and hence, the same deserves to be discarded in toto. All these witnesses were fully aware about the disappearance of the child victim on 30th September, 2013, itself when the police came to the area and started making enquiries. However, none of them stepped forward to inform the 1st Investigating Officer (PW-16) that they had seen the child victim and the accused appellant together. The statements under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 197316 of these witnesses were recorded by the 2nd Investigating Officer (PW-18) as late as on 3rd October, 2013. As per learned senior counsel, the conduct of the witnesses, in keeping silent and their failure in making a timely disclosure to the 1st Investigating Officer (PW-16) about having seen the child victim in the company of the accused appellant on the fateful day, i.e., 30th September, 2013, and 16 Hereinafter being referred to as the ‘CrPC’. 14 Criminal Appeal No(s). 1954-1955 of 2022