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Mohan Singh v. State Of Rajasthan

Mohan Singh v. State Of Rajasthan

(Supreme Court Of India)

Criminal Appeal No. 363 Of 1979 | 30-07-1979

SARKARIA, J.

1. This appeal by special leave is directed against an order, dated March 28, 1979, whereby the High Court of Rajasthan dismissed the appellant's application under Section 482, Criminal Procedure Cod e and refused to set aside an order dated August 14, 1978 of the Sessions Judge framing a charge under Section 201, Penal Code against the appellant.

2. The prosecution case as put in Court is that on March 4, 1978, one Padam Singh was shot dea d at the farm of the appellant by the accused, Doongar Singh, in conspiracy with the accused, Hanif and Shambhoo Singh. Padam Singh's deadbody was first put in a jeep for removal. After going some distance the jeep went out of order. The reafter, Doongar Singh brought the car of the appellant. The deadbody was then transhipped into the car (RJF 2118) and was taken to a distance and thrown into a lonely well on the boundary of village, Ramasani. Doongar Singh then brought the car back to Mohan Singh's bungalow where it was washed [vide the Police report of A.S.P. City (West) Jodhpur]. It is not alleged that the appellant was in any manner concerned as an abettor or accomplice in the murder or participated or abetted the removal and disposal of the deadbody of Padam Singh. The only allegation on the basis of which a charge under Section 201, Indian Penal Code has been framed against the appellant is that on March 8, 1978, that is, five days after the murder of Padam Singh, he got his car washed at the Petrol Pump of one Umrao Khan. In this connection, the investigating Police Officer examined Sardar Khan son of Umrao Khan, Petrol Pump dealer and his servant, Mangilal. There is nothing in their statements that there was any blood on the car which was washed. There was not an iota of material on the record to furnish basis even for a grave suspicion that by getting the car washed on the 8th March, 1978, the appellant caused any blood or other evidence concerning the murder of Padam Singh, to disappear. The presence of bloodstains on the car on the 8th March stood negatived by the prosecution's own assertion (in the police challan) that Doongar Singh had got the blood on the car washed on the day of the murder, itself. The mere washing of the car on the 8th March could not, by any stretch of imagination, be prima facie evidence of the factual ingredients of an offence under Section 201, Penal Code. The impugned order of the Sessions Judge being based on no evidential material, whatever, was manifestly illegal. We, therefore, allow this appeal, set aside the impugned Order and quash the charge framed against the appellant.

3. Appeal allowed.

Advocate List
  • Ram Jethmalani, N. H. Hingorani, Badridas Sharma, Advocates.

Bench
  • HON'BLE JUSTICE R. S. SARKARIA
  • HON'BLE JUSTICE V. D. TULZAPURKAR
Eq Citations
  • (1979) 4 SCC 11
  • AIR 1980 SC 1560
  • (1979) SCC CRI 882
  • LQ/SC/1979/309
Head Note

Criminal Law — Investigation — Charge framing — Offence under S. 201, IPC — Quashing of — In the instant case, the accused was charged for the offence of causing disappearance of evidence of offence of murder of one Padam Singh by getting his car washed on the 8th March, 1978, that is, five days after the murder — Neither the investigation officer nor the police witnesses stated that there was any bloodstain on the car which was washed on the 8th March, 1978 — Further, the prosecution itself asserted that the blood on the car was washed on the day of the murder itself — Held, the impugned order framing charge against the accused was manifestly illegal and unsustainable — Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S. 482 — Penal Code, 1860, S. 201.