IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
B.S. BHANUMATHI, J.
State Represented by its Dy. Superintendent Of Police – Petitioner
Versus
Mr. Ganti Venkata Satya Bhaskar Prasad - Respondent
Criminal Revision Case No.203 of 2023
Decided On : 16-03-2023
Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 156, 167, 418, 420, 465, 468, 471, 409, 201, 109, 120B, 130 - Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 41A, 482, 164, 397(2), - Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 - Section 13(2), 13(1)(c)(d) -Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property - Punishment for forgery - Forgery for purpose of cheating - Criminal breach of trust by public servant - Causing disappearance of evidence of offence - Refusal to remand 1st respondent herein who is Accused in Crime -Held, Section 409 IPC is not limited to public servant alone, but other categories as well - At this juncture, since investigation is still in progress, very detailed enquiry like the trial cannot be held nor can an enquiry on par at stage of discharge be made - What is to be seen is whether allegations supported by evidence so far collected could constitute offence(s) alleged against accused or not - In view of legal position that Section 120B IPC creates an offence by itself, same cannot be totally ignored by learned Special Judge - Now, there is no need to refer role of accused spelt out in remand report point by point - But it is clear that allegations would attract offences for which his remand is sought is not covered by Section 41A Cr.P.C - That be case, it is improper to direct to follow Section 41A Cr.P.C in present case, as held by Supreme Court in case (supra) - Moreover, it is also to be examined in case where Section 41A Cr.P.C. applies, whether in a given case, investigating officer could establish grounds requiring remand of an accused to judicial custody or not - Criminal Revision Case allowed.
ORDER :
1. This Criminal Revision Case is filed against the refusal to remand the 1st respondent herein who is the Accused No.35 in Crime No.29 of 2021 of C.I.D. Police Station, Mangalagiri by the learned Judge of Special Court SPE and ACB cases cum III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Vijayawada vide the order dated 09.03.2023.
2. The Crime No.29 of 2021 is registered on 09.12.2021 for the offences punishable under Section 156, 167, 418, 420, 465, 468, 471, 409, 201, 109 r/w 120B IPC and Section 13(2) r/w Section 13(1)(c) and (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
3.a. The case of the prosecution is briefly that the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued G.O.M/s.No.47 (HE)(EC.A2) Department, dated 13.12.2014 incorporating Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (hereinafter referred as ‘APSSDC’). The object of SIEMENS Project/Scheme is to impart high end technology to the trainers. APSSDC deputed a team to visit SIEMENS Centres of Excellence already established in Gujarat and to submit a report. SIEMENS offers training programme in collaboration with various State Governments. In the negotiations, the State Government agreed to establish SIEMENS centers of excellence, technical skill development institutions and skill development centers in different clusters. Six such clusters have been formed at the inceptions by incurring Rs.546,84,18,908/- (90%) and Government’s share of Rs.55,00,00,000/- (10%). To that effect, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been entered into between APSSDC and SIEMENS.
3.b. SIEMENS is a combination of M/s.SIEMENS Industry Software (India) Private Limited and M/s.Design Tech Systems Private Limited. The MOA is in furtherance of the G.O.M/s.No.4, dated 30.06.2017 of Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Skills) Department. A tax investigation by the Additional Director General, GST, Intelligence, Pune, in respect of clients availing of CENVAT credit by M/s. Design Tech Systems Private Limited and M/s. Skillar Enterprises India Private Limited led to unearthening a huge financial scam involving crores of rupees by M/s. SIEMENS Industries Software India Private Limited and M/s. Design Tech Systems Private Limited. The funds relate to APSSDC. As per the MOA, M/s. Design Tech has to provide training in Software Development including various sub-modules designed for high end software for advance manufacturing CAD/CAM. The MOA does not contemplate sub-contract. However, SIEMENS and M/s. Design Tech sub-contracted a large part of its work to M/s. Skillar Enterprises Private Limited, New Delhi with self-centric Solomon’s Wisdom. As a matter of fact, M/s. Skillar was established after M/s. Design Tech had entered into a contract with APSSDC. It is the claim of M/s. Design Tech that M/s. Skillar provided training in software development, including various sub-modules designed for high end software for advance manufacturing CAD/CAM. M/s. Skillar directly supplied the same to the Skill Development Centers in Andhra Pradesh.
3.c. M/s. Design Tech further claims that royalty and subscription were paid to M/s. Skillar since they have developed the software. When the tax authorities confronted M/s. Skillar, M/s. Skillar claimed that no technical work has been subcontracted and the training software development, including various other sub-modules provided in the invoices. Thus, the Additional DGGI, Pune concluded that both the service provider and service receiver had taken contradictory stands regarding the nature of services. An in depth scrutiny into the records by ADGGI, Pune revealed that training software development including various sub-modules shown as supplied by M/s. Skillar to M/s. Design Tech were purchased by M/s. Skillar from-
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(iii) M/s. Inweb Info Services Private Limted, all based at New Delhi,
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