IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
ARVIND SINGH CHANDEL, J.
Kedarnath Kashyap and Ors. – Appellant
Versus
State of C.G. – Respondent
Criminal Revision No. 532 of 2016
Decided On : 13-12-2018
Indian Penal Code,1860 - Section 292(2)(a), 509 - Information Technology Act, 2000 - Section 67A ,79 and 81 –Offence of Downloaded obscene photos – Intended to insult the modesty of women - Prosecution story in brief is that (PW5), who was a friend of Complainant (PW1), went to computer shop of Applicant No. 2/accused for downloading of film on her mobile phone - Allegedly, accused, while downloading film, also downloaded obscene photos of Complainant and asked to see those photos - After returning home, saw those photos, which were downloaded by accused - She disclosed this fact to Complainant - Thereafter, went to accused and asked about same from him - Allegedly, threatened her of life - Further story of prosecution is that Applicant No. 1/accused had also kept obscene photos of Complainant in his mobile phone and he used to circulate/send same to persons contacting for it – Held, it is only established that Applicant No. 2, had downloaded obscene photos of Complainant on mobile phone (PW5) through hard disc of his computer - Those obscene photos of Complainant were found in hard disc of his computer - From where he obtained those obscene photos, nothing is available on record in this regard - (PW1) has categorically stated in paragraph 7 of her cross-examination that when she asked from Applicant No. 2, that from where did he get those obscene photos, he did not tell her anything about this - Though on being examined said obscene photos of Complainant were found in mobile phone of Applicant No. 1, also, none of witnesses has stated that Applicant No. 1, had shown, transmitted or published those photos to anyone - observation made by Supreme Court in paragraph 32 of Sharat Babu case (supra), Court find that in instant case, offence committed by Applicant No. 2, falls within purview - Therefore, Applicant No. 2, is acquitted of charge framed but he is convicted - Revision is allowed in part
ORDER :
Arvind Singh Chandel, J.
1. The instant revision has been preferred against the judgment dated 10.6.2016 passed by the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Janjgir in Criminal Appeal No. 83 of 2015, whereby the Additional Sessions Judge has dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgment dated 7.5.2015 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Nawagarh in Criminal Case No. 371 of 2013 convicting and sentencing each of the Applicants/accused as under:
| Conviction | Sentence |
| Under Section 292(2)(a) of the Indian Penal Code | Rigorous Imprisonment for 1 year and fine of Rs. 250/- with default stipulation |
| Under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code | Rigorous imprisonment for 6 months and fine of Rs. 250/- with default stipulation |
| Under Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 | Rigorous Imprisonment for 1 year and fine of Rs. 1,000/- with default stipulation All the sentences are directed to run concurrently |
2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that Jamunabai (PW5), who was a friend of Complainant Terasbai Sahu (PW1), went to the computer shop of Applicant No. 2/accused Nitesh Kumar Sahu for downloading of film on her mobile phone. Allegedly, accused Nitesh, while downloading the film, also downloaded obscene photos of Complainant Terasbai and asked Jamunabai to see those photos. Jamunabai, after returning home, saw those photos, which were downloaded by accused Nitesh. She disclosed this fact to Complainant Terasbai. Thereafter, Terasbai went to accused Nitesh and asked about the same from him. Allegedly, Nitesh threatened her of life. Further story of the prosecution is that Applicant No. 1/accused Kedarnath Kashyap had also kept the obscene photos of Complainant Terasbai in his mobile phone and he used to circulate/send the same to the persons contacting for it. A report was lodged by Terasbai on 12.3.2013. On completion of the investigation, a charge-sheet was filed against the Applicants/accused before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Nawagarh.
3. In support of its case, the prosecution examined as many as 16 witnesses. The Applicants/accused were also examined under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. in which they denied the guilt and pleaded innocence. No witness has been examined in their defence.
4. After trial, the Judicial Magistrate First Class convicted and sentenced the Applicants/accused as mentioned in the first paragraph of this order. The Appellate Court has also affirmed the judgment of conviction and sentence passed by the Trial Court. Hence, this revision.
5. Shri Ravindra Sharma, Learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants/accused submitted that there is nothing on record on the basis of which it could be established that any of the Applicants published or transmitted obscene photos of the Complainant through any electronic form. Though on being examined obscene photos of the Complainant were found in the mobile phones of Applicant No. 1 Kedarnath and Jamunabai (PW5) and in the hard disc of the computer of Applicant No. 2 Nitesh, there is no evidence on record to establish that the obscene photos were published or transmitted by any of the Applicants. Hence, no offence is proved against the Applicants, but the Courts below have wrongly convicted the Applicants.
6. Shri U.K.S. Chandel, Learned Panel Lawyer appearing for the Respondent/State supported the impugned judgment.
7. I have heard Learned Counsel appearing for the parties and perused the records of the Courts below with due care.
8. In Sharat Babu Digumarti Vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi, AIR 2017 SC 150, it has been observed by the Supreme Court as under:
"32. The aforesaid passage clearly shows that if legislative intendment is discernible that a latter enactment shall prevail, the same is to be interpreted in accord with the said intention. We have already referred to the scheme of the IT Act a
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