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1987 Supreme(Raj) 104

High Court Of Rajasthan
Judgename : Inder Sen Israni
ISHWAR SINGH - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF RAJASTHAN - Respondent
Cri. Appeal 414 Of 1978
Decided On : 02/23/1987

Advocates Appeared:
B.K.Pathak, R.P.SINGH, RAMESH PATHAK, SURESH CHAND SHARMA

Headnote:Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 161Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 -Sections 5(1)(d) r/w 4(2). - Prosecution of appellant for demanding and accepting illegal gratification for destroying traffic challan of complainant, an auto-rikshaw driver -Prosecution based on evidence of trap witnesses-Conviction recorded by trial court-Appeal against - Prosecution claiming that appellant demand Rs. 10/- but recovery is of Rs. 5/- Even to this material contradiction as to denomination of note recovered No independent witness to trap - Major contradictions even in evidence of police Witnesses - Whether reliance can be placed on such evidence? (No) - Result -Acquittal on giving benefit of doubt.

       Held, from the evidence discussed above, it is clear that there are material contradictions in the evidence produced by the prosecution whether one note of Rs. 5/- or four notes (one note of Rs. 2/- and 3 Dotes of Rs. 1/- each) were given to the appellant and whether one note of Rs. 5/- was recovered from him or 4 notes of total amount of Rs. 5/- were recovered from him. It is also ambiguous why the amount of illegal gratification was reduced to Rs. 5/- when the matter was settled at Rs. 10/. Further there is only one Mothir (independent) witness Reghuwar Dayal who was to accompany the trap party to witness the giving and recovering the amount of illegal gratification. However, neither illegal gratification amount was given in his presence nor it was recovered in his presence. All other witnesses are the police employees and in view of the absence of even single independent witness it is difficult to rely on such evidence. (Para 16)

       Consequently held, in the present case also the prosecution witnesses do not inspire confidence and their evidence is full of contradictions. The prosecution has not cared to produce any independent witness, who may support its version in these circumstances it will be hazardous to convict the appellant on such evidence. I am, therefore, of the opinion that in the circumstances, the accused appellant deserves to be given benefit of doubt. (Para 21)

       

Judgment


INDER SEN ISRANI, J.

( 1 ) THIS criminal appeal has been filed by the appellant against the judgment dated 4. 8. 78 passed by the Special Judge (Anti-Corruption Cases) Rajasthan, Jaipur in Special Criminal Case No. 23/ 75 whereby, the accused appellant bas been convicted under section 161 IPC and sentenced to undergo one years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 300/-, in default of payment of fine, to undergo further simple imprisonment for one month. The appellant was further convicted under section 5 (1) (d) read with section 4 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and was sentenced to undergo one years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 300/-, in default of payment of fine, to undergo one months simple imprisonment. Both the sentences were to run concurrently.

( 2 ) A verbal complaint was lodged on 9. 1. 1973 at 10. 50 A. M. by Mohamed Umar with the Addi. Superintendent of Police, Anti-corruption Department, Rajasthan, Jaipur. The complainant in his report stated that he was a auto-rickshaw driver of auto-rickshaw No. RSL 8851. On 8. 1. 1973 at about 7. 30 P. M. when the complainant was coming from Moti Doongari Road towards Johari Bazar, at the crossing of Sanganeri gate there was green light, as such he proceeded further. However, the moment he proceeded further, the light converted into red, as such one traffic constable stopped hi m and a challan was prepared for his auto-rickshaw. The complainant also signed on a printed form. His driving hence was also seized and a receipt of the same was given to him. It was also mentioned in the verbal report that the accused appellant told him that if an amount of Rs. 10/- as illegal gratification was paid to the appellant, the challan will be destroyed. The complainant desired that the accused appellant should be trapped red banded, as such he approached the Addi. S. P. , Anti Corruption Department, Jaipur and G. C. notes totaling to Rs. 10/- (one G. C. note of Rs. 5/-, and G. C. note of Rs. 2/- and 3 G. C. notes of Rs. 1/-) were submitted to the Addi. S. P. Thereupon, the Addi. S. P. directed Hanuman Prasad Soni to apply phenolphthalein powder on the above, mentioned G. C. notes. The complainant was directed that the above notes may be handed over to the accused appellant when he demands the same from him. He was further directed that when this amount of illegal gratification is passed to the appellant, the complainant should give signal by lighting his cigarette. In this connection a Furd Supur dainama of G. C. notes (Ex. P. 1) was prepared. P. W. 13 Khem Chand Tejwani, Addi. S. P. also got prepared a photostat copy of the receipt regarding seizure of papers from the complainant. At about 3. 50 P. M. on the same day, the Addi. S. P. , leader of the trap party started in a Jeep for laying trap against the accused appellant, along with PW 4 Hanuman Sabai Soni, L. D. C. P. W. 5 Jagdish Singh L. C. and Gopal Singh constable who has not been examined as a witness. At the time of applying phenolphthalein powder to the notes, P. W. 1 Raghuwar Dayal, motbir witness was present. He was directed in the morning when the FIR was lodged to come at 3. 50 P. M. He also accompanied the raiding party. The party reached Sanganeri gate, but the accused appellant was not found there. Therefore, the complainant was directed to meet the appellant in control room situated near Ajmeri Gate, Jaipur. The complainant went into the control room and met the accused appellant. He came back at about 6. 30 P. M. and informed the Addi. S. P. that he had obtained his licence, but the money could not be given to the appellant, as such the trap could not be materialised on that day. Therefore, lresh trap was led on the following day i. e. 10. 1. 1973 at about 10. 30 A. M. along with P. W. 4 Hanuman Prasad Soni, P. W. 5 Jagdish Singh and P. W. 2 Surendra Kumar. The jeep was kept near the State Bank of India outside Sanganeri gate. P. W. 9 complainant Mohd. Umar as per directions also came at t
























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