SHANKAR ADAWAL Vs. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The challenge in the above captioned petitions is to trial court's order of 31st March, 2012 vide which first three petitioners have been put on trial on the charge under Section 120(B) of IPC read with Section 5(2) punishable under Section 5(4) of The Official Secrets Act, 1923. The fourth petitioner M/s Reliance Industries Limited has been also charged with the offence under Section 5(2) punishable under Section 5(4) read with Section 15 of The Official Secrets Act, 1923. In the alternative, first three petitioners have been also charged for the offence under Section 5(2) punishable under Section 5(4) read with Section 15 of The Official Secrets Act, 1923.

(2.) The first petitioner-Shankar Adawal was the General Manger (Corporate Affairs) of Reliance Telecom Pvt. Ltd. and he has been arrayed as accused No. 3 in the charge-sheet. Petitioner-V. Balasubramanian, was the Group President of M/s Reliance Industries Public Limited and he has been arrayed as accused No. 1, whereas the abovesaid M/s Reliance Industries Limited has been arrayed as accused No. 4. Petitioner-A.N. Sethuraman was the Vice-President of M/s Reliance Industries Limited and he has been arrayed as accused No. 2 in the charge-sheet filed.

(3.) The crux of the prosecution case as noticed in the impugned order is as under:-