IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
RANJIT MORE & SHALINI PHANSALKAR JOSHI, JJ.
Chhagan Chandrakant Bhujbal – Petitioner
Versus
Union of India, Central Government Advocates – Respondent
Criminal Writ Petition No. 3931 of 2016 with Criminal Application No. 463 of 2016 In Criminal Writ Petition No. 3931 of 2016
Decided On : 14-12-2016
Based on the provided legal document, the following key points are evident:
Maintainability of the Habeas Corpus Petition: The Court has emphasized that a writ of habeas corpus is primarily meant to address illegal detention. Since the Petitioner is in judicial custody based on orders passed by a competent Court, and there is an alternative remedy available (such as filing for bail or revising the remand order), the Court has held that the petition is not maintainable (!) (!) .
Legal Validity of Custody and Remand Orders: The detailed and reasoned orders of remand passed by the Special Court demonstrate application of judicial mind and adherence to procedural safeguards. These orders have been considered to cure any constitutional infirmities, if any, in the initial arrest. Therefore, the custody of the Petitioner, as authorized by the Court, is deemed lawful (!) (!) .
Procedural Safeguards and Arrest Procedure: The Court has found that the arrest was carried out in compliance with the prescribed procedures under the relevant statutes, including informing the Petitioner of grounds of arrest, producing him before a Magistrate within the stipulated time, and following the procedures laid down in the applicable rules and statutes (!) (!) .
Authority of the Arresting Officer: The Court has determined that the arresting officer was duly authorized under the relevant provisions of the law, based on the notifications and rules in force. Even if there was an initial contention about the specific authority, the Court has concluded that the officer had the requisite authority to effect the arrest (!) (!) .
Cognizability of the Offense: The Court has clarified that, despite amendments, the offense under the relevant law remains cognizable, and the procedure for investigation and arrest prescribed therein is valid. The omission of a specific clause in the law does not automatically render the offense non-cognizable, especially when the legislative intent and the statutory scheme support the view that the authorities have the power to arrest without prior approval or FIR registration (!) (!) .
Procedural Compliance under the Law: The Court has observed that the procedural safeguards, including informing the Petitioner of grounds of arrest, producing him before a Magistrate within 24 hours, and following the rules for arrest and detention, have been substantially complied with. Any minor procedural lapses do not render the arrest illegal or void (!) (!) .
Legal Effect of Remand Orders: The Court has emphasized that remand orders, which are detailed and passed after application of judicial mind, serve to validate custody and cure any initial procedural irregularities. Orders passed mechanically or without proper application of mind are not sufficient to invalidate lawful detention if subsequent orders are well-reasoned (!) (!) .
Limitations of the Writ of Habeas Corpus: The Court has reiterated that the writ of habeas corpus is not the appropriate remedy when a person is detained pursuant to a valid order of a competent Court, even if there are procedural irregularities in the arrest process. The primary remedy in such cases is to seek bail or challenge the remand order through appropriate legal channels (!) (!) .
Medical Grounds and Interim Relief: The Petitioner’s claims regarding medical grounds for immediate release have been considered and rejected, as the Court found that adequate medical treatment is being provided, and the earlier bail applications on medical grounds have been rejected by the Courts. The Petitioner’s failure to pursue further remedies or raise these issues at earlier stages diminishes the likelihood of success on this ground (!) (!) .
Overall Conclusion: The Court has dismissed the petition, holding that the arrest and custody are lawful, procedural safeguards have been substantially followed, and the remedy of habeas corpus is not appropriate given the circumstances. The detailed judicial orders of remand and custody have been viewed as sufficient to uphold the legality of the detention (!) (!) (!) .
These points collectively establish that the Court considers the Petitioner’s detention to be lawful, procedural safeguards to be largely adhered to, and that the petition for habeas corpus is not maintainable under the circumstances presented.
SHALINI PHANSALKAR JOSHI, J.
1. Rule.
2. Rule made returnable forthwith.
3. With consent of learned Counsel for the parties, heard finally at the stage of admission itself.
4. By this Petition, filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, (for short, “the Constitution”) the Petitioner is seeking issuance of Writ of Habeas Corpus or such other appropriate writ, order or direction for his forthwith release from the custody by setting aside impugned arrest order dated 14th March 2016 and the consequent remand orders, on the count that they are manifestly improper, illegal, without jurisdiction, null and void ab initio on the touch-stone of Articles 14, 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India.
5. This relief is claimed by the Petitioner in the conspectus of the following facts:-
The Petitioner is a citizen of India and the then PWD Minister in the State of Maharashtra. In a Public Interest Litigation No. 23 of 2014 filed by the Aam Aadmi Party and its office bearers, who is intervener in this petition, the grant of contract for construction of “New Maharashtra Sadan” at Delhi was questioned, inter-alia, alleging irregularities, lack of transparency and apprehending transfer of funds indirectly to the Petitioner. In the said Public Interest Litigation, on 18th December 2014, the Division Bench of this Court directed constitution of a Special Investigation Team, (for short, “SIT”), comprising of Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, and Director, Enforcement Directorate, to look into the allegations made against the Petitioner and his relatives. Accordingly, the SIT was constituted and on the receipt of the reports of the SIT from time to time, this Court, vide its order dated 29th April 2015, was pleased to clarify that the Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, and the Director, Enforcement Directorate, need not wait for any orders of the Court before lodging First Information Report, (for short, “FIR”), if, according to the concerned Agencies, a case is made out for lodging of FIR against any of the Respondents (present Petitioner was Respondent No. 6 therein), or, any other person. This Court also made it clear that law on this subject is quite clear, as has been laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Lalita Kumari vs. Government of Uttar Pradesh and Others, (2014) 2 SCC 1.
6. Accordingly, FIR No. 32 of 2015 dated 8th June 2015 was registered by the A.C.B. Mumbai, invoking Sections 13(1)(c), 13(1) (d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, (for short, “PC Act”), and Sections 109, 406, 409, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 474 r/w. Sections 34 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, (for short, “IPC”). The Petitioner was arraigned, amongst various other accused, as accused in the said FIR. The investigation in the said FIR was culminated with issuance of Charge-Sheet No. 16 of 2016 filed before the Special A.C.B. Court at Mumbai. The Petitioner is on bail in the said case, which was granted at post-cognizance stage.
7. Another FIR No. 35 of 2015 dated 11th June 2015 was also registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Mumbai, (for short, “ACB”), against the Petitioner, invoking Sections 13(1)(c), 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of PC Act and Sections 109, 406, 409, 420, 465, 468, 474, 474 and 477A r/w. Sections 34 and 120B of IPC. Petitioner was arraigned, against amongst various other accused, as accused in the said FIR also. The investigation into the said FIR was also culminated with issuance of Charge-Sheet No. 10 of 2016 filed before the Special ACB Court at Mumbai. The Petitioner is on bail even in the said case, which was granted at post-cognizance stage.
8. It is further case of the Petitioner that, thereafter, on 17th June 2015, an Enforcement Case Information Report, bearing No. ECIR/MBZO/07/ 2015, was registered in the office of Respondent No. 2 in Mumbai. However, Sections 154 to 157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (for short, “the Code”), were not complied with. The copy of the said ECIR was
Col. B. Ramachandra Rao vs. State of Orissa
D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal
Directorate of Enforcement vs. Deepak Mahajan & Another
Eastern Coalfields Ltd. vs. Sanjay Transport Agency and Another
Kanu Sanyal vs. District Magistrate, Darjeeling & Others
Lalita Kumari vs. Government of Uttar Pradesh and Others
Manubhai R.P. vs. State of Gujarat and Others
Madhu Limaye vs. State of Maharashtra
Saurabh Kumar through his father vs. Jailor, Koneila Jail & Another
Union of India vs. Hassan Ali Khan
Union of India vs. National Federation of the Blind & Others
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.