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IN THE COURT OF I-ADDL. JUDL. FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE, WARANGAL.
Dated: 27 th day of June, 2012.
Present: Smt. P. SREEDEVI, LL.B., LL.M., I-Addl. Judl. First Class Magistrate.
Calendar Case No.392 of 2009
Between:
The State of A.P. through Sub-Inspector of Police,
PS Mills colony.…......Complainant.
AND
A1 – Mettupalli @ Jerripothula Narsaiah, A2 – Mettupalli @ Jerripothula Mariamma, A4 – Gadadasu Satish. A5 – B. Sudhakar
(case against A5 is abated on 26-6-12)…......Accused.
This case is coming up before me for final hearing in the presence of Asst. Public Prosecutor, for the State and of Sri. B. Nixon Paul, Advocate for accused and the matter having been stood over for consideration till this date, and this court made the following:
:: J U D G M E N T ::
The Sub-Inspector of Police, PS Mills colony has filed charge sheet in Cr.No.252 /2009, for the offence punishable u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467, 506 IPC against the accused.
2.The brief facts of the case are as follows: The defacto complainant by name G. Swamy (LW.1) and A1 are natural brothers and the LW.1 was taken in adoption by J. Rajaiah when the LW.1 was three years old. The father of A1 was M. Dudaiah. A2 is the wife of A1. The LW.1 after adoption started residing with J. Rajaiah and continued as his son till the death of J. Rajaiah. His father purchased house property bearing no.11-4-228 situated at Christian colony. After death of J. Rajaiah and his wife, the LW.1 inherited the above said house as an absolute and legitimate owner. But the A1 with an illegal intention in order to grab the said house property, obtained caste certificate impersonating himself as J. Narsaiah, s/o. Late Rajaiah instead of M. Narsaiah, s/o. Dudaiah and representing himself as absolute owner of the above said house property gifted the same in the name of A2 by a Registered gift deed. A4 & A5 attested the said gift deed. The A1 along with A2, A4 & A5 misrepresented the officials and obtained false documents relating to his identity in order to prove himself as J. Narsaiah instead of M. Narsaiah and grabbed the above said house property and cheated the Lw.1 and other official concerned. On 17-8-09 the police mills colony has received the complaint of LW.1 referred by the court. On receipt of the complaint, a case in Cr.No.252 /2009, u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 2 420, 417, 467, 506 IPC was registered and investigated into. During investigation, G. Sudhakar (LW.10) examined and recorded the statements of witnesses, visited the scene of offence, drafted Crime Details Form (CDF) in the presence of mediators. On a requisition Lws.5 to 7 issued certificates that earlier certificates were issued by them. On 24-10-09 the accused A1, A2 & A5 and on 6-10-09 the A4 were arrested and remanded to judicial custody. As A3 was absconding separate charge sheet was filed against A3. After completion of investigation police filed charge sheet against the accused.
3.On receiving of charge sheet the cognizance of the offence u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467, 506 IPC is taken on file against the accused.
4.On appearance of accused who are on bail, after receiving of summons, all the copies of documents were furnished to the accused as per section 207 Cr.P.C.
5.Accused were examined u/s.239 Cr.P.C. and upon considering the matter on record the charge for the offence u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467, 506 IPC, is read over and explained to the accused in Telugu, for which the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
6.In order to bring the guilt of the accused, the prosecution has examined Pws.1 to 9 and got marked Exs.P1 to P19.
7.After closure of prosecution evidence, the accused were examined u/s.313 Cr.P.C., explaining all the incriminating evidence against the accused, for which they denied the same and reported that no defence on their behalf.
8.Heard both sides.
9.Now the point for determination is: Whether the prosecution has proved its case against the accused
for the offence u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467, 506 IPC beyond all
reasonable doubt?
10.To bring home the guilt of the accused the prosecution has to establish that A1, A2 & A4 by using all false documents grabbed the house property from LW.1 and by registering the said property in the name of A2 cheated LW.1. The available evidence on record is the oral evidence of PWs.1 to 9 and Exs.P1 to P19.
11.The prosecution case is that the PW.1/ complainant and A1 are natural brothers and the PW.1 was taken in adoption by J. Rajaiah when the complainant was three years old. The father of A1 was M. Dudaiah. A2 is the wife of A1. The PW.1 after adoption started residing with J. Rajaiah and continued as his son till the 3 death of J. Rajaiah. His father purchased house property bearing no.11-4-228 situated at Christian colony. After death of J. Rajaiah and his wife, the PW.1 inherited the above said house as an absolute and legitimate owner. But the A1 with an illegal intention in order to grab the said house property obtained caste certificate impersonating himself as J. Narsaiah, s/o. Late Rajaiah instead of M. Narsaiah, s/o. Dudaiah and representing himself as absolute owner of the above said house property, gifted the same in the name of A2 by a Registered gift deed. A4 & A5 attested the said gift deed. The A1 along with A2, A4 & A5 misrepresented the officials and obtained false documents relating to his identity in order to prove himself as J. Narsaiah instead of M. Narsaiah and grabbed the above said house property and cheated the Pw.1 and other official concerned. On 17-8-09 the police mills colony has received the complaint of PW.1 referred by the court.
12.PW.1 deposed that he has retired from Govt. service as ASW and he was adopted by J. Rajaiah and persued his education as J. Swamy and all his school records and also college records having his name entered as J. Swamy s/o. J. Rajaiah. He has a house property at Christian colony, but do not remember its bearing no. He is only the legal heir to that properties and since the death of his parents i.e., j. Rajaiah and Buchamma. He is in absolute possession of the above said house property. But A1 who is his natural brother occupied the said house without having any rights and he gifted the said house in the name of A2 who is also claiming the house against PW.1. The accused filed civil suit against the sons of PW.1 claiming the said house in their name and the Ex.P1 is the Certified Copy of plaint filed by A1 & A2. Ex.P2 is the petition filed under order 36 rule 1 filed by A1 & A2 against PW.1 and other respondents, for which Ex.P3 is the certified copy of the written statement filed by the defendants in OS.No.74 of 2010, which show that a civil case filed by A1 & A2 against son of PW.1 and PW.2 which is still pending. Ex.P5 is the true extract of the property tax assessment which is in the name of J. Rajaiah for H.No.11-4-228 and Ex.P6 is the miscellaneous bill showing J. Rajaiah as assesse of H.No.11-4-228. Ex.P7 is the certified copy of gift settlement deed executed by A1 in favour of A2. Exs.P8 to P13 are the education qualification certificates of PW.1 showing his name as J. Swamy s/o. J. Rajaiah. He further deposed that A1 and A2 have no right whatsoever on the house bearing No.11-4-228 and they are illegally occupied and thereby cheated him. Then he filed a private complaint Ex.P14 against A1, A2, A4 & A5.
13.In his cross-examination he admitted that the document confronted to him is a caste certificate issued by MRO, Geesugonda, warangal which is attached to Ex.P7 which was issued in the year 2003. He deposed that he did not sign on the complaint and he does not remember whether the complaint was filed before this court.
14.PW.2 is the natural brother of PW.1 & A1 His chief-examination elicited the 4 fact that A1 with an intention to grab the property of PW.1 situated at labour colony, forged the documents and gifted the said house property in the name of A2. And he came to know about the said fact through police. In his cross-examination he admitted that A1 is an illiterate person and he came to Warangal and settled 15 years back and he is residing at Christian colony.
15.PW.3 & PW.4 are also natural brothers of PW.1 & A1. They also reiterated the same facts as that of PW.2. PW.5 is the Tahsildar. He deposed that on 25-9-09 PS Mills colony requested him through a letter to verify the caste certificate of A1 issued by Tahsildar. Then he verified all the records and noticed that the caste certficate was issued in the name of A1 by T.Nova, MRO of Geesugonda mandal and he issued a letter to the SHO Mills colony which is marked as Ex..P5 In his cross-exmaination he admitted that the caste certificate issued which is attached to Ex.P7 is only issued after due enquiry.
16.PW.6 is Panchayati Secretary. He deposed that he received a letter from SHO Mills colony asking him to verify the house valusation certificate of A1 to know that who singed on Ex.P1, accordingly he verified the records and found that he only issued the house valuation certificates to A1, after veryfying the records on the oral request of owners. Then he issued a letter to the PS Mills colony as a reply about his verification. Ex.P6 is the letter issued by him. Stating that the house valuation certificate is issued in the name of M. Narsaiah, s/o. Dudaiah. In his cross- examination he deposed that on the oral request of persons he will issue the house valuation certificates after verifying the records, no photo of the owners will be affixed in the house-tax demand registers. The A1 only came to his office for the certificate.
17.PW.7 is the Tahsildar at Sangem mandal. He depsoed that he received a letter from SHO Mils colony requesting to verify that the white ration card which was issued in the name of M. Narsaiah, s/o. Dudaiah is whether genuine or not and who issued the said card. Accordingly, he verified the records and found that the ration card was issued in the name of A1 duly signed by Krishnaveni , Deputy Tahsildar and found that the white ration card issued by their office is genuine and he sent a reply letter Ex.P17 to the SHO Mills colony. In his cross-examination he admitted that there are mettupally families in their village, but he cannot say how many families are there. They do not obtain photographs for maintaining the records, for the persons in whose name the ration cards will be issued.
18.PW.8 is the panch witness to the CDF, who deposed that the police enquired him about the neighbours of A1 and conducted CDF in his presence which is marked as Ex.P18. He admitted that A1 is son of J. Rajaiah and since 25 years A1 along with his father and brother J. Swamy were staying in the said house.
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19.PW.9 is the Investigating officer. He deposed in his cross-examination that he did not receive any complaint from PW.1 and he does not remember whether any cases or pending against A1, A2, A4 & A5. He admitted that he did not examine any other person except the person cited in Ex.P14 as witnesses, He did not examine any neighbour of PW.1 to know whether PW1 was given for adoption to J. Rajaiah and PW,1 did not state to him that since how many years PW.1 is residing in the house bearing No.11-4-228. He did not enquire with the neighbors of the said house as per Ex.P7. He did not enquire with the neighbours of the house No.5-80 at Sangem village. He denied the fact that PW.2 to 4 are having family disputes with A1 & A2 and wantedly deposed in the favour of PW.1.
20.The learned APPO argued that the prosecution by producing cogent and reliable evidence brought the guilt of A1, A2, A4 & A5 on record and the documentary evidence which are very crucial in this case were also furnished before the Hon'ble court, which clearly established that all the accused by creating all false documents with an ill-intention, A1 gifted the house in the name of A2 over which both A1 & A2 do not have any right. Pws.2 to 4 being the own brothers of A1 they did not support A1 and they deposed the genuine facts and elicited the truth behind this case, proving the guilt of A1, A2, A4 & A5. In support of prosecution the learned APPO referred a citation reported in -
AIR 1960, Andhra Pradesh 441 (V47 C144), wherein it was held that the accused by his representation that he is K. Ramarao the Graduate had induced the Public service commission to select him and the cheating by personation has been made out. As a consequence there of damage or harm would follow to the statutory body suffering in its reputation. No special proof of damage or loss need be insisted upon. In this case where there is fradulent inducement by the accused to select him by mentioning false details in his application to the Public Servic commission the ingredients of sec.415 IPC are fully found.
21.Another citation reported in - 2007(1) ALD (Crl.) 74 (A.P.), wherein it was held that the petitioner knowing fully well his correct date of birth mis-represented to the Union Service commission that the date of birth is a different one with an intention to defraud the service commission and make them to grant permission to sit for the examination despite the fact that he was not eligible to sit for the examination as per his original date of birth and thereby the ingredients of sec.420 IPC were attracted and the revision petition is dismissed.
22.The learned APPO further argued that A1 is having registered his name in the voters list at Sangem mandal showing his name as M. Narsaiah, s/o. Dudaiah, H.No.5-8 and also having the valuation certificate in the same name. Further having a household card with the same name and filed Photostat copies of the same and he by cheating the officials obtained caste certificate and gifted the house No.11-4-228 in the name of A2 though he does not have any right. Hence, the prosecution has established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and the accused may 6 be punished.
23.The Learned counsel for the accuse argued that the accused did not commit any offence and they are falsely implicated in the present case. The PW.1 himself representing as the legal heir of the house bearing no.11-4-228 then why he was not impleaded as one of the defendants in Ex.P3, which is written statement filed by the defendants in OS. 74 of 2010. A civil suit is already pending about the claiming rights over the said house by A1 against the sons of PW.1 and PW.2 . The A1 also did not cite PW.1 as one of the defendants which establishes that A1 & PW.1 were residing in the said house having no disputes between them. The evidence of PW.8 is establishes that fact that the A1 & PW.1 are residing in the above said house since 25 years. He further argued that if a person resides in any house for a period of 20 years without any interruption in whatever manner, he gets adverse possession even against the owner of the said house. In the present case it was clearly elicited that A1 was residing in the said house since 25 years and he is the absolute possessor of the said house and his act of executing the gift deed in the favour of A2 does not amount to cheating.
24.He further argued that all the witnesses examined by the prosecution are interested witnesses to the prosecution and the caste certificate issued by MRO is the genuine one showing the name of A1 as J. Narsaiah, s/o. J. Rajaiah. Hence, no offence is committed by the all the accused herein and the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. In his support he referred a citation reported in - 2010 AIR SCW 405 between Md. Ibrahim and others vS. State of Bihar and another, in which it was held that there is a fundamental difference between a person executing a sale deed claiming that the property conveyed is his property and a person executing a sale deed by impersonating the owner or falsely claiming to be authorized or empowered by the owner to execute the deed on owners behalf.
25.In the present case the A1 bonafidely believed that the property actually belongs to him and executed the gift deed and the gift deed is not a forged document. Hence, no offence u/s.420 or forgery are established by the prosecution.
26.Another citation reported in - (2010) 2 Suprement Court cases (Crl.) 649 between Ramesh Dutt and others Vs. State of Punjab and others, wherein it was held that only because the appellants are said to have transferred a portion of the property without having complete ownership over it by itself does not satisfy the ingredients of forgery.
27.By referring to the above citations the learned counsel for accused argued that no ingredients of secs.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467 & 506 IPC made out against all the accused and the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of accused for the 7 offence u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467 & 506 IPC beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, they may be acquitted.
28.On the appreciation of both oral and documentary evidence it is noticed that there is no dispute with the fact that A1 and Pw1 to PW4 are natural brothers. PW1 to PW4 are senior citizens, they all are aged about above 70 years except the PW4. The evidence of PW2 to PW4 does not elicit all the facts as narrated by the prosecution, they deposed that PW1 was adopted by J.Rajaiah . But the point to be noted is that the PW1 when he was 3years old he was given in adoption to J. Rajaiah , it means the adoption took place much earlier to the Hindu adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, coming in to force. His adoption found to be legal one as per Hindu law. The ExP8 to Exp13 are the education qualification certificates of PW1 which established the fact that he was adopted by late J. Rajaiah.
29.The Pw2 to Pw4 deposed that the A1 with deceitful intention occupied the house of PW1 at Cristian colony, Warangal and created all false documents. But the prosecution failed to elicit the clear facts of the case from those witnesses. It is admitted that all of them are senior citizens and unable to speak out the exact details of the facts. But there are contradictions in their evidence such as the period of the A1 residing in the house bearing no. 11-4-228 whether for 15 years or 2years. The evidence of PW8 clearly established that the A1 and PW1 are residing in the above said house since 25 years. The PW1 also deposed that the A1 residing in the said house. The prosecution failed to explain the reason for PW1 keeping silent till filing of civil suit by the A1 against the sons of PW1 and PW2 and why the PW1 was not impleaded as one of the defendants in the said civil suit. The ExP14 filed only after the A1 filed the civil case. Hence this court has reasonably presume that A1 and PW1 both lived together in the said house.
30.Further the PW1 who is above 70 years old but he was able to depose about the facts of the present case. In his cross examination he disclosed that he did not sign on ExP14, which is completely going against the entire prosecution case. Pw1 is the defacto complainant deposing that he did not sign on the ExP14, elevates the defect in the prosecution case. The prosecution did not examine any independent witnesses except the other family members of PW1 and A1 to get clarification about the adoption of PW1 and residence of A1. The investigating agency did not examine any neighbour of the house bearing no.11-4-228 or house no.5-80 at Sangem, village.
31.It is significant to note that the PW5, who is Tahasildar authenticated that the caste certificate issued to the A1 is genuine after verification of the records. Then the question of obtaining the caste certificate by A1 by using deceitful means does not arise. PW6 and PW7 who issued the house valuation certificate and ration card respectively, deposed that they issued them after thorough enquiry, but it is not 8 clarified with whom they enquired, whether they enquired with the neighbours of the residence of A1 at Cristian colony or not. Further the Photostat copy of caste certificate and voters identity card of A1 and A2 respectively, attached to ExP7 show the name of A1 as J. Narsaiah and his residence address as 11-4-228. This creates a doubt in the mind of the court about the genuineness of the prosecution case.
32.It was the prosecution contention that the A1 is native of Sangem village, but that does not debar him from having a house at Warangal. When all the prosecution witnesses deposed that the A1 is resident of Cristian colony, then this court has every reason to believe that A1 along with PW1 resided in the house no.11-4-228. Further when there is civil case pending about the title over the house no.11-4-228, it is too early to decide that the A1 cheated Pw1 by transferring the said house in the name of A2 through a gift deed. Further it is not clarified by the prosecution that whether the Pw1 is the only legal heir of the said house. No document to the effect that the PW1 is the absolute owner of the said house is filed by the prosecution. The most important point to be noted that the prosecution has failed to explain whether the late J. Rajaiah has died intestate or after executing0 the will. So it is difficult to believe the version of the prosecution that the PW1 is the only legal heir and when a civil case is pending on the dispute of the title over the above said property, this court does not find any guilty intention of all the accused herein for the acts done by them as alleged by the prosecution. Hence the prosecution failed prove the guilt of the A1, A2 and A4 for the offences u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467 & 506 IPC beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly the point is answered.
33.Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the present case and upon careful scrutiny on the entire material available on record, this court is of the considered view that the prosecution failed to produce evidence with regard to the guilt of all the accused in the present case as the prosecution witnesses deposed contradictory evidence with regard to the material particulars of the present case and the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, they are found not guilty for the offence u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467 & 506 IPC and they may be acquitted.
34.In the result, the accused A1, A2 & A4 are found not guilty for the offences u/s.120-B, 406, 416, 420, 417, 467 & 506 IPC and they are acquitted u/s.248(1) Cr.P.C. The bail bonds of the accused shall stand cancelled.
(Typed to my dictation, corrected and pronounced by me in the open court on this the 27th day of June, 2012).
I-ADDL. JUDL. FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE.
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APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WITNESSES EXAMINED
FOR PROSECUTIONFOR DEFENCE: PW.1 – G. Swamy, - NONE - PW.2 – M. Mogili, PW.3 – M. Komuraiah, PW.4 – M. Chandraiah, PW.5 – D. Narsaiah, PW.6 – Md. Yousufuddin, PW.7 – Md. Safiuddin, PW.8 – J. Yakaiah, PW.9 – G. Sudhakar.
EXHIBITS MARKED
FOR PROSECUTION
Ex.P1 – CC. Of plaint in OS.No.74/2010 on the file of Prl. Jr. Civil Judge's court, Warangal. Ex.P2 – CC. Of petition u/s.39 R (1) r/w 151 CPC in IA.nO.64/10 in OS.No.74/10. Ex.P3 – CC. Of W.S. Filed by R2 in IA.No.64/10. Ex.P4 – CC of counter affidavit filed by R2 in IA.No.64/10. Ex.P5 – True extract of property tax assessment receipt dt:11-3-11. Ex.P6 – Miscellaneous bill. Ex.P7 – CC. Of gift settlement deed executed by A1. Ex.P8 – Original conduct certificate issued by Govt. High School Matwada, warangal. Ex.P9 – Primary school certificate issued by Head Master. Ex.P10 – Study certificate issued by Govt. High school, Matwada. Ex.P11 – Provisional certificate. Ex.P12 – Transfer certificate. Ex.P13 – B.Ed. Certificate issued by Osmania Vice Chancellor. Ex.P14 – complaint. Ex.P15 – letter issued by PW.5 to SHO Mills colony. Ex.P16 – letter issued by PW.6 to SHO Mills colony. Ex.P17 – letter issued by MRO, dt:11-9-09. Ex.P18 – Crime Details Form. Ex.P19 – First Information report.
FOR DEFENCE: - NIL -
MATERIAL OBJECTS: - NIL -
I- ADDL. JUDL. FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE,
WARANGAL.