to see the appellants on

17.2.1985, they had asked him whether he had brought gold

ornaments or had come empty handed or that he was told that the

32

deceased would not be allowed to live there and they would make her

condition even more miserable. Such an improvement was made

while deposing in court and no explanation could be furnished by him

as to why such vital facts were not stated by him at the time of

recording his statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. This statement is

to be discarded as it is not safe to hold the appellants guilty of the

offences alleged against them on such an improved version.

31.The deposition of Manorma (PW.7), aunt of the deceased is by

no means different, as she had also made major contradictions and

improvements in her statement made in court. She had not stated in

her police statement that the appellants were demanding gold

ornaments from the deceased and her family or that the appellants

were keeping the deceased starving and were not allowing her to meet

her daughter, Mili. The explanation furnished by her that she had not

been feeling well and had forgotten to narrate such material facts,

cannot be believed.

32.The statement of Rajesh (PW.2), the brother of the deceased is

also full of contradictions and suffers from major improvements. The

contradictions are of such a nature that they impair the whole of his

33

evidence. The same cannot be held to be clarificatory. He was not in

a position to state what ornaments his family had presented to the

deceased on different occasions. More so, it was not even stated in his

police statement that after the birth of Mili, his family had given gold

ornaments as demanded by the appellants. He could not even furnish

an explanation as to why the demand of a gold chain is not evident

from any of the letters between the parties, except in the letter (Ext. P-

21).

33.The complainants have denied the receipt of letter dated

3.4.1985 written by the appellant No.2 to the father of the deceased,

referred to hereinabove. However, the appellants have produced the

correspondence with the post office and proved the postal stamp to

show that the said letter had been sent by registered A.D. to

Ramkishan Gupta (PW.8). The law in this regard is well settled.

In Gujarat Electricity Board & Anr. v. Atmaram Sungomal

Poshani, AIR 1989 SC 1433, this court examined the issue regarding

the presumption of service of letter sent by registered post under

Section 27 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 and held as under:

“There is a presumption of service of a

letter sent under registered cover…. No doubt the

34

presumption is rebuttable and it is open to the

party concerned to place evidence before the court

to rebut the presumption by showing that the

address mentioned on the cover was incorrect or

that the postal authorities never tendered the

registered letter to him…..The burden to rebut the

presumption lies on the party challenging the

factum of service.” (Emphasis added)

A similar view has been re-iterated by this court in Chief

Commissioner of Income Tax (Administration), Bangalore v. V.K.

Gururaj & Ors., (1996) 7 SCC 275; and Shimla Development

Authority & Ors. v. Santosh Sharma (Smt.) & Anr., (1997) 2 SCC

637.

In Harihar Banerji v. Ramshashi Roy, AIR 1918 PC 102, a

similar view had been taken by the Privy Council, referring to

Illustration (f) of Section 114 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

In view of the above, it was the responsibility of the

complainants to prove by adducing evidence of the official of the Post

Office, Kanpur that the said letter had not been delivered to them.

However, for the reasons best known to the prosecution such an

exercise has not been undertaken.

35

34.The instant case is required to be examined from another angle

also. The marriage took place on 1

st

December, 1978. The

complainant party could not place any correspondence on record prior

to February 1985 except letter dated 24

th

February, 1979 written by

the deceased herself to her husband. However, it goes in favour of the

appellants. Therefore, it is evident that the controversy arose only

after the expiry of the period of more than 6 years from the date of

marriage. It is quite possible that the dispute arose between the parties

only because of the suspicion that the deceased had developed an

illicit relationship with Kake. Had there been a demand of dowry or

ill-treatment to her on any other ground by the appellants, there could

have been some correspondence between the parties during the

aforesaid long period of more than 6 years. None of the prosecution

witnesses had made any allegation of any demand of dowry or ill

treatment during the said earlier period. It is unnatural that after

expiry of such a long period, the appellants suddenly became greedy

and started demanding ornaments and for not meeting their demand,

started ill treating the deceased to the extent that she had to commit

suicide. Thus, the allegations made by the complainant party

remained unnatural and improbable. More so, the demand had been

36

only of a thin gold chain which could not be very expensive in those

days, especially given the socio-economic status of all the parties. For

the gold ornament worth such a petty amount after the expiry of a

long period of about 6 ½ years, from the date of marriage, it is not

natural that the appellants could treat the deceased with such cruelty

that she was drawn to commit suicide.

35.It is a clear cut case of gross abuse of the dowry laws. We find

it difficult to sustain the conviction of the appellants on the aforesaid

counts based upon the inconsistent, embellished and improved

statements of the witnesses, which materially contradict their

respective statements recorded earlier. The High Court did not

dislodge the reasons given by the Trial Court for acquittal. The High

Court did not make any reference to the deposition of Dr. Daulatram

Nekumal Gurubani (PW.10) in the cross-examination and dealt with

the case very casually, adopting a very superficial approach to the

whole matter and brushed aside the allegation of an illicit relationship

for which there had been documentary evidence on record without

recording any cogent reasons for the same. The High Court did not

make any attempt to appreciate the evidence with accuracy and

37

reversed the findings of the trial court which were based on the

evidence on record and for which detailed reasons had been assigned.

36.In view of the above, the appeal succeeds and is allowed. The

judgment and order of the High Court of Bombay, dated 29.4.2004,

passed in Criminal Appeal No. 865 of 1987 is set aside. The

judgment and order of the Trial court in Sessions Case No. 25/1986

dated 21.5.1987 is hereby restored. The appellants are on bail. Their

bail bonds stand discharged.

……………………………J.

(P. SATHASIVAM)

…………………………

…J.

(Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)

New Delhi,

November 11 , 2010

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