The main legal point established in the judgment is that in cases where the complainant is a police officer, the investigation should be conducted by a higher-ranking officer and the final report should be filed by the higher official to ensure the rights of the accused and the prosecution are upheld.

This Crl. Miscellaneous case is directed against the order delivered by the Sessions Judge, Alappuzha in Crl. Revision Petition No. 119/1995, which arose challenging the confirmed conviction and sentence rendered by the Assistant Sessions Judge, Sherthellai, in Criminal Appeal No. 13/1993. The present petitioner as accused was found guilty under S. 51(a) of Kerala Police Act by the Judicial Magistrate, Sherthallai in S.T. No. 170/1991.

2. The present petitioner, according to the prosecution, behaved in a disorderly manner, uttering rubbish language and obstructed the traffic on the night of 17-12-1991, being in a drunken mood at Champakattu Mukku, where on that night a festival was going on. P.W. 1, the Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police attached to Arthungal Police Station, arrested the accused in the presence of a Police Constable examined as PW. 2, took the accused to the police station where Ext. P 1 complaint was written by PW. 1 himself. Thereafter, the accused petitioner was sent to PW. 3 for medical examination. P.W. 3, on examination found the petitioner/accused that he had consumed alcohol. P.W. 3, to that effect has issued Ext. P2 certificate. P.W. 4 was examined for the purpose of corroborating the evidence of PW. 1 and PW 2. The entire investigation in this case was conducted by PW. 1, who, after the completion of the investigation laid the charge-sheet before the Trial Magistrate. The Trial Magistrate, on examining the evidence let in by the prosecution, since the accused petitioner denied the charge, found the petitioner guilty u/S. 51(a) of the Kerala Police Act and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of thirty days and also to pay a fine of Rs. 200/-. The above conviction and sentence, as I have pointed out above, were confirmed by the Assistant Sessions Judge and the criminal revision filed against it was also dismissed. Now, the only point that arises for consideration before me is whether PW. 1, being the complainant can be an investigating Officer throughout and whether he can file the final report. In a case of this nature, when the complainant himself is a Police Official, the investigation should have been conducted by his top ranking officer and the final report also ought to have been filed by the higher official. A complainant being a police officer cannot be an investigating Officer. For, in such case, the accused and the prosecution will he deprived of their valuable rights of contradicting and corroborating, the previous informations recorded u/S. 154 of 155 Cr.P.C. and previous statement of the witness, being a police officer, complaint recorded, under S. 161, Cr.P.C., enjoined in Ss. 145 and 157 of the Indian Evidence Act and proviso of S. 162, Cr.P.C. In the instant case, before me, P.W. 1 is an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, and I understand from the Public Prosecutor as well as from the Counsel for the petitioner that the particular Police Station has got a Sub-Inspector of Police. Therefore, in this case, the investigation ought to have been conducted by the Sub-Inspector of Police or any other Police Officer above the rank of P.W. 1. In the instant case, thus an incurable infirmity and flaw have been committed by the prosecution, quite against the proposition of law. Therefore, on that score itself, the petitioner, is entitled to get an order of acquittal. In view of my above conclusion on the footing of position of law, this is a fit case, which has to be allowed by acquitting the petitioner.

3. In the result, the Crl.M.C. is allowed by setting aside the judgments and order of all the three Courts below. Ultimately, the accused/petitioner stands acquitted. The fine amount, if already paid by the petitioner will be refunded to him.

Petition allowed.