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Gujarat High Court · body

2018 DIGILAW 603 (GUJ)

Hitendra Prabhulal Purohit v. State of Gujarat

2018-04-09

R.P.DHOLARIA

body2018
JUDGMENT : 1. The aforementioned both the appeals have arisen out of the impugned judgment and therefore, both the appeals are heard together and decided by this common judgment. 2. Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2005 is preferred by the appellant-accused against the judgment and order dated 30.06.2005 delivered by the learned Special Judge, Jamnagar in Special Case No. 1 of 2002, whereby the appellant has been convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year with fine of Rs.1000/- and, in default, to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act ('the ‘Act' for short). The appellant has also been convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years with fine of Rs.1000/-, and in default, to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 3 months under Section 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the Act. Both the sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Whereas the State of Gujarat has preferred Criminal Appeal No. 1587 of 2006 under Section 377 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for seeking enhancement of sentence. 3. The short facts giving rise to the present case are that the accused was serving as a Police Constable in ‘B’ Division, Police Station Nagnath Gate Police Chowky, Jamnagar. On 5.10.2001, the accused asked the complainant-Harish Laljibhai Parmar to give him Rs.1000/for escaping from the bogus case to be lodged against him, as the complainant was doing liquor business. On very same day, the complainant gave Rs. 730/to the accused and told him that he would pay the remaining amount after some time. As the complainant was not willing to pay the said amount of illegal gratification to the accused, he lodged a complaint before the Anti Corruption Bureau. 4. In pursuance of the complaint, the Investigating Officer carried out the investigation and filed the charge sheet against the accused. The charge was framed against the accused. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and claimed to be tried. 4.1 In order to bring home the guilt, the prosecution has examined several witnesses and also produced several documentary evidences. 4.2 At the end of the trial, after recording the statement of the accused under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and hearing the arguments on behalf of the prosecution and the defence, learned trial Court delivered the judgment and order, as stated above. 5. 4.2 At the end of the trial, after recording the statement of the accused under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and hearing the arguments on behalf of the prosecution and the defence, learned trial Court delivered the judgment and order, as stated above. 5. Being aggrieved by the same, the appellant has preferred the aforesaid Criminal Appeal before this Court. 6. Mr. D.A. Chaudhari, learned advocate for the appellant argued that the complainant had not at all supported the case of the prosecution and virtually, he has disowned his complaint except verifying his signature. In the detailed cross-examination carried out by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, the complainant has deposed that he had never lodged such complaint against the accused. Mr. Chaudhari further submitted that this case is squarely covered by the celebrated decisions of Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of B. Jayaraj Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh as reported in AIR 2014 SC (Supp) 1837, Selvaraj Vs. State of Karnataka as reported in (2015)10 SCC 230 and in the case of Mr. Puroshottam Vs. State of Karnataka as reported in (2015)3 SCC 247 . Mr. Chaudhary further submitted that if the evidence of shadow panch-P.W.1, who accompanied at the time of trap is taken in its face value, when the complainant met the accused, there was a conversation between them and thereafter, the complainant brought Rs.250/and handed over the said amount to the accused. The accused accepted the said amount and placed into his pocket. Nothing more is revealing from his deposition. Mr. Chaudhary, further submitted that on going through such conversation, nothing is spelling out as to whether the accused had ever demanded any amount of illegal gratification or not. As the case is squarely covered by the recent decision of Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Mukhtiar Singh vs. State of Punjab as reported in (2017) 8 SCC 136 . The ratio laid down in the case of Mukhtiar Singh (supra), more particularly para-24 as extracted below clearly applies to the facts and circumstances of the case. “24. As the case is squarely covered by the recent decision of Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Mukhtiar Singh vs. State of Punjab as reported in (2017) 8 SCC 136 . The ratio laid down in the case of Mukhtiar Singh (supra), more particularly para-24 as extracted below clearly applies to the facts and circumstances of the case. “24. It would thus be patent from the materials on record that the evidence with regard to the demand of illegal gratification either of Rs.3000 which had been paid or of Rs.2000/- as made on the day of trap operation is wholly inadequate to comply with the prerequisites to constitute the ingredients of the offence with which the original accused had been charged. Not only the date or time of first demand/payment is not forthcoming and the allegation to that effect is rather omnibus, vague and sweeping, even the person in whose presence Rs.3000/- at the first instance is alleged to have been paid i.e. Santosh Singh Lambardar, has neither been produced in the investigation nor at the trial. In other words, the bald allegation of the complainant with regard to the demand and payment of Rs.3000 as well as the demand of Rs.2000 has remained uncorroborated. Further to reiterate, his statement to this effect lacks in material facts and particulars and per se cannot form the foundation of a decisive conclusion that such demand in fact had been made by the original accused. Viewed in this perspective, the statement of the complainant and the Inspector Satpal, the shadow witness in isolation that the original accused had enquired as to whether money had been brought or not, can by no means constitute demand as enjoined in law as an ingredient of the offence levelled against the original accused. Such a stray query ipso facto in absence of any other cogent and persuasive evidence on record cannot amount to a demand to be a constituent of the offence under Section 7 or 13 of the Act. 7. On the other hand Mr. K.P. Raval learned APP supported the judgment rendered by learned trial Court so far as it relates to conviction of the appellant-original accused. He has submitted that this is a fit case wherein learned trial Court has considered voluminous evidence in its perspective and rightly convicted the accused. 7. On the other hand Mr. K.P. Raval learned APP supported the judgment rendered by learned trial Court so far as it relates to conviction of the appellant-original accused. He has submitted that this is a fit case wherein learned trial Court has considered voluminous evidence in its perspective and rightly convicted the accused. He has further submitted that the findings recorded by learned trial Court is based upon concrete and clinching evidence, and therefore, punishment inflicted upon the accused does not call for any interference. In view of the aforesaid nature of evidence, the learned trial Court has rightly recorded the findings and rightly convicted the accused and the entire judgment of learned trial Court is based upon the material evidence available on record which calls for no interference. 8. This Court has minutely gone through the impugned judgment rendered by learned trial Court as well as the evidence on record in the nature of paper book. As per the prosecution version, on 5.01.2001 when the accused met with the complainant near Railway station Jamnagar, he intercepted him and asked him that he is indulging in bootlegger activity, and therefore, he demanded illegal gratification for initiating action against him. At that time, he accepted Rs.730/- on the spot and further directed to pay remaining amount of Rs.250/-. As the complainant was not willing to pay the said amount of illegal gratification to the accused, he lodged a complaint and in pursuance of the said complaint, a trap came to be laid by the officers of Anti Corruption Bureau and the accused was caught red handed along with tainted currency notes and thereby, committed offences punishable under Sections 7, 13(1) (d) read with Section 13(2) of the Act. 9. P.W.3Harishbhai Laljibhai complainant deposed that he was having his own handcart and was doing labour work. He further deposed that he refused to identify the accused as well as Police Officials of Anti Corruption Bureau. He further deposed that he had merely identified the signature and had not at all accepted the suggestions that he had narrated the factual scenario in the complaint and virtually, he had not at all supported the case of the prosecution and he virtually disowned his own complaint as such. 10. He further deposed that he had merely identified the signature and had not at all accepted the suggestions that he had narrated the factual scenario in the complaint and virtually, he had not at all supported the case of the prosecution and he virtually disowned his own complaint as such. 10. P.W.1Yogendrabhai deposed that he was serving as Senior Operator in the office of Jamnagarm Municipal Corporation, and he came to be requisitioned by the Anti Corruption Bureau as a shadow panch. He further deposed that at the time of trap he accompanied with the complainant. He further deposed that when they reached nearby the Punit Hotel, four teams were separately took their position and the accused asked the complainant about Rs. 250/and thereafter, he handed over the same and he accepted the same. Thereafter, the other members of raiding party arrived there. In the cross-examination, he had not at all supported the recovery as well as search and seizure adopted by the Officials of Anti Corruption Bureau. 11. In view of the aforesaid nature of evidence, the important question arises for determination of this Court, as to whether the prosecution has established the three ingredients i.e., demand, acceptance and recovery of illegal gratification or not? 12. At this stage, it would be fruitful to make reference to the decision of the Honourable Apex Court in A. Subair Vs State of Kerala, (2009) 6 SCC 587 : (2009 AIR SCW 3994), while dwelling on the purport of the statutory prescription of Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) of the Act ruled that the prosecution has to prove the charge there under beyond reasonable doubt like any other criminal offence and that the accused should be considered to be innocent till it is established otherwise by proper proof of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification, which are vital ingredients necessary to be proved to record a conviction. 13. In State of Kerala and another Vs C.P. Rao (2011) 6 SCC 450 : (AIR 2012 SC (Supp) 393), the Honourable Apex Court reiterating its earlier dictum, vis-a-vis the same offences, held that mere recovery by itself, would not prove the charge against the accused and in absence of any evidence to prove payment of bribe or to show that the accused had voluntarily accepted the money knowing it to be bribe, conviction cannot be sustained. 14. 14. In a recent enunciation by the Honourable Apex Court to discern the imperative prerequisites of Sections 7 and 13 of the Act, it has been underlined in B. Jayaraj (AIR 2014 SC (Supp) 1837) (supra) in unequivocal terms, that mere possession and recovery of currency notes from an accused without proof of demand would not establish an offence under Sections 7 as well as 13(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Act. It has been propounded that in the absence of any proof of demand for illegal gratification, the use of corrupt or illegal means or abuse of position as a public servant to obtain any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage cannot be held to be proved. The proof of demand, thus, has been held to be an indispensable essentiality and of permeating mandate for an offence under Sections 7 and 13 of the Act. Qua Section 20 of the Act, which permits a presumption as envisaged therein, it has been held that while it is extendable only to an offence under Section 7 and not to those under Section 13(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Act, it is contingent as well on the proof of acceptance of illegal gratification for doing or forbearing to do any official act. Such proof of acceptance of illegal gratification, it was emphasized, could follow only if there was proof of demand. Axiomatically, it was held that in absence of proof of demand, such legal presumption under Section 20 of the Act would also not arise. 15. On the overall appreciation of the aforesaid evidence on record, indisputably the complainant had not at all supported the case of the prosecution and virtually, he disowned his own complaint. Similarly, the evidence of shadow panch may be taken into its face value, then also he does not lead case of the prosecution any further so as to establish expressly demand and acceptance on the part of the accused. This case is squarely covered by the decisions of B.Jayaraj (supra) Selvaraj (supra) Puroshottam (supra)Mukhtiar Singh (supra). 16. As discussed above, the prosecution has miserably failed to establish the instant demand and acceptance on the part of the accused. Consequently therefore, even if the recovery came to be effected from the person of accused, it becomes meaningless as laid down in the series of decisions of Supreme Court. 16. As discussed above, the prosecution has miserably failed to establish the instant demand and acceptance on the part of the accused. Consequently therefore, even if the recovery came to be effected from the person of accused, it becomes meaningless as laid down in the series of decisions of Supreme Court. The acceptance presupposes demand in unequivocal terms for proving the acceptance, the demand is a sine qua non as noted above. Neither the complainant nor the shadow panch had deposed that the accused had ever demanded any amount of illegal gratification at the time of trap. Therefore, the prosecution has miserably failed to establish the demand and acceptance aspect. In that view of the matter, the findings recorded by the learned Special Judge are not in accordance with the evidence and law applicable to the facts and circumstances of the case and the judgment and order of conviction recorded by the learned Special Judge is not sustainable at law. Hence, this appeal deserves to be allowed. 17. In the result, the Criminal Appeal No.1425 of 2005 preferred by the accused is allowed. The impugned judgment of conviction and sentence passed by learned Special Judge, Jamnagar in Special Case No.1 of 2002 is quashed and set aside. The appellant accused is acquitted of the charges leveled against him. Bail bond, if any, stands canceled. Whereas Criminal Appeal No.1587 of 2006 fails and accordingly, it is dismissed. Records and proceedings, if any, be sent back to the trial Court concerned forthwith. Fine, if any, paid be refunded forthwith.