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2023 Supreme(Chh) 453

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
NARENDRA KUMAR VYAS, J.
Shatrugan Lal Verma S/o Ghanaram Verma – Appellant
Versus
State of Madhya Pradesh, through CBI, Jabalpur (Now C.G.) – Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 59 of 1999
Decided On : 07-07-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Somnath Verma.
For the Respondent: Himanshu Pandey.

Headnote:

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 374 (2), 313 – Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 – Sections 7, 13(1)(d), 13(2) – Criminal Appeal – Special Criminal Case – Sanction for prosecution – Held, Court finds that prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt – There is suspicion regarding demand and acceptance of bribe amount for which accused appellant was charge sheeted under Sections 7 and 13(1) (d) r/w 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act – Trial Court while convicting appellant has not considered relevant aspects of matter thereby committed illegality – Therefore, Court of view that accused deserves to be acquitted from charges leveled against him – Appeal allowed.

JUDGMENT :

NARENDRA KUMAR VYAS, J.

1. This criminal appeal preferred by the appellant under Section 374 (2) of Cr.P.C. is directed against the impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 17.12.1998 passed by Special Judge, CBI, Jabalpur in Special Criminal Case No. 31/1997 whereby the appellant stands convicted and sentenced as mentioned below:

Conviction

Sentence

In Default

U/s. 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act

RI for 2 years and fine of Rs. 2000/-

RI for six months

U/s. 13(1)(d) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

RI for 2 years and fine of Rs. 2000/-

RI for six months

2. Facts of the case in brief, are that at the relevant time the appellant was working as SDO Phones at Bilaspur. Complainant Uday Kumar Sinha (PW-1) working as Development Officer in LIC had given telephone connection from the department as the instrument was provided him was not properly working so he contacted the appellant for change of instrument. It is alleged that appellant demanded Rs. 200/- as bribe for change of instrument, as the complainant did not want to give him bribe, so he made a written complaint (Ex.P-1) to CBI Inspector and on the basis of written complaint, Vinay Kumar lodged the unnumbered FIR (Ex.P-10) in SECL guest house before the independent witnesses Anil Kumar (PW-1) and K.K. Mishra (PW-6). Both the witnesses enquired about the complaint with the complainant. Complainant has submitted tainted notes before the member of trap team and reaction of sodium carbonate was demonstrated to the complainant thereafter memorandum (Ex.P-2) was prepared. After completing all the formalities, the trap team proceeded to telephone exchange office for trap. Complainant with Anil Kumar (PW-1) entered in the chamber of appellant and on demand the complainant had given Rs. 200/- to the appellant then the appellant passed an order (Ex.P-3) to Ram Bharose (PW-2) for change of instrument. Subsequently, Ram Bharose brought the instrument with him and handed over the same to the complainant. After coming out from the office, the complainant gave a signal to member of trap team/CBI, who entered in the chamber of the appellant and cought hold the accused and prepared solution of sodium carbonate in which the left hand of the appellant was washed which turned into pink and solution was kept in the sealed bottle and marked Article C. Other hands of the appellant were washed with the solution which also turned into pink and the solution was sealed in bottle and marked Article B. The prosecution has washed the right hand of the Ram Bharose (PW-2) with sodium carbonate solution which also turned into pink and kept in sealed bottle and marked Article D. Hands of complainant Uday Sinha were washed with the solution which was kept in sealed bottle and marked as Article E. Shirt of Ram Bharose (PW-2) was washed with solution which also turned pink and marked as Article G on it, thereafter memorandum (Ex.P-4) was prepared and signatures of the witnesses were obtained. Stock issue register was also seized. Statements of the witnesses were recorded and after completion of all the proceedings the matter was submitted before Superintendent of Police, CBI Jabalpur. S.R. Jaiswal, Superintendent of Police, CBI registered the numbered FIR (Ex.P-12) vide R.C. No. 31A/94 on 29.09.1994. All the bottles were sent to FSL, Delhi for examination and a receipt thereof was received vide Ex.P-13. After completion of investigation, charges under Sections U/s. 7 and 13(1)(d) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act were levelled against the appellant and sanction for prosecution under (Ex.P-14) was received against the appellant thereafter charge sheet was filed before the Special Court.

3. In order to bring home the guilt of appellant, the prosecution has examined as many as 6 witnesses Anil Kumar (PW-1), Ram Bharose Yadav (

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