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2018 Supreme(Del) 1301

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
MUKTA GUPTA, J.
Manoj Kumar Mishra - Appellant
Versus
CBI - Respondent
CRL.A. 1177 of 2016
Decided On : 23-05-2018

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant :Mr. Dayan Krishnan, Sr.Advocate with Mr.Hemant Kumar and Ms.Aakashi Lodha, Advocates.
For the Respondent:Mr. Narender Mann, Spl. P.P for CBI and Mr. Manoj Pant, Advocate.

Headnote:

PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT - SECTION 13(1)(D) - ABUSE OF POSITION - ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT - IMPERSONATION - SECTION 419 IPC - CONVICTION UPHELD.

Fact of the Case:

Appellant was convicted for offences punishable under Section 419 IPC and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act). The prosecution case was that the appellant impersonated as S.D. Mishra, Inspector, CBI and demanded Rs.50,000/- from the complainant as illegal gratification for closing the complaints against him. The complainant lodged a complaint and a trap was laid. The appellant was caught while accepting the bribe amount.

Finding of the Court:

The Court held that abuse of position as a public servant is an essential ingredient for conviction under Section 13(1)(d) of the PC Act, even if the case falls under Section 13(1)(d)(i) of the PC Act. The Court further held that the appellant did not abuse his position as a public servant, but misused his father’s position as a public servant. Therefore, the appellant could not be convicted for offence punishable under Section 13(1)(d) of the PC Act. However, the Court upheld the conviction of the appellant for offence punishable under Section 419 IPC.

Issues: 1. Whether abuse of position is a precursor for conviction under Section 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act even if the case falls under Section 13(1)(d)(i) of Prevention of Corruption Act? 2. Whether on facts the prosecution has lead admissible evidence to prove that the appellant impersonated himself and derived illegal gratification.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. Abuse of position as a public servant is an essential ingredient for conviction under Section 13(1)(d) of the PC Act, even if the case falls under Section 13(1)(d)(i) of the PC Act. 2. The appellant did not abuse his position as a public servant, but misused his father’s position as a public servant. Therefore, the appellant could not be convicted for offence punishable under Section 13(1)(d) of the PC Act.

Final Decision: The appeal was partly allowed. The appellant was acquitted for offence punishable under Section 13 (1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of PC Act and the sentence on said count was set aside. However, the conviction of the appellant and order on sentence qua offence punishable under Section 419 IPC was upheld.

JUDGMENT :

1. By the present appeal, the appellant challenges the impugned judgment dated 5th November, 2016 convicting him for the offences punishable under Section 419 IPC and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (in short ‘PC Act’) and the order on sentence dated 16th November, 2016 directing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years and to pay a fine of Rs.50,000/- and in default whereof to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months for the offence punishable under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of PC Act and rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year and to pay a fine of Rs.25,000/- and in default whereof to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three months for the offence punishable under Section 419 IPC.

2. Briefly stated, prosecution case is that on 24th May, 2000, H.S. Bhardwaj made a complaint to SP, CBI/ACP against S.D. Mishra. He stated that on 10th May, 2000 at around 9:30 P.M. he received a phone call and the caller introduced himself as S.D. Mishra from CBI/ACB Branch, who directed him to contact him along with the documents of purchase of house, car and service record. The caller gave his address as G-7/9, Sector 15, Rohini and phone number as 7884407. Next day, the complainant received another call from S.D. Mishra telling him that there were several complaints against him and he should act according to his instructions or he would lose his job. Complainant was receiving these calls daily however he ignored.

3. On 15th May 2000, complainant received a call in the room of M.K. Sharma, DD (Administration) and in a threatening tone, the caller asked him to come to his house or he would raid his house. On 19th May 2000 again, the caller received another call asking him to meet the caller the next day. Thereafter, the complainant visited the house of the caller on 20th May 2000, where he met S.D. Mishra who gave details of the complaints against the complainant like giving medicines after tearing the wrapper, attestation of mark sheet of his daughter by himself, sale of government medicines, not sending intimation of purchase of TV and many other complaints. Complainant was also informed about the inquiry conducted by the Department on various complaints against him. The caller demanded Rs.1 lakhs for closing all the complaints. When the complainant told him that he was not in a position to pay Rs.1 Lakh, he agreed for Rs.50,000/- after bargaining. After agreeing to it, the complainant visited the CBI office and lodged a complaint as he did not want to pay the bribe. He also arranged for trap money of Rs.10,000/-. On 24th May 2000 in the evening, he visited CBI office and produced Rs.10,000/- in 20 currency notes of Rs.500/- denomination. Two independent witnesses namely Jagbir Singh and M.K. Mehta were also present there. Notes were treated with powder. One KCR device was arranged and mic-cum-transmitter was given to him and recorder was kept in the vehicle. The powder treated GC notes were kept in an envelope and handed over to him with the direction to hand it over to S.D. Mishra only on his specific demand.

4. The next day, at 6:00 A.M., complainant along with the trap team, gathered in the CBI office. After completing all the formalities in CBI office, the trap team came to his house and attached an instrument to his phone and then he made a call to S.D. Mishra, who told him that he has to make the complete payment to his wife. On 29th May 2000, when he telephoned S.D. Mishra to inform the date of appointment and date of promotion, he heard a voice on the phone of a person on the other side who was father of S.D. Mishra, who threatened him. He then arranged Rs.50,000/- and reported it to CBI office. On 30th May 2000, around 6:00 A.M., he again went to the CBI office and produced Rs.50,000/-. Notes were smeared in phenolphthalein powder, pre-trap demonstration was given and he was instructed to use the words 'GIN T











































































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