Full Text
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
HARI RAM ....Appellant
Through: Mr. Vikramjeet Singh and Mr. Paramjeet Singh, Advocates.
Through: Mr. Sanjeev Sabharwal, APP for the State
SI Praveen Kr. Yadav. P.S. South Campus Mr. Manan Popli and Ms. Neha Chawla, Advocates for Survivor.
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JUDGMENT
1. The present appeal under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short, ‘Cr.P.C.’) has been filed assailing the judgement of conviction dated 22.09.2023 and order on sentence dated 18.01.2024 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (POCSO), ASJ-01, South District, Saket Courts, Delhi whereby the appellant has been convicted in Sessions Case No. 6706/2016 arising out of FIR No. 120/2012 under Sections 342/363/376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, ‘IPC’) registered at Police Station South Campus.
2. The appellant by way of the impugned judgment of conviction dated 22.09.2023 has been convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 363/376 of the IPC and the appellant was acquitted of the charge under Section 342 of the IPC. Vide the order on sentence dated 18.01.2024, the appellant was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years along with a fine of Rs.20,000/-, for the offence punishable under Section 376 of the IPC, and in default of payment of fine, he was further sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for 6 months. The appellant has also been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 2 years along with a fine of Rs. 10,000/- and in default of payment of fine, to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of 2 months for the offence punishable under Section 363 of the IPC. Benefit of Section 428 of the Cr.P.C. was given to the appellant and both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
3. The brief facts relevant for the disposal of the present appeal are as follows:- 3.[1] The case of the prosecution is that on 20.09.2012, on receipt of DD NO. 17A/18/A, (Ex. PW-4/A and Ex.PW-4/B), the Investigating Officer Sub Inspector Rita (PW-15) along with Constable Sardool Singh (PW-8) had received information regarding a man being beaten up. Upon reaching the spot of the occurrence, i.e., Shri Ram JJ Camp near Venkateswara College, they found a mob of public persons who were gathered and beating a person who upon inquiry was revealed to be the present appellant-Hari Ram who was later taken to the Trauma Centre, AIIMS Hospital by Constable Sardool Singh for examination where his MLC No. 330744/2012 was conducted vide Ex. PW-5/A and his blood sample was collected vide Seizure Memo (Ex.PW-8/A). Later, the crowd was dispersed and the survivor, Ms. ‘E’, and her mother Mrs. ‘A’ (PW-1) were present at the spot. The mother of the survivor then gave a complaint (Ex. PW-1/A), where it was revealed that the mother of the survivor who worked as a housemaid, after returning from work, at around 12:00 P.M. when her younger daughter (the ‘survivor’), aged about 10 years who had gone to her brother’s shop in JJ Camp had not returned home for some time, she went out to search for her daughter who could not be found. 3.[2] However, after a while, the survivor came running towards her mother/the complainant and hugged her and she subsequently revealed to her, that the appellant had removed her underwear and had made it wet. When the complainant tried to ask the survivor more questions, she was unable to do so since she was suffering from certain mental ailments since childhood. Then, the complainant came outside and asked the appellant whether he had committed a wrong act with her daughter, to which he denied the said allegations. Based on the aforesaid complaint, the case FIR No. 120/2012 was registered on 20.09.2012 at P.S. South Campus for the offence under Section 354 of the IPC. On 20.09.2012, the first arrest memo of the appellant (Ex. PW-8/B) was prepared after which he was arrested and released on bail. 3.[3] During investigation, the Investigating Officer collected exhibits which were sealed and she further prepared the site plan of the area (Ex. PW15/D). Further, MLC No. 174844/2012 of the survivor was conducted at Safdarjung Hospital vide Ex. PW-10/A. 3.[4] On 25.09.2012, the mother of the survivor/complainant came to the Police Station after which her supplementary statement under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C. was recorded vide Ex.PW-15/E, wherein, she stated that the survivor informed her that she had gone to shop in the jhuggi to buy something when the appellant called her towards him and took her in his jhuggi. Thereafter, the appellant removed the survivor’s underwear and tried to perform a wrongful act with her due to which her underwear became wet and the latter started crying. It was stated by the complainant that the appellant tried to commit ‘galatkaam’ with her daughter, after which the latter ran towards her home. 3.[5] After the statement of mother of the survivor was recorded, Sections 376/366/342/511 of the IPC was added to the case FIR. Disclosure Statement of the appellant was also recorded vide Ex. PW15/H. On 25.09.2012, a Medical Examination of the appellant was conducted to assess his capability/incapability to perform sexual intercourse vide Ex. PW-9/A. Thereafter, medical examination of the appellant was conducted vide MLC No. 180763/2012 at Safdarjung Hospital (Ex. PW-15/K) on 26.09.2012. A second arrest memo (Ex.PW-15/F) was prepared on 26.09.2012, after which the appellant was arrested. Further, the DNA samples of the appellant and the survivor were also seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination on 27.09.2012. The said DNA reports were received from the FSL, Rohini on 04.12.2012 (Ex. PW-12/A and PW-12/B). 3.[6] On 05.10.2012, the survivor was examined at the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, for determination of her mental age vide Ex. PW-11/A, wherein, it was opined that she had a mental age of 4 years and an IQ of 40. In the said report, it was also noted that she suffered from moderate mental retardation. 3.[7] After the completion of investigation, chargesheet was filed under Sections 376/342/363 of the IPC on 07.12.2012. Learned Trial Court vide order dated 31.08.2013 framed charges under Sections 376/342/363 of the IPC, against the appellant- Hari Ram who pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. 3.[8] The prosecution examined 16 witnesses to prove the charges levelled against the appellant, which was closed on 10.11.2022. The statement of the appellant under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. was recorded on 20.05.2023 and appellant did not opt to lead any evidence in his defense. The appellant in his statement stated that the case was registered against him on the false accusations by the complainant because of his caste. In his statement, the appellant further stated that during the time of the incident, he was working as a guard on night duty in South Extension and on 20.09.2012, he was apprehended by police officials who came to his house while he was sleeping after his night shift. After hearing final arguments on behalf of the parties, and examining the evidence on record, the impugned judgment of conviction dated 22.09.2023 and order on sentence dated 18.01.2024 was passed. Hence, the present appeal has been filed assailing the aforesaid impugned judgement of conviction and order on sentence.
SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE APPELLANT
4. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that at the very outset the prosecution has been unable to prove the charges levelled against the appellant. The initial complaint dated 20.09.2012 on the basis of which the FIR under Section 354 of the IPC was registered at P.S. South Campus did not consist of any allegation involving the offence of rape. It is further submitted that no history of sexual assault has been recorded in the MLC of the survivor (Ex. PW-10/A) as well as in the Gynaecological report (Ex.PW-7/A). It is submitted that during the course of the trial the factum of penetration has not been proved either by way of medical evidence which suggests sexual assault or through the statements of the PW-1/the complainant who is considered to be the star witness. It is, therefore, submitted that the learned Trial Court has erred in convicting the appellant for the offence of rape punishable under Section 376 of the IPC.
5. It is submitted by the learned counsel that PW-1, i.e., the mother of the survivor, cannot be considered as a reliable witness as there are material contradictions in her testimony. It is further stated that the site plan which was made during the investigation is contradictory to the statement of PW-1. Learned counsel submits that during her initial statement dated 20.09.2012, PW-1 stated that the alleged spot of the incident was Jhuggi No. 113, where the appellant used to reside. The same was reiterated by PW-1 in her supplementary statement dated 25.09.2012. However, during her examination before the Court, she had stated the alleged place where the offence had occurred was Jhuggi No. 136, which is where PW-1 resided herself. During her examination dated 15.05.2014, PW-1 claimed to be an eyewitness to the incident, which was not mentioned in her previous statements given to the police. The charge of kidnapping against the appellant was framed on the basis of the place of occurrence, i.e., Jhuggi No. 113, however, later during her examination before the Court, PW-1 stated that the offence occurred at her own residence i.e., Jhuggi No. 136 which was contrary to her earlier statements as well as the site plan. Thus, the appellant was held guilty for the offence of kidnapping punishable under Section 363 of the IPC by the learned Trial Court on the basis of the place of occurrence.
6. To support this contention, learned counsel has placed reliance on the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Suraj Mal v. State (Delhi Administration)1, wherein, it has been held that when there are two inconsistent statements by a witness either at one stage or two stages, the testimony of such witness becomes unreliable and unworthy of credence and in the absence of special circumstances, no conviction can be based on the evidence of such witness.
7. Learned counsel for the appellant further submits that the prosecution has failed to produce the case property (i.e., the underwear) as the same was material evidence which ought to have been produced and proved by the prosecution. Reliance has been placed upon the judgement of a learned Division Bench of this Court in Krishan Kumar v. State[2], wherein, it has been held that effect of nonproduction of case property during trial before the Court is to be held to be a serious infirmity being fatal to the prosecution case. AIR 1979 SC 1408
8. It is further submitted that the medical and forensic evidence are inconclusive, insofar as the MLC of the survivor (Ex. PW-10/A) as well as the Gynaecological Report (Ex.PW-7/A) shows that there were no injuries, abrasions, bleeding or swelling in the private parts of the survivor and the hymen was found intact upon examination by the doctor. It is submitted that medical and forensic evidence are not conclusive pieces of evidence and merely corroborative in nature subject to other material evidences. The forensic and medical reports are neither corroborating nor supplementing each other and, therefore, the conviction of the appellant by the learned Trial Court cannot sustain.
9. It is further submitted that the learned Trial Court has erred in invoking the amended provisions of Section 375 of the IPC which came into force on 13.02.2013. The law which ought to have been applicable on 20.09.2012 was not invoked in the present case even though the charges were framed on the basis of Section 375 of the IPC as it existed on 20.09.2012. Prior to the 2013 amendment, under Section 375 of the IPC, penetration was one of the key ingredients to prove the offence of rape, however, since there was no evidence of penetration in the present case, the appellant has been wrongly convicted in the instant case.
10. Learned counsel for the appellant further submits that the survivor has not been examined by the police and neither was she examined as a prosecution witness before the learned Trial Court. Further, other material witnesses have also not been examined by the prosecution. Thus, it has been finally submitted that the case of the prosecution is filled with material contradictions, and is based on conjectures and surmises. There are inconsistencies in the statements of prosecution witnesses especially PW-1, the complainant, who is a wholly unreliable witness.
SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE/PROSECUTION
11. Per contra, learned APP for the State assisted by the learned Amicus Curiae appearing on behalf of the survivor submits that the appellant was medically examined on 25.09.2012 to assess his capability to perform sexual intercourse, where it was opined that there was nothing to suggest that the appellant is not capable of performing sexual intercourse. The commission of the offence of rape was corroborated by forensic evidence vide Ex. PW-12/A, wherein, the DNA profile generated from the microslides as well as the underwear of the survivor matched with the blood of the appellant. The survivor had categorically described as ‘galatkaam’ or a wrongful act being committed upon her by the appellant which caused her undergarment to become wet.
12. It is submitted that the semen which was found on the underwear of the survivor suggests the commission of the offence of rape. It is submitted that the said garment containing the semen of the appellant was promptly recovered during investigation. Despite no external injury or bleeding or swelling was found in the MLC of the survivor and the hymen was intact, the presence of semen on the latter’s underwear is not disputed. It is also submitted that the medical jurisprudence is also settled insofar as the offence of rape can be committed without causing any injury to the genitals of the victim and even slight penetration is sufficient to convict an accused for the offence of rape.
13. Learned counsel further submits that the defence of the appellant regarding forcible procurement of his semen and planting of the same also cannot stand ground. Further, the claim of the appellant that he was falsely implicated due to a caste bias has not been supported by him or proved in any manner. It is further contended that the offence of rape can be committed without causing any injury to the genitalia or without leaving any seminal stains. It is settled law that even partial or slight penetration or an attempt to penetrate or emission of semen would be enough to attract the provisions under Sections 375 and 376 of the IPC. It is also submitted that corroboration is not a sine qua non in the conviction for the offence of rape and the learned Trial Court was justified in convicting the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 376 of the IPC.
14. It is also submitted by the learned counsel that the complainant/PW-1 had stated that her daughter, i.e., the survivor had been suffering from some psychiatric illness since childhood due to which her statement was not recorded before the police and neither did she testify before the Court due to her mental condition. It is thus submitted that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through medical and forensic evidence as well as through the testimonies of relevant witnesses.
15. Reliance has been placed on the following judgments: i. Aman Kumar v. State of Haryana[3] ii. State of U.P. v. Babul Nath[4] iii. Koppula Venkat Rao v. State of Andhra Pradesh[5] iv. Madan Lal v. State of Jammu & Kashmir[6] v. Om Prakash v. State of Haryana[7] vi. Tarkeshwar Sahu v. State of Bihar[8] vii. Radhakrishna Nagesh v. State of Andhra Pradesh[9] viii. State of Maharashtra v. Bandu alias Daulat10 ix. Tulshidas Kaolkar v. State of Goa11 FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
16. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the records.
17. As noted herein before, the FIR in the present case was registered on 20.09.2012, under Section 354 of the IPC on the statement given by the mother. Subsequently, her supplementary statement was recorded on 25.09.2012 wherein she stated that after much persuasion the survivor, who is stated to be not mentally fit, told her that she was violated by the appellant who removed her underwear and in that process, her underwear got wet. Subsequently, Section 376 of the IPC was added. The mother of the survivor was examined as PW-1 before the learned Trial Court, who during her deposition claimed herself to be the eye witness to the sexual assault committed by the appellant. Her claim as an eye-witness was
(2018) 11 SCC163 (Paras 3,8) not rightly believed by the learned Trial Court with the following observations:
18. The MLC of the appellant (Ex.PW-5/A), which shows external injuries found on him in form of laceration and abrasion in body, corroborates the statement given by PW-1 that he was beaten by public persons on the date of the incident. This fact also stands corroborated by DD No. 17A, Ex. PW-4/A, wherein report was made about appellant being beaten. PW-3, who is neighbour of the survivor also deposed that on the date of the incident, he was at home and upon hearing the noise, he came out and was informed by women present that the appellant was doing galatkaam with the survivor and subsequently he apprehended the appellant along with other persons and handed over his custody to Police.
19. It is a matter of record that the statement of the survivor could not be recorded as she was unfit to give a statement. Medical report, Ex.PW-11/A was placed on record, which assessed that the IQ level of the survivor is at 40 and mental age at 4 years and therefore her incapability of being examined as witness in the Court.
20. The most incriminating material on record qua the present appellant is the FSL report, Ex.PW-12/A, which gives the opinion that exhibits ‘1g-2’ and ‘1g-3’ both microslide of swab belonging to the survivor and ‘2b’(underwear of the survivor) both holding similar DNA as exhibit ‘4’ (blood gauze of the appellant).
21. It is pertinent to note that the gynaecological report, Ex.PW-7/A of the survivor was prepared on 20.09.2012, when her vaginal secretion was taken as sample which was subsequently sent for analysis. It is further pertinent to note that the present appellant was arrested on 25.09.2012 on the basis of supplementary statement given by PW-1 with regard to the sexual assault.
22. It has been argued on behalf of the appellant that the MLC of the survivor Ex.PW-10/A as well as gynaecological report Ex. PW-7/A, shows that there are no injuries, abrasions, bleeding or swelling on the private parts of the survivor and the hymen was found to be intact. It has been argued that the said material does not corroborate the allegations made by PW-1. It was thus, argued that since amended Section 375 of the IPC came into force on 30.02.2013 and in view thereof, pre-amended provision Section 375 of the IPC would be applicable in the present case and for that penetration is one of the key ingredients for commission of offence of rape. It is thus been argued that in view of the aforesaid MLC as well as the Gynaecological report, there is no evidence of penetration in the present case.
23. At this stage, it will be apposite to refer to the following judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court rendered in context of pre amended provision of Section 375 of IPC; (a) In Wahid Khan v. State of M.P.12, it was observed and held as under;
medical one.
21. Similarly in Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, “sexual intercourse” has been defined as under: “Sexual intercourse.—In law, this term is held to mean the slightest degree of penetration of the vulva by the penis with or without emission of semen. It is therefore quite possible to commit legally the offence of rape without producing any injury to the genitals or leaving any seminal stains.”” (b) In Parminder v. State of Delhi13, the Hon’ble Court followed Wahid Khan (supra) held as under;
prosecutrix was not ruptured the High Court has held that there was penetration which has caused bleeding in the private parts of the prosecutrix as would be evident from the fact that the underwear of the prosecutrix was stained by blood. In our considered opinion, the High Court was right in holding the appellant guilty of the offence of rape and there is no merit in the contention of the learned counsel for the appellant that there was only an attempt to rape and not rape by the appellant.” In view of the above, the presence of the appellant’s DNA in the vaginal secretion of the survivor along with other corroborative circumstances as pointed out herein before, the case of the appellant will fall within the definition of Section 375(unamended) of IPC. The presence of the appellant’s DNA in the vaginal secretion establishes penetration even if it was a partial penetration.
24. The learned counsel on behalf of the appellant also contended that the statement made by PW-1 cannot be relied upon as there were material improvements in her statement before the Learned Trial Court which makes it unfit for acceptance. In this regard, it is well settled that it is the duty of the court to analyse evidence and the testimony being false in some respect cannot be a ground to reject it in toto. The Hon’ble Supreme Court while analysing evidence of a witness in similar circumstances in NisarAli v. State of U.P14, observed and held as;
against him, the High Court should not have accepted the evidence of these witnesses to convict the appellant. This maxim has not received general acceptance in different jurisdictions in India nor has this maxim come to occupy the status of a rule of law. It is merely a rule of caution. All that it amounts to is that in such cases the testimony may be disregarded and not that it must be disregarded. One American author has stated: This maxim has not received general acceptance in different jurisdictions in India nor has this maxim come to occupy the status of a rule of law. It is merely a rule of caution. All that it amounts to is that in such cases the testimony may be disregarded and not that it must be disregarded.
10. The doctrine merely involves the question of weight of evidence which a court may apply in a given set of circumstances, but it is not what may be called “a mandatory rule of evidence”.”
25. The scientific and circumstantial evidence brought on record by the prosecution with respect to the appellant was put to him under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C., and the appellant answered it in the following manner: “Question 60: Do you want to say anything else? Ans: I am innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. I have not done anything wrong. This false case has been registered against me on the false accusation by the complainant because of my caste. 1 was wrongly apprehended from my house by the police and later I was wrongly and falsely arrested by the police. The investigation is false, wrong and the chargesheet has been filed after wrong investigation. I was working as a guard in South Extension, New Delhi and was doing night duty in the year 2012. It was my night shift and when I came back from my night shift to my house in the morning of 20.09.2012, I slept in my house and thereafter, police officials came to my house and apprehended me. 1 asked them why they were taking me and they replied that my statement was required in a case. Later on, I came to know about the false and fabricated complaint and the present case against me. I remained in the judicial custody for more than two years on the false accusation against me.”
26. The aforesaid defence is clearly contrary to the prosecution’s case, as pointed out hereinbefore. It has come on record that the appellant was apprehended on the spot and was beaten by the public which stands corroborated by his MLC as well and the statement given by PW-3, who was the neighbour of the survivor. The gynaecological report dated 20.09.2012, Ex.PW-7/A was conducted at the very first opportunity. It is noted that in the present case, even if the portion of the statement given by the mother of the survivor claiming to be an eye-witness is discarded, the other circumstances as pointed out herein before are sufficient to prove the guilt of the appellant.
27. Another contention raised by the learned counsel for the appellant that the underwear of the survivor was never produced during the course of the trial and therefore the sample from the same which was analysed and found to be similar with the DNA of the present applicant cannot be read against him. In the considerable opinion of this Court, the aforesaid lacunae on the part of the prosecution will not come to the aid of the appellant inasmuch as the vaginal secretion which was taken vide Ex.PW-7/A also shows the presence of the appellant’s DNA.
28. In these circumstances, in view of the aforesaid evidence on record, this Court is of the considered opinion, that the prosecution has successfully established its case against the appellant for committing offences punishable under Sections 363/376 of the IPC, and therefore, the appeal qua the judgment of conviction dated 22.09.2023 stands dismissed.
29. This Court has also perused the order on sentence dated 18.01.2024, whereby the appellant has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years. The appellant is already being given the minimum provided punishment for offence punishable under Section 376 of the IPC. Even the punishment provided to the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 363 of the IPC for two years does not need any interference.
30. In view of the above, the present appeal is dismissed and disposed of.
31. Pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of.
32. Copy of the judgment be communicated to the concerned Jail Superintendent for necessary information and compliance, forthwith.
33. Copy of the judgment be also sent to the Secretary, Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, who shall apprise the appellant regarding the legal remedy and assistance of legal aid counsel available to him in respect of the present judgment.
34. Judgment be uploaded on the website of this Court forthwith. AMIT SHARMA, J. AUGUST 12, 2025/bsr/dj