2013 Supreme(Bom) 2392
High Court of Judicature at Bombay
A.R. JOSHI, J.
Ramesh Vasudeo Inamdar
Versus
State of Maharashtra
Criminal Bail Application No.1354 of 2013
Decided on : 03-12-2013
For the Petitioner:A.P. Mundargi, Senior Counsel i/b. Ravindra Bhat, Advocate.
For the Respondent: Ms. G.P. Mulekar, APP, Shishir Hiray, Spl. PP.
Headnote:Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 167(2)(a) and 437 - Indian Penal Code, Sections 109, 304 and 467 - Entitlement to benefits of Section 167. - Since period of 90 days for filing charge-sheet in respect of offence under Section 304, IPC, is not expired hence applicant not entitled to bail under Section 167 of CrPC. - The present applicant-accused No.13 is an employee of Thane Municipal Corporation. He is apparently a Deputy Engineer working in the particular Zone where the said mishap occurred at Mumbra. Allegedly, there was duty casted upon the present applicant along with other co-accused-engineers of municipal Corporation to keep a watch on the illegal constructions and to take remedial measures so as to see all the rules and regulations of the municipal corporation are obeyed and no illegal structure come up. At this stage, it must be mentioned that specifically it is the case on behalf of the present applicant as spelt out during the argument that the applicant was the Deputy Engineer and was given the work of demolition and not in fact to keep watch on the illegal construction and to see that the illegal construction should not come up. Again on this aspect, it is the submission on behalf of the State that the present applicant is one of the group officers who were supposed to do their duty to see that illegal construction shall not come up in a particular area without there being any sanctions from the municipal corporation. Whatever it might be the present position stands, according to the present applicant initially offence of 304 was charged against him and only on 29th April, 2013 Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code was inserted.
It is strongly submitted on behalf of the applicant that apparently, it is still the case of prosecution that present applicant was involved in fabrication of false evidence or in anyway having his hand in the matter of offence which will attract the punishment under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code. By submitting this, it is the stand on behalf of the applicant that the time limit is envisaged under Section 167(2)(a)(ii) of CrPC, being 60 days from starting of investigation, within which charge-sheet should be filed, otherwise accused is entitled for bail.
Considering the role attributed to the present applicant, as per the statements of witnesses and as per the charge-sheet papers and considering the applicability of Section 304 and subsequent application of Section 467 and also application of Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code, it is not in the fitness of situation that the present application can be allowed and to distinguish amongst the accused persons as to who has committed which offence at this stage of bail. In the result, in the considered opinion of this Court, the benefit of Section 167 of CrPC is not available to the applicant and hence there is no merit in the present application and same is accordingly dismissed.
1. Heard learned senior counsel for the applicant. Also heard learned APP for the State. This is the application preferred by the applicant-original accused No.13 for grant of bail only on the ground of non filing of the charge sheet within the statutory period of 60 days so far as the initial charges levelled against the present applicant along with other co-accused. For this purpose, it is pointed out on behalf of the applicant that, initial offence leveled against the applicant along with other co-accused is only under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code and only on 29th April, 2013 the offence punishable under Section 467 is inserted in the charge sheet papers. In order to appreciate these arguments, the case of the prosecution in nutshell can be mentioned. The facts of the present matter are very peculiar in nature inasmuch as it is a matter of collapse of building at Mumbra, District Thane on 4th April, 2013 wherein about seven storey building, probably under construction, still occupied upto 6th floors, collapsed causing death of 74 persons and injury to 62 persons. The number of casualties speak for seriousness of the said matter. However, so far as the present application is concerned, much details as to in what manner the building was constructed, how hurriedly the seven storey structure was erected may not be detailed as the present application is not on the merits of the case as against the present applicant-accused No.13. It is preferred under Section 167 of Cr.P.C.
2. The present applicant-accused No.13 is an employee of Thane Municipal Corporation. He is apparently a Deputy Engineer working in the particular Zone where the said mishap occurred at Mumbra. Allegedly, there was duty casted upon the present applicant along with other co-accused-engineers of municipal Corporation to keep a watch on the illegal constructions and to take remedial measures so as to see all the rules and regulations of the municipal corporation are obeyed and no illegal structure come up. At this stage, it must be mentioned that specifically it is the case on behalf of the present applicant as spelt out during the argument that the applicant was the Deputy Engineer and was given the work of demolition and not in fact to keep watch on the illegal construction and to see that the illegal construction should not come up. Again on this aspect, it is the submission on behalf of the State that the present applicant is one of the group officers who were supposed to do their duty to see that illegal construction shall not come up in a particular area without there being any sanctions from the municipal corporation. Whatever it might be the present position stands, according to the present applicant initially offence of 304 was charged against him and only on 29th April, 2013 Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code was inserted. It is strongly submitted on behalf of the applicant that apparently it is still the case of prosecution that present applicant was involved in fabrication of false evidence or in anyway having his hand in the matter of offence which will attract the punishment under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code. By submitting this, it is the stand on behalf of the applicant that the time limit is envisaged under Section 167(2)(a)(ii) of Cr. P.C., being 60 days from starting of investigation, within which charge sheet should be filed, otherwise accused is entitled for bail.
3. As against this, it is submitted on behalf of the State that though initially the offence was spelt out as under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, till the end of trial it cannot be said whether material on record will attract Part-I or Part-II of Section 304. Simplicitor in Section 304 is required to be accepted at this stage and than considering the punishment for the offence in Part-I being life imprisonment, limit of 60 days for filing charge sheet is not attracted, however, as per provisions of Section 167(2)(a)(i) 90 days time limit is ther