Full Order Text
Final Order 1 · 03 Sept 2024 · CNR MHMM190066142018
Order Details: Copy of Judgment Pdf Text: 1 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 MHMM190066142018 IN THE COURT OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS, 44TH COURT, ANDHERI, MUMBAI. (PRESIDED OVER BY SUJITKUMAR C. TAYDE) (Date of Judgment: 3rd September, 2024) Case No.1510/PW/2018 CNR No.MHMM190066142018 FIR/Crime No.430/2017 Police Station: Versova, Mumbai. COMPLAINANT The State of Maharashtra through the Station Incharge of Versova Police Station, Mumbai. REPRESENTED BY Learned A.P.P. Smt. Seema Mokal ACCUSED Shivaji Lattu Sahu, Age 42 Yrs, Occupation Auto Rickshaw Driver, R/o.Room No.41, Chirekhan Nagar, Kadamwadi, Vakola, Santaruz (E), Mumbai. REPRESENTED BY Learned Advocate Shri Ramlal Kushwaha (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 1 of 20 -- 2 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 Part 'B' (Para 44(ii) off Chapter VI of Criminal Manual) Date of offence 06/12/2017 Date of FIR 06/12/2017 Date of chargesheet 05/06/2018 Date of framing of charges 11/09/2019 Date of commencement of evidence 24/07/2023 Date of which judgment is reserved 03/09/2024 Date of the judgment 03/09/2024 Accused Details Rank of the accuse d Name of Accuse d Date of Arrest Date of Release on Bail Offence s charged with Whether acquitted or convicted Senten ce impos ed Period of Detentio n Underg one during Trial for purpose of Section 428 of Cr.P.C. 1 Shivaji Lattu Sahu 06/12/2 017 06/12/20 17 509 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code Convicted Yes No (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 2 of 20 -- 3 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 Part 'C' LIST OF PROSECUTION/DEFENCE/COURT WITNESSES A. Prosecution: RANK NAME NATURE OF EVIDENCE (EYE WITNESS, POLICE WITNESS, EXPERT WITNESS, MEDICAL WITNESS, PANCH WITNESS, OTHER WITNESS) PW 1 Informant – Gayatri Babul Das Exh.No.4 PW 2 Witness – Usha Vasant Wagh Exh.No.5 PW 3 Investigating Officer Ganesh Vadhane Exh.No.6 B. Defence witnesses, if any. RANK NAME NATURE OF EVIDENCE (EYE WITNESS, POLICE WITNESS, EXPERT WITNESS, MEDICAL WITNESS, PANCH WITNESS, OTHER WITNESS) Nil Nil Nil C. Court witnesses, if any. RANK NAME NATURE OF EVIDENCE (EYE WITNESS, POLICE WITNESS, EXPERT WITNESS, MEDICAL WITNESS, PANCH WITNESS, OTHER WITNESS) Nil Nil Nil (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 3 of 20 -- 4 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 LIST OF PROSECUTION EXHIBITS Sr. No. Nature of Exhibit Exhibit No. 1 Complaint and FIR 5 & 6 JUDGMENT (Delivered on 03/09/2024) The accused stands prosecuted for having committed the offence punishable under Section 509 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code. The case of the prosecution in nutshell is as under : 2. The informant, Gayatri Babul Das took one auto rickshaw bearing no.MH03BY3041 on rent and she was travelling thereby on 06/12/2007. According to the prosecution, the accused was driving the said auto rickshaw rashly and negligently at the relevant time. Since the informant was having back pain, she requested the accused to drive the said auto rickshaw slowly. But he did not pay attention. Even the accused did not notice the speed breakers and continued to drive the same in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life. On the very day at about 6.15 p.m., when the said auto rickshaw came near Satyam Electronics, Char Bangala Market, Saint Luise Convent Road, Versova, she asked the accused to stop the said auto rickshaw. At that time, the accused pushed her in a fit of anger and abused her by saying “Tu Niche Utar, Tu Madarchod Hai, Chhinal Hai, Bhosdi Hai”. The accused not only stopped here but also he voluntarily caused hurt to the (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 4 of 20 -- 5 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 informant and torn her cloth. Hence, being aggrieved by the indecent behaviour and the atrocities caused by the accused, the informant immediately dialed the phone number 100 to call the police for help. The concerned police staff arrived at the spot of the incident and they took the accused to the police station. Thereafter, the informant lodged the report against the accused in the Police Station Versova, Mumbai at about 20.30 hrs. on 06/12/2017. On the basis of this report, the offence punishable under section 509 and 323 of Indian Penal Code came to be registered against the accused vide Crime No.430/2017 in Police Station Versova, Mumbai. 3. The further investigation of the said crime was handed over to Shri Ganesh Vadane, PoliceSubInspector who recorded the statements of the witnesses. After completion of the investigation, the chargesheet came to be filed under Section 173 of Cr. P.C. against the accused persons for having committed the offence punishable under Section 509 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code. 4. Having secured the presence of the accused, all the documents filed alongwith the chargesheet were supplied to the accused under Section 207 of Cr. P.C. 5. The charge for the offence punishable under section 509 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code was read over to the accused. He did not plead guilty. Hence, the trial was conducted. (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 5 of 20 -- 6 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 6. In view of the incriminating evidence placed on record, the statement of the accused under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure came to be recorded wherein the accused took the stand that he has been falsely implicated in this matter. The accused neither stepped into witness nor did he produce any evidence. 7. In the backdrop of the prosecution case and the evidence placed on record, the following points are formulated for my determination. I record my findings thereon in the light of the evidence adduced by the prosecution as under: SR.NO. POINTS FINDINGS 1] Does the prosecution prove that 06/12/2017 at about 19.00 hrs. at Chaar Bangala Market, Opp. Satyam Electronics, St. Luies Convent Road, Versova, Andheri (W), Mumbai intending to insult the modesty of the informant Kum. Gayatri Babul Das uttered words by abusing her obscene language intending that same shall be heard by the informant and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 509 of Indian Penal Code ? Proved 2] Does the prosecution prove that on the same date, place and time, the accused voluntarily caused hurt to the informant and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 323 of Indian Penal Code? Proved 3] What order ? The accused is convicted as per the final order. (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 6 of 20 -- 7 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 REASONS AS TO POINT NO. 1 : 8. In order to bring home the guilt of the accused, the prosecution has examined the following witness: Sr. No. Name of the witness Exhibit No. PW 1 Informant – Gayatri Babul Das 4 PW 2 Witness – Usha Vasant Wagh 5 PW 3 Investigating Officer – Ganesh Vadhane 6 9. In spite of having ample opportunity, the prosecution did not examine another witnesses. Hence, having regard to the pendency of the case, this case needs to be disposed of in the light of evidence placed on record. 10. Before making the appreciation and marshalling of the evidence, let us have a glance at the ingredients of the offence punishable under section 509 of Indian Penal Code. 1 The accused uttered some words, or made some sounds or gesture or exhibited any object or intruded upon the privacy of a woman; 2 The accused must have intended that the words so uttered or the sound or gesture so made or the object so exhibited should be heard or seen respectively by the woman; 3 The accused thereby intended to insult the modesty of the woman; 11. The term “modesty” is defined by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Raju Pandurang Mahale V/s. State of (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 7 of 20 -- 8 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 Maharashtra, (2004) 4 SCC, 371, as the essence of a womans modesty is her sex i.e. modesty is a virtue which attaches to a female owing to her sex. The ultimate test for ascertaining whether modesty has been outraged is whether the action of the offender is such as could be perceived as one which is capable of shocking the sense of decency of a woman. Keeping in mind the ingredients of section 509 of Indian Penal Code as noted above, I proceed to make the scrutiny of the evidence placed on record. 12. Having gone through the record, I heard the learned advocates for both the sides. The learned APP Smt. Seema Mokal submitted that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. According to her, the alleged offence is against women and therefore, the accused is liable to be punished. 13. Per contra, the learned advocate for the accused Shri. Ramlal Kushwaha, vehemently argued that the prosecution failed to prove the ingredients of Section 509 and 323 of Indian Penal Code and therefore, he prayed to acquit the accused. Having regard to the argument advanced by learned advocate for both the sides, I turn to make the scrutiny of evidence placed on record. 14. The informant, Gayatri Babul Das (P.W.No.1) has categorically deposed the entire incident and the filthy language uttered by the accused at the time of alleged incident. According to her, the (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 8 of 20 -- 9 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 accused forced her to get down from the auto rickshaw which was being driven by him on the public road in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life. As per her evidence, the accused uttered indecent words intending to insult her modesty in the public place. Moreover, she further deposed that the accused torn her cloth. She testified that as soon as she alighted from the said auto rickshaw, she called the police by dialing the phone number 100 and the police immediately turned up on the spot of the incident. As per her evidence, the concerned police arrested the accused from the spot of the incident which is near Satyam Electronics, Char Bangala, Saint Luise Convent Road. 15. In order to support the testimony of the informant, the prosecution examined Smt. Usha Vasant Wagh (P.W.2) who testified that she and the other police officials went to the spot of the incident by police van after having received the call from the control room. This police official (P.W.No.2) deposed that she and the other police officials saw that a corner of the informant's dress was torn. This witness further testified that the informant had told her that the said rickshaw driver who is accused in this matter, had abused the informant. According to her evidence, they took the informant and the accused in the police station Versova. Thus, it appears that the testimony of the informant is duly corroborated by the said police official (P.W.No.2). 16. The prosecution examined Shri Ganesh Vadhane (P.W.No.3), who is the investigating officer of this offence. As per the evidence of this investigating officer, the informant registered FIR against the accused on 06/12/2017 when he was on duty in police (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 9 of 20 -- 10 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 station Versova. He further testified that he obtained the signature of the informant on the FIR. The informant has categorically deposed the entire contents of the FIR. Thus, it can be held that the informant and the investigating officer have categorically proved the contents of the FIR which is filed at Exh.No.06 on record. Moreover, the investigating officer deposed that after having recorded the statements of the witnesses, he filed the chargesheet against the accused in this Court. 17. It is pertinent to note here that though the informant was crossexamined at length, yet the presence of the accused on the spot at the relevant time has not been denied. On the other hand, while facing the crossexamination the informant has categorically mentioned the number of the auto rickshaw which was being driven by the accused at the time of incident. Apart from this, the police official, Usha Wagh (P.W.No.2) who turned up on the spot of the incident to help the informant as per the direction which she had received from the police control room, categorically identified the accused in the Court and she further deposed that the accused was taken to the police station from the spot of the incident. In my opinion, there is no reason for the police official to depose either in favour of the informant or against the accused unless and until the specific material is brought on record. Moreover, this particular piece of evidence has not been denied specifically during the course of crossexamination. Hence, I have no hesitation to take into consideration the testimony of this police official (P.W.No.2). (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 10 of 20 -- 11 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 18. Though the said police witness (P.W.No.2) was not present at the time of alleged incident, yet her testimony is relevant under Section 6 of the Indian Evidence Act. Thus, from the positive evidence adduced by the informant and the another police official, it can be concluded that the accused was driving auto rickshaw at the relevant time and he used indecent language with intention to insult the modesty of the informant. 19. The learned advocate for the accused, Shri Kushwaha vehemently argued that the investigating officer did not seize the C.C.T.V. footage from the spot of the incident and therefore, the testimony of the informant cannot be believed. But I do not agree with his submission because the investigating officer (P.W.3) has categorically deposed that he did not find the C.C.T.V. footage nearby the place of incident. Moreover, it is not the defence of the accused that he was not brought to the police station by the concerned police staff on the day of incident in connection with the said offence. In short, in my opinion, even though the prosecution did not produce the C.C.T.V. footage, still the direct testimony of the informant and the police official (P.W.No.2) cannot be disbelieved. 20. The learned advocate for the accused, Shri Kushwaha vehemently argued that the testimony of the informant is not supported by the another eye witness. But I am not inclined to accept his argument regarding the acceptance of the evidence of the informant because there is no rule which can restrain the Court from accepting the testimony of the sole witness if such testimony is reliable. (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 11 of 20 -- 12 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 21. Apart from this, in view of section 134 of the Indian Evidence Act, no particular number of witnesses shall, in any case, be required for the proof of any fact. In other words, only the quality of the evidence is preferred rather than the quantity of the witnesses. It is settled that the testimony of one single witness, if wholly reliable, is sufficient to punish the accused. In such scenario, in my opinion, testimony of the informant which is duly corroborated by the police official cannot be discarded. 22. Having made the analysis of the evidence adduced by the informant and the another witness, it appears that the informant deposed about the culpable intention of the accused by specifically mentioning the obscene words uttered by the accused on the spot of incident. It is needless to say that such words (i.e.'Tu Niche Utar, Tu Madarchod Hai, Chhinal Hai, Bhosdi Hai') prima facie appears to be obscene and unparliamentary words. In my opinion, these obscene words uttered by the accused specifically show the intention of the accused. In other words, these words were uttered by the accused with an intention to insult the modesty of the informant who is woman. 23. The Hon'ble Madras High Court has elaborated the term “modesty” in the case of D. Vasanthi V/s. State [Crl.O.P.(MD) No.8678 of 2017]. In this case, the Hon'ble Madras High Court held that: “The word 'modesty' as found in section 509 of Indian Penal Code is for the protection of an attribute which is (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 12 of 20 -- 13 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 peculiar to woman, as a virtue which attaches to a female on account of her sex. Acts which are outrageous to morality would be outrages to be the modesty of woman. Words sound or gesticulation done with an intend to insult the modesty or intrusion into her privacy or chastity or such acts which could be essential ingredient to constitute an offence under section 509 of Indian Penal Code”. (Para No.15) 24. In the present on hand, the accused is alleged to have uttered the abusive words which are against the morality of woman. The informant is woman. Moreover, the filthy language used by the accused is sufficient to come to the conclusion that such abusive words are sufficient to attract the ingredients of Section 509 of Indian Penal Code beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, I have not hesitation to hold that the prosecution has succeeded to prove the material ingredients of section 509 of Indian Penal Code. Resultantly, I record my finding in affirmative for point no.1. AS TO POINT NO.2: 25. In this present case, the accused is alleged to have voluntarily caused hurt to the informant. In order to bring home the guilt of the accused for the offence punishable under section 323 of Indian Penal Code the prosecution has to prove the following essential ingredients: (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 13 of 20 -- 14 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 1 The accused voluntarily caused bodily pain or infirmity to the victim; 2 The accused did so with intension of causing hurt or with the knowledge that he would thereby cause hurt to the victim. Keeping in mind the ingredients noted above, I proceed to scan the evidence placed on record in this regard. 26. The informant deposed that the accused forced her to get down from the auto rickshaw and he torn her cloths. It is pertinent to note here that the police witness (P.W.No.2) who turned up on the spot of the incident, deposed that they saw that the corner of dress of the informant was torn. Thus, it appears that there is due corroboration to the testimony of the informant. It is needless to say here that unless and until a person used criminal force, any cloth worn by that person cannot be torn out or tarnished. Thus, from the positive evidence adduced by the informant it can be concluded that the accused caused voluntarily hurt to the informant. 27. The learned advocate for the accused, Shri Kushwaha further argued that the prosecution did not submit the medical certificate of the informant. In fact, it has been brought on record that the accused forced the informant to get down from the auto rickshaw and he pushed her. In such circumstances, when there is minor hurt caused by the accused to the informant, then in that case her medical certificate is not required. Had it been the case of the prosecution that the accused voluntarily caused grievous hurt to the informant, then in that case the medical certificate would be required if the testimony of (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 14 of 20 -- 15 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 the informant was found doubtful. But this is not the case of the prosecution and the informant has categorically deposed the ingredients of section 323 of Indian Penal Code. In short, in the absence of medical certificate, the testimony of the informant can be taken into consideration. Thus, I do not find any force in the argument advanced by the learned advocate for the accused. 28. It would not be out of place to mention here that the said incident occurred on 06/12/2017 at about 6.15 p.m. and the FIR came to be lodged on the very day at about 20.30 p.m. Thus, it appears that there is no delay in lodging FIR. In the case of Jagannath Nikam V/s. State of Maharashtra reported in Cr.LJ 1995 (795), the Hon'ble Bombay High Court held that great importance is attached to lodging of prompt FIR because it diminishes greatly chances of false implication of the accused persons as well as that of informant being tutored. 29. In the backdrop of the ratio laid down in the citation supra, this Court is of humble opinion that the fact of lodging prompt FIR suggests that the accused must have intentionally insulted the modesty of the informant by uttering the filthy words which were heard by the informant and the other person gathered in the public place. So also it can be held that the accused voluntarily caused hurt to the informant. 30. The learned advocate for the accused argued that the investigating officer did not record the statement of any independent witness and therefore, according to him, the testimony of the informant cannot be believed. Having gone through the chargesheet, it appears (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 15 of 20 -- 16 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 that the investigating officer did not record the statement of any person. It is known to all that whenever any incident regarding the modesty of woman occurs in a public place, the general tendency of the public is that no one come forward to be a witness of such incident. In such circumstances, having regard to the common course of business and the general tendency of the public, in my opinion, even though the statement of any independent witness was not recorded, still the sole testimony of the informant which is reliable cannot be disbelieved only on the reason that there is no corroboration. It is needless to say here that corroboration is required only and only when the Court is not wholly satisfied regarding the credibility of particular witness. Thus, corroboration is simply a rule of prudence and not one of the rule of law. 31. It would not be out of place to mention here that though the informant was crossexamined at length, the accused did not raise any probable defence which might have made the testimony of the informant suspectable. Moreover, it is not the stand of the accused that there was enmity between him and the informant prior to the said incident. In such scenario, there is no reason for the informant to depose against the accused. Thus, considering the positive and reliable evidence placed on record, I have no hesitation to hold that the accused not only uttered the obscene words with intention to insult the modesty of the informant but also he voluntarily caused hurt to the informant. Resultantly, I record my finding in affirmative for point no.2. (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 16 of 20 -- 17 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 32. In view of the discussion noted above, I have come to the conclusion that the prosecution has succeeded to prove the offence punishable under section 509 and 323 of Indian Penal Code against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, I hold the accused guilty for the offence punishable under section 509 and 323 of Indian Penal Code. 33. The accused is present before the Court today. I explained the accused that he is held guilty for the offence punishable under section 509 and 323 of Indian Penal Code. He is further intimated that the punishment for the offence punishable under section 509 of Indian Penal Code may extend to one year or with fine or with both. He is further made aware of the punishment prescribed for the offence punishable under section 323 of Indian Penal Code. Thereafter, I asked the accused to clarify his stand on the nature and quantum of the sentence, if any. Hence, I take pause to hear the accused. Sd/ (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) Judicial Magistrate First Class, DATE: 03.09.2024 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. Judgment resumed on 03.09.2024 at 4.45 p.m. 34. The accused submitted that he is sole bread earning member of his poor family. He further submitted that he is poor and has been attending the Court since last seven years. He prayed that leniency may be shown while imposing the punishment. The learned (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 17 of 20 -- 18 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 advocate for the accused, Shri Kushwaha, also prayed to show leniency to the accused while slapping the punishment. 35. Per contra, the learned advocate for the prosecution vehemently argued that the accused committed the offence which is against woman and public tranquility and therefore, heavy punishment is liable to be imposed on the accused. 36. Having heard the learned advocates for both the sides on the quantum of punishment, I perused the record. 37. In fact, the offence committed by the accused comes within the ambit of offences affecting the public health, safety and morals. The said offence is also against woman. Hence, having regard to the nature of the offence committed by the accused, I am not inclined to extend the benefits of probation as contemplated under the Probation of Offender Act to the accused. 38. The present case on hand is pending since last five years. During this long period, the accused might have known the consequences of his wrongful act. The record shows that the accused has no any criminal antecedent. He is about 42 years old. Hence, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and the responsibility of the accused towards his family, this Court is of humble view that leniency may be shown while imposing punishment on the accused. (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 18 of 20 -- 19 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 The logical corollary of my aforesaid findings leads me to pass the following order: O R D E R 1] The accused Shivaji Lattu Sahu, Age 42 Yrs, Occupation Auto Rikshaw Driver, R/o.Room No.41, Chirekhan Nagar, Kadamwadi, Vakola, Santaruz (E), Mumbai is hereby convicted for the offence punishable under Section 509 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code vide section 248(2) of Indian Penal Code. 2] The accused is sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for three months for having committed the offence punishable under section 509 of Indian Penal Code. 3] The accused is sentenced to pay fine of Rs.1,000/ (Rupees One Thousand Only) for the offence punishable under section 323 of Indian Penal Code. In default of fine, the accused shall undergo simple imprisonment for 15 days. 4] The accused is entitled for setoff under section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, if any. 5] The copy of this Judgment be provided free of cost to the accused immediately after it is prepared in view of section 363 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 19 of 20 -- 20 C.C.No.1510/PW/2018 Exh.11 6] The accused is informed about his right of appeal against this judgment. 7] The Judgment is dictated on dais and pronounced in open Court. (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) Date : 03.09.2024 Judicial Magistrate First Class, 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. Typed On: 03.09.2024 Signed On: 03.09.2024 spj (Sujitkumar C. Tayde) J.M.F.C. 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai. -- 20 of 20 --
