2010 Supreme(Kar) 1304
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
Subhash B. Adi, J.
N. Kumar —Appellant
Vs.
CBI/ACB —Respondent
Criminal Petition No. 2525 of 2010
Decided on : 16-12-2010
Advocate Appeared:
Mr. S.G. Bhagaan, for the Appellant
Mr. C.H. Jadhav, for the Respondent
Headnote:DELHI SPECIAL POLICE ESTABLISHMENT ACT, 1946 - Section 17 & CBI Manual, Clauses 10.28: [ Subhash B.Adi,J] Investigation by Inspector of Police (CBI) - In this case, the charge sheet though signed by the Investigation Officer as required under Clause 10.28 of the CBI Manual, it is forwarded by the Superintendent of Police. It is not the case of the petitioners that, the Superintendent of Police has not re-examined the draft final report and materials collected during the course of the investigation. The forwarding of charge-sheet by the officer in charge of the Police Station is not an empty formality. Clause 10.28 of the CBI Manual requires the officer in-charge to verify and approve the final report, it is only thereafter, the final report is signed by the Investigation and same is forwarded by the officer in charge of the Police Station. No doubt, it is true that, power to prepare final report vests with the officer in-charge of the Police Station and it cannot be delegated. By mere signing of charge-sheet by the investigation Officer itself may not vitiate the filing of the charge-sheet, as the provisions of CBI Manual require the approval of the charge-sheet by the Officer in-charge of the Police Station, such approval of draft final report means that the officer in-charge ha the final say in the matter and accordingly, only after the approval by the officer in-charge, the final report is signed by the Investigation Officer.
Subhash B. Adi, J.—Petitioner has sought for quashing of the order dated 30th December, 2009 in Special C.C. No. 46/2008 passed by the 31st Addl. & Sessions Judge, Bangalore City, insofar as the Petitioner is concerned.
2. Petitioner is accused No. 2 in C.C. No. 46/2008. He has been charge-sheeted for an offence punishable under Section 120-B read with Sections 201, 409, 120, 468 and 471 of IPC, further read with Section 13 Sub-section (2) read with Section 13 Sub-section (1) Clauses (c) and (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (in short referred to as 'the Act')
3. The case of the prosecution is that, accused Nos. 1 and 6 being the Branch Managers of the State Bank of Mysore, Nangli Branch, Kolar district during the period between 20th June, 1998 to 20th June, 2002, they entered into criminal conspiracy with accused Nos. 2 to 5 and 7 to 15 to misappropriate the subsidy amount by making use of the forged document to cheat Karnataka Khadi and Village Industries Board and also to screen the evidence. It is in this regard, the Central Bureau of Investigation (in short referred to as 'the C.B.I.) was authorised to investigate the matter as regard to the misappropriation of large amount. The C.B.I., on making preliminary enquiry, registered the complaint and after conducting investigation submitted charge-sheet alleging that the accused have committed an offence punishable under Section 120B read with Sections 201, 409, 120 and 471 of IPC; further read with Section 13 Sub-section (2) read with Section 13 Sub-section (1) Clauses (c) and (d) of the Act. Accused No. 2-Petitioner herein and accused No. 6 filed an application under Sections 227 and 239 of Code of Criminal Procedure inter alia seeking discharge.
4. Accused Nos. 2 and 6 contended that, the Inspector of Police, C.B.I., is not an Officer in-charge of the, Police Station, as such, he cannot file the charge-sheet. As per the Central Bureau of, Investigation (Crime) Manual-2005 (for short referred to as the 'CBI Manual'), the Superintendent of Police, C.B.I., is the Station House Officer and is the only competent Officer to sign the charge-sheet and forward the same. The said application was resisted by the State Public Prosecutor inter alia contending that, sufficient material was collected against the accused to file the charge-sheet. The Superintendent of Police alone is not the Station House Officer to file the charge-sheet. The Inspector of Police is the competent officer and has filed the charge-sheet, which has been forwarded by the Superintendent of Police as required under Section 173 Sub-section (2) of Code of Criminal Procedure
5. Trial Court on' the basis of the contentions raised framed the following points for consideration:
I. Whether the Al and A6 establish that the charge-sheet filed at the instant case is in contravention of provisions Under Sections 168, 169, 170 and 173 of Code of Criminal Procedure as such the charge-sheet is require to be returned for proper presentation after curing the defect?
2. What order?
6. Trial Court on appreciation of the contentions and the materials collected by the Police and further referring to the decisions of the Apex Court held that the charge-sheet has been endorsed by the Superintendent of Police and is forwarded to the jurisdictional Magistrate. Therefore, held that the presentation of the charge-sheet is proper. Further held that there is no need for returning the charge-sheet for proper presentation, accordingly, it rejected the application. It is against the said order, this petition has been filed.
7. Sri S.G. Bhagawan, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioner submitted that, in terms of the provisions of C.B.I. Manual, the Superintendent of Police is the authority and he is the officer in-charge of the Police Station, as such, he alone is empowered to prepare and submit the final report to the Court. However, the charge-sheet now filed is not based on the report prepared by the Superintendent of Police, but it