SHARANAPPA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE Principal District and Sessions Judge, Bidar, lodged a complaint against the petitioner and others for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 7, 8, 12, 13(2), 13(1), 13(D) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, making allegations that the petitioner was working as Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Basavakalyan and it is alleged that while discharging his duty as a public servant as Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, demanded a sum of Rs. 5,00,000/ - Lakhs from one Sri Kirthiraaj K. Poste, Advocate, in order to deliver the judgment in his favour in R.A. Nos. 16, 17 and 18 of 2004, which are pending before his Court. After coming to know about the fact the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Bidar, brought the matter to the notice of the Registrar Vigilance, High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru over telephone. The Registrar Vigilance, High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru along with his team attached to the Registrar Vigilance has laid a trap near Mini Vidhana Soudha, in the vicinity of Basveshwar Statue at Basavakalyan, headed by Sri Ramlingegowda, Police Inspector and in -charge Deputy Superintendent of Police and Sri Cheluvegowda, Police Inspector Vigilance, Bengaluru and the said officer was caught red handed while receiving bribe amount of Rs. 1,00,000/ - from Kirthiraj K. Poste, at the hands of the above said vigilance team. Afterwards, a complaint was lodged to the Superintendent of Police, Bidar, to take appropriate action by further investigating the matter. Looking to the above said circumstances, virtually the vigilance team of High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru, have laid the trap and caught hold the judicial officer red handed while receiving Rs. 1,00,000/ - for the said purpose alleged in the complaint. The offences punishable under Sections 7,8, 12, 13(2), 13(1), 13(D) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, are severely punishable to the maximum extent of 7 years. He being the judicial officer instead of assisting the investigation, from the date of the commission of the offences he still at large absconding himself without assisting the investigating agency to complete the investigation.

(2.) OF course, I can understand, if an ordinary man does the same, the Court can consider that ignorance as excusable, but being a judicial officer such a long time knowing fully well the legal consequences and he being a legal man, he was supposed to voluntarily assisted the police to investigate the matter instead of running away from the spot and absconding himself for such a long time, waiting till the charge sheet to be filed. Looking to the above said circumstances, though the offences are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life, but corruption is a cancerous decease which is spreading in the society like anything. If the Courts are releasing such persons, who know the law and particularly and deliberately avoid the law the discretionary powers. Under such circumstances, in my opinion, cannot be exercised in favour of such persons, particularly under Section 438 of Cr.P.C.

(3.) THE second point that has been raised by the learned counsel is that, the charge sheet is not yet filed in this case and another accused was released on bail by the Principal Sessions Judge who also holding concurrent charge of I Addl. Sessions Judge Bidar, who lodged the complaint against the petitioner, exercising the powers under Section 167 of Cr.P.C. it is to be noted here for releasing the accused on bail under Section 167 of Cr.P.C. the Court has power to exercise discretion, but not under Section 438 of Cr.P.C. The petition under Section 438 of Cr.P.C. was filed before the same Judge, who has filed the report before the police. Learned Judge has observed that he cannot decide the said matter because he himself was the complainant before the police. The learned counsel tried to make a distinction that when he released another accused under Section 167(3) of Cr.P.C., he could have passed the order under Section 438 of Cr.P.C. also. But I am at loss to accept the said arguments of the learned counsel because of the simple reason Section 167(3) of Cr.P.C. provides absolutely no discretion to the Judge and he is not suppose to look in to the merits or dements of the case and exercise any discretion either in favour of the prosecution or in favour of the accused, it is virtually called a statutory bail. The Judge is bound to grant bail if the accused is ready to offer the surety. However, while exercising the powers under Section 438 of Cr.P.C. it is purely the discretion of the Judge who has to look into the materials on record and come to the conclusion, whether the accused is entitled to be enlarged on bail. Therefore, such ground as argued by the learned counsel is also in any manner comes to his help in this case. I do not want to venture upon to remand or transfer this matter to some other District Judge for dealing with the matter because Section 438 of Cr.P.C. provides concurrent jurisdiction to the Sessions Judge as well as the High Court. The charge sheet is not yet filed and the investigation is still in progress and looking to the contents and also the nature of allegations and facts of the case, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail so far as petitioner is concerned.