Servesh Kumar Gupta, J.All the appellants, named in the cause title, are the real brothers and they are in jail ever since their date of arrest viz. sometime in last May or in the beginning of June, 2008. The incident allegedly occurred on 28th May, 2008 at 4 P.M. and the first information report (Ex. Ka-1) was lodged by Sirajuddin (real brother of deceased Shahbuddin) on the same day at 18:20 hours i.e. within 2 1/2 hours of the incident at Police Station Haldwani, District Nainital. Chick report thereof is Ex. Ka-7. The FIR pertains to Crime No. 259 of 2008, which was initially lodged for the offence under sections 307 and 506 IPC, because the injured persons could not succumb to their injuries by that time. Later on, during treatment at Sushila Tewari Hospital, Haldwani in the intervening night of 28/29th May, 2008, when all the three injured viz. Shahbuddin (husband) aged about 25 years, his wife Reshma, aged about 22 years and an unborn male baby in her womb, in the advance stage of nine months, lost their lives; the case was, accordingly, converted to section 302 IPC. As per the FIR, victim Reshma was the real sister of all the appellants. Both the families resided almost in close neighborhood at Azad Nagar area, Lane No. 16, Haldwani, District Nainital. Ms. Reshma fell in love and subsequently wedded with Shahbuddin against the wishes of her family. As is divulged from the prosecution evidence, the wedding was to the dislike of family members on account of variance of couples caste. Since it was not in accordance with the prevalent customs, it was impermissible for the duo to enter into the marriage. This was the main ground for annoyance of all the family members of Reshma. It transpires that after entering into wedding, sometime after the mid of 2007 at some different place other than Haldwani town, victim Reshma, along with her husband, remained 2-3 months outside the town and could return to her in-laws house after that time only. This was done by Reshma and her husband Shahbuddin in order to calm down the annoyance of her family members. She was impregnated and at the time of incident, she was in the advance stage of her family way. As alleged, all the accused/appellants could not extinguish their annoyance even after lapse of 7-8 months of marriage and on the fateful day of 28.5.2008 at about 4 P.M., when Shahbuddin was returning along with his wife Reshma after her medical check up in his private owned Maruti Car, appellants grabbed the opportunity at the moment when such car passed through the shop of Zaheer Alam at Idgah Road Lane No. 11, Azad Nagar, Haldwani. Appellants got the car stopped after chasing for few paces and surrounded the same. Appellant Zaheer Alam broke the cars windscreen by hitting an iron rod. Accused Raees Ahmad was having a knife; Zaheer was having a dagger; Faheem Alain was having a Chhapad (another kind of sharp edged weapon) whereas Aneez was armed with a sword. The reporter further states that the accused persons then pulled Shahbuddin along with his wife Reshma from the car and hacked the couple indiscreetly with their respective sharp edged weapons. It made the couple seriously injured and soaked with blood. Since the incident allegedly occurred in broad daylight at a crowded market, it gave rise to a lot of hue and cry. On hearing the noise, Sirajuddin (informant) and Islamuddin (real brothers of deceased Shahabuddin), Zaheer Ahmed, Miraz Ahmed and several other persons of the locality reached the spot and witnessed the occurrence. This terrible incident created fear in the minds of nearby shopkeepers. When the witnesses raised alarm, the appellants took to their heels hurling threat to kill and brandishing the bloodstained weapons in their hands. The informant and his brother immediately shifted injured persons firstly to the Base Hospital, Haldwani, wherefrom they were referred for Sushila Tewari Hospital, where they breathed their last.

2. Inquest was conducted on 29.5.2008 in the mortuary of Sushila Tewari Hospital, Haldwani. Inquest report of deceased Reshma is Ex. Ka-7A, deceased Shahbuddin is Ex. Ka-12 and that of baby child is Ex. Ka-17. In the opinion of the Panch witnesses, death of Reshma and Shahbuddin took place on account of ante-mortem injuries whereas the baby died in the womb because his mother died during the course of providing medical treatment.

3. Injured persons lost their lives while extending medical assistance. The post-mortem was conducted in the wee hours of 29.5.2008. In the autopsy report (Ex. Ka-2) of Shahbuddin, the following ante-mortem injuries were found:

1. A horizontal incised stitched wound (5 stitches present) of size 5.5 x 1 cm x underlying bone frontal bone cut, (outer table of skull cut of length 5 cm) present over right side of the scalp, 7 cm above from the right upper eyebrow, margins of wound are clean cut.

2. Oblique stitched (6 stitches) incised wound of size 5 x 1 cm underlying periosteum of left frontal bone cut of length 5 cm present over left side of scalp, 9 cm above from the mid of left upper eyebrow, margins of the wounds are clean cut

3. Oblique stitched (7 stitches) incised wound of size 6 x 1 cm x underlying fronto-parietal bone cut (outer table of skull bone cut of length 6 cm) present over right side of scalp, 10 cm above from the mid of right upper eyebrow. Margins of wound clean cut.

4. Oblique stitched incised wound of size 3x1 cm x scalp deep present over left side of scalp, 10 cm above from the left eyebrow and 2 cm left from the midline, margins of wound clean cut.

5. Oblique incised wound of size 6 x 1.2 cm x muscle deep present over left shoulder region, margins of the wound are clean cut.

6. Oblique stitched wound (6 stitches) incised wound of size 6 x 1 cm x scalp deep present over left occipital region of scalp.

7. Oblique stitched incised wound (8 stitches) of size 9 x 3.5 cm x muscle deep present over posterio-lateral aspect of left arm, just above the elbow joint. Margins are clean cut and underlying blood vessels cut.

8. Oblique stitched (7 stitches) incised wound of size 6 cm x 4 cm x muscle deep present over posterio-medial aspect of middle 1/3 of left forearm.

9. Oblique stitched (8 stitches) incised wound of size 8 x 4 cm x underlying cut of periosteum of left radius bone present over posterio-lateral aspect of middle of left forearm.

10. Oblique stitched incised wound of size 7 x 3 cm x underlying cut of left radius (half thickness) present over posterio-lateral aspect of left forearm, 4 cm above from the wrist joint.

11. A horizontal cut mark of length 6 x 1 x muscle deep present over mid of 2nd, 3rd and 4th finger of right hand.

12. Horizontal incised wound stitched (2 stitches) of size 2.5 x 1 cm * muscle deep present just above the front of left knee joint.

13. Stitched incised wound of size 3 x 1 cm x muscle deep present over base of dorsal aspect of left thumb.

14. Oblique stitched (5 stitches) incised wound present over lateral aspect of upper 1/3 of right thigh.

15. Oblique stitched incised wound of size 8 x 3 cm x muscle deep present over posterio-lateral aspect of right forearm over middle 1/3 portion.

16. Oblique incised wound of size 2 x 1 cm x muscle deep present just above the front of right wrist joint.

Margins of all above mentioned injuries are clean cut. Margins are red, swollen, blood and blood clots present over the wounds.

Cause of death was opined as hemorrhage and shock as a result of combined effect of aforementioned multiple incised wounds caused by the weapon/weapons having sharp cutting edges.

4. Ex. Ka-3 is the post-mortem report of deceased Reshma, which divulges the following ante-mortem injuries:

1. Oblique stitched (9 stitches) incised wound of size 4 x 1 cm underlying periosteum of left frontal bone cut (of length 4 cm) present over left side of scalp, 9 cm above from the left eyebrow, margins are clean cut.

2. Stitched oblique incised wound (6 stitches) of size 9 x 4 cm x scalp deep present over left temporal region of scalp, 3 cm above from the left ear pinna.

3. Stitched oblique incised wounds (6 stitches) of size 7 x 1.2 cm x muscle deep present over mid of chin on both sides.

4. Oblique incised wound of size 4 x 1/2 cm x skin deep present over left side of face, just below the left eye.

5. Oblique linear incised wound of size 5 x 1 cm x skin deep present over posterio-lateral aspect of right arm, just above the elbow.

6. Stitched (5 stitches) oblique incised wound of size 5 x 2 cm x muscle deep over dorsal aspect of right forearm, just below the elbow.

7. Stitched (2 stitches) incised wound of size 3 cm x 2 cm x muscle deep present 2 cm below from the injury No. 6.

8. Oblique stitched incised wound of size 3 x 2 cm x muscle deep present over posterio-medial aspect of right wrist joint.

9. Incised wound 2 1 cm muscle deep present over mid of right ring finger.

10. Oblique incised wound of size 3 x 2 cm x muscle deep present over lateral aspect of middle 1/3 of right thing.

11. Oblique incised wound of size 5 x 1 cm x muscle deep present over dorsum of left thumb.

12. Stitched oblique incised wound 5 x 1 cm x muscle deep present over posterio-lateral aspect of left forearm just below elbow joint.

13. Stitched incised wound 3 x 1 cm x muscle deep present just above the injury No. 12.

14. Stitched oblique incised wound of size 8 x 2 cm x muscle deep over posterio-medial aspect of middle 1/3 of left forearm.

15. A linear superficial horizontally placed incised wound of size 8 x 1 cm x skin deep present over left side of abdomen, 8 cm below the mid of left clavicle.

16. A mid line stitched operated wound of length 12 cm starting from just above the umbilicus to symphysis Pubis present.

Margins of the above-mentioned injuries were clean cut, margins are red, swollen, blood and blood clot present.

Cause of death of deceased Ms. Reshma, as opined by the doctor, was hemorrhage and shock as a result of aforementioned multiple incised wounds caused by weapon/weapons having sharp cutting edges.

5. Likewise, in the autopsy report (Ex. Ka-4) of the male baby child, the medical officer found as under:--

Male child of age 8-9 months of intrauterine life.

Length of child-44 cm

Weight of child-2.4 kg.

Scalp hair-2-3 cm

Testicle both in the scrotum.

Head circumference 28 cm. Eyes closed, Pupils dilated and fixed, haziness present.

Umbilical cord of length 8 cm was surgically cut and tied, blood stains present at the end.

Post-mortem skin present over back and neck, chest and abdomen. Rigor mortis present all over the body.

In the opinion of the doctor, child had attained the age of viability (210 days). Child was born dead. Age of child was opined to be 8-9 months of intra uterine life.

6. During the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer, on 29.5.2008, collected the bloodstained and simple soil from the spot and sent the same for the purpose of chemical examination. Report of Forensic Science Laboratory in that regard is Ex. Ka-30. Prom the place of occurrence, police took into possession various other items viz. slippers and sandals of both the deceased besides various belongings of deceased Reshma viz. cloak, purse, broken bangles, some medicines etc. Its recovery memo is Ex. Ka 6. Two knives used in the crime were recovered at the instance of accused Raees. Memo of that recovery is Ex. Ka-23. Ex. Ka-24 is the memo showing recovery of an iron-pipe, wooden baton and one motorcycle at the instance of accused Zaheer Alam and Faheem. The weapons of assault besides other articles were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory. Report given by the said Laboratory is Ex. Ka-31 disclosing that no blood was found on the knives, allegedly used in the commission of crime, whereas only disintegrated blood was found on the slippers and broken pieces of bangles. The report further discloses that some clothes of deceased were also found bloodstained but the disintegrated blood on some of the items could not be classified.

7. The investigation culminated into submission of charge-sheet (Ex. Ka-27) against all the four appellants for the offences under sections 302, 316, 506 and 427 IPC.

8. Charge was levelled by learned trial Judge against the accused/appellants under sections 302/34, 316/34, 427 and 506 IPC. The appellants abjured their guilt and claimed trial.

9. Prosecution has examined as many as nine witnesses, who are PW1 Sirajuddin, PW2 Islmauddin, PW3 Km. Saema, PW4 Dr. C.P. Bhaisoda, PW5 Asif, PW6 H.C. Ram Singh, PW7 S.I. Rakesh Kumar, PW8 S.I. Sandeep Kumar and PW9 In-charge Inspector M.S. Negi (I.O. of the case).

10. After the prosecution evidence, statements of all the accused persons were recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C. They have simply denied the occurrence as also their complicity in the crime.

11. Learned Court below adjudicated the trial by holding all the appellants guilty for the offences under sections 302/34, 316/34 and 427 IPC, wherefore they have appropriately been sentenced. All the accused were, however, acquitted for the offence u/s 506 IPC.

12. We have heard learned Counsel for the appellants as also learned State Counsel may perused the entire material on record.

13. No doubt, it is a case of cold-blooded murders of as many as three lives, which may be viewed as a case of honour killing. But at the same time, after considering the entire evidence with great caution and scrutiny, we feel that the incident has not taken place in such manner and at the place projected by the prosecution for the following reasons:--

A. That this marriage between the couple was viewed with a sense of annoyance by the family members of Reshma, who are none other but her real brothers, as also the appellants before us. The alleged principal reason, for such ire, was that native family of victim Reshma belonged to caste DHUNI in Muslims, whereas her husband (Shahbuddin) was of Banjara caste, though in same religion. The marriage between those two castes was not permissible as per prevailing Muslim customs. Here, we take note of the fact that Muslim theology nowhere mandates the provision of caste system. Learned State Counsel also could not show any authority on this score. As such, the alleged caste difference could not have been a basis to generate the deep annoyance in the minds of appellants. Therefore, the motive, in the minds of the appellants, to commit this ghastly crime is not acceptable to us in the tenor, as has been put forth by the prosecution.

B. That, even if we accept the prevalence of caste system and prohibitions to solemnize marriage on the basis of higher or lower castes, then also, the fact that the deceased were residing in close neighborhood of appellants, should not be lost sight of. More so, they continued to live as such for last 6-7 months of the occurrence. If all the four appellants were nursing such a strong grouse in their heart and minds, against the solemnization of this marriage by the deceased persons against their wishes, in that case, they (appellants), at the collective strength of all the four accused, could have easily taken the vengeance by entering the house of deceased during this long span of 6-7 months. But they chose to commit this incident at a crowded market, that too in broad day light of peak summer when the deceased couple was proceeding in their car. All these facts obviate the chance and create a doubt in the commission of crime, as alleged by prosecution. If the annoyance on the part of appellants was so deep, then it was not natural on their part to keep silence for such a long time, more particularly when the victims were residing just by a gap of one house.

C. That PW1 Sirajuddin and PW2 Islamuddin are said to be the eyewitnesses of the incident who reached the spot on hearing the noise. Besides, there is another witness Km. Saeema (PW3) (sister of deceased Shahbuddin), aged about 16 years, who has been named as an eyewitness by PW1 and PW2 and she herself has projected as such. It has been stated in the evidence that PW3 was sitting in the car when all the accused cornered it. As soon as one of the accused broke cars windscreen by iron rod, and the deceased persons were dragged from the car, she (PW3) quickly came out and escaped in order to save herself. But she states to have witnessed the entire occurrence to the effect that her brother and sister-in-law were being fatally wounded at the hands of these appellants by the blows of swords, knives and other sharp edged weapons.

At this stage, it can significantly be mentioned that the first information report has been lodged in a very elaborate manner. Each and every fact, including names of witnesses, has been mentioned in such report but nowhere the name of PW3 Saeema finds place. It is somewhat unnatural on the part of Sirajuddin PW1 (the real brother of deceased) who lodged the FIR within 2-1/2 hours of the incident, not to mention the name of his sister as an eyewitness. Had PW3 been there in the car at the relevant point of time, then her name ought to have been mentioned along with names of other witnesses in the detailed report lodged by the informant.

D. That it is also unnatural on the part of PW3 that seeing her brother and sister-in-law, being dragged from the car and subsequently stabbed by dangerous weapons, she did not make any noise, which at least she could have made. Rather she opted to go home. Besides, PW2 Islamuddin has deposed that his sister Saeema (PW3) met him next day of the incident, but she did not disclose anything about the occurrence. PW3 herself has testified that she went home immediately after opening the window of car. It is quite unbelievable that PW3 could meet his real brother only on the next day of incident, and at that point of time also, neither PW2 asked, nor did PW3 disclose anything about the incident. With these facts, we deduce that she was not sitting in the car nor was present at the spot at the time of alleged occurrence.

E. So far as the presence of PW1 Sirajuddin and PW2 Islamuddin (real brothers of Shahbuddin) is concerned, we feel that they were also not present at the spot nor did they see any occurrence. For such inference, we have to look into the site plan (Ex. Ka-22) prepared by the Investigating Officer. The spot, where the car was got stopped by the accused, has been shown at point C, whereas point D denotes the place where the deceased persons were dragged after being pulled out from car, and subsequently assaulted. In this map, PW1 and PW2 have been shown towards east of the points C and D. They stated to have reached the spot on hearing the screams of Shahbuddin and Reshma. It was further deposed that at the time of occurrence, they were standing outside their house, and only after proceeding ahead for 8-10 paces towards west, the place of occurrence becomes visible. This all leads us to a considerate conclusion that the place of occurrence was not visible from the house of PW1 and PW2, and as such they did not see any occurrence.

F. That it is quite surprising that PW1 and PW2, being quite young at the age of 24 or 34 years (might be having good physique), could not make any effort to save the lives of their real younger brother and sister-in-law from the clutches of assailants. Even assuming that they did not feel it safe to intervene and resist the assailants, considering the fact that they were armed with sharp edged weapons, in that case too, they could have raised hue and cry in order to gather crowd, or they could, at least, have pelted stones on the assailants from some distance. However, no such gesture has been shown on their part. Nothing has been elicited in their evidence suggesting a slightest effort on their part to save the lives of deceased. All these facts make the presence of PW1 and PW2 doubtful at the relevant point of time. We, accordingly, infer that these two witnesses were not present on the spot at the time of alleged occurrence.

G. That the deceased and his wife were shown to be travelling by their Car. But no document in respect of that car has been shown to the I.O. nor the police took that vehicle in possession.

H. That the bloodstained and plain soil was taken by the I.O. from the spot on the next day. Recovery memo thereof specifically points out the nature of both soils being simple and bloodstained. Those soils were then sealed in separate boxes. Ex. Ka-30 is the report given by the Forensic Science Laboratory which reveals that both the soils were same in their physical character (colour, nature and density). Thus, it can be inferred that no bloodstained soil was found at the spot.

Learned State Counsel has argued that since it was a crowded place, hence the soil, stained with blood, could not remain intact at the spot. But this argument is not acceptable for the reason that the recovery memo (Ex. Ka-5) explicitly indicates the packing of simple and bloodstained soil separately. For a moment, if the contention is believed that the soil, after passing of almost a day, could not remain bloodstained, then it is worthwhile to mention that how the cloak, broken bangles, purse and even wrappers of medicine of deceased Reshma could remain intact on the next day also, and were lying as such on the spot where the crowd of people was consistently passing on. If these items could remain intact then there was no reason that bloodstained soil could not remain in the same position. More so, when PW1 to PW3 state that there was a lot of blood shed on the spot.

I. That if the windscreen of the car had been broken to the pieces by showing a heavy blow of iron rod, then it is a serious lapse on the part of the Investigating Officer in not collecting any piece of that broken glass from the spot because the broken pieces of windscreen (if collected) could have corroborated the version as stated in FIR. In absence thereof, it can be said that no such broken piece of cars windscreen was found, otherwise its mention must have been made in the recovery memo (Ex. Ka-6) along with other items.

14. In view of above analysis, we feel that although the incident happened, but its occurrence at the shown place on the relevant point of time by all the four appellants, is highly doubtful. It is a well-settled proposition of law that if the prosecution has failed to prove the place of occurrence, which has been shown by the Investigating Officer, the entire prosecution story becomes doubtful.

15. Fortiori, in light of what we have discussed hereinabove in Point No. 14 B, we feel that there may be complicity of one or more than one accused in the crime but it cannot be of all the four appellants. That be so, it cannot be ascertained as which one or more than one accused had their involvement in the crime. So in that circumstance, we feel it quite unjust to send all the appellants to the gallows. The Honble Apex Court in the case of Jalpat Rai and Others Vs. State of Haryana, has held that "where the hostility and enmity exists between the parties, then entire family may be got involved by the complainant falsely albeit the complicity of one or few members of the family". In such eventuality, the long-nurtured norms of criminal jurisprudence come into picture viz. it is better that ninety-nine offenders shall escape than that one innocent man be condemned.

16. For the foregoing facts and circumstances of the case, our judicial conscience evokes us to extend the benefit of doubt to all the four appellants, and to acquit them by giving benefit of doubt. We, therefore, allow the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence of all the four appellants/accused, as recorded by the trial Court vide the impugned judgment and order. Appellants are in jail. They will be set at large forthwith if their presence in jail is not needed in any other case. Let the lower Court record with copy of this judgment be sent to the Court concerned.