Judges : N.KRISHNAN NAIR
Sreekumar S.Menon - Appellant
Versus
State of Kerala - Respondent
Case No : Crl. Rev. Pet. No. 1801 of 2003
Decided On : 02/19/2004
Advocates Appeared :
For the Petitioner : K. Ramakumar, T.K. Ajith Kumar, Advocates. For the Respondent : M.K. Damodaran, Sojan Micheal, Advocates, R1, K. Ravikumar, Public Prosecutor.
Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, Section 5 - Revision is directed against Order - Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge rejecting a complaint filed by petitioner against respondent - disposal of this petition - respondent alleging that he had amassed huge wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income – Held, Judge by impugned order rejected complaint on ground that materials produced do not show truthfulness of allegations order is seriously challenged in this revision - Impugned order of lower court rejecting complaint filed by petitioner I set aside impugned order and direct Judge to order a preliminary enquiry into allegations levelled against respondent by a responsible officer of Vigilance Department
This revision is directed against the order dated 31.3.2003 of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Thirissur in CMP No. 231/2003, rejecting a complaint filed by the petitioner against the second respondent.
2. The facts necessary for he disposal of this petition may be stated as follows: The Second respondent herein was working as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the vigilence and Anti-corruption Department. The petitioner who is the Secretary of the Kerala People’s Forum filed a complaint against the second respondent alleging that he had amassed huge wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income it is alleged that he has constructed a house which will cost Rs.60 lakhs in violation of the approved plan it is also alleged that he owns 8 tanker lorries and 4 jeeps which are plying for hire. The further allegation is that two of his children are studying in posh schools where a sum of Rs.3,000/- per month for a student will have to be spent. On these allegations, the petitioner wanted to initiate proceedings against the second respondent under the prevention of Corruption Act. The learned Special Judge by the impugned order rejected the complaint on the ground that the materials produced do not show prima facie the truthfulness of the allegations. The order is seriously challenged in this revision.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner strongly contended that the learned Special Judge seriously erred in finding that the materials produced do not show prima facie truthfulness of the allegations. According to him, the learned Judge ought to have ordered an enquiry into the allegations levelled against the second respondent by the Vigilence Department. He further contended that there are sufficient materials on record to make out a prima facie case against the second respondent. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the second respondent supported the order and urged that there is no ground for interference.
4. At the outset, I must say that the order of the court below rejecting the complaint is clearly unsustainable. It is seen that the learned Special Judge rejected the complaint by a cryptic order holding the view that the materials produced do not show prima facie truthfulness of the allegations. On going through the complaint. It cannot be said that the allegations do not disclose the commission of any offence under the prevention of corruption Act. It is specifically alleged in the complaint. The second respondent has amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. I cannot agree with the court below that the photographers, the plan etc produced along with the complaint cannot being home prima facie truthfulness of the allegations levelled against the second respondent. At this stage, the court is not expected to see whether the allegations are likely to be proved by the materials produced before the court. According to me, the learned Special Judge should have atleast ordered a preliminary enquiry into the allegations by the vigilence Department. It is settled position that the court of Special judge being the court of original criminal jurisdiction, the Special Judge can forward a private complaint to the police for investigation under Sec. 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. before taking cognisance of the offences No doubt, since the second respondent is a public servant, there must be some suitable preliminary enquiry into the allegations by a responsible officer in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in P. Sirajuddin v. State of Madras (AIR 1971 SC 920). I am of the view that the learned Special Judge ought to have ordered atleast a preliminary enquiry into the allegations levelled against the second respondent. The learned counsel for the second respondent relying on a Division Bench decision of this court in Satheesh v. Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (2003 (3) KLT 480) contended that without proper application of mind, the special court cannot issue a direction t
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