Parambir Singh vs State of Punjab CRMM 45865/23 19/09/23 [ RAJBIR SEHRAWAT JUSTICE ] [ PUNJAB HARYANA HIGH COURT ]

Section 439 CRPC Arms Act, Section 25 Indian Penal Code, Sections 379B and 34 Regular Bail Snatching of car with others Petitioner contends that the recovery of illegal arms and ammunition from their house is a planted evidence due to police animosity Held,

except for the recovery of the car outside the petitioner’s house and the presence of the person who snatched it along with some arms and ammunition recovered from the petitioner’s house, there is no direct allegation against the petitioner in the incident of snatching Petitioner has been in custody since July 17, 2023 – Bail granted.

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CRM-M_45865_2023_19_09_2023_FINAL_ORDER Parambir Singh vs State

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[ JHARKHAND HIGH COURT ]

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RATNAKER BHENGRA (DB)

Sheikh Hesamuddin @ Kabir, s/o Sheikh Kutubuddin  vs State of Jharkhand CRLDB 1212/18 20/03/23

Section 302 IPC Arms Act, Section 27 Murder Appeal against conviction Prosecution relied on the confessional statement, eyewitness accounts, and a Test Identification Parade TIP for evidence Medical evidence clearly supports the prosecution story that Indrapal Singh suffered firearm injuries TIP conducted about two months after the occurrence was delayed, and the eyewitness accounts were unreliable Deceased died a homicidal death caused by firearm injuries is corroborated by the medical evidence Presence of appellant at place of occurrence is a highly incriminatory material Prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt Conviction set aside. [Paras 12, 18, 21, 22 and 23]

Relevant Paras:

12. PW2 and PW3 both have identified the appellant also in the dock and this piece of evidence has remained intact. No doubt identification of an unknown assailant for the first time in the Court is a weak piece of evidence but then if the evidence of dock identification is clear and does not admit any doubt the same is sufficient for recording conviction of the accused. In “Sidhartha Vashisht @ Manu Sharma v. State (NCT of Delhi)” (2010) 6 SCC 1 the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that if the dock identification of an accused even though for the first time in the Court is above board the same can form the basis for conviction of the accused. The dock identification of the appellant is corroborated by his identification by PW2 and PW3 in the TIP. On 25th February 2010 when the appellant was put on the TIP, he was not known to PW2 and this is not a defence set-up by the appellant that he was known to PW2 who at the instance of the police or the informant has falsely identified him as the shooter. According to the prosecution, PW2 was present at the place of occurrence when the appellant fired at Indrapal Singh. The defence has challenged presence of PW2 at the place of occurrence and labelled him as a chance witness. But there is no law of universal application that the evidence of a chance witness cannot be accepted to record conviction of the accused. Moreover, there is another eyewitness PW3 who has come to the Court to identify the appellant as the shooter. The evidence of PW3 has been criticized on the ground that he is a police witness. However, this is not a proposition in law that the evidence of a police witness should be viewed with doubt and suspicion. Merely because a witness happens to be the police or official witness, the Court need not start with initial distrust and is required to accept his evidence tendered in the Court as truthful. The evidence of a police or official witness is also tested on the same yardstick as the evidence of any other witness and if it inspires confidence of the Court that must be accepted and can form the basis for conviction of the accused. In “State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi) v. Sunil” (2001) 1 SCC 652 the Hon’ble Supreme Court has observed that it is an archaic notion that actions of the police officers should be approached with initial distrust.

18. PW1 Kamaljeet Singh who is the informant of this case has affirmed in the Court that his fardbeyan was recorded on 5th January 2010 at around 8:00 PM at TMH. He has stated in the Court that he saw the dead body of his brother drenched in blood lying in his car. He has further stated that the people from the locality who were present at the place of occurrence informed him that two assailants came on a motorcycle and fired shots at his brother. In a lengthy cross-examination, the defence has elicited from him that he does not know the persons who informed him that two motorcycle- borne assailants came and fired shot at his brother. However, he has denied the defence suggestion that it was some other person with whom he has enmity regarding brick-kiln who has murdered his brother. PW2 Jagannath Jamuda has stated in the Court that on the date of occurrence while returning from General Store near Road No. 15 he saw two assailants firing at a person who was driving the car. He has identified Sheikh Hesamuddin in the Court as the person with long hairs who fired shots at the deceased. That description of the appellant given by PW2 in the Court is not challenged by the appellant. He has identified him also in the TIP conducted at Ghaghidih Central Jail, but in his cross-examination he has stated that he went to the jail with the police officer to identify the accused. He has also stated that before the TIP the same police officer brought him to the Court Hazat. He has further stated that the assailants came on a motorcycle, but he could not remember registration number of that motorcycle. PW3 Jag Narayan Sharma who is a constable has stated that on 5th January 2010 on direction of the Officer-in-Charge of Mango PS he was in search of the accused and, at about 5:45 PM, near Forest Nursery he saw that two persons on a motorcycle were trying to overtake a car. The person sitting on the back seat of the motorcycle fired shots at the car driver three times and after that they fled away towards Chepa Bridge. He has identified Sheikh Hesamuddin in the Court by his face but he could not tell his name in the Court. In his cross-examination, he has stated that at the time of occurrence he was in search of the accused Gabbar Singh and, that, there was sufficient light on road. He has also denied the suggestion that it was dark at the place of occurrence. In response to a defence suggestion, he has stated that he did not see the accused Sheikh Hesamuddin in the Court Hazat after the occurrence.

21. The autopsy over the dead body of Indrapal Singh was conducted by a medical team constituting PW6, PW7 and PW11. There were as many as 3 firearm injuries caused to Indrapal Singh. The medical evidence clearly supports the prosecution story that Indrapal Singh suffered firearm injuries in the evening of 5th January 2010, at about 6:00 PM.

23. No doubt wherever it appears to the Court that two views are possible the view which favours the accused should be adopted by the Court. However, this is also a well-settled proposition in law that the appreciation of evidence by the trial Court which has the opportunity to observe the witnesses very closely must be given precedence and on minor inconsistencies the judgment of the trial Court can not be interfered by the appellate Court. In our opinion, PW2 and PW3 have remained unshaken in the Court and they did not waver from their previous statements made before the police under section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The prosecution has produced corroborative evidence through PW4 who is a witness of seizure of two empty cartridges and two pellets from the place of occurrence. PW5 who is the owner of Mahesh General Store at Road No.15 was in his shop in the evening of 5th January 2010 when he heard sounds of firing coming from a distance of 200-250 yards. This witness was declared hostile on a prayer made by the prosecution but from his evidence the prosecution story that in the evening of 5th January 2010 Indrapal Singh was fired upon near Road No.15 is corroborated. PW13 who was posted as In-Charge of Technical Cell at Jamshedpur has affirmed in the Court that the Investigating Officer of this case had filed requisition for CDRs and location of the mobile phones of the criminals which were obtained from the service providers for the mobile numbers 9122909541, 9709219196 and 9534210584. During the trial, there was no serious challenge by the appellant that none of the aforementioned mobile numbers was carried by him on the date of occurrence. The CDRs and location of those mobile numbers established presence of the appellant and other two accused persons near Mango and the adjacent places. This scientific evidence produced by the prosecution to establish presence of the appellant at the place of occurrence is a highly incriminating material which may not be of much help to prove the charge of the murder against the appellant but this evidence cannot be brushed aside on mere technical objections raised on behalf of the appellant.

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Sheikh Hesamuddin @ Kabir, s:o Sheikh Kutubuddin vs state of Jharkhand judgment High court the law literates

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HIGH COURT OF DELHI

Decided on: January 11, 2024
AMIT AGGARWAL VERSUS DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT

CORAM
HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE SUDHIR KUMAR JAIN

PMLA Act Section 3 and 4 Grant of Anticipatory Bail The petitioner, is seeking anticipatory bail in an ongoing money laundering investigation The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleges that Petitioner was involved in a scheme to remit crores of rupees abroad using forged certificates and identities Petitioner argues that he was not involved in the scheme and that the ED’s case against him is based on the statements of cocons pirators who were coerced into making false accusations He also claims that he was physically assaulted by ED officials when he appeared for questioning – The ED contends that Petitioner was a key player in the scheme and that his fingerprints were found on some of the forged documents – The ED also points to the fact that Petitioner evaded questioning for several months before finally appearing before ED officials – The Delhi High Court has not yet ruled on Petitioner’s bail application The court is likely to weigh the evidence presented by both sides before making a decision The petitioner, a sick and infirm individual, is granted anticipatory bail after considering all facts, including co-accused statements under section 50 of PMLA, evidentiary value, no criminal activity, and the petitioner’s condition

Relevant Paras:

13. The counsel for the petitioner also argued that the twin conditions as per section 45 of PMLA are not applicable as the petitioner is a sick and infirm person and has already undergone repeated kidney surgeries and requires constant medical supervision and primarily relied upon Kewal Krishan Kumar (supra). The medical records/documents submitted by the petitioner reflect that the petitioner is suffering from various ailments including renal problem which requires constant medical treatment. This court in
Kewal Krishan Kumar (supra) has granted bail on ground of sickness and infirmity of the accused.
14. The CGSC also argued that the petitioner is avoiding investigation and his custodial investigation is required as the offence of money laundering involves multiple layers of placement, layering and integration. It is further argued that summons were issued to the petitioner to join investigation but the petitioner only joined investigation on 03.01.2023 and 04.01.2023 and subsequently avoided investigation. The CGSC also referred details of summons.

issued to the petitioner. The petitioner joined investigation on 03.01.2023 and 04.01.2023 and gave reasons for not joining investigation. The petitioner neither appears to be a flight risk, nor is he likely to influence any witness and tamper with the evidence.
15. This court in Vijay Agrawal (supra) also observed as under:-

22. The jurisprudence regarding bail is by now very well settled that rule has always been bail and its exception jail. It has also been stated time and again that such a principle has to be followed strictly. Right to bail is also essential for the reason that it provides the accused with an opportunity of securing fair trial. The right to bail is linked to Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which confers right to live with
freedom and dignity. However, while protecting the right of an individual of freedom and liberty the court also has to consider the right of the society at large as well as the prosecuting agency. This is the reason that the gravity of the offence is required to be taken into account. The gravity of the offence is gathered from the attendant facts and circumstances of the case. It is a settled proposition that economic offences fall within the category of „grave offences.‟ While dealing with the economic offence cases, the court has to be sensitive to the nature of allegation made against the accused. Such economic offences normally involve the public exchequer and money of the honest tax
payer. The offence of money laundering in itself is a very serious offence. The money laundering not only is a threat to the financial health of the country but it may also adversely impact its integrity and sovereignty. Moreover, the act of money laundering can even lead to the collapse of the economic system.

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AMIT AGGARWAL. VERSUS DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT THE LAW LITERATES JUDGMENT DELHI HIGH COURT

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SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL S.L.P.(Crl.) No.3343 of 2022)
DINESH GUPTA VERSUS THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ANR.

Reported Judgment 
In a landmark case, the Supreme Court of India has imposed a hefty fine of 25 lakh rupees in the Dinesh Gupta versus the state of Uttar Pradesh. This ruling follows a series of legal proceedings addressing grave allegations and ensuring justice. The case revolves around Mr. Dinesh Gupta, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, accused of committing a serious offense that attracted significant public attention. The Supreme Court thoroughly examined the evidence, considering the constitutionality of the allegations and the impact on society. The fine serves as a strong deterrent for similar offenses and highlights the importance of maintaining law and order while respecting fundamental rights and principles of justice. This decision has broader implications for legal precedence in Uttar Pradesh and India.

Relevant Paras 

Unscrupulous litigants should not be allowed to
go scot-free. They should be put to strict termsand conditions including costs. It is time to check with firmness such litigation initiated and laced with concealment, falsehood, and forum hunting. Even State actions or conduct of government servants being party to such malicious litigation should be seriously reprimanded. In the instant case, we find initiation of criminal proceedings before a forum which had no territorial jurisdiction by submitting incorrect facts and giving frivolous reasons to entertain such complaints. A closer look at the respondent’s actions reveals more than just an inappropriate use of jurisdiction. The core issue of the dispute, which involves financial transactions and agreements, clearly places it in the realm of civil and commercial law. Yet, the respondent chose to pursue criminal charges in a quest to abuse thecriminal justice system with a motive to seek personal vengeance rather than seeking true justice. This unnecessary turning of a civil matter into a criminal case not only overburdens the criminal justice system but also violates the principles of fairness and right conduct in legal matters. The apparent misuse of criminal proceedings in this case not only damages trust in our legal system but also sets a harmful precedent if not addressed.
3. A common order1 passed by the High Court2 dismissing the petitions filed by the appellants seeking quashing of the summoning order3 has been impugned in the present appeals.

34. The entire factual matrix and the time lines clearly reflects that the complainant deliberately and unnecessarily has caused substantial delay and had been waiting for opportune moment for initiating false and frivolous litigation.
35. Further, it has been noticed by the High Court in the impugned order that on an application filed by the appellants, an Arbitrator was appointed by the Delhi High Court vide order dated 15.05.2019 to settle the dispute amongst the parties and the said matter was still pending.
36. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we find that the FIR in question, if proceeded further, will result in absolute abuse of process of court. It is a clear case of malicious prosecution. Hence, the same is required to be quashed.

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DINESH GUPTA VERSUS THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ANR. Judgement_11-Jan-2024 The Law Literates

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