State Of Haryana vs Suresh @ Pappu
- Citation2011 SCC OnLine SC 451
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where a prosecution application under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeks to add a person as an accused during trial on the basis of a witness's statement that clearly and categorically identifies that person's involvement in the crime and establishes motive, the High Court is not justified in quashing such application without having due regard to the prima facie case reflected in that statement.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.690 OF 2011 (ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION(CRL.)NO.3249 OF 2010)
STATE OF HARYANA ... APPELLANT
VERSUS
SURESH @ PAPPU ... RESPONDENT
O R D E R
Leave granted.
We have heard the learned counsel for the parties.
2. The High Court of Punjab & Haryana by the impugned
judgment and order dated 20.08.2009 in Criminal Revision No.2217 of
2008, has quashed the application of the Prosecution under Section
319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
3. The State of Haryana, aggrieved by the impugned judgment
and order, has approached this Court by filing this Special Leave
Petition.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the State has drawn our
attention to the statement of Prosecution Witness No.3-Dharambir,
S/o.Tarkha Ram. In that statement it is clearly stated that "my
brother was murdered by Suresh and Sombir". In the statement it is
also indicated that "Suresh got 7.5 acres of land of Sombir sold by
misguiding him and serving liquor. Whenever Sombir used to ask him
to pay money, he used to promise to give next day or thereafter.
Thereafter, we insisted upon Suresh to give money". This clearly
reflect the motive for committing the crime.
: 2 :
5. In view of this clear and categoric statement of P.W.NO.3-
Dharambir, the High Court was not justified in quashing the
Prosecution Application under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure for summoning Suresh @ Pappu.
6. Consequently, we are constrained to set aside the impugned
judgment and order of the High Court passed in Criminal Revision
No.2217 of 2008. Whatever has been observed by us in this order is
only confined to adjudication of this petition which should not
prejudice the accused in any manner in the trial.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
...................J. (DALVEER BHANDARI)
...................J. (DEEPAK VERMA)
NEW DELHI;
9TH MARCH, 2011
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