JUDGMENT
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 1805 of 2012 (Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 3198 of 2011) Shantibhai J. Vaghela and Anr. … Appellant (s)
Versus State of Gujarat and Ors. … Respondent(s)
With
CRIMINAL APPEAL No.1806-1807 of 2012 (Arising out of SLP (Crl.) Nos. 4453-4454 of 2011)
J
U
D
G
M
E
N T
RANJAN
GOGOI,
J
Leave granted.
2. The present appeals seek to challenge a judgment dated 10.01.2011 passed by the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad allowing Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 13519 of 2009 filed
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by the accused (respondents herein) seeking quashing of the criminal case registered against them under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. By its aforesaid order the High Court has also dismissed Special Criminal Application No. 770 of 2009 filed by the appellants, Shantibhai J. Vaghela and Prafulbhai J. Vaghela, seeking investigation of the aforesaid case against the accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The High Court has, however, directed that the proceedings against the accused –respondents so far as the offence under Section 304A of the IPC and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2000 may continue.
3. The core facts in which the aggrieved parties had moved the High Court may now be noticed:
The appellants – Shantibhai J. Vaghela and Prafulbhai J. Vaghela, who are related to each other, are the fathers of one Dipesh (born 1998)
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and Abhishek (born 1999). The aforesaid two children were admitted in Class VI and V respectively in a Gurukul located in an Ashram of Sant Shree Asharamji situated at Motela. They were residing in the Gurukul of the Ashram. On 03.07.2008 both the children had gone to the dining hall of the Gurukul at about 8.00 PM to have their dinner. At the time of taking the attendance of the students after dinner, the watchman, one Shri Naresh Dangar, could not find the children and therefore had informed the said fact to Gruhapati Shri Pankajbhai Saksena. On receipt of the said information the aforesaid person, i.e. Pankajbhai Saksena contacted the appellant – Prafulhai J. Vaghela on telephone to convey the information that the children were not to be found in the Gurukul. Both the appellants – Shantibhai B. Vaghela and Prafulbhai J. Vaghela immediately came to the Gurukul and after meeting Pankajbhai Saksena and
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some other persons working in the Gurukul, the appellants went in search of the missing children. However, they could not be recovered till about
12.30 AM. At the suggestion of Shri Pankajbhai Saksena that the children may have gone to sleep in some other place the search for the children was abandoned and resumed at about 6.00 AM of the following morning, i.e., 04.07.2008. Though the search had continued throughout the day the children could not be located. The appellants insisted that the Ashram should inform the police about the disappearance of the two children. However, the Ashram authorities avoided doing so on one pretext or the other and eventually the appellants themselves informed the concerned police station at about midnight of 04/05.07.2008. On 05.07.2008 at about 6.30 PM the dead bodies of the children were found from the bed of the river Sabarmati which was located by the side of the
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Ashram. The dead bodies were promptly sent for post-mortem examination and, thereafter, were handed over to the respective families for cremation.
4. It appears that there was a public out cry over the incident and the State Government by Notification dated 21.07.2008 appointed a Commission of Inquiry consisting of a retired Judge of the High Court of Gujarat. It appears that an elaborate inquiry/investigation of the incident was carried out, initially, by the Sabarmati Police Station of Ahmedabad city and, thereafter, by the CID Crime Branch under the direct supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police. In the course of the inquiry, statements of the several inmates of the Ashram were recorded. Of particular significance would be the examination of one Hetalben Swarupbhai who had first noticed the dead bodies floating in the Sabarmati river at about
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10.00 AM of 04.07.2008. In the course of the aforesaid inquiry/investigation summons under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were issued to Journalists of different newspapers as well as the electronic media to gather information with regard to the incident in question. Similarly, a press note was also issued in the newspapers asking for information in respect of the incident. However, there was no response to the summons issued or the press note published by the investigating agency. While the aforesaid inquiry/investigation was continuing, the appellants - Shantibhai J. Vagehla and Prafulbhai J. Vaghela instituted Special Criminal Application No.770 of 2009 in the High Court. In the said application details of the incident, as noticed above, were mentioned by the appellants who had sought an order directing the Superintendent of Police, CBI, Gandhinagar (impleaded as respondent
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No.2) to register the criminal offence(s) as may be disclosed by the statements made in the application filed before the High Court and for further directions to carry out a proper investigation in respect of the incident of the mysterious death of the two children.
5. During the pendency of the aforesaid Special Criminal Application No.770 of 2009, FIR dated 07.11.2009 was formally lodged by one Shri H.B. Rajput, Inspector, CID Crime, Gandhinagar in the Gandhinagar Police Station in respect of the incident alleging commission of offences under Section 304/34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act. Seven inmates of the Ashram were named as the accused who were suspected to be involved with the offences alleged.
6. The FIR lodged against the seven inmates of the Ashram, in so far as the offence under Section 304
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IPC is concerned, came to be challenged before the High Court by the accused named therein. Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 13519 of 2009 filed by the aforesaid accused was heard along with Special Criminal Application No. 770 of 2009 filed by appellants – Shantibhai J. Vaghela and Prafulbhai J. Vaghela. Both the applications were disposed of by the High Court by the impugned order dated 10.01.2011. As already noticed, the High Court, on the basis of the conclusion that no offence against the accused under Section 304 IPC was made out, has quashed the FIR in so far as the aforesaid provision of the Penal Code is concerned. However, investigation and further steps with regard to the offence under Section 304 A and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act is concerned was permitted to continue. The High Court by the aforementioned order also disposed of Special Criminal Application
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No. 770 of 2009 filed by the two appellants as having become infructuous. Aggrieved by the said aforesaid order dated 10.01.2011 the State of Gujarat and the parents of the deceased children – Shantibhai J. Vaghela and Prafulbhai J. Vaghela have instituted the present appeals. It may be specifically noticed, at this stage, that while the appeals had remained pending before the Court, charge sheet dated 31.08.2012 under section 304- A/34 and section 114 IPC as well as Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act has been submitted against the 7 accused named in the FIR dated 7.11.2009.
7. We have heard Shri Colin Gonsalves, Learned senior counsel for the appellants Shantibhai J. Vaghela and Prafulbhai J. Vaghela, Mrs. H. Wahi, learned counsel for the State, Shri Shekhar Naphade, learned senior counsel for the respondents and Shri H.P. Raval, ASG.
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8. Shri Gonsalves has very elaborately taken us through the materials on record particularly the FIR dated 07.11.2009, the post-mortem reports and the several correspondences exchanged between the officers of the investigating agency and the Department of Forensic Medicine, BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad as well as the Deputy Director of the State Forensic Laboratory with regard to certain findings recorded in the post-mortem report. It has been submitted that a consideration of the aforesaid materials clearly indicate that the High Court was not justified in interdicting the investigation of the case registered in so far as the offence under Section 304 IPC is concerned. According to the learned counsel, there is ample room for due investigation of the said offence and, therefore, the same should be allowed to be brought to its logical conclusion. It is further submitted that notwithstanding the filing of the charge sheet
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dated 31.08.2012 there is ample power in the court to order investigation in so far as the offence under Section 304 IPC is concerned. It is also contended that having regard to the pre-eminent social status of the Bapuji Ashram and the evident role of the Ashram authorities in scuttling the fair investigation of a palpable crime, further investigation by the independent agency like the CBI should be ordered by this court.
9. Learned counsel for the State of Gujarat has submitted that the State is aggrieved by only that part of the order by which investigation of the offence under Section 304 IPC has been interfered with by the High Court. Learned State counsel has categorically submitted that further/fresh investigation in so far as the offence under Section 304 IPC is concerned can be effectively performed by the State Police and in fact the State is agreeable to constitute a Special Investigation
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Team for the said purpose if so ordered by the court.
10. In reply, Shri Naphade, learned senior counsel for the accused, has urged that registration of a FIR alleging a specific criminal offence against any person and investigation of the same can be made only on the basis of some acceptable material disclosing the commission of the offence alleged. No such basis is discernible in the present case. According to learned counsel a reading of FIR does not reveal any material to establish any of the ingredients of the offence under Section 304 IPC against any of the accused. What has been alleged in the FIR, according to learned counsel, is negligence or lapses on the part of the Ashram authorities in not conducting a timely, proper and effective search of the missing children; in not informing the police about the incident and in not blocking the passage from the Ashram to the
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Sabarmati river. The High Court, according to learned counsel, therefore, rightly ordered investigation of the offence under Section 304 A IPC and charge sheet has been filed against all the accused under the aforesaid Section of the Penal Code. Shri Naphade has further urged that no material, whatsoever, has been brought on record to implicate any of the accused with the offence under Section 304 IPC. Shri Naphade has also submitted that the post-mortem report does not rule out and, in fact, the same strongly suggests that death of children had occurred due to drowning and the injuries on the bodies and the disappearance of some of the vital organs of deceased – Dipesh is due to the attack on the dead body by wild animals. Learned counsel, therefore, has contended that no case for further investigation, much less by an independent agency, is made out.
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11. It may be appropriate at this stage to notice the opinion rendered by the Department of Forensic Medicine, BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad with regard to the cause of death of Dipesh and Abhishek which may be conveniently extracted below:
“Deceased Dipesh Prafulbhai Vaghela :
-Body is in stage of decomposition and mutilation. -No ante mortem injury is detected over available parts of body. -Toxicology report shows “No chemical poison detected. -FSL report shows “Presence of diatoms could not detected.
Considering above, FSL report and postmortem findings possibility of death due to drowning cannot be ruled out , however, “no definite opinion regarding cause of death can be given.”
Deceased Abhishek Shantilal Vaghela:
“-Body is in stage of decomposition.
-No ante mortem injury is detected over available parts of body.
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-Toxicology report shows “No chemical poison detected”. -FSL report shows “ Presence of diatoms could not detected.
Considering above, FSL report and postmortem findings possibility of death due to drowning cannot be ruled out. However, “no definite opinion regarding cause of death can be given.”
12. To appreciate the contentions advanced by the rival parties, relevant portions of the post-mortem report of Dipesh Prafulbhai Vaghela may also be extracted hereunder:
“ . . . . . .
(2) External examination
. . . . . .
(12)
Proof
of
dead
body & it signs –
(during examination of
dead body its – hips,
waist,
dead
body
&
thighs or some growth,
blackening
of
some
parts after death if
any) if swelling of
any
part
then
Body is in state of
decomposition hence PM
lividity
is
not
appreciated. Foul smell
is coming from body.
The
skin
and
soft
tissue are missing at
lower part of frontal
neck front and sides of
chest
and
abdomen,
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examination
of
fluid
in it & condition of
the skin.
lower
part
of
right
leg,
distal
part
of
both the feet. Rest of
the
skin
of
face
available part of front
of neck, lower part of
thighs
and
legs
are
discoloured
brownish
black while available
part of back of scalp
neck
chest
abdomen
gluteal
region
and
upper part of front and
back of thighs are less
discolored.
Marbeling
is present on both the
lower limbs specially
on
anterior
aspects.
Skin is easily peeled
off at places, scalp,
hair easily peeled off
maggots of size 0.2 to
0.5 cms. crowling all
over the body. External
genetelia distended due
to decomposition. Chest
and
abdominal
cavity
are exposed, both sides
of ribs and vertebral
column
are
seen
externally.
Sternum,
both
clavicles
and
costal cartilages found
missing. Mass of tissue
line attached with neck
contain
trachea,
oesophagus part of both
lungs
heart
covered
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with peri cardium and
part of stomach. Rest
of abdominal organs are
missing. Both the upper
limbs are missing with
scapulae. Skin and soft
tissue in lower part of
right leg missing under
line
bones
exposed.
Distal part of right
foot
including
toes
missing,
metatarsals
are
exposed.
Distal
part
of
left
foot
including toes missing
metatarsals exposed the
missing tissues of the
body is attached with
the
changes
of
post
mortem
phenomena.
Margins
of
missing
tissues
are
pale,
irregular
without
vital
reactions
and
nibbling
due
to
animals
appreciated.
(13) Appearance of dead
body-
normal
or
swollen, condition of
eyes,
condition
of
tongue, face, type of
discharges from ears or
nostrils (if any).
Facial
features
are
bloated and distorted.
Eyes open, eye balls
softened
decomposed
and
protruded.
Mouth
is
open
tongue
protruded outside oral
cavity.
No
discharge
noted from ear, nose
and mouth. Both the
ears are eaten up in
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pinna region, margins
irregular,
pale
and
without
vital
reaction.
(14)
Condition
of
skin – blood stain
etc. If probability
of
drowning
then
imprints of biting
by
aquatic
animal
(cutis Anserina) if
any, record be made
regarding
wrinkles
on skin.
Nibbling
due
to
animals
found
in
both
pinna
right
lower
limbs,
both
feet
chest
abdomen.
Margins
are
pale,
irregular
and
without
vital
reactions.
. . . . . . . .
(3) Internal examination
. . . . .
(20) Chest:-
(c) Larynx, trachea
and thyroid bone
................
(21) . . . . .
Small intestine &
its contents
c)
Trechia
& larynx
identified
food
particles
and
mud
found
present
and
appreciated
in
trechea
thyroid bone and larynx
identified
and
intact.
No injury appreciated in
available parts including
soft tissue of neck.
Missing
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Large intestine &
Its contents
Missing
Liver its wt. & gall
bladder
Missing
Stomach &
suprarenals
Missing
Spleen (with wt.) Missing Kidneys (with wt.) Missing Bladder Missing Genitalia No injury found.
Abhishek
Shantilal
Vaghela:
“ . . . . . .
(2) External examination . . . . . .
(12)
Proof
of
dead
body & it signs –
(during examination of
dead body its – hips,
waist,
dead
body
&
thighs or some growth,
blackening
of
some
parts after death if
any) if swelling of
any
part
then
examination
of
fluid
in it & condition of
the skin.
Body is in stage of
decomposition hence PM
lividity
is
not
appreciated.
Foul
smelling
gas
coming
from
the body brown
black discoloration of
skin
found
on
face,
chest,
abdomen,
both
upper limbs and lower
part of both the thighs
and
both
legs
while
upper
part of
thighs
back of chest, gluteal
region
is
less
discolouration. Skin is
early
peeled
off
at
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places scalp hair early
peeled off. Marbelling
is
present
on
chest
shoulder
and
thighs
more
on
anterior
aspects.
Maggots
of
size 0.2 to 0.5 cms.
Crawling all over the
body at places. Abdomen
and external genetalia
distended
due
to
decomposition
gases.
Anal canal rectum part
of
sigmoid
colon
is
prolapsed out of anus
due
to
decompositions
toes
of
right
foot
except greater toe are
missing
degloving
of
skin
of
both
hands
found
present
due to
decomposition.
(13) Appearance of dead
body- normal or swollen,
condition
of
eyes,
condition
of
tongue,
face, type of discharges
from ears or nostrils
(if any).
Facial
features
are
blotted and distorted.
Eyes
open
eye
ball
soften
decomposed
and
protruded out from its
sockets. Mouth is semi-
opened,
tongue
protruded out from oral
cavity.
White
frothy
fluid
is
coming
from
nose
and
mouth. Both
the
ears
are
eaten
in
pinna
region
by
animals.
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(14) Condition of skin –
blood
stain
etc.
If
probability of drowning
then imprints of biting
by aquatic animal (cutis
Anserina) if any, record
be
made
regarding
wrinkles on skin.
Both
ears
in
pinna
region
and
toes
of
right
foot
except
greater
toe
eaten
by
animals.
. . . . . . . .
(17)
Blunt
or
cut
injuries
on
external
parts of body, its type,
condition
size
and
direction be noted with
proper care and probable
time of injury and its
reason be noted.
Petechial haemorrhage or
collection seen if any,
then
condition
of
muscles
and
ligaments
under the skin of that
area?
Notice:- if there are
innumerable
injuries
which can’t be noted in
given
space,
then
a
signed
supplement
be
attached
to
it
with
details
1. Both
ears
in
pinna
region
are
missing.
Margins
are
irregular
pale
without
vital
reactions
nibbled
by
animals.
2.
Second,
third,
fourth and fifth toes
of
right
foot
are
missing
meta
torsals
bones exposed, margins
irregular and pale, No,
vital
reactions
found.
Present
nibbling
by
animals
appreciated.
No, ante mortem injury
detected
over
the
available parts of the
body.
....................
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(3) Internal examination
. . . . .
(20) . . . .
(c) Larynx, trachea
and thyroid bone
c) No injury found in
soft tissue and muscles
of neck. Hyoid bone and
thyroid cartilage intact
few
food
particles
and
mud
appreciated
in
trechia
13. We have already referred to the series of communications exchanged between the officers of the investigating agency and the Department of Forensic Medicine, BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad as well as the Deputy Director of the State Forensic Laboratory in an earlier part of this order. Such communications are in the form of queries made by the investigating agency and the replies of either the Department of Forensic Medicine of the BJ Medical College or the authorities of the State Forensic Laboratory to such queries. The relevant
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contents of the said correspondence placed before us may be summarized below:
1. Though there are tear marks over the clothes there are no cut marks found on the bodies of the deceased.
2. Presence of diatoms in cases of death by drowning may not always be found e.g. in case of dry drowning. At times the drowning medium (water) may not contain any diatoms.
3. Food particles and mud were found in trachea of both the deceased.
4. Animal bites were present on the bodies of both the deceased particularly in the region of the ears and toes in the case of deceased Abhishek and additionally in the feet, chest and abdomen of deceased Dipesh.
5. No shaving of scalp hairs was found in either case and also no injuries over the neck to draw blood were detected.
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6. The disappearance of organs from the body of the deceased - Dipesh may have been due to wild animals pulling or carrying the same away.
14. Before proceeding any further in the matter it will be appropriate for us to notice the tenor of allegations mentioned in the FIR dated 07.11.2009 filed in respect of the incident in question. The aforesaid FIR was filed after more than one year of the incident and after holding of a detailed inquiry/investigation into the incident. What has been alleged in the FIR is that on account of the delay on the part of the accused in organising a prompt and effective search of the missing children they could not be recovered alive, and in fact, even the dead bodies of the children could not be traced out for several days. The specific stand taken in the FIR is that had a prompt search been carried out, possibly, the children could
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have been found alive or, at least, the dead bodies could have been recovered earlier so as to enable an effective post-mortem of the bodies to determine the precise cause of death. It is also alleged that the Ashram authorities had advised the parents of the children to resort to various tantric practices to find out about the whereabouts of the children instead of promptly approaching the police. The failure of the said authorities to effectively man the gates behind the ashram adjoining the river bed have also been highlighted in the FIR as another omission on the part of the ashram authorities so as to give rise to the commission of the offence of culpable homicide.
15. Two other aspects of the matter also need to be dealt with at this stage. In the opinion rendered by the Department of Forensic Medicine BJ medical College, Ahmedabad with regard to cause of
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death of the two children, as extracted above, it is recorded that “presence of diatoms could not be detected”. Relevant literature has been laid before the court to show that: “diatoms are among the well known water planktons............ Every water body has its own diatom diversity...... Diatoms are commonly found in water bodies like ponds, lakes, canals and rivers etc. but their concentration can be low or high in a particular water body, depending upon the season........”
16. The following extract from the works/literature placed before the court would also require a mention to understand the significance of the absence of diatoms as mentioned in the report of the Department of Forensic Medicine BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad.
“When drowning takes place, diatoms enter into the lung cavity of a person through the aspirated water and this
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water exerts a pressure on lung cavity and rupturing of the lung alveoli takes place. Through these entrances diatoms can enter into heart, liver, kidney, brain and bone marrow............Analysis of diatoms present in the lungs, liver, spleen, blood and bone marrow has for many years been undertaken as a confirmatory test in possible drowning cases. However, the diatom test has been controversial since numerous cases of false negative and false positive results have been documented..........”
17. The second significant fact which has to be noted is the meaning of the expression “without vital reactions” as appearing in different parts of the post mortem reports under Col. 12,13,14 of part II – external examination. In the statement
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of the doctor who had conducted the post-mortem on the dead bodies of the children (as testified before the commission of enquiry appointed by the State Government), it has been explained that “if a person is living and is injured then whatever injury is caused, the process causing the injury is called vital reaction.” In fact in a published medical work placed before the Court by the learned counsel for the respondent, Shri Naphde, it is mentioned that when a wound is inflicted on a living organism a series of events is triggered called vital reaction.
18. Section 299 IPC defines culpable homicide as causing of death by doing an act with the intention of causing of death or with the intention of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death or with the knowledge that by such act death is likely to be caused. Under Section 300 IPC all acts of culpable homicide amount to murder except
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what is specifically covered by the exceptions to the said Section 300. Section 304 of Indian Penal Code provides for punishment for the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
19. Commission of the offence of culpable homicide would require some positive act on the part of the accused as distinguished from silence, inaction or a mere lapse. Allegations of not carrying out a prompt search of the missing children; of delay in the lodging of formal complaint with the police and failure to take adequate measures to guard the access from the ashram to the river, which are the principal allegations made in the FIR, cannot make out a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder punishable under Section 304 IPC. To attract the ingredients of the said offence something more positive than a mere omission, lapse or negligence on the part of the named accused will have to be present. Such statements are conspicuously absent
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in the FIR filed in the present case. A reading of the relevant part of the opinion of the Forensic Medicine Department of the BJ Medical College Ahmedabad would go to show that possibility of death of the children by drowning cannot be ruled out. Expert opinion available on record indicates that mere absence of diatom will not exclude the aforesaid possibility. The relevant part of the post mortem report, as extracted, indicates presence of mud in the trachea of the children which fact also point to the possibility of death by drowning. The absence of any injuries on the body of the deceased; the attack on the bodies by wild animals and the possibility of the taking away of the missing organs of the deceased Dipesh by wild animals are all mentioned in the post-mortem report. The said facts cannot be excluded or ignored while construing the prima facie liability of the accused named in the FIR. The absence of
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any positive material to show the practice of black magic in connection with the incident is another significant fact that has to be taken note of. Taking into account all the aforesaid facts it cannot be said that the High Court, in the present case, had committed any error in exercising its jurisdiction to interdict the investigation of the offence under section 304 IPC against the accused named in the FIR. Such power, though must be exercised sparingly, has to be invoked if the facts of any given case so demand. This is precisely what the High Court had done in the present case without departing from any of the well settled principles of law emanating from the long line of decisions of this court noticed in Asmathunnisa Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh rep. by the Public Prosecutor, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad 1 .
1
(2011) 11 SCC 259
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20. Our above view, naturally, has to be understood to be confined to the present stage of the proceedings and without, in any way impairing the powers of the Trial Court under Section 216 or Section 323 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In fact we reiterate as held by this court in Central Bureau of Investigation & Ors . Vs.Keshub Mahindra & Ors . 2 that the powers under the aforesaid provisions of the Code will always be available for exercise if subsequent facts would justify resort to either of the provisions. We also deem it appropriate to add that though several decisions of this court had been placed before us to demonstrate that it is open to this Court to direct further investigation by the CBI even after the State police may have filed the charge sheet upon completion of its investigation, we do not consider it necessary to go into any of the said decisions
2
(2011) 6 SCC 216.
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in view of our conclusions as recorded above. The mere reiteration of the availability of the judicial power to direct further investigations even after filing of the charge sheet as held in Narmada Bai Vs. State of Gujarat & Ors. 3 would suffice for the present.
21. Consequently, and in the light of the foregoing discussions we dismiss the appeals subject to our observations as above.
................J.
[P. SATHASIVAM]
................J.
[RANJAN GOGOI]
New Delhi,
09th November, 2012
3
(2011) 5 SCC 79