ANJAN DASGUPTA versus THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS.

11. First, we proceed to consider the submissions of the learned ANJAN DASGUPTA v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL [ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.] counsel for the appellant regarding ante-timing and ante-dating of the FIR. The trial court had formulated point No. 3 as 'was the real FIR suppressed and the FIR proved as ante-dated'. Trial court had observed that PW 1 went to the police station at about 7.30/8.00 PM but in the formal FIR Exh. 9, it is recorded that information of the commission of offence was received at 17.35 hours on 16'h June, 2000. This entry in Exh. 9 contradicts the aforesaid evidence of the PW 1 as regard to the time oflodging of complaint to the police station. Argument was raised before the trial court that FIR was, not only ante-timed but also ante- dated, as such no reliance should be placed on the Exh. 3. Magistrate had perused both the written complaint and the FIR, which bore the endorsement "seen" dated 22nd July 2000. Trial court held that FIR was dispatched from the police station on 22nd June, 2000 and was received at the Magistrate Court on 23'ct June, 2000. The trial court had recorded its conclusion in following words at Page No. 107: "'As the FIR was antetimed and there was abnormal unexplained delay in dispatching the FIR to the office of the learned Magistrate as well as putting up the same before the learned Magistrate, adverse inference should be drawn against the prosecution. The FIR cannot be attached with much value. " Following observations were made by trial court at Page No. l 06: "Even if the FIR was lodged after 7-3018 p.111. as stated by the P. W.1 it would not lose it's value in it's entirety because it is not established that the FIR proved at the trial was a subsequent one or that it was written on any date after 16.6.2000"

12. Now, coming to the evidence on record, there is evidence of PW I that he went to the police station between 7.30/8.00 PM and the First Information Report was written by Arnn Dey on his dictation. Both the above facts have been proved by statement of PW 1 Sandip Ghosh c and PW S Arun Dey; both have signed the written complaint. Shri Sun ii Giri ASI PW 29 proved the recording of the FIR on the basis of written complaint given by Sandip Ghosh. No suggestion was put to PW 29 regarding the date or time of recording of the FIR.

13. Shri Su nil Giri has proved the FIR, he further proved that he received the FIR on 16'" June, 2000, he proved his signature on the FIR c also. He denied the suggestion that FIR was written on subsequent to J 61h June, 2000. Thus there is no case of ante-dating the FIR, even the trial court did not accept the submission that FIR was ante-dated.

14. Now we come to the main submissions, that is, ante-timing of the FIR and delayed dispatch of the FIR to the court of the Magistrate. The sequence of the events, as it emerges from the evidence brought before the court, i.e. the evidence of PW I and PW 30, there is no doubt that PW I went to the police station at about 7.30 PM. The statement of PW 30, in this context, is very relevant. PW 30 in his statement has stated that on l 61h June, 2000, when he was posted at Police Station, Naihati, he was at village Shibdaspur, in connection with another case, when at 17 .15 hours he received an RT Message that at Mitra Bagan Crossing one Debo I Kumar Ghosh had been shot dead. He ,arrived at the spot at about 17.40 hours and remained there till 21.05 hours. He further stated that he prepared the sketch map on the spot and seized the certain articles including two bicycles from the entrance of the party office room. The statement in his examination-in-chief following was stated by I.O.: "While I was at village Shibdmpur under P S. Naihaati in connection with another case at 17. l 5hrs. 1 received an R. T. message that at Mitrabagan crossing one Debal Kr. Ghosh had been shot dead. 1 then directly rushed to Mitrabagan More. I arrived there at 17-40 hrs. There was law and order problem over the murder. There was blockage of road. I received the FlR from the Police Station at the said Mitrabagan crossing. I had been engaged with law and order maintaing job upto 21.05 hrs. I went to the C.PI.M party office at Mitrabagan crossing and prepared a sketch map thereof with index."

15. In the cross-examination, he has stated thatASI Sun ii Giri had send him the R.T. message. Sunil Giri AS! thus had received the information of the murder of Debol Kumar Ghosh before 17 .15 hours, arrival of Sub Inspector Tapan Kumar Mishra I.O. on the scene at the time as claimed is proved; I.O. also went to the Green View Nursing Home, accompanied by S.I. Manick Chakraborty where dead body of the deceased, Debo! Kumar Ghosh was laid. Under the dictation of the 1.0., the inquest report was prepared by Manick Chakraborty Sub Inspector of Police, which has started on 22.35 hours. The inquest report which has been proved by witnesses and 1.0. clearly records the following: '"Investigation report over the dead body of Deceased Debo! Kumar Ghosh (48) years son of late Kiran Chandra Ghosh of 21211 R.B.C. Road P.S. Naihati District North 24-Paraganas (Illegible)in CIW Naihati P.S. U.D. Case No. 43/2000 dt. 16.62000 and Naihati P.S. Case No. 99 of 16.6.2000 under Section 302134 I.P.C. & 25127 Arms Act."

16. The inquest report thus mentioned both unnatural death case (U .D. No. 43/2000) dated l 6'h June, 2000 and P.S. Case No. 99 of l 6 1h June, 2000 under Section 302/34 oflPC and 25/27 Arms Act. From the above, there can be no doubt that FIR was registered before the inquest report of dead body started. The evidence indicates that information of death was received by the police station before 17 .15 hours and police officials arrived at the spot immediately and the 1.0. arrived at the spot at 17.45 PM, by that time other police officials had already reached .. The receipt and the recording offirst Infonnation Repott is not a condition precedent for setting in motion of a criminal investigation. When the information that Debo I Kumar Ghosh is shot dead, police was duty bound to start investigation. This Court in APREN JOSEPH ALIAS CURRENT KUNJUKUNJU AND OTHERS VERSUS THE STATE OF KERALA 1973 (3) SCC 114 stated following in paragraph 11: "As observed by the Privy Council in K. E. •: Khwaja, the receipt and recording of information report by the police is not a condition precedent to the setting in motion of a criminal investigation. "

17. Much emphasis has been laid down by the learned counsel for the appellant on the fact that, FIR notes in Column C, 'time 17.35'. The time 17.35 hours, we have already noted that Sunil Giri Sub Inspector of Police has recorded in the First Information Report. He had already received the information before 17. IS hours since he had sent the R. T. message to the 1.0. Information of cognizable offence having been received by the ASI, with regard to the mention of time at 17 .35 in the FIR, which was recorded after 17.30 PM could have been explained if any questions were put to ASI Sunil Giri. From the cross-examination of ASI Sun ii Giri, it does not appear that any question was asked regarding the recording time 17.35 in the FIR. The possibility cannot be ruled out r20l6l 12 S.C.R. that while registering the FIR on the basis of written complaint, theASI recorded the time when he received the information in the police station of the death of Debo I Kumar Ghosh. In any view of matter, the above in no manner diminishes the value or credibility of the FIR. c ·D

18. The information of murder was received before 17.35 hours atthe police station which is fully proved by arrival of the police officers much before -17.40 hours as proved by 1.0. Hence mention of the time at 17.35 can be treated as the time of receipt of the information of the offence in the police station and there is no such inconsistencies in the FIR so as to come to the conclusion that FIR was ante-timed.

19. FIR as well as the inquest report both mentioned the accused Anjan Dasgupta. The inquest report has not been questioned on any account. The offence, having been committed at around 4-5 PM, registration of the FIR at the police station between 7.30 to 8.00 PM does not cause any reason to draw any adverse inference, more so, when after the occurrence, the deceased was taken to the nearby nursing home where .he was declared dead and body remained there till the inquest was over. The another circumstance, which have been heavily relied by trial court and reiterated before us by learned counsel for the appellant is dispatch of the FIR to the Magistrate with delay. This Court in Pal" Singh v. St"te of Punj"b 1972 (2) SCC 640 has held that delay in forwarding the FIR to court is not fatal in a case in which investigation has commenced promptly on its basis.

20. The I.O. after receipt of the information of an offence by R.T. message had arrived at the scene on 17.40 hours, which clearly proves the prompt commencement of the investigation. FIR was dispatched on 22"d June, 2000 which has also been accepted by trial court. When no questions were put to 1.0. in his cross-examination regarding the delay in dispatch, at the time of hearing, the accused cannot make capital of the said delay in forwarding the FIR. This Court in R"bi11dr<1 M"llto "ml Another v. St"te of Jlwrklwml 2006 (10) SCC 432 has held that in every case from the mere delay in sending the FIR to the Magistrate, the Court would not conclude that the FIR has been recorded much later in time than shown. It is only extraordinary and unexplained delay, which may raise doubis regarding the authenticity of th~ FIR.

21. The present is the case, where recording of the FIR on J 6•h June, 2000 itself has been proved, accepted by the trial court also, thus mere dispatch of the FIR on 22"d June, 2000 from the police station to the Magistrates' Court has no bearing on the basis of which any adverse presumption can be drawn. From the above discussion, we are of the clear view that the FIR was genuine FIR and trial court committed an error in drawing adverse inference against the prosecution and refusing to attach value to the FIR.

22. The con'clusion of the learned Sessions Judge that the FIR was manipulated is thus found to be erroneous. FIR has been proved by the evidence as noted above. Thus, one of the basis of the decision of the Sessions Judge for discarding the prosecution case is knocked out.

23. Now, we came to the consideration of oral evidence by Sessions Judge. Both the deceased and accused belong to the same locality. The occurrence was witnessed by several persons, including the eye- witnesses who appear<:d before the court and proved the prosecution case, PW. I Sandip Ghosh, PW.2 Yijay Das, PW.3 Kamal Nath, PW.4 Manabendra Nag, PW.6 Prasanta Ghosh, PW. I 0 Shashanka Nath and PW I Shankar Ghosh.

24. PW. I Sandip Ghosh, the son of the deceased was in his medical shop "Maa Medical Stores" which is at the distance of about 5 cubits from CPl(M) office. In his eye-witness account, he stated that at 04:50 PM when he was at his shop, he found a motor vehicle, a Maruti Gypsy to come from side ofNaihati Station and got itself parked on R.B.C. Road after crossing Mitrapara and R.B.C. Road Crossing. He saw Biswanath Paul and Anjan Dasgupta got down from the said motor vehicle and at that very moment, four boys about age 22/23 years came in front of aforesaid party.office from side of Mitra Bagan by two Bicycle. He further saw Anjan Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul to point out his father sitting inside the party office. One of the said boys took out a pipe gun and shoot Debo! Ghosh. Anjan Dasgupta further observed that "Hay Gechi Tara Tari Chale Aiy". Thereafter, the said vehicle left. In the cross-examination, the witness stood firm with his eye- witness accound and could not be shaken.

25. PW 2 Vijay Das on the fateful day was standing at the gate of the party office inside of which Debol Ghosh was sitting. Debo! Ghosh after taking the tea asked him to bring the beetle leave. He went to the beetle shop fo front of the party's office on the other side ofroad, where c c r20l6l 12 S.C.R. he saw Anjan Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul to get down from Maruti Gypsy at the crossing ofR.B.C. Road. At that time four persons by two bicycles came from the Mitrapara side. One of the said four boys brought a shooter machine and fired Debal Ghosh. Thereafter, all left towards Gouripur.

26. PW 3 Kamal Nath, who has a shop on the footpath in front of the CPI(M) party office, stated in his evidence that in the afternoon of l 61h June at 03:00 PM to 04:00 PM, he was sitting inside the party office and he went out of the office room and was standing outside smoking a 'cigarette'. At that time, a red Gypsy came and stationed at the distance of3 cubits from him, from which Anjan Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul got down. At that very time, 4 persons came by 2 Bicycles from the side of Mitra Bagan. Two of the said persons fired from outside the party office and shot Debo I Ghosh. They left the bicycles and left the place by Gypsy towards Gouripur.

27. The almost similar eye-witness account has been narrated by other eye-witness who were examined by Prosecution.

28. Learned Sessions Judge pointing out certain discrepancy/ contradiction in the statement held that the evidence by eye-witnesses does not inspire confidence. Learned Sessions Judge had also made observation that no explanation had been offered by the prosecution as to why statement of witnesses under Section 164 Cr. P.C. was recorded with delay. The statement given by the eye-witness in the court cannot be discarded merely on the grounds that statement which got recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. by the prosecution was not immediately recorded.

29. The cross-examination of 1.0. PW.31 does not indicates that the any explanation was asked from him regarding delayed recording of the statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C.

30. The High Court has also re-appraised the entire oral evidence and had observed that eye-witnesses stick to their earlier statements except one or two witnesses who attempted to add something during the statements. Following had been recorded by the High Court at Page 22: " … We have carefully examined the statement of the witnesses and also their statement recorded under Section 164 C1:P. C. and we find that there was attempt on the part of one or two witnesses to add something more during their statement recorded before the learned Magistrate, but, as a whole all the eye-witnesses sticked to their earlier statements given before the l 0. and they made the same statement before the trial Court during their examination … ··

31. After looking to the evidence of eye-witnesses, High Court has observed that all of them had deposed of arrival of Maruti Gypsy Vehicle, Presence of Anjan Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul on the place of occurrence and about giving instructions to shoot Debo! Ghosh and subsequently helping the persons to flee from the place of occurrence by getting inside the Maruti Gypsy Vehicle. Following are the findings recorded by the High Court: " … From the statements of PWl, PW2, PW3, PW4, PW.6, PWlO and also from PW.21 we find that all of them deposed about arrival of a maruti gypsy vehicle, presence of Anjan Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul on the place of occurrence and also about giving of instruction to shot at Debal Ghosh and subsequently for helping the persons to flee from the place of occurrence by getting inside the maruti gypsy vehicle … "

32. The appreciation of evidence of eye-witnesses and discarding the aforesaid evidences by the learned Sessions Judge was on flimsy ground and based on surmises and conjectures which has been correctly re-appreciated by the High Court. For instance, with regard to eye- witness PW 2 Vijay Das, learned Sessions Judge discard the evidence of PW 2 by giving fol lowing reasons: " .. .In the statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P. C. marked Exhibit 1 this gentleman told that on hearing sound of firing he rushed and found that Debal Ghosh was shot and one was going to pick up the bicycle. At c that time he tried to catch the said man and Anjan said "be quickly the pigs". In the statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P. C. which was made more than two months after the alleged date of occurrence did not name the person whom he tried to catch. So this omission contradicts the aforesaid evidence of the PW.2. The PW2 s evidence being contradicted by his earlier belated statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C as well as suffers from improbability cannot be relied on … "

33. The mere fact that the witness did not name the person whom he tried to catch does not lead to any contradiction since all eye-witness have stated that four persons came by 2 bicycles one of whom shoot Debo! Ghosh.

34. PW 2 stated that he tried to catch one person of the aforesaid and omission not to name the person does not lead to any contradiction nor can result in discarding the evidence. The observation of learned c Sessions Judge thatthe evidence suffers from the improbability and cannot be relied is also not based on any valid reason.

35. Some minor contradiction has been pointed out by learned Session Judge in the evidence of other eye-witnesses which have rightly been discarded by the High Court and the High Court after re- appreciating the evidence has rightly come to the conclusion that the occurrence as well as participation of Anjan Dasgupta, the appellant was proved. Following conclusion has been recorded by the High Court: " … Thus from the evidence on record we get that several witnesses of the locality who were present on the place of occurrence had noticed Anjml' Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul on the place of occurrence and also noticed their active participation in the 111atter of murder of Debal Ghosh and in this context we want to record that the learned trial Court totally misdirected itself in the 111atler of appreciation of the evidence of the eye- witness. "

36. High Court was conscious that the case where acquittal has been made, while entertaining an appeal over an order of acquittal if two . views are possible on making proper appreciation of available evidence the view going in favour of accused have to given importance. It is well settled that in case where an order of acquittal has been made on improper and erroneous appreciation of evidence, it is always open to the court of appeal to make proper and reasonable appreciation evidence and differ from the order of acquittal and in such event, it shall never hesitate in reversing the same. Ultimately, the High Court concluded: " … Fro111 scanning of the entire prosecution evidence and having regard to submission of the respectivi parties, we are constrained to hold that the learned trial Court was totally wrong both in law and, in fact, in making its observation that the FIR was antedated and anti timed and a manipulated one. The trial Court also erred in law by discarding the FIR for delay in dispatching the same in the Court of the Magistrate."

37. We are of the opinion that the findings and conclusion recorded by the High Court are based on the correct appreciation of evidence and do not suffer from any error. The judgment of the High Court reversing the acquittal recorded by learned Sessions Judge needs no interference. There are no merits in this appeal. The appeal is dismissed. The appellant is on bail his bail bonds are cancelled and the appellant is directed to be taken into custody forthwith. Ankit Gyan Appeal dismissed.