The main legal point established is that in a criminal case involving forgery of documents, the original document should be handed over to the investigating officer for forensic examination in accordance with Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil) 1986, while keeping a certified copy on record, to ensure fair and proper investigation.

1. - This criminal miscellaneous petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is directed against the order dated 28-8-2012 passed by the Additional Dist. & Sessions Judge, Anoopgarh whereby the application filed by the I.O. for handing over the original agreement for getting the same examined by Forensic Science Laboratory has been rejected.

2. I have heard learned counsel for the parties. Carefully gone through the impugned order.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on a decision of this Court in Borilal alias Bodi Lal v. State of Rajasthan, 2006 (1) Cr.L.R. (Raj.) 549 , wherein this Court, while considering the provisions of Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil) 1986, directed the Civil Court to keep a certified copy of the said document in the file of civil suit and hand over the original to the Investigation Agency for F.S.L. Examination. The controversy involved in the instant petition stands squarely covered by the decision of this Court in Borilal alias Bodilal v. State of Rajasthan (supra).

4. In the present case also, the trial Court dismissed the application filed by the I.O. on the ground that according to rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil), 1986 (for short, "the Rules of 1986" hereinafter) the court is not competent to hand over the document to the police officer for having the same examined by the F.S.L.

5. The facts giving rise to the instant miscellaneous petition are that the I.O. P.S. Anoopgarh was investigating the F.I.R. filed by the petitioner for the offence under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B IPC with the allegations that the specimen signature/thumb impression on the agreement which was produced by the plaintiff in Civil Suit No. 147/2012 in the Court of Addl. District Judge, Anoopgarh are required to be examined by Forensic Science Laboratory. During investigation of the said F.I.R., in order to ascertain as to whether the signatures/thumb impressions appended on the documents are genuine or not, the I.O. sought to procure the original document so that it could be examined by the Chemical Laboratory. The original document was already filed in the civil suit and therefore the I.O. in accordance with Rule 181 of the General Rules(Civil), 1986 submitted an application for procuring the document in question for the purpose of investigation. The Court below by the order dated 28.8.2012 has rejected the said application and hence the instant miscellaneous petition before this Court.

6. Counsel for the petitioner submits that the controversy involved in the matter is no longer res-integra in view of the decision rendered in Mahant Hari Ram v. State of Rajasthan, S.B. Cr. Misc. Petition No. 1204/2007, decided on 3.4.2008 and the case of Borilal @ Bodi Lal v. State (supra).

7. Having regard to the view expressed by this Court in the case of Borilal @ Bodi Lal v. State of Rajasthan, reported in 2006(1) Cr.L.R. (Raj.) 549 and in the case of Mahant Hari Ram v. State of Rajasthan (supra) and keeping in view the fact that in the criminal case instituted by the petitioner, there is a specific allegation that the accused forged the document and then filed the same in the civil court, the original document has to be analyzed by the Hand Writing Expert and the comparison of the signature/thumb impressions etc. has to be done by the expert in order to secure the ends of justice and in order to ensure a fair & proper investigation.

8. In these circumstances and in order to secure the ends of justice, this Court is of the opinion that the civil court trying the suit no. 147/2012 has to be directed in accordance with Rule 181 of the Rules of 1986 to hand over the original document to the officer investigating the F.I.R. No. 446/2012 of the Police Station, Anoopgarh for investigation after keeping certified copy thereof on record. Thereafter the I.O. shall send the document to the concerned Chemical Laboratory/Forensic Science Laboratory for scientific examination and comparison. The examin