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2023 (5) TMI 1315 - SUPREME COURTMurder - the only allegation against the present appellant (accused no.2) is that while 6 other accused entered the house of PW3, the appellant was standing near the gate of the gallery with katta (countrymade handgun) in his hand - HELD THAT:- The only circumstance brought on record against the present appellant is in the evidence of PW5, who stated that the appellant was standing outside near the gate of the gallery with a katta in his hand. No overt act was attributed to him. There is a long statement of the appellant under Section 313 of CrPC in which as many as 42 questions were put to the appellant. Question no.13 is about what PW5 deposed. Admittedly, it was not put to the appellant that it is brought on record that he was standing outside near the gate of the gallery with a katta in his hand. It is true that the answer given by him to every question is “I don’t know”. If all the circumstances put to the appellant in his statement under Section 313 CrPC are carefully perused, any person of ordinary intelligence will get the impression that none of the prosecution witnesses has stated anything against him. That is why one cannot find fault with the appellant when he gave standard answers to every question as nothing adverse against him was put to him. This is a case where there is only a solitary circumstance appearing in the evidence against the appellant. The prosecution examined 37 witnesses. The material against the appellant is in the form of one sentence in the evidence of PW5. As mentioned earlier, on reading 42 questions put to the appellant in his statement under Section 313 of CrPC, any accused having ordinary intelligence will carry an impression that there is absolutely no material against him. The appellant was not confronted during his examination under section 313 of CrPC with the only allegation of the prosecution against him. When the Trial Judge prepares questions to be put to the accused under Section 313, before putting the questions to the accused, the Judge can always provide copies of the said questions to the learned Public Prosecutor as well as the learned defence Counsel and seek their assistance for ensuring that every relevant material circumstance appearing against the accused is put to him. When the Judge seeks the assistance of the prosecutor and the defence lawyer, the lawyers must act as the officers of the Court and not as mouthpieces of their respective clients. While recording the statement under Section 313 of CrPC in cases involving a large number of prosecution witnesses, the Judicial Officers will be well advised to take benefit of subsection (5) of Section 313 of CrPC, which will ensure that the chances of committing errors and omissions are minimized. The conviction of the appellant stands vitiated. In the facts of the case, the option of remand will be unjust - the conviction and sentence of the appellant set aside - appeal allowed.
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