2017 Supreme(MP) 803

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
G.S. Ahluwalia, J.
Abdul Aziz v. Central Narcotics Bureau
Criminal Appeal No. 743 of 2004 and Criminal Appeal No. 764 of 2004 (Gwalior); against the Judgment of conviction and sentence dated 27.10.2004 passed by Special Judge (NDPS Act) Gwalior in
Special Trial No. 20 of 2002; Decided on 23.10.2017.

Headnote:(1) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 -- Ss.67 and 53 -- Evidence Act, 1872 -- Ss.25 and 26 -- confessional statement under section 67 of 1985 Act -- not admissible in evidence -- even otherwise, prosecution will also be required to establish beyond reasonable doubt that it was made voluntarily. (2008)4 SCC 668 and (2011)11 SCC 347 referred to. (2008)16 SCC 417, (2009)16 SCC 496, (2011)12 SCC 298 and (2013)16 SCC 31 followed. [Para 22

       (2) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 -- Ss.8/29 and 67 -- allegations in confessional statements of appellant himself and co-accused under section 67 -- nothing seized from his possession -- not a whisper in evidence of witness that appellant made confession voluntarily -- prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. [Para 23

       (3) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 -- Ss.35 and 8/21 -- possession and conscious possession -- found to possess contraband -- can be presumed he was in conscious possession -- burden shifts on accused to prove otherwise. (2015)6 SCC 222, (2015)17 SCC 554 and (2015)6 SCC 674 followed. [Para 28

       (4) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 -- Ss.35, 8/21 and 8/29 -- accused Secretary of society -- contraband seized from almirah in factory premises -- his having tendered resignation prior to search is not proved -- was custodian of almirah -- can be presumed he was in conscious possession, unless and until disproved by him.

       Held : Thus, it is clear that the appellant Rajeev Verma was the Secretary of Arunodaya Khadi Gramodyog Sewa Sansthan and was the custodian of the almirah. Neither he gave the keys of the almirah to the search team nor told that who is in possession of the keys of almirah. Silence on the part of the appellant Rajeev Verma at the time of search also indicates his guilty mind. He did not inform the search team about his resignation, nor informed the search team, that the keys are with the President. Thus, it is clear from the conduct of the appellant Rajeev Verma at the time of search, that he maintained complete silence, therefore, the defence taken by him at the trial cannot be relied upon because if the appellant Rajeev Verma had already tendered his resignation, then there was no reason for him to remain silent. No question was put to Mahavir Singh (PW10) about the resignation of the appellant Rajeev Verma. Further, there is no question in the cross examination of Mahavir Singh (PW10) that the appellant Rajeev Verma had informed him that the key of the Almirah are with the President. Rohit Verma, to whom the appellant Rajeev Verma is alleged to have handed over the charge on 11.7.2001, has also not been examined by the appellant. Thus, this Court is of the view that the Rajeev Verma, being the custodian of the iron Almirah kept in a room situated on the right side of the entrance gate, was in possession of the same. 1 kg 450 gms of heroin was found in the almirah whose lock was broke open with the consent of the appellant Rajeev Verma. As Rajeev Verma was in possession of 1 kg 450 gms of heroin, therefore, it can be presumed that he was in conscious possession unless and until, the same is disproved by the appellant Rajeev Verma. The appellant Rajeev Verma has taken a defence that he had already tendered his resignation on 11.7.2001. however, there is nothing on record as to when the information of the resignation of the appellant Rajeev Verma was sent to the Registrar, Firms and Societies. Thus, it is clear that the information, if any, to the Registrar Firms and Societies, must have been sent after the search, therefore, the proceedings of the Society, on which the appellant Rajeev Verma has relied upon, cannot be accepted. Hence, in the light of section 35 of NDPS Act, it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant Rajeev Verma was in conscious possession of 1 kg 450 gms of heroin which was seized on 8.9.2001. (2015)6 SCC 222, (2015)17 SCC 554 and (2015)6 SCC 674 followed.

       (5) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 -- Ss.8/21and 8/29 -- huge quantity of 1Kg 450 gms of heroin seized -- evidence of departmental witness cannot be discarded merely on ground that independent witnesses have not supported prosecution case. (2001)9 SCC 571 and (2015)17 SCC 554 followed. [Para 29

       (6) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 -- Ss.42 (2) and 57 -- mandatory compliance of S.42(2) -- mere non-compliance may not vitiate trial until and unless prejudice is caused to accused -- information as required under section 57 was sent to superior officer within 72 hours of search -- appellant could not point out how non-compliance of S.42 caused prejudice -- there is substantial compliance of S.42(2).

       Held : If the submissions made by the counsel for the appellant are considered in the light of the law laid down by the Supreme Court, then it would be clear that no question was put to the investigating officer regarding non compliance of section 42 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Mere non-compliance may not vitiate the trial, unless and until, prejudice is caused to the accused. In the present case, an information as required under section 57 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 was sent by Mahavir Singh (PW1) on 8.9.2011 i.e., on the next date of search. Thus, information to a superior officer was sent within 72 hours although under section 57 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The basic purpose of section 42 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 is to prevent misuse of power. In the present case, when the search party left for Itawah, they were not knowing that the heroin might be kept in the factory of the appellant Rajeev Verma. Accordingly it is held that there is a substantial compliance of section 42(2) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and the appellant Rajeev Verma, also could not point out as to how the non-compliance of section 42 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 has caused prejudice to him. (2009)8 SCC 539 and (2010)4 SCC 445 followed. [Para 49

       ??? ¼1½ Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 && /kkjk 67 rFkk 53 && lk{; vf/kfu;e] 1872 /kkjk 25 rFkk 26 && 1985 ds vf/kfu;e ds v/khu lLaokd`fr dFku && lk{; esa xzkgk ugha && vU;Fkk Hkh] vfHk;kstuki{k }kjk ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs ;g lkfcr fd;k tkuk Hkh visf{kr gksxk fd dFku LosPNk ls fd;k x;k FkkA ¼2008½ 4 ,l lh lh 668 rFkk ¼2011½ 11 ,l lh lh 347 fufnZ"VA ¼2008½ 16 ,l lh lh 417] ¼2009½ 16 ,l lh lh 496] ¼2011½ 12 ,l lh lh 298 rFkk ¼2013½ 16 ,l lh lh 31 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 22

       ¼2½ Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 && /kkjk 8@29 rFkk 67 && vfHkdFku Loa; vihykFkhZ vkSj lg&vfHkqDr ds /kkjk 67 ds laLohd`fr dFkuksa esa && mlds dCts ls dqN Hkh vfHkx`ghr ugha && lk{kh ds lk{; esa nck&lk mYys[k Hkh ugha fd vihykFkhZ us laLohd`fr LosPNk ls nh && vfHk;kstu i{k ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs nks"k lkfcr djus es foQyA ¼iSjk 23

       ¼3½ Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 && /kkjk 35 rFkk 8@21 && dCtk rFkk Hkku lfgr dCtk && dCts esa fofuf"k) inkFkZ ik;k x;k && mi/kkj.kk dh tk ldrh gS fd Hkku lfgr dCtk Fkk && vU;Fkk lkfcr djus dk Hkkj vfHk;qDr ij vk tkrk gSA ¼2015½ 6 ,l lh lh 222] ¼2015½ 17 ,l lh lh 554 rFkk ¼2015½ 6 ,l lh lh 674 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 28

       ¼4½ Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 && /kkjk 35] 8@21 rFkk 8@29 && vfHk;qDr lkSlkbVh dk lfpo && fofu"k) inkFkZ dkj[kkuk ifjlj esa vyekjh ls vfHkx`fgr && ryk'kh ds iwoZ mlds }kjk R;kxi= fn;k tkuk lkfcr ugha && vyekjh dk vfHkj{kd Fkk && mi/kkj.kk dh tk ldrh gS fd mldk Hkku lfgr dCtk Fkk] tc rd fd mlds }kjk uklkfcr ugh fd;k tk,A

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % vr% ;g Li"V gS fd vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ v:.kkns; [kknh xzkeks|ksx lsok laLFkku dk lfpo Fkk vkSj vyekjh dk vfHkj{kd FkkA mlus u rks ryk'khny dks vyekjh dh pkfc;kW nha vkSj u ;g gh crk;k fd vyekjh dh pkfc;kW fdlds dCts esa gSA rYkk'kh ds le; vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ dh pqIih ls Hkh mldk nwf"kr eu bafxr gksrk gSA mlus u ryk'kh ny dks vius R;kxi= ds ckjs es lwfpr fd;k vkSj u ryk'kh ny dks ;g gh crk;k fd pkfc;kW v/;{k ds ikl gSA vr% ryk'kh ds le; vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ ds vkpj.k ls Li"V gS fd mlus iw.kZr% pqIih lk/k j[kh Fkh] blfy, mlds }kjk fopkj.k ds le; yh xbZ izfrj{kk dk fo'okl ugha fd;k tk ldrk D;ksafd ;fn vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ us viuk R;kxi= igys gh ns fn;k Fkk rks mlds ikl pqi jgus dk dksbZ dkj.k ugha FkkA vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ ds R;kxi= ds ckjs esa egkohj flag ¼v lk10½ ls dksbZ iz'u ugha fd;k x;kA blds vfrfjDr] egkohj flag ¼vlk 10½ ds izfr&ijh{k.k esa ,slk dksbZ iz'u ugha gS fd vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ us mls lwfpr fd;k Fkk fd vyekjh dh pkch v/;{k ds ikl gSA vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls jksfgr oekZ dk Hkh ijh{k.k ugha djk;k x;k gS] ftls vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ us vfHkdfFkr :i ls 11-7-2001 dks dk;ZHkkj LkkSaik FkkA vr% bl U;k;ky; dh jk; gS fd izos'k }kj dh nkfguh vkSj fLFkr dejs esa j[kh gqbZ vyekjh dk vfHkj{kd gksus ds dkj.k] vyekjh mlds dCtsa esa FkhA vyekjh esa] ftldk rkyk vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ dh lgefr ls rksM+k x;k] 1 fdyks 450 xkze gsjksbu ikbZ xbZ FkhA D;ksafd jktho oekZ ds dCtsa esa fdyks 450 xzke gsjksbu FkhA blfy, ;g mi/kkj.kk dh tk ldrh gS fd mldk dCtk Hkku lfgr Fkk] tc rd fd vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ ;g uklkfcr ugha dj nsrkA vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ us izfrj{kk yh gS fd og 11-7-2001 dks viuk R;kxi= ns pqdk FkkA rFkkfi] vfHkys[k ij bl ckjs esa dqN ugha gS fd vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ ds R;kxi= dh tkudkjh jftLVªkj] QElZ ,aM lkslkbVht dks dc Hksth xbZA vr% Li"V gS fd jftLVkj] QElZ ,aM lkslkbVht dks tkudkjh] ;fn Hksth xbZ rks] ryk'kh ds i'pkr Hksth xbZ gksxh blfy, lkslkbVh dh dk;Zokgh] ftldk vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ us voyac fy;k gS] Lohdkj ugha dh tk ldrhA bl izdkj] Lokid vkS"kf/k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 35 ds izdk'k esa ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs lkfcr gks x;k gS fd vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ ds Hkku lfgr dCts esa 1 fdyks 450 xzke gsjksbu Fkh tks fnukad 8-9-2001 dks vfHkx`ghr dh xbZA ¼2015½ 6 ,l lh lh 222] ¼2015½ 17 ,l lh lh 554 rFkk ¼2015½ 6 ,l lh lh 674 vuqlfjrA

       ¼5½ Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 && /kkjk 8@21 rFkk 8@29 && 1 fdyk 450 xzke dh cM+h ek=k esa gsjksbu vfHkx`ghr && foHkkxh; lk{kh dk lk{; dsoy bl vk/kkj ij O;Dr ugha fd;k tk ldrk fd Lora= lkf{k;ksa us vfHk;kstu i{kdFku dk leFkZu ugah fd;kA ¼2001½ 9 ,l lh lh 57 rFkk ¼2015½ 17 ,l lh lh 554 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 29

       ¼6½ Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 && /kkjk 42¼2½ rFkk 57 && /kkjk 42¼2½ dk vkKkid vuqikyu && vuqikyu ek= ls fopkj.k nwf"kr ugha gksxk tc rd fd vfHk;qDr izfrdwyr% izHkkfor ugha gks && rYkk'kh ls 72 ?kaVksa ds Hkhrj /kkjk 57 ds v/khu ;Fkkisf{kr lwpuk ofj"B vf/kdkjh dks Hksth xbZ & vihykFkhZ ;g ugha crk ldk fd /kkjk 42 ds vuuqikyu ls og fdl izdkj izfrdwyr% izHkkfor gqvk && /kkjk 42¼2½ dk lkjoku~ gqvk gSA

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % ;fn vihykFkhZ ds dkmUlsy }kjk fd, x, fuosnuksa ij mPprEk U;k;ky; }kjk vf/kdfFkr fof/k ds izdk'k esa fopkj fd;k tk, rc Li"V gks tk,xk fd Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 dh /kkjk 42 ds vuuqikyu ds laca/k esa vUos"k.k vf/kdkjh ls dksbZ iz'u ugha fd;k x;kA vuuqikyu ek= ls fopkj.k nwf"kr ugha gksxk] tc rd fd vfHk;qDr izfrdwyr% izHkkfor ugh gksA orZeku ekeys es] egkohj flag ¼vlk 10½ }kjk 8-9-2001 dks vFkkZr ryk'kh ds vxys fnukad dks] Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu% izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 dh /kkjk 57 ds v/khu ;Fkkisf{kr lwpuk Hkst nh xbZ FkhA bl izdkj] 72 ?kaVks ds Hkhrj ofj"B vf/kdkjh dks lwpuk Hkst nh xbZ Fkh] Hkys gh og Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e 1985 dh /kkjk 57 ds v/khu FkhA Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 dh /kkjk 57 ds v/khu FkhA Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu%izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 dh /kkjk 42¼2½ dk vk/kkjHkwr iz;kstu 'kfDr ds nq:i;ksx dk fuokj.k djuk gSA orZeku ekeysa es] tc ryk'kh ny bVkok ds fy, fudyk rc mUgsa Kkr ugha Fkk fd gsjksbu vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ dks dkj[kkus esa j[kh gksxhA rnuqlkj vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k tkrk gS fd Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu% izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 dh /kkjk 42¼2½ dk lkjoku vuqikyu gqvk gS vkSj vihykFkhZ jktho oekZ Hkh ;g ugha crk ldk fd Lokid vkS"kf/k vkSj eu% izHkkoh inkFkZ vf/kfu;e] 1985 dh /kkjk 42 ds vuqikyu ls og fdl izdkj izfrdwyr% izHkkfor gqvkA ¼2009½ 8 ,l lh lh 539 rFkk ¼2010½ 4 ,l lh lh 445 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 49