POONAM SAXENA Vs. S N SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These three petitions under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as "the Code") are directed against the orders of summoning dated 22.10.2003 and 15.07.2004 By virtue of the former order accused Nos. 1-8 were summoned and accused Nos. 10 and 11 were discharged. By virtue of the order dated 15.07.2004 accused No.9 has been summoned on the same basis on which accused Nos. 1-8 were summoned.

(2.) It is reported that accused No.1 has since been died and, therefore, proceedings against him have abated. These petitions concern only accused Nos.2-9.

(3.) The accused Nos.2-9, which include both the petitioners and some respondents in these petitions, have been summoned in relation to the offence under Section 499/500 IPC read with Section 34/120-B IPC. The starting point of this case is the publication of an item in the Delhi Edition of the newspaper Pioneer dated 26.08.1997. The said item was titled "suspended professor refutes bribe charge". Various allegations are said to have been made against Professor S. N. Singh, who is the complainant in this case. The allegations were of bribery as well as of moral turpitude. It has been stated in the said newspaper report that nine faculty members of the Law Faculty of Delhi University had alleged that Professor S. N. Singh had siphoned money during admissions in the last three years. There are certain other allegations with regard to the conduct of Dr. Singh involving a girl student. There is also an allegation that he demanded a transistor from a student for enhancing his marks in the LLB examination. A reading of the newspaper item, a copy of which is at page 29 of the paper book, indicates that the allegations contained against Dr. Singh are based on a purported press statement said to have been issued by the accused Nos.1-9. It is further indicated in the newspaper item that the press statement was signed by these nine persons.