The prosecution must prove that the accused possessed the explosive substance under circumstances giving rise to a reasonable suspicion of an unlawful object to establish an offence under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.

JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Criminal Revision filed under Sections 397 & 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, setting aside the judgment dated 28.11.2016 in Crl.A.No.59 of 2016, on the file of II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Salem by confirming the judgment passed in S.C.No.296 of 2014, on the file of Assistant Sessions Court, Sankari dated 30.03.2016.

1. This Criminal Revision Case has been filed against the judgement and order passed by the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Salem in Crl.A.No.59 of 2016, dated 28.11.2016, confirming the judgment and order passed by the Assistant Sessions Judge, Sankari in S.C.No.296 of 2014, dated 30.03.2016, convicting the petitioner for offence under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and sentencing him to undergo one year simple imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000/- and in default to undergo three months simple imprisonment.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the Inspector of Police and his police party were on a patrolling duty on 24.02.2012 at about 2.30 pm., at Vellalapuram Village. They found the petitioner moving in a suspicious manner, therefore they caught the petitioner and enquired him and the petitioner is said to have admitted that he is in possession of explosive substances viz., 3 live electronic detonators and 50 safety fuse wires. The same was recovered from the petitioner and it was found that the petitioner was in possession of these explosive substances without any valid license.

3. The detonator was in capacitated and the same was recovered along with the fuse wires. An FIR (Ex.P-8) came to be registered by PW-9 in Crime No.216 of 2012. The investigation was taken up by PW-12. There were totally two accused persons shown in the FIR and the petitioner was ranked as A-1. The statements were recorded from the witnesses under Section 161(3) Cr.PC., and the necessary reports were also collected from the experts. On completion of the investigation, the final report was placed before the District Collector, Salem. The District Collector, through proceedings dated 08.07.2013, accorded sanction to PW-14, to file the final report and to prosecute the case. Accordingly, the final report was filed before the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Sankari.

4. The Trial Court framed charges against the petitioner and another for offence under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and also under Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act.

5. The prosecution examined PW-1 to PW-14 and marked Exs.P-1 to P-16. The incriminating evidence that was collected during the course of trial was put to the accused persons and they denied the same as false.

6. The Trial Court on considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on appreciating the oral and documentary evidence, came to a conclusion that the prosecution has made out the case beyond reasonable doubts as against the petitioner and accordingly, convicted and sentenced the petitioner for offence under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act. A-2 was acquitted from all charges.

7. Aggrieved by the judgment and order passed by the Trial Court, the petitioner filed an appeal before the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Salem and the same was taken on file in Crl.A.No.59 fo 2016. The Appellate Court on reappreciation of evidence and after considering the findings of the Trial Court, confirmed the judgment and order passed by the Trial Court through judgment dated 28.11.2016. Aggrieved by the same, the present Criminal Revision Case has been filed before this Court.

8. Heard Mr.R.Marudhachalamurthy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. L.Baskaran, learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing on behalf of the respondent.

9. This Court has carefully considered the submissions made on either side and the materials available on record.

10. On carefully going through the evidence and the documents that were marked before the Trial Court, it is seen that the petitioner was in possession of Explosive Substances a