State of A.P. Vs S.
Janardhana Rao [2004] Insc 696 (17 November 2004)
B.N.Agrawal & A.K.Mathur
with Criminal Miscellaneous Petition No. 2569 Of 2004 B.N.Agrawal, J.
Initially four persons, namely, S.Janardhana Rao (A-1), Mohammed Omar Bin
Moin (A-2), S. Indira (A-3) and S.Prasanth (A-4) were made accused, but as A-2
turned to be an approver, pardon was granted to him and he was examined as
PW-21. Thus, trial proceeded against the remaining three accused persons and
the learned Special Judge upon the conclusion of trial acquitted A-3 and A-4
whereas convicted A-1 under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of
the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sentenced him to undergo rigorous
imprisonment for a period of three years and to pay a fine of Rs. 3,000/-; in
default to suffer simple imprisonment for a period of two months on each count.
The sentences, however, were ordered to run concurrently. Against the order
of conviction, A-1 preferred an appeal before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh
whereas the State preferred an appeal against the order of acquittal of A-3 and
A-4 and the High Court dismissed the State appeal whereas allowed the appeal
filed by A-1 and acquitted him of all the charges. The State of Andhra Pradesh
filed two petitions for grant of Special Leave to appeal; one against the order
whereby the High Court dismissed appeal filed by the State against the order of
acquittal of A-3 and A-4 by the trial court, which SLP was dismissed; and the
second against the order whereby the High Court acquitted A-1 of all the
charges in which leave was granted.
The prosecution case, in short, was that A-1 was the member of Andhra
Pradesh Higher Judicial Service and posted as IIIrd Metropolitan Sessions
Judge, Hyderabad, at the relevant time and residing in Flat No. 402 of
Garudagagan Apartments, Padmaraonagar, Secunderabad, A-3 was his wife, who was
working as a teacher in Government New High School, Kotteru, Hanumakonda, and
A-4 was their 19 years' old son, who was deaf and dumb by birth. A-2 was a
police constable attached to the court of A-1. Before A-1, Sessions Case No.
186 of 1989 was pending trial in which besides others, Sant Esher Singh (PW-1)
and Rajinder Singh (PW-2) were accused. As the trial of the said case was at
its final stage, A-1 is alleged to have sent message through PW-21 to PWs 1 and
2 demanding a sum of Rs. 6 lacs as illegal gratification for recording their
acquittal in the said case, but ultimately the amount was reduced by A-1 to Rs.
3 lacs. As PWs 1 and 2 were not agreeable to pay even the reduced amount, PW 1
approached the officials of Anti Corruption Branch (hereinafter referred to as
'ACB') for conducting a trap, but as it was a case in which a judicial officer
was involved, they expressed their inability to do anything without any order
from the High Court. Thereafter, on 3rd and 4th September, 1996, PW-1 met the
learned Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court and permission was granted
by the High Court to conduct trap and register case.
Thereupon, PW-1 went to the office of ACB with Rs. 3 lacs which was kept in
a plastic cover and gave it to S.Sreeramulu (PW-3) whose services were secured
by R. Suryanarayana, Deputy Superintendent of Police, ACB, (PW-23). PW-23 noted
down the numbers of all the currency notes which were in the denomination of
Rs. 500/- in six bundles, on a separate sheet of paper. One of the officials of
ACB treated the currency notes with the layer of phenolphthalein powder.
Thereupon, officials of ACB organized a trap and they went to the court of A-1
on 4th September, 1996 which was a date fixed in the case where A-1 pronounced
in open court the code word that "all the matters will be adjourned to 6th
September, 1996" which could be taken as confirmation that PW-21
approached PWs 1 and 2 on his behalf and the work would be done. Then, on the
same day, PWs 1 and 21 along with the trap party went to the house of A-1 at
Hanumakonda in which his wife and son were residing. While members of the trap
party were waiting at some distance from the house, PWs 1 and 21 went to the
said house and as it was bolted from inside, PW-21 pressed the call bell
whereupon wife of A-1 opened the door and both PWs 1 and 21 went inside the
house where son of A-1 was also present. When PW-21 tried to hand over the
plastic cover containing sum of Rs. 3 lacs, wife of A-1 asked him to count the
money in her presence and after the same was counted, as directed by her, PW-21
kept the plastic cover containing the aforesaid amount on the teapoy which was
shifted by her son to the cup-board in the same room. Thereafter, PWs 1 and 21
came out from the house and gave pre-arranged signal to the members of the trap
party consisting of G.Bal Reddy (PW-22), PW-23 and the mediator (PW.3) who
entered the house, met wife of A-1 and asked her about the receipt of the sum
of Rs. 3 lacs, which she denied. Thereafter, son of A-1, who was deaf and dumb,
led the members of the trap party to the bathroom attached to the master
bedroom by making gestures and signs; and removed the lid of the flush tank
where plastic bag containing sum of Rs. 3 lacs was found in water, photograph
of which was taken, and after the same was taken out therefrom, the numbers of
the currency notes, contained in the plastic bag, were compared and the same
tallied with the numbers already noted down by PW-23 on a separate sheet of
paper. After seizure of the aforesaid sum of Rs. 3 lacs, PW-21 informed A-1
about the payment of the said sum of Rs. 3 lacs to his wife and A-1 fixed up
time to meet PW-1. According to pre-arranged programme, PWs 1 and 21 went to
the flat of A-1 in the Apartment at Secunderabad in the night between 4th and
5th September, 1996 at 1.00 O'clock. After some time, PW- 21 came out and
remained outside the apartment. In the meantime, according to pre-arranged
plan, the officials of ACB came there, entered the flat of A-1 and found that
A-1 was entertaining PW-1.
Stating the aforesaid facts, a first information report was lodged for
prosecution of A-1, his wife (A-3), his son (A-4) besides PW-21 and investigation
proceeded, on completion whereof chargesheet was submitted against all the
aforesaid four accused persons after obtaining the required sanction. On
receipt of the chargesheet, cognizance was taken.
Defence of the accused persons was that they were innocent, no occurrence as
alleged had taken place and they were falsely implicated in the present case at
the instance of M.E.N.Patrudu (PW-20), the then Registrar (Vigilance) of the
High Court of Andhra Pradesh, who was also member of Andhra Pradesh Higher
Judicial Service.
During trial, as A-2 was granted pardon, the trial proceeded against the
remaining three accused persons, as stated above. During trial, the prosecution
examined several witnesses and got exhibited various documents. Upon conclusion
of trial, the learned Special Judge acquitted A-3 and A-4, wife and son
respectively of A-1, but convicted A-1, as stated above, whereupon two appeals
were filed, one by the State against the acquittal of A-3 and A-4 and the other
by A-1 challenging his conviction before the High Court. The appeal filed by
the State was dismissed whereas the one filed by A-1 was allowed and he was
acquitted of all the charges whereupon two Special Leave Petitions were filed
before this Court. The Special Leave Petition filed against the order of the
High Court confirming acquittal of wife and son of A-1 was dismissed whereas
leave was granted against the order of acquittal of A-1 rendered by the High
Court.
Hence, this appeal in which an application was filed by M.E.N.Patrudu (PW-20),
the then Registrar (Vigilance) of Andhra Pradesh High Court, which gave rise to
Criminal Misc. Petition No. 2569 of 2004 for expunging the adverse remarks
recorded by the High Court against PW-20 in the impugned order of acquittal of
A-1 which was directed to be considered at the time of hearing of the appeal.
In order to prove its case against A-1, who is respondent herein, the
prosecution has relied upon the following circumstances:
(i) A-1 demanded a sum of Rs. 6 lacs by way of illegal gratification which
was later reduced to Rs. 3 lacs for showing official favour to PWs 1 and 2, who
were accused in Sessions Case No. 186 of 1989 which was pending trial in his
court and the said demand was made through PW-21.
(ii) PW-1 met the learned Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court and
obtained permission of the High Court for trap and registering a case.
(iii) On 4th September, 1996, which was the date fixed In Sessions Case No.
186 of 1989, A-1 pronounced the code word that "all the petitions posted
to that date stand adjourned to 6th September, 1996" to assure PW-1 that
the amount was demanded on his behalf by PW-21 and to go ahead with modalities
worked out earlier, i.e., to pay the amount of Rs. 3 lacs in the denomination
of Rs. 500/- notes to his wife in his Hanumakonda house.
(iv) The amount of Rs. 3 lacs was paid to the wife of A-1 on 4th September,
1996 at his Hanumakonda house and the same was recovered by the trap party at
the instance of son of A-1 from the flush tank of bathroom attached to the
master bedroom of his house.
(v) After payment of illegal gratification to the wife of A-1, PW-21
informed A-1 about the same on phone and fixed time with him to meet PW-1 and
A-1 was found meeting and entertaining PW-1 in his flat at Garudagagan
Apartments at Secunderabad in the night between 4th and 5th September, 1996 at
1.00 O'clock.
To prove the first circumstance, prosecution has led the evidence of PWs 1,
2 and 21. PW-21 who was an approver, stated that he was a constable attached to
the court of A-1 and one day, in the month of June, 1996, A-1 called him in his
chambers and asked him to secure a driving licence for one of his relatives
which work was done, as such, he became familiar to A-1. Thereafter, A-1 called
him at his house and asked him to contact PWs 1 and 2, who were accused in
Sessions Case No. 186 of 1989, for payment of illegal gratification to the tune
of Rs. 6 lacs to A-1 whereupon those accused persons would be acquitted. The
witness further stated that as he was afraid of PW-1, he met PW -2 on 20th
August, 1996 and conveyed the message of A-1 to him and on his advise, met PW-1
on 24th August, 1996 and communicated the message to him as well, who wanted
some time to consult PW-2. Five or six days thereafter, he again met PW-1 who
expressed that he and PW 2 were in a position to pay only a sum of Rs. 3 lacs
and the said information was passed on by PW 21 to A-1 who asked him to settle
the deal for the said sum. PW-21 further stated that thereupon he informed PW-1
that A-1 was ready to accept sum of Rs. 3 lacs for recording acquittal of PWs 1
and 2. Thereupon, as PW-1 appeared to be in doubt whether the amount was
actually demanded by A-1, PW-21 stated that it would be confirmed on 4th
September, 1996 which was the date fixed in the said sessions case on which day
in open court A-1 will announce "that all the matters will be adjourned to
6th September, 1996", which could be taken as code word to indicate that
PW-21 approached PW-1 on behalf of A-1 and the amount of Rs. 3 lacs should be
paid to the wife of A-1 at his Hanumakonda house. The statement of PW-21 has
been corroborated in all material particulars by PWs 1 and 2 and the trial
court after a detailed discussion placed reliance upon their evidence and the
High Court was not justified in disbelieving their evidence on the basis of
certain minor contradictions in their evidence. In our view, the prosecution
has succeeded in proving this circumstance by credible evidence.
In order to prove the second circumstance, the prosecution has examined
PW-1, Khaja Pasha (PW 15), PWs 20 and 23. PW-1 stated that upon the receipt of
message of A-1 through PW-21, he informed ACB officials who refused to take any
action on the ground that permission of the High Court was required as A-1 was
a member of Andhra Pradesh Higher Judicial Service. Then on 3rd September,
1996, PW 1 could telephonically talk to PW-15, Private Secretary to the learned
Chief Justice, Andhra Pradesh High Court, and appointment was fixed to meet the
learned Chief Justice at 8.00 p.m. on that day. PW-15 further advised PW-1 to
bring a written representation. Thereupon PW-1 went to the residence of the
learned Chief Justice along with written representation (Ex.P-1) and gave the
same to PW-15 in a sealed cover. After some time, he was called by the learned
Chief Justice who asked PW-1 as to whether the contents of Ex.P-1 were true and
correct and warned him that in case the same were found to be false, action
would be taken against him. He further stated that he was asked by the learned
Chief Justice to come again on the next day in the morning and accordingly this
witness again went to the residence of the learned Chief Justice on 4th
September, 1996 at 7.30 a.m. At that time, the Director General, ACB, the Joint
Director, ACB, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, ACB, (PW.23) were already
present at the house of the learned Chief Justice besides PW-20, the then
Registrar (Vigilance) of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and he was informed by
the learned Chief Justice that the Joint Director, ACB, will take care of the
case under the guidance of Director General, ACB, whereupon PW-1 presented
complaint before the Joint Director, ACB, on the same day. The aforesaid
statement of PW-1 has been corroborated by PW-15, Private Secretary to the
learned Chief Justice, Andhra Pradesh High Court, and PW-20- the then Registrar
(Vigilance) and PW-23, who is said to have written a letter on 4th September,
1996 to the Director, ACB, to conduct a trap and register case against A-1.
PW-23 has also supported the statement of PW-1. The statements of these
witnesses are consistent with each other and have been relied upon by the trial
court, but the High Court was not justified in refusing to place reliance upon
them as there were certain minor discrepancies therein Thus, we find that the
prosecution has proved this circumstance as well.
To prove the third circumstance, the prosecution has led the evidence of
PW-1, M.Ramakrishna Rao (PW-8), Milan Gokele (PW-9), T. Harikrishna (PW-12) and
PW-21. PW-1 stated that on 4th September, 1996, he was present in the court
room when A-1 announced the code word by saying that "all the matters
stand adjourned to 6th September, 1996". The statement of PW-1 has been
supported by PW-8 who was a special public prosecutor conducting Sessions Case
No. 186 of 1989 who has categorically stated in his evidence that after
luncheon recess when the case was taken up, A-1, who was the Presiding Officer,
stated in open court that "all the matters stand adjourned to 6th September,
1996" but on the representation made by PW-9, the defence counsel, the
case was adjourned to 9th September, 1996 as 6th September, 1996 was not
convenient to PW-9. PW-9, the defence counsel, corroborated the statement of
PW-8. He further stated that as 6th September, 1996 was not a date convenient
to him, the matter was adjourned to 9th September, 1996 on his representation.
PW-12, Inspector of Police, ACB, stated that he was deputed to attend the court
on 4th September, 1996 to observe the proceedings in Sessions Case No. 186 of
1989 and on that day in his presence, A-1 announced in open court that
"all the matters stand adjourned to 6th September, 1996". PW-21
stated that though on that day he had also gone to the court, he did not go
inside the court hall, but was standing outside the court hall and after the
case was adjourned, PW-1 came out from the court hall and informed this witness
that A-1 announced code word in open court by saying that "all the matters
stand adjourned to 6th September, 1996". From a bare perusal of the
evidence of these witnesses, it would be clear that their evidence is
consistent with each other and there is no contradiction therein on any
material point. We find that the trial court was justified in relying upon
their evidence to prove the circumstance and the High Court was wholly
unjustified in doubting the veracity of their statements on the basis of minor
contradictions in their evidence.
In order to prove the fourth circumstance, the prosecution adduced the
evidence of PWs 1, 3, 21, 22 and 23. PW-1 stated that on 4th September, 1996,
he went to ACB office with the sum of Rs. 3 lacs kept in a plastic cover and
handed over the same to the Dy. Superintendent of Police, ACB (PW-23) and his
statement has been corroborated by PWs 3, 22 and 23. These witnesses have
further stated that phenolphthalein powder was applied to the currency notes.
It was arranged that PWs 1 and 21 would go inside the house of A-1 at
Hanumakonda and after paying the sum of Rs. 3 lacs to his wife, they would come
out from the house and PW 1 would give signal to the trap party by wiping his
face with handkerchief and thereupon the trap party would go inside the house.
PW-1 stated that according to pre-arranged plan, while the trap party was
waiting outside the house at some distance, he and PW-21 went inside the house
of A-1 at Hanumakonda which was bolted from inside and on the call bell being
pressed by PW-21, wife of A-1 opened the door and on being told by PW 21 that
they were sent by A-1, she stated that she had already received a message from
A-1 and was waiting for them. The witness further stated that PW-21 was asked
by wife of A-1 to count the money which was in plastic cover and thereafter to
keep the same on teapoy pursuant to which PW-21 after counting kept the plastic
cover containing the sum of Rs. 3 lacs on the teapoy.
Wife of A-1 asked her son to keep the said plastic cover in the cup-board.
Whereafter PWs 1 and 21 came out from the house and according to the pre-
arranged plan, signal was given to the members of the trap party who arrived
there and were taken inside the house by PWs 1 and 21. PWs 3, 22 and 23, who
were members of the trap party, stated that on receiving pre-arranged signal
from PW-1, they, along with PWs 1 and 21, entered the house of A-1 after his
wife opened the door and they disclosed their identity. On being asked by the
trap party, she denied any knowledge about the sum of Rs. 3 lacs. These
witnesses further stated that son of A-1, who was deaf and dumb, made gestures
and signs and took them to the bath room attached to the master bedroom and
opened the lid of the flush tank in which plastic cover containing sum of Rs. 3
lacs was found and the same was taken out by PW-3 on the instructions of DSP,
ACB (PW 23). After opening the cover, the numbers of currency notes were
compared and the same tallied with the numbers noted down separately on a sheet
of paper by the members of the trap party. The trap party thereafter seized the
amount of Rs. 3 lacs and prepared mazhar for the same. Members of the trap
party also took photograph of the plastic cover containing sum of Rs. 3 lacs
before the same was taken out from the flush tank.
The evidence of PWs 1 and 21 has been supported by PWs 3, 22 and 23, who
were members of the trap party, and the trial court did not find any
discrepancy in their evidence, but the High Court erroneously refused to place
reliance upon their evidence merely because there were certain minor
contradictions therein.
In order to prove the last circumstance against the respondent (A-1), the
prosecution examined PW-1, D.Subba Rao (PW 4), K. Ramesh (PW 6), Butchanna Goud
(PW 7), K.Kumar (PW-18) and PWs 21 & 22. PW-21 stated that after the
seizure, he along with members of the trap party left for Hyderabad and from the
house of PW-7, he had a telephonic talk with A-1 and informed him about the
payment of Rs. 3 lacs and fixed up time of the meeting of PW-1 with A-1. PW-21
further stated that according to pre-arranged programme, in the night between
4th and 5th September, 1996 at 1.00 o'clock, PWs 1 and 21 went to the flat of
A-1, which was situated at Garudagagan Apartments, Secunderabad, and they were
followed by PW-4 and PW-22. While PWs 1 and 21 were going to the flat of A-1,
they met PW-6 who was the watchman. After meeting A-1, PW-1 stayed in the flat
of A-1 while PW-21 came out and the door was bolted from inside. After some
time, PWs 4, 18 and 22 came there and found that PW- 21 was standing outside
the flat. PW-1 in his evidence corroborated the aforesaid statements made by
PW-21. PWs 4, 18 and 22 stated that on call bell being pressed, A-1 opened the
door and they found that PW-1 who was accused in Sessions Case No. 186 of 1989
was being entertained in the house of A-1 at such an odd hour. PW-7 stated that
PW-21 had a telephonic talk with A-1 from his house. PW-6, the watchman of
Garudagagan Apartments stated that PWs 1, 4,18,21 and 22 came to the flat of
A-1 during that night. The statements of PWs 1, 4,6,7,18,21 and 22 have been
relied upon by the trial court to prove this circumstance against the
respondent upon threadbare discussion of their evidence and the High Court was
not justified in disbelieving the same on account of minor contradictions.
Thus, we find that the prosecution has proved this circumstance as well by
credible evidence.
From the foregoing discussions, it would be clear that the prosecution has
succeeded in proving its case beyond reasonable doubt, the trial court was
quite justified in recording conviction of A-1 and the judgment of High Court
acquitting him suffers from the vice of perversity as it has refused to place
reliance upon the evidence of witnesses merely on the basis of certain minor
contradictions in the evidence of witnesses, though, they have supported the
prosecution case on all material particulars. In our opinion, the High Court
was also not at all justified in making adverse remarks in the impugned
judgment against PW-20, the then Registrar (Vigilance) of the Andhra Pradesh
High Court, which were wholly uncalled for and the same are accordingly liable
to be expunged.
For the foregoing reasons, the appeal as well as Criminal Misc. Petition No.
2569 of 2004 are allowed, the judgment of acquittal, rendered by the High Court
so far the same relates to A-1, is set aside, the order of conviction of A-1
recorded by the trial court is restored and the adverse remarks, recorded in
the impugned judgment against PW-20, are expunged. The respondent is directed
to be taken into custody forthwith to serve out the remaining period of sentence.
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