2004 Supreme(Pat) 244
PATNA HIGH COURT
B.N.P.Singh, J.
R.Gopalkrishnan
Versus
Union Of India Through Cbi
Criminal Miscellaneous No. 29870 of 2003 ; 29694 of 2003 ;
Decided On : FEBRUARY 27, 2004
Headnote:Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988-Section 19 and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973-Sections 482, 173 and 197-Quashing prosecution/proceeding pending before C.B.I. Special Court and restoration of seizure of Rs. 5,000/-, wrist watches and other documents-Petitioner is being prosecuted for his acts of omission and commission during his posting as General Manager BWEL-Accusation against him is that he issued a cheque of Rs. one crore to himself, amount in question not only credited to his account but was also eventually withdrawn by him which prima facie appears to be misconduct on the part of petitioner as a public servant-Held, CBI can not be faulted for not informing the Central Vigilance Commission and as such the chargesheet submitted without its approval and cognizance having taken on such chargesheet did not suffer infirmity-Further, held that sanction u/s 197 Cr.PC. was not a pre-requisite for his prosecution-While acting as public servant it was none of his official duty to credit cheque to his account and misappropriate the same-Petitioner at this stage can not ask the court to hold mini trial and court would not be justified to scuttle due process of law at its inception-Prayer for release of seized articles during raid rejected on the ground that evidences are yet to be led at trial and credibility of document has to be considered by trial court. (Paras 6 to 9)
1998 (1) SCC 226; 111 (2002) CCR 171 (DB)-Referred to.
2003 Cr.L.J. 3117; 1955 SCR 1307; 2003 (2) PCCR 214 (SC)-Relied upon.
AIR 1992 SC 604-Distinguished.
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973-Section 482 and Constitution of India-Article 226- While exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution and Section 482 of the Code Court can not enter into arena of appreciation of evidence, which is the function of Trial Court and if the court ventures for such exercise that would be usurping functions of Trial Court. (Para 8)
AIR 1976 SC 1947; 1991 (2) PLJR 11 (SC)-Relied upon.
1. In these two petitions, petitioner assails his prosecution by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and also orders passed by the court below framing charges against him and seizure of cash of Rs. 50,000/-, wrist watch and also documents.
2. Broad accusations are that petitioner, during his posting as General Manager (Finance) in the establishment of Bharat Wagon & Engineering Co. Ltd., Patna (for short BWEL) issued a cheque on 28.4.1999 bearing no. 168174 of Rs. One crore payable to himself from account of BWEL and credited the same in his account no. 102577 of M/s Vijay Engineering at State Bank of Mysore, Kolkatta on 5.5.1999 and eventually withdrew the amount and converted the same for his own use causing wrongful loss of Rs. One Crore to the said public undertaking. These are the broad accusations attributed to the petitioner in Special Case No.8 of 2001 for which the petitioner preferred Cr. Misc. No. 29694 of 2003 for quashing of prosecution/ proceeding pending before the CBI Special Court, Patna. For restoration of seizure of Rs. 50,000/-, wrist watch and other document from his residence at Bangalore, petitioner has filed Cr. Misc. No. 29870 of 2003, on negation of his prayer by the Court below.
3. Petitioner is being prosecuted for his acts of omission and commissions during his posting as General Manager, BWEL. Broad accusation, as has been noticed, is that he issued a cheque of Rs. One Crore to himself which was also signed by the other General Manager. The amount in question was not only credited to his account but was also eventually withdrawn by him which, prima facie, appears to be misconduct on part of the petitioner as a public servant. Accusations attributed to him are, however, sought to be justified on excuses that cheque in question was issued by the petitioner for discharging commercial, legal, statutory and financial obligation of the establishment which included payment of salary and payment of loans taken, giving loan, transfer of funds, and payment of advance to the supplier for the materials supplied for discharge of contractual liability.
4. Submission is that there is no falsification of any account in record or accounts of BWEL, as balance sheet as on 31.3.2000, and the profit and loss account for the year ending 31.3.2000, was drawn in accordance with the provisions of Companies Act and also accounts and vouchers were audited, certified and signed by the auditors and also by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India under section 619 of the Companies Act, 1956, and on these premises petitioner would argue that he performed his assigned duties which was ratified by the experts of the office, and auditors and also Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and that apart, the State has not suffered wrongful loss as would be evident from the profit and loss account of the establishment which was approved also by the share holders. Taking recourse to the statement made by other General Manager who too had signed the cheque, petitioner would argue that his statement too would not saddle the tioner with criminal liability. Filing of the report by the CBI under section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, was assailed on the premises that it was without advice of the Central Vigilance Commission and also without sanction as enjoined under section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and also Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act as even debit voucher and its supporting vouchers pertaining to the cheque were not accompanied to the report submitted by the CBI. Placing reliance on a case of Vinit Narayan and others vs. Union of India and another [1998(1) SCC 226] argument advanced is that in that case the Apex Court held that CBI cannot abdicate its functions of having effective control over the working of the CBI nor the CBI can violate the mandate, as after completion of investigation, it was imperative for the CBI to place report before the Central Vigilance Commission and ha