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1983 Supreme(Raj) 559

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
N.M.Kasilwal, J.
State of Rajasthan - Appellant
Versus
Akhlesh Chandra Sharma - Respondent
S.B. Criminal Misc, Application 353 of 1983 (Against the order of Shri S.N. Calla, Sessions Judge, dated 3.5.1983).
Decided On : 7-12-1983

The police cannot compel the accused for giving the information for making any recovery under section 27 of the Evidence Act.

Headnote:

BAIL - SECTION 439(2) CR.P.C. - CANCELLATION OF BAIL - CONDITIONS - SECTION 27 OF THE EVIDENCE ACT - INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE ACCUSED - RECOVERY OF ARTICLES - POLICE CUSTODY REMAND - JUDICIAL CUSTODY REMAND - POWERS OF THE COURT UNDER SECTION 482 CR.P.C. - SCOPE AND EXTENT.

Fact of the Case:

The accused was arrested on 27th March, 1983, for criminal breach of trust. He was taken to Jodhpur for making recovery at the instance of information given by him under section 27 of the Evidence Acts on 30th March, 1983. The prosecution claimed that 3 hours time was available to the Investigating Officer for making any recovery at the instance of the accused. The accused was not inclined to make any recovery or did not give any information. The Chief Judicial Magistrate declined to grant further police custody remand and directed the accused to be taken to judicial custody. The accused was granted bail by the Judicial Magistrate on 4th April, 1983. The State filed a petition under section 482 Cr.P.C. for cancellation of the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate dated 2nd April, 1983, ranting judicial custody remand to the accused in place of police custody remand. The State also filed a petition under section 439 (2) Cr.P.C. for cancellation of the bail granted to the accused by order dated 4th April, 1983.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that there was no justification for allowing the police to take the accused in custody now for the only purpose of making any recovery of the articles for which he had given any information earlier on 29th March, 1983. The court also held that the offence is of 406 IPC and there hardly arises any question of interfering in the order of bail granted by the Judicial Magistrate on 4th April, 1983.

Issues: 1. Whether the police can compel the accused for giving the information for making any recovery under section 27 of the Evidence Act? 2. Whether the court can interfere in the order of bail granted by the Judicial Magistrate on 4th April, 1983?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The police cannot compel the accused for giving the information for making any recovery under section 27 of the Evidence Act. It lies in the sweet will of the accused to give any information for making any recovery under section 27 of the Evidence Act. 2. The court cannot interfere in the order of bail granted by the Judicial Magistrate on 4th April, 1983, as the accused has not misused the liberty granted to him or tampered with any evidence.

Final Decision: Both the petitions filed by the State were dismissed.

JUDGMENT

1. - Two applications, one under section 482 Cr. P. C. and the other under section 439 (2) Cr.P.C. came for decision. Both the above applications art disposed of by one single order as the matter to be decided in both these applications is common.

2. Brief facts leading to these petitions are that on 8th January, 1982, one Shri Kishan Chand lodged an FIR at Police Station, Manak Chowk that he and his friend Amar Chand had been doing some business of brokerage in precious stones. Kushal Chand was the partner of the firm know n as `Ratna Deep'. The allegations in the FIR were that on 10th Novembar, 1981, the accused Akhlesh Chand along with his cousin brother Naresh Chand came to them and told that they wanted diamond rings, ear-tops etc. for a customer. Thereafter, several items of Jewellery worth about Rs. 2,50,000/- were entrusted to the accused. Subsequently, the accused did not return the aforesaid articles and committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the same. On the above information the police registered a case under section 406 IPC against the accused persons Akhlesh Chandra and Naresh Chandra. Application submitted by Akhlesh Chandra for anticipatory bail under section 438 Cr. P. C. was dismissed right upto the Supreme Court while Naresh Chandra was released on anticipatory bail.

3. It appears that certain proceedings under sections 82 and 83 Cr. P. C. were initiated against the accused Akhlesh Chandra and he was ultimately arrested on 27th March, 1983. On 28th March. 1981, he was produced before the Judicial Magistrate No. 13, who remanded the accused to police custody up til 2nd April. 1983. During this period the accused moved an application for getting him medically examined. On the said application the Magistrate passed an order on 28th March, 198 3, that the accused may be forwarded to the Medical Jurist. S M. S. Hospital for doing needful and report on 30th March, 83. It appears that on 29th March, 1983 the accused was produced before the Medical Jurist but the Medical Jurist made a report to the court to mention the nature of the medical examination (injury, poison, alcohol, age and sex). The Medical Jurist sought a clarification regarding the nature of medical examination. The case of the prosecution is that on 29th March, 1983, the accused gave an information under section 27 of the Evidence Act that he had sold the valuable articles to a broker of Jodhpur and he could get the same recovered. In pursuance of that information the Investigating Officer took the accused to Jodhpur on 30th March, 1983 by Bus and reached Jodhpur on the same day at 3 p.m. On March 31, 1983, the Investigating Officer attempted to make recovery on the basis of information given by the accused but the case of the prosecution is that the accused did not cooperate in the recovery. At that time a radiogram message was received at about 4 p. m. by the Investigating Officer asking him to return to Jaipur along with the accused. The Investigating Officer in these circumstances was left with no choice and had to return to Jaipur. He returned back to Jaipur along with the accused in the morning of 1st April, 1983. It appears that on 2nd April, 1983 the Presiding Officer of the Court of Judicial Magistrate No. 13 was on leave and as such the police sought a further police custody remand from the Chief Judicial Magistrate. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, however, declined to grant further police custody remand and by an order dated 2nd April, 1983, directed the accused to be taken to judicial custody.

4. Thereafter, a bail application was moved on behalf of the accused which came up for consideration before Judicial Magistrate No. 13, who granted the bail of the accused by order dated 4th April, 1983.

5. The state did not file any revision against any of the aforesaid order granting bail or granting judicial custody to the accused. However, the complainant aggrieved against the aforesaid two orders filed a revision before the learne





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