PUSHKAR SINGH Vs. STATE OF MADHYA BHARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal by special leave against the judgment and order dated 4-12-1950 of the Madhya Bharat High Court in Criminal Revision No. 139 of 1950.

(2.) The appellant Pushkar Singh stood his trial for offences under Ss. 449 and 372, Gwalior Penal Code, before the Additional City Magistrate of Lashkar. The Magistrate held that no case was established against him and that the sum of money recovered from Pushkar Singh's house belonged to him.

(3.) It seems to us that this order cannot be sustained in view of the clear findings of fact given by the Magistrate to the effect that no offence was committed in respect of the sum of Rs. 463 and that it did not belong to the complainant. It was on the basis of these findings that Pushkar Singh was acquitted and the amount recovered from his house was ordered to be delivered to him. Unless it was found that an offence was committed in respect of this sum, there was no jurisdiction to the High Court to order the payment of this amount to Mst. Kaushillya Bai. We have not been able to appreciate the view of the High Court that though the stolen property consisted of currency notes those notes may have been changed by the accused.