LatestLaws.

com
1/
13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

I
NTHEHI
GHCOURTOFJ UDI
CATUREATBOMBAY
CRI
MINALAPPELLATEJ
URISDI
CTION
CRI
MINALAPPEALNO.
961OF2003
TheSt
ateofMahar
asht
ra )….
Appe
llant
/Compl
ainant
V/
s.
MohammadI saqMohammadAns ari )
Age40Y ears
,Oc cupation:Bus i
ness )
R/ o.HouseNo. 1044,Ne w NanaPe t
h, )
Pune ).…. Res
ponde
nt/
Accus
ed
---
-
Ms .Pall
aviDabhol kar,APPf orState–Appe ll
ant.
Ms .TaheraR.Qur e shiforresponde nt.
Ms .DipaliTupe,originalcompl ai
nantpr es
ent.
---
-
CORAM :K. R.SHRI
RAM,J.
t
h
DATE :7 FEBRUARY2020
ORALJ UDGMENT:

1 Thi
sisan appe
ali
mpugni
ng an or
derand j
udgme
ntdat
ed

17th Mar
ch 2003 pas
se he 10th Addi
d by t ti
onalSe
ssi
ons J
udge
,Pune
,

ac
qui
tt
ingac
cus
edofof
fenc
espuni
shabl
eunde
rSe
cti
on3(
1)(
xi as
)( s
aul
ts

orus
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orc
etoanywomanbel
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teoraSc
hedul
ed

Tr
ibewi
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shonourorout
ragehermodes
ty)oft
heSc
hedul
ed

Cas
tesandSc
hedul
edTr
ibe
s(Pr
eve
nti
onofAt
roc
iti
es)Ac
t,1989(
SCandST

Ac
t)andunde
rSe
cti As
on354( s
aul
torc
rimi
nalf
orc
etowomanwi
thi
ntent

t
oout
ragehermodes
ty)and341(
Puni
shmentf
orwr
ongf
ulr
est
rai
nt)oft
he

I
ndi
anPe
nalCode(
IPC)
.

2 Pur
suantt
onot
icei
ssue
dbyt
hisCour
tinac
cor
danc
ewi
thor
der

dat
ed3rd Se
pte
mbe
r2019,c
ompl
ainant(
PW-
1)–Di
pal
iTupe
,ispr
ese
nti
n

Cour
t.PW-
1wasas
ked,ont
heCour
t’
sre
que
st,byt
hel
ear
nedAPPwhe
the
r

s
hewant
stoe
ngageanot
herl
awy
ert
ore
pre
senthe
r.Le
arne
dAPPi
nfor
med

Gauri Gaekwad

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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

t
hatPW-
1st
ate
dthats
hedoe
snotwantt
obei
nde
pende
ntl
yre
pre
sent
ed.

3 Thec
ase oft
hepr
ose
cut
ion i
n br
iefi
sthatt
hec
ompl
ainant

Di
pal
iSanj
ayT
upe(
PW-
1),whowasatt
her
ele
vantt
ime
,i.
e.,27th Nov
embe
r

1999,of12y
ear
sofage
,wasr
esi
dingat853,Bhav
aniPe
thwi
thhe
rmot
her
,

t
wobr
othe
rs,t
wos
ist
ersandgr
andmot
herSi
taT
upe
,whoi
sPW-
2.PW-
1’s

f
athe
rhaddi
edt
woy
ear
sbe
for
ethei
nci
dent
.Mot
herofPW-
1iswor
kingas

amai
d.I
n Nov
embe
r1999,PW-
1wass
tudy
i n 6th gr
ngi adei
n apr
imar
y

s
chool
.Ac
cus
ed wasr
unni
ng a STD boot
h oppos
itet
he hous
e ofPW-
1

(
compl
ainant
).PW-
1us
edt
ogor
egul
arl
ytot
hes
aidSTD boot
htomake

phonec
all
s.Ont
hef
ate
f ghtof27th Nov
ulni embe
r1999atabout8.
30p.
m.

c
ompl
ainantwe
ntt
otheSTD boot
hofac
cus
edt
omakephonec
allt
ohe
r

c
ous
ins
ist
er Shi
talT
upe
.PW-
1 us
edt
he t
ele
phone i
nst
rume
nti
nthe

t
ele
phoneboot
h.Whe
n PW-
1 di
ale
dthenumbe
rofShi
tal
,the
rewasno

r
espons
eand t
hephoneke
ptr
ingi
ng.Thel
inegotdi
sconne
cte
d.Ac
cus
ed

t
hene
nte
redt
hephoneboot
h/c
abi
nanddi
ale
dthenumbe
rofShi
tal
,whi
ch

wasgi
venbyc
ompl
ainantandhande
dov
ert
hephonet
oPW-
1.PW-
1found

t
hephoner
ingi
ngbutt
her
ewasnor
espons
e.Att
hatt
ime
,iti
sal
lege
d,as

c
ompl
ainantwast
ryi
ng t
o go outoft
he c
abi
n,ac
cus
edi
nappr
opr
iat
ely

t
ouc
hedhe
ronv
ari
ouspar
tsofhe
rbody
.Iti
sst
ate
dbyt
hepr
ose
cut
iont
hat

c
ompl
ainant
,whe
nshewe
ntt
omaket
hephonec
all
,shewasac
compani
ed

byhe
rfr
iend,whowasal
soar
ound12y
ear
sofage–RaniWaghmar
eand

RaniWaghmar
ewashe
rne
ighbor
.TheFI
Rsay
sRaniWaghmar
ewaswi
tne
ss

Gauri Gaekwad

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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

t
othei
nci
dent
.Af
tert
hei
nci
dent
,compl
ainantandRaniWaghmar
ewe
re

goi
ng home and c
ompl
ainant was we
epi
ng.The
y happe
nedt
o me
et

c
ompl
ainant
’sgr
andmot
her(
PW-
2)i
nthel
aneandPW-
2as
kedPW-
1why

s
hewaswe
epi
ng and PW-
1 nar
rat
edt
hei
nci
dent
.PW-
2,t
her
efor
e,t
ook

c
ompl
ainantt
oSantKabi
rPol
iceChowky
,whi
chi
sunde
rSamar
th Pol
ice

St
ati
on and c
ompl
aintwasl
odge
d.I
ntheFI
R,t
her
eisas
tat
eme
ntt
hat

ac
cus
edkne
wcompl
ainantbe
longe
dtoMat
angc
ast
e.

4 Af
teri
nve
sti
gat
ionbyPW-
7-P
.S.
I.Raj
endr
aHar
ibhauBahi
rat
,

f
urt
heri
nve
sti
gat
ion washande
d ov
ert
o A.
C.P
.Bhaur
ao Manga Wadi
le

(
PW-
6).PW-
6re
cor
deds
tat
eme
ntsofwi
tne
sse
s,c
onduc
teds
potpanc
hnama

and al
so obt
aine
d me
dic
alc
ert
if
icat
e ofc
ompl
ai .On 29th Nov
nant embe
r

1999PW-
6re
cor
dedf
urt
hers
tat
eme
ntsofwi
tne
sse
sandal
sov
eri
fi
edt
he

c
ast
e of ac
cus
ed. Af
terc
ompl
eti
on of i
nve
sti
gat
ion, c
har
ges
hee
t was

s
ubmi
tt
ed.Ac
cus
ed pl
eade
d notgui
lt
y and c
lai
medt
o be t
ri
ed.I
n hi
s

s
tat
eme
ntunde
rSe
cti
on 313 oft
heCodeofCr
imi
nalPr
oce
dur
e,ac
cus
ed

de
nie
dal
lal
legat
ionsandhasal
soadde
dthatont
hef
ate
fulni
ghthewas

ac
tual
lyas
saul
tedbyf
iveors
ixboy
swhoc
amet
ohi
sSTD boot
handmade

phonec
all
stos
ome
bodyandwhe
nhede
mande
dpay
mentf
ort
hephone

c
all
s,t
heybe
athi
m up.Ac
cus
edt
hen we
ntt
o Pol
iceChowkyand Pol
ice

r
efe
rre
dhi
mtoSas
soonHos
pit
alf
orme
dic
ale
xami
nat
ion.Butwhe
nac
cus
ed

r
etur
nedt
othePol
iceChowky
,hewasar
res
ted.Ac
cor
dingt
oac
cus
ed,t
he

c
asemadeoutbyt
hepr
ose
cut
ioni
sfal
se.

Gauri Gaekwad

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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

Af
terc
ons
ide
ring t
he e
vide
nce and he
ari
ng t
he c
ouns
elf
or

pr
ose
cut
ionandde
fenc
e,t
hei
mpugne
djudgme
ntwaspas
sed.

1
5 TheApe
xCour
tinGhur
eyLalVs
.St
ateofU.
P. hasc
ull
edout

t
hef
act
orst
obeke
pti
nmi
ndbyt
heAppe
llat
eCour
twhi
lehe
ari
nganappe
al

agai
nstac
qui
tt
al.Par
agr
aph nos
.72 and 73 oft
hes
aidj
udgme
ntr
ead as

unde
r:

72.Thef
oll
owi
ngpr
inc
ipl
ese
mer
gef
rom t
hec
asesabove:

1.Theappel l
atecourtmayr eview theevidenceinappeal
sagai nst
acqui
ttalundersecti
ons378 and 386 oft heCrimi
nalProc edure
Code,1973.I tspowerofr eviewing evi
dencei swide and t he
appel
latecourtcanr eappr
eciatet heentir
eevidenceonrec ord.It
canreview t
hetri
alcourt'
sconclusionwithrespec
ttobothfactsand
law.

2.Theac
cus
edi
spr
esumedi
nnoc
entunt
ilpr
ovengui
lt
y.

Theaccus
edposs
essedthispr
esumpt
ionwhenhewasbef or
et he
tr
ialc
ourt
.Thetr
ialcour
t'
sacqui
tt
albol
ster
sthepr
esumpt
ionthat
heisi
nnocent
.

3.Dueorpr operweightandc onsider

ationmus tbegiventot he
tr
ialc ourt'
s decisi
on.Thi sis especi
all
yt rue when a witness
'
credi
bili
tyisati s
sue.Itisnotenoughf ortheHighCourttotakea
diff
erentview oftheevidence.Theremus talsobesubst
anti
aland
compel l
ingreasonsforholdi
ngthattri
alcourtwaswrong.

73.Inlightoftheabove,t
heHighCourtandotherappel
lat
ec our
ts
shoul
df oll
ow thewellset
tledpr
inc
ipl
escrys
tal
li
zedbynumberof
j
udgment sifitisgoingtooverr
uleorotherwi
sedistur
bt hetri
al
court
'sacqui
ttal
:

1.Theappel l
atecourtmayonl
yoverrul
eorotherwis
edist
urbthe
tri
alc our
t'
sac qui
tt
alifithas"ver
ys ubs
tant
ialand c
ompell
ing
reasons"f
ordoingso.

A numberofi nstancesaris
ei n whic
ht heappellat
ec ourtwoul
d
have"ver
ys ubst
antialandc ompell
ingreasons
"todi s
cardthetri
al
cour
t'
sdec i
sion."Verys ubst
anti
aland c ompell
ing r
easons"exi
st
when:

1.(
2008)10SCC450

Gauri Gaekwad

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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

i
)Thet ri
alc
our
t'
sconc
lus
ionwi
thr
egar
dtot
hef
act
sispal
pabl
y
wrong;

i
i)Thet
ri
alc
our
t'
sdec
isi
onwasbas
edonaner
roneousvi
ew ofl
aw;

ii
i)Thetri
alc
our
t'
sjudgmenti
sli
kel
ytor
esul
tin"
gravemi
scar
riage
ofjus
tic
e";

iv)The ent
ir
e approac
h oft he t
ri
alc
our
tin deal
ing wi
tht
he
evi
denc
ewaspat ent
lyil
legal
;

v) The t r
ial c
our
t'
sjudgment was mani
fes
tly unj
ust and
unr
easonabl
e;

vi)Thet ri
alcourthasignoredtheevidenceormisreadt
hemater
ial
evidence or has i gnored mat erial documents l
ike dyi
ng
declarat
ions/repor
toft heBall
is
ticexpert
,etc
.

vi
i)Thi
sli
sti
sint
endedt
obei
ll
ust
rat
ive,notexhaus
tive.

2.The Appel
lat
e Cour
t mus t al
ways gi
ve pr
oper we
ight and
cons
ider
ati
ont
othefi
ndingsofthetri
alc
ourt.

3.Iftwo reas
onable viewsc an be r
eached -one t
hatleadsto
ac
quit
tal
,theothertoc onvi
cti
on-t heHighCourts
/appel
lat
ecour
ts
mustr
uleinfavouroftheaccus ed.

6 TheApe
xCour
tinmanyot
herj
udgme
ntsi
ncl ngMur
udi li
dhar&

Or
s.Vs
.St
ateofKar aka2 hashel
nat dthatunl
ess
,thec
onc
lus
ionsr
eac
hedby

t
het
ri
alc
our
tar
efoundt
obepal
pabl
ywr
ongorbas
edone
rrone
ousv
iew of

t
hel
aw ori
fsuc
hconc
lus
ionsar
eal
lowe
dtos
tand,t
heyar
eli
kel
ytor
esul
tin

gr
avei
njus
tic
e.Appe
llat
eCour
tshoul
dnoti
nte
rfe
rewi
tht
hec
onc
lus
ionsof

t
heTr
ialCour
t. Ape
xCour
tal
sohe
ldt
hatme
rel
ybe
caus
etheappe
llat
e

c
our
tonr
e-appr
eci
ati
onandr
e-e
val
uat
ionoft
hee
vide
ncei
sinc
line
dtot
ake

adi
ff
ere
ntv
iew,i
nte
rfe
renc
ewi
tht
hej
udgme
ntofac
qui
tt
ali
snotj
ust
if
iedi
f

t
hev
iewt
ake
nbyt
het
ri
alc
our
tisapos
sibl
evi
ew.

2.(
2014)5SCC730

Gauri Gaekwad

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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

We mus
tal
so ke
epi
n mi
nd t
hatt
her
eisa pr
esumpt
ion of

i
nnoc
enc
einf
avourofr
esponde
ntands
uchpr
esumpt
ioni
sst
rengt
hene
dby

t
heor
derofac
qui
tt
alpas
sedi
nhi
sfav
ourbyt
heTr
ialCour
t.

7 TheApe
xCour
tinRame
shBabul
alDos
hiVs
.St
ateofGuj
arat3

hashe
ldt
hati
ftheAppe
llat
eCour
thol
ds,f
orr
eas
onst
ober
ecor
dedt
hatt
he

or
derofac
qui
tt
alc
annotatal
lbes
ust
aine
dbe
caus
eAppe
llat
eCour
tfi
nds

t
he or
dert
o be pal
pabl
y wr
ong,mani
fes
tlye
rrone
ousorde
mons
trabl
y

uns
ust
ainabl
e,Appe
llat
eCour
tcanr
eappr
ais
ethee
vide
ncet
oar
riv
eati
ts

ownc
onc
lus
ions
.Inot
herwor
ds,i
fAppe
llat
eCour
tfi
ndst
hatt
her
ewas

not
hingwr
ongormani
fes
tlye
rrone
ouswi
tht
heor
deroft
heTr
ialCour
t,t
he

Appe
alCour
tne
ednote
venr
e-appr
ais
ethee
vide
nceandar
riv
eati
tsown

c
onc
lus
ions
.

8 Ihav
econs
ide
redt
hee
vide
nceand af
terhe
ari
ngt
hel
ear
ned

APPMs
.Dabhol
karf
orappe
llantandMs
.Qur
eshif
orr
esponde
nt,Idonot

f
indanyr
eas
ont
oint
erf
erei
nthei
mpugne
djudgme
nt.

9 I
tist
hec
aseofpr
ose
cut
iont
hataf
tert
heal
lege
dinc
ide
nt,whe
n

c
ompl
ainantwasgoi
nghomewe
epi
ng,c
ompl
ainanthappe
nedt
ome
ethe
r

gr
andmot
her(
PW-
2)i
nal
aneandc
ompl
ainantnar
rat
edt
hei
nci
dent
.PW-
1,

i
n he
rex
ami
nat
ion i
nchi
ef,hass
aidt
hatt
heSTD boot
hisoppos
itehe
r

hous
e.Sot
her
efor
e,f
rom c
abi
ntoal
ane
,whe
res
hewaswal
kingt
ogohome

whe
nshehappe
nedt
ome
ethe
rgr
andmot
her(
PW-
2)i
samy
ste
ry.PW-
1say
s

t
hat s
he nar
rat
edt
he i
nci
dent t
o he
r gr
andmot
her(
PW-
2) and t
he
3.1996SCC(
cri
)972

Gauri Gaekwad

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 LatestLaws.com
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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

gr
andmot
hert
ook he
rtot
hePol
ices
trai
ght
awayand t
hec
ompl
aintwas

l
odge
d.PW-
2say
sthatwhe
nPW-
1nar
rat
edt
hei
nci
dentt
ohe
r,s
hewe
ntt
o

t
heSTD boot
h ofac
cus
ed and whe
nsheas
ked ac
cus
ed,hes
aid hedi
d

not
hingands
hec
oul
ddowhat
eve
rshewant
edt
o.The
ref
ore
,the
rei
sone

c
ont
radi
cti
on.

10 PW-
5,as
oci
alwor
ker
,say
sinhi
sex
ami
nat
ioni
nchi
eft
haton

27th Nov
embe
r1999atabout8.
30p.
m.hehadbe
enne
art
hehous
eofPW-
1

ne
art
hel
aneofhe
rhous
eands
hewaswe
epi
ngandoni
nqui
ry,c
ompl
ainant

na
rrat
edt
he i
nci
dent
.PW-
1 and PW-
2 do notme
nti
on any
whe
re about

me
eti
ngPW-
5.

11 Themos
tgl
ari
nge
rrori
nthec
aseofpr
ose
cut
ioni
snotge
tti
ng

t
hes
tarwi
tne
ssRaniWaghmar
etot
est
if
y.I
ntheFI
R,i
tiss
tat
edt
hatRani

Waghmar
ewasane
yewi
tne
sst
otheal
lege
dinc
ide
nt.St
ate
mentofRani

Waghmar
ehasal
sobe
enr
ecor
dedbyt
hePol
ice
.ButRaniWaghmar
eisnot

c
all
edt
ote
sti
fy
.Pr
ose
cut
ion,i
tisr
ecor
dedi
nthei
mpugne
djudgme
nt,s
tat
ed

t
hatRaniWaghmar
ewasmar
rie
dands
ett
leds
ome
whe
re.Not
hingpr
eve
nte
d

pr
ose
cut
iont
omakeanappl
icat
iont
otheCour
ttos
ummont
hiss
tarwi
tne
ss

whoc
oul
dhav
ecor
robor
ate
dwhatPW-
1st
ate
s.PW-
2,PW-
5andot
her
swe
re

note
yewi
tne
sse
stot
hei
nci
dent
.Int
hec
har
ges
hee
t,21wi
tne
sse
shav
ebe
en

l
is
tedbuts
trange
lyonl
y7wi
tne
sse
shav
ebe
ene
xami
ned.

12 Ms
.Dabhol
kar
,le
arne
d APP s
ubmi
tt
edt
hatPW-
1 wasac
hil
d

wi
tne
sswhohasgi
venv
eryi
mpr
ess
ivenar
rat
ion oft
hei
nci
dent
.Le
arne
d

Gauri Gaekwad

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 LatestLaws.com
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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

APPs
ubmi
tt
edt
hatt
her
ewasnor
eas
onwhyPW-
1woul
dhav
emadet
hes
e

al
legat
ionsagai
nstac
cus
edi
fthe
rewasnot
rut
hint
hatandt
her
efor
e,e
ven

i
fshei
sthel
onewi
tne
ss,onhe
rsol
ete
sti
mony
,ac
cus
eds
houl
dbec
onv
ict
ed.

Ms
.Dabhol
kars
ubmi
tt
edt
hati
tiss
ett
ledl
aw t
hate
veni
fPW-
1wast
hes
ole

wi
tne
ss,t
her
eisno barf
ort
heCour
ttor
elyonl
yon t
hate
vide
nceand

s
ent
enc
eac
cus
ed.

Ce
rtai
nlyt
her
ecanbenodi
sagr
eeme
ntont
hes
aidpr
epos
iti
ons

i
nlaw.Butwhe
the
rthats
olewi
tne
ss’
sev
ide
ncei
sabs
olut
elyuni
mpe
achabl
e

de
pendsonf
act
sandc
irc
ums
tanc
esofe
ver
ycas
e.I
nmyv
iew,i
nthi
scas
e,

t
hes
olewi
tne
ss(
PW-
1),whoi
sal
soc
ompl
ainant
,doe
snots
tand i
nthat

e
xal
tedpos
iti
onofanabs
olut
elyr
eli
abl
ewi
tne
ss.

13 Compl
ainti
snotonl
yunde
rSe
cti
on354ofI
PC buts
trange
ly

unde
rSe
cti
on3(
1)(
xi)oft
heSCandSTAc
tal
so.Asr
egar
dsSe
cti
on341of

I
PC,t
her
eisno e
vide
nceofwr
ongf
ulr
est
rai
nt.Ev
en PW-
1 doe
snots
ay

any
whe
ret
hats
hewasr
est
rai
nedf
rom goi
ngoutoft
hephoneboot
h.PW-
1

s
ayswhe
nshewasgoi
ngoutoft
hephoneboot
h,ac
cus
edi
nappr
opr
iat
ely

t
ouc
hedhe
r.

14 Ias
ked my
sel
fhow woul
d a 12 y
ear
sol
dchi
ld know t
he

pr
ovi
si
onsofSC andSTAc
t.Whywoul
dac
hil
d,whos
emode
styal
lege
dly

hasbe
endi
shonour
edorout
rage
d,makeoutac
aseunde
rSCandSTAc
t.I
t

i
snott
hec
aseofpr
ose
cut
iont
hatac
cus
ede
vent
ookt
henameofhe
rcas
teat

t
het
imeofi
nci
dent
.Whywoul
da12y
ear
sol
dchi
ldi
ntheFI
R me
nti
on

Gauri Gaekwad

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 LatestLaws.com
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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

abouthe
rownc
ast
e.I
nac
aseoft
hiski
nd,t
heFI
R,Iwoul
dhav
eex
pec
tedt
o

beal
legi
ngof
fenc
esonl
yunde
rthepr
ovi
si
onsofSe
cti
on354ofI
PC.Thef
act

t
hatSCandSTpr
ovi
si
onshav
ebe
eni
nse
rte
dshowst
hatPW-
1wast
utor
ed

t
omaket
hos
est
ate
ment
sint
heFI
R.Si
mil
arl
yPW-
1wast
utor
edt
ost
atei
n

t
hee
vide
ncet
hatac
cus
edkne
w he
rcas
te.The
ref
ore
,thi
simpi
nge
sont
he

i
nte
gri
tyoft
hiswi
tne
ss.

15 Fur
the
rtheFI
Riss
il
enton t
hef
actt
hatbe
for
egoi
ngt
othe

Pol
ice
,PW-
1tol
dthe i
nci
dentt
o he
rgr
andmot
herand Nandu Bhongal
e

(
PW-
5)whe
nshewasr
etur
ningt
othehome
.Buti
nthee
xami
nat
ioni
nchi
ef,

PW-
1say
s,s
het
oldhe
rgr
andmot
heraboutt
hei
nci
dent
.PW-
1doe
snots
ay

s
heme
tNanduBhongal
eatal
lbe
for
egoi
ngt
othePol
iceors
oonaf
tert
he

i
nci
dentbutNanduBhongal
e(PW-
5)s
aysPW-
1me
nti
one
dtohi
m aboutt
he

i
nci
dents
oonaf
tert
hei
nci
dent
.The
ref
ore
,theTr
ialCour
twasnotwr
ongi
n

c
onc
ludi
ngt
hatt
her
ewasmat
eri
ali
mpr
ove
mentbyPW-
1inhe
rev
ide
nce
.

The
ref
ore
,the f
actt
hatt
her
eis no i
nde
pende
ntc
orr
obor
ati
on t
othe

e
vide
nceofc
ompl
ainanti
samaj
orde
fec
tint
hec
aseofpr
ose
cut
ion.Rani

Waghmar
ewoul
dhav
ebe
ent
hebe
stwi
tne
ssf
ort
hepr
ose
cut
ion.Butf
or

r
eas
onsune
xpl
aine
dpr
ose
cut
ionc
hos
enott
opr
oduc
eRaniWaghmar
easa

wi
tne
ss.

16 Asr
egar
dsSe
cti
on3(
1)(
xi)oft
heSCandSTAc
tisc
onc
erne
d,

Ms
.Dabhol
karr
ely
ingupont
hej
udgme
ntoft
heApe
xCour
tinMadanLal
4
V/s
.St
ateofJ
ammuandKas
hmi
r s
ubmi
tt
edt
hatt
heApe
xCour
the
ldt
hat

4.(
1997)7SCC677

Gauri Gaekwad

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 LatestLaws.com
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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

t
hee
vide
nceoft
hev
ict
im,whowasas
tude
ntandhe
rmot
her
,oughtt
ohav
e

be
enbe
lie
ved.TheSe
ssi
onsCour
thadons
crut
inyofpr
ose
cut
ione
vide
nce

c
ame t
othe c
onc
lus
ion t
hatt
he c
ase hi
nge
son t
he s
olet
est
imony of

pr
ose
cut
ri
x.I
nse
tti
ngas
idet
heor
derofac
qui
tt
al,t
heHi
ghCour
tcamet
o

t
hec
onc
lus
iont
hatt
hee
nti
reappr
oac
hoft
heTr
ailCour
tint
hemat
terof

appr
eci
ati
onofe
vide
ncel
acke
dobj
ect
ivi
ty
.TheHi
ghCour
tons
crut
inyof

e
vide
nce
,apar
tfr
om r
ely
ingont
het
est
imonyoft
hepr
ose
cut
ri
x,c
amet
o

hol
dthatt
hef
actt
hatt
hepr
ose
cut
ri
xnar
rat
edt
hes
tor
yoft
hei
nci
dentt
o

he
rmot
heri
mme
diat
elywhe
nthemot
herwasav
ail
abl
eint
hee
veni
ng;and

t
hatt
heSal
waroft
hepr
ose
cut
ri
x,whi
chs
hewaswe
ari
ngatt
het
imeof

oc
cur
renc
e,wass
eiz
edandonc
hemi
calanal
ysi
swasf
oundt
obec
arr
ying

s
tai
ns of s
eme
n; and ot
here
vide
nce make
s pr
ose
cut
ri
x’
sst
ate
ment

ac
cept
abl
eandbe
lie
vabl
e.TheSupr
emeCour
tuphe
ldt
hec
onv
ict
ionbyt
he

Hi
gh Cour
tand c
onc
lude
dthatt
hee
vide
nceofpr
ose
cut
ri
xcan bes
afe
ly

r
eli
ed upon.I
n myv
iew,t
her
ecannotbeanys
trai
ghtj
acke
tfor
mul
ato

de
cidewhe
the
rthee
vide
nceoft
hes
olet
est
imonyofc
ompl
ainantc
anbe

s
afe
lyr
eli
edupon.I
tde
pendsonf
act
sandc
irc
ums
tanc
esofe
achc
aseand

t
hee
vide
ncei
neac
hcas
e.I
nthepr
ese
ntc
ase
,apa
rtf
rom whatIhav
enot
ed

e
arl
ier
,compl
ainanthasnote
vendi
scl
ose
dthei
nci
dentt
ohe
rownmot
her

wi
thwhom c
ompl
ainantwasl
ivi
ng.Themot
heral
soi
snotawi
tne
ss.Agi
rl

of12y
ear
swhi
lec
onf
ess
ingwoul
dhav
eimme
diat
elynar
rat
edt
hei
nci
dent

t
o he
r mot
her butnot
hing oft
hathas c
ome on r
ecor
d.F
or r
eas
ons

me
nti
one
d abov
e,i
ncl
udi
ng t
hatc
ompl
ainanthas be
ent
utor
edt
o add

Gauri Gaekwad

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 LatestLaws.com
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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

al
legat
ionsunde
rSC and ST Ac
t,al
sos
howst
hatt
hes
olet
est
imonyof

c
ompl
ainanti
snote
nti
rel
yre
liabl
e.

17 The
rei
snoe
vide
nce
,ex
cepts
tat
eme
ntofPW-
1,t
hatac
cus
ed

kne
w PW-
1be
longe
dtoMat
angc
ommuni
ty
,topr
oveatt
het
imeofi
nci
dent

ac
cus
ed kne
w PW-
1 be
longe
dto Mat
ang c
ommuni
ty and knowi
ng s
o,

as
saul
tedorus
edf
orc
ewi
thi
nte
nti
ont
odi
shonourorout
ragehe
rmode
sty
.

TheKe
ral
aHi
ghCour
tinSur
esh@ MakkanSur
eshV/s
.St
ateof

Ker
ala5 hashel
dthati
nor
dert
oat
trac
tthepr
ovi
si
onofSe
cti
on3(
1)(
xi)of

SC/
STAc
t,t
her
ehast
obeane
leme
ntofr
aci
alpr
ejudi
ceorat
leas
ttheac
t

s
houl
dhav
ebe
enc
ommi
tt
edbyac
cus
edwi
tht
hef
ullknowl
edget
hati
twas

be
ing c
ommi
tt
ed on a me
mbe
r who be
longe
dto Sc
hedul
ed Cas
te or

Sc
hedul
edTr
ibec
ommuni
ty
.Int
hec
ase
,athand,e
xce
ptPW-
1say
ingt
hat

ac
cus
ed kne
w PW-
1 be
longe
dto Mat
ang c
ast
e,t
her
eisno al
legat
ion or

e
vide
ncet
oshow t
hatt
heal
lege
dac
twasc
ommi
tt
edbe
caus
eshebe
longe
d

t
oal
owe
rcas
te.I
fthati
sabs
ent
,theof
fenc
ecannotbeat
trac
ted.

6
TheDe
lhiHi
gh Cour
tin D.
P.Vat
sV/s
.St
ateand Or
s. whi
le

de
ali
ngwi
thSe
cti
on 3(
1)(
xi)he
ldt
hatt
hepe
rsonas
saul
ti
ngandus
ing

f
orc
emus
tknow t
hatt
hewomanagai
nstwhom hewasdoi
ngbe
longe
dto

SC/
ST.I
fhedi
dnotknow t
hatt
hewomanbe
longe
dtoSC/
ST,t
heof
fenc
e

unde
rsub-
sec
tion(
1)(
xi)woul
dnotbeat
trac
ted.

5.CRL.
A.No.275of2008dat
ed27th Nov
embe
r2013
6.99(
2003)DLT167

Gauri Gaekwad

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 LatestLaws.com
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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

Si
mil
arl
y,t
he Madhy
a Pr
ade
sh Hi
gh Cour
tin Ba
ja al
ias

Baj
asi
nghV/s
.St
ateofM.
P.7 hel
dthatt
ohol
dape
rsonashav
ingc
ommi
tt
ed

t
heof
fenc
eunde
rSe
cti
on3(
1)(
xi)
,the
rehast
obee
vide
ncet
oshow t
hat

ac
cus
edus
edc
rimi
nalf
orc
eont
hepr
ose
cut
ri
xtoout
ragehe
rmode
styonl
y

be
caus
eshe be
longe
dto a par
ti
cul
arc
ast
e orc
ommuni
ty
.The Madhy
a

Pr
ade
sh Hi
gh Cour
tre
lyi
ng upon t
he j
udgme
ntoft
he Ape
x Cour
tin

Vi
dyadhar
an V/s
.St
ate ofKer
ala 8 hel
dthatne
ithe
rthe of
fenc
e unde
r

Se
cti
on 354 nort
he one unde
rSe
cti
on 509 ofI
PC i
spuni
shabl
e wi
th

i
mpr
isonme
ntf
ora t
erm of10 y
ear
s.Ass
uch,t
he i
ngr
edi
entt
hati
tis

c
ommi
tt
edont
hegr
oundt
hatt
hev
ict
im be
longst
oaSc
hedul
edCas
teora

Sc
hedul
edTr
ibe
,whi
c ss
hi i
nequononf
orappl
yingt
hepr
ovi
si
onofSCand

STAc
tisnotat
trac
ted.

Thec
har
geunde
rSe
cti
on3ofSCandSTAc
t,t
her
efor
e,hast
o

f
ail
.

18 Ms
.Dabhol
kars
ubmi
tt
edt
hate
veni
fthepr
ovi
si
onsofSC and

STAc
tcannots
tic
k,c
ert
ainl
ythei
ngr
edi
ent
sofSe
cti
on354ofI
PChasbe
en

pr
ove
d.Iam af
rai
d,Ic
annotagr
eewi
thMs
.Dabhol
karbe
caus
ethee
nti
re

e
vide
ncei
sde
pendi
ngont
hes
olet
est
imonyofPW-
1,whi
chasnot
ede
arl
ier
,

c
annotbeac
cept
edwi
thoutanyc
orr
obor
ati
on.

19 I
nthec
irc
ums
tanc
es,Ic
annotc
onc
ludet
hatt
her
ewasany
thi
ng

pal
pabl
y wr
ong wi
tht
hei
mpugne
djudgme
nt.The
rei
san ac
qui
tt
aland

7.2011SCCOnli
neMP1464
8 .(
2004)1SCC215

Gauri Gaekwad

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 LatestLaws.com
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13 202.Apeal-961-2003.doc

t
her
efor
e,t
her
eisdoubl
e pr
esumpt
ion i
nfav
ourofac
cus
ed.Fi
rst
ly
,the

pr
esumpt
ionofi
nnoc
enc
eav
ail
abl
etot
heac
cus
edunde
rthef
undame
ntal

pr
inc
ipl
eofc
rimi
nalj
uri
spr
ude
ncet
hate
ver
ype
rsons
hal
lbepr
esume
dtobe

i
nnoc
entunl
esshei
spr
ove
dgui
lt
ybyac
ompe
tentc
our
tofl
aw.Se
condl
y,

ac
cus
edhav
ings
ecur
edac
qui
tt
al,t
hepr
esumpt
ionofhi
sinnoc
enc
eisf
urt
her

r
einf
orc
ed,r
eaf
fi
rme
dands
tre
ngt
hene
d byt
heTr
ialCour
t.F
orac
qui
tt
ing

ac
cus
ed,t
heTr
ialCour
tobs
erv
edt
hatt
hepr
ose
cut
ionhadf
ail
edt
opr
ovei
ts

c
ase
.Theor
derofac
qui
tt
al,i
nmyv
iew,c
annotbei
nte
rfe
redwi
th.

20 Appe
aldi
smi
sse
d.

(
K.R.SHRI
RAM,J
.)

Gauri Gaekwad

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