K.K. SAINI Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The victim Sikander Lal Pahwa residing at A-8, Greater Kailash Enclave-II, New Delhi left his house at about 8:00 PM on 2.3.1994 to purchase a shaving kit from the market nearby. At around 8:30 PM he spoke to his daughter at her matrimonial house and informed her that he would be returning home after 2-3 days. At 10:30 PM a call was received at the house of Sikander Lal Pahwa on the telephone No.6414874 which was attended to by his son Rajat Pahwa. The caller asked him whether he would like to speak to his father and on Rajat Pahwa saying "Yes", the call was disconnected. Another call was received at 11:05 PM at the No.6414874 but was disconnected the moment, the caller whose voice was recognised by Rajat Pahwa as that of his father, said "Hello". At 11:07 PM another call was received at the No.6414874 which was once again attended to by Rajat Pahwa. His father told him to listen carefully and that informed that one J.P. Bhai Sahab would ring up and he should act as instructed by J.P. Bhai Sahab and that the police should not be informed since it was a matter of his life and Rajat should not bother about money, which could be earned.

(2.) It was apparent to Rajat that his father had been abducted and was put to fear of his life. Notwithstanding Sikander Lal Pahwa instructing Rajat not to inform the police, after deliberations with his family members, Rajat informed the police at 12:50 AM i.e. at the middle of the night that his father had been abducted. The information was recorded at PS C.R.Park vide DD No.21A and FIR Ex.PW-14/A was registered.

(3.) It is apparent that the first and the foremost thing required to be done was to put telephone No.6414874 under observation. It was so done by attaching the necessary equipment at the Nehru Place Telephone Exchange wherefrom the No.6414874 was being serviced. The police as also the family members of Sikander Lal Pahwa had an agonizing wait till 7:22 PM on 3.3.1994. A call was received but the number wherefrom it was coming was not showing. The talk lasted for 6 minutes and 59 seconds. Rajat Pahwa spoke to the caller as also to his father Sikander Lal Pahwa who conveyed to him the demand of ransom to be paid to secure his release i.e. Rs.1.5 crores. The investigating officer thought it advisable to add on a parallel line to the No.6414874 and accordingly the parallel line being No.6464486 was put into place by making the said number a parallel connection to the No.6414874.